SOUTHERN PELAGIC: 939 miles and 95.5 hours of observations were completed in this area. Eighteen species were recorded. Collared Petrels were the most abundant and wide spread species observed, although White throated and Juan Fernandez Petrels were close seconds. Average density was 0.33^ BSM, the greatest numbers occurring in the eastern section where large numbers of unidentified storm petrels were recorded. The effects of the Peru Current and the Galapagos Archipelago were noticeable in the eastern section where water temperatures were lower and such species as Swallow- tailed Gull and Dark-rumped Petrel were found. Other species (eg. Wedge- tailed Shearwater and Juan Fernandez Petrel) were restricted to the warmer waters of the western section. TABLE 5 shows the distribution and comparative abundance of birds within this area. TABLE 5 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS WITHIN SOUTHERN PELAGIC WATERS Species West Half East Half Total Birds Birds/Hour Juan Fernandez Petrel 35 0 35 0.4 White Tern 3 0 3 -0.05 Wilson/Elliot Petrel 4 0 4 -0.05 Wedge-tailed Shearwater 3 0 3 -0.05 Black-winged Petrel 1 0 1 -0.05 Cook Petrel 1 0 1 -0.05 Red-tailed Tropicbird 1 0 1 -0.05 Collared Petrel 33 16 49 0.5 Harcourt Petrel 20 16 36 0.4 White-throated Petrel 6 27 33 0.3 Murphy Petrel 0 1? 1? -0.05 White-bellied Petrel 0 1 1 -0.05 Swallow-tailed Gull 0 2 2 -0.05 Dark-rumped Petrel 0 2 2 -0.05 Sooty Tern 0 2 2 -0.05 Soccorro Petrel 0 11 11 0.1 Leach Petrel 0 19 19 0.2 Of the three pelagic areas discussed above, the Countercurrent had, by far, the largest concentration of birds and the greatest variety of species. This was particularly true at its' edges (See FIGURE 2). In the western section birds were most concentrated at the southern boundary, which was better defined in the oceanographic samples. This was the area of its convergence with the South Equatorial Current and the large avian density may be related to the mixing of waters in this area. In the eastern section greatest density was found at the northern ege, possibly due to the farther northward penetration of the colder waters of the Peru Current and also to the northward deflection and diffusion of the Countercurrent. It is also apparent that the middle section of the countercurrent had a greater density then either the Northern Pelagic Waters or the Southern Pelagic Waters.