R.Clapp - 1964 Nov. 17, 1964 - Maiana Atoll, and Kuria Atoll We got up at some godawful hour (5:45) I think it was, and returned to the ship. Binion shot a Black-naped Tern on the way, an adult. After eating a hasty breakfast I spent the rest of the morning preparing the specimens we collected uesterday including the 18 Ruddy Turnstones (12 of which I prepared as alcoholics) Although, my enusiasm was perhaps too great yesterday, I got a number of interesting notes on the molt in this species, since this was the only adequate series we have gotten from any atoll. Later I packed away more of my eyes. I think I have about 5 dozen now, which should furnish the beginnings of a small scale investigation. Probably either Laridae or Scopacidae and Charadriidae should be used as base groups for this proposed, if slightly amateurish, pilot study. We reached Kuria atoll and were ashore on Kuria Island, the more southern of the two islands by four. This island did not have the expanse of sand flat that Makin and Maiana did and appeared to be a typical Coconut Island. Very many of the coconuts were dead, with their corwns broken off, possibly from the typhoon of 1958. These broken stubs frequently have Fairy Terns nesting*on*them perching on them and these birds may be nesting. Of the four Fairy Terns collected today, (of which two were on such stubs) all had brood patches. Hawaiian Noddies occur in small numbers and many nests (although not nearly so thickly found as on Makin) were situated in the limbs of dead trees. Some of these nests appeared to be occupied. Common Noddies were perhaps the most numerous tern in the mile or so stretch of interior we worked south of the village. They were commonly observed perching on palm fronds some 60-75 feet up and seen flying over just as frequently. Using the 12 gauge I collected 12 birds with