'perside of tail: white, failed Underside of tail: Not observed Legs: Extremely short - bird barely cleared the ground - less strikingly shorter than Forster's Behavior. No movement - roosting on mud Voice: not heard Habitat: tidal mudflat How identification was decided - elimination of similar species: 1) head was noticeably smaller and rounder than nearby Forster's (or Common) 2) bill noticeably shorter than nearby Forster's (or Common Tern) 3) Legs strikingly shorter than nearby Forster's (or Common Tern) 4) underparts pale gray, not white (except for stream below black cap) - unlike either Forster's or Common... This overall color distance was very noticeable 5) wing tips much darker than nearby Forster's. Prior experience with this species and similar species: Alaska 1972: 100-300 birds Calif: ~100 birds on fall boat trips This description written from X notes made during observation — notes made after observation — memory Your address: Dept. of Zoology Univ. of Calif. Berkeley, Calif 94720 Others seeing the bird (addresses of two): Scott & Laurie Terrill, Don Robinson, Joe Morlan, Steve & Karen Bailey, Bill Principe, Bill Tweeth, Dan Boelter, John & Susanne Luther Signed Van Rensen Date 9-8-73