No. 4. — Reports on the scientific results of the Expedition to the Tropical 

 Pacific in charge of Alexander Agassiz, on the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission Steamer Albatross, from August, 1899, to March, 1900, 

 Commander Jefferson F. Moser, U. S. N., Commanding. 



XXI. 



The Birds. 



By Charles Haskins Townsend and Alexander Wetmore. 



Part 1. — Introduction and Field Notes. By Charles Haskins 



Townsend. 



The voyage of the U. S. Fisheries Steamer Albatross during the 

 winter of 1899 and 1900, under the direction of Mr. Alexander Agassiz, 

 was undertaken for the purpose of studying the coral-reef districts of 

 the Tropical Pacific, making deep-sea explorations in the great ocean 

 basins, and conducting investigations of the fisheries among the islands. 

 A minor object of the expedition was the study of the fauna and flora 

 of oceanic islands, but it became necessary to restrict this part of the 

 program in order to investigate more thoroughly the structure and 

 formation of coral reefs and, islands. 



The aciivities of the scientific staff took various directions at the 

 islands visited, ornithology receiving some attention. The collection 

 of birds brought back, ninety-three distinct forms and 406 specimens, 

 does not represent any systematic effort to secure birds. It is rather 

 the result of opportunities embraced from time to time, as the progress 

 of the expedition permitted. Our stops were generally brief, except 

 at points where coal or other supplies were renewed and some of these 

 were islands already well knowTi to ornithologists. 



The preparation of bird skins being largely dependent upon the 

 personal efforts of the writer, there was naturally a limit to the number 

 which could be preserved. This usually meant night work, after the 

 ship's laboratory had been cleared of the day's deep-sea dredgings, 

 or the marine gatherings from the reefs. In the pleasanter work of 

 collecting, assistance was more often available. Occasionally it 

 became necessary to store birds in the ship's ice room for several days 

 until an opportunity could be found to preserve them properly. 



Specimens were obtained on thirty-three different islands. It is to 



