R.D. Kirkpatrick 1965 Journal Tokelau Islands These are a group of 3 low coral atolls (or four if Swains Island is included as it often is) belonging to New Zealand and inhabited by 1800 Polynesians and 2 whites (a New Zealand R.C. priest [Marist Order] and a U.S. nun) The atolls are each made up of numerous islands within an encircling reef. Dominant vegetation includes coconut trees, pandanus and paperbark trees, seagrape, ferns and a saltbush. Among the birds present are Lesser Frigatebirds, Pacific Pigeons, Hawaiian Noddys, Booty Terns, Red-footed Boobies, New- Zealand Cuckoos, Fairy Terns, Common Noddy, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Black-naped Tern, Ruddy Turnstones, Brown Booby, Reef Heron (white and dark phases), Wandering Tattler, Golden Plover, Sanderling, and Domestic Chickens Mammals present include only the human, the pig, the dog, the cat, and the Polynesian rat.