1. The initial flight directions of common terns and Leach's petrels were observed for as long as possible after release in unknown, inland areas. In some experiments two observers obtained cross bearings on each tern for as long as it could be seen through binoculars (maximum 12 minutes and two miles distance).This procedure is strongly recommended whenever the initial headings of birds are of interest, since it reveals the actual direction of flight with greater accuracy than recording only the "vanishing point."2. The petrels exhibited no consistent headings towards home or in any other direction, but one experiment resulted in returns from an inland release point similar in speed to those reported earlier from releases at sea or along the coast.3. The terns showed a consistent tendency to head approximately southeast when the sun was visible. Average headings in the most satisfactory experiments were 140°, 142°, 142°, and 149°, while the total range of headings among 43 terns in these four experiments...