XI 



PREFACE 





THE importance of the fauna of the Hawaiian islands has long been recognised, 

 but as no adequate exploration of their zoology had been attempted, the British 

 Association for the advancement of science appointed a Committee in the year 1890 

 "to report on the present state of our knowledge of the Sandwich Islands, and to take 

 steps to investigate ascertained deficiencies in the fauna, with power to co-operate with 

 the Committee appointed for the purpose by the Royal Society, and to avail themselves 

 of such assistance as may be offered by the Hawaiian Government or the Trustees of 

 the Museum at Honolulu." The Committee of the Royal Society just alluded to was 

 appointed almost simultaneously, and the two Committees have continued to work 

 together till the present time. 



The joint Committee has received the most valuable support and assistance from 

 the Trustees of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum at Honolulu. Indeed one of the most 

 important duties in writing this Preface is to make this acknowledgment, and to return 

 thanks for this support. 



At an early meeting of the Committee it was decided to limit its investigation to 

 the Land-fauna. Two reasons influenced this decision, viz. (i) that this was as much 

 as the Committee could hope to accomplish, and (2) that while the Land-fauna was 

 known to be undergoing great impoverishment, it was believed that the Marine-fauna 

 was comparatively exempt from analogous changes. 



The Committee decided to undertake an exploration of the Islands, and was so 

 fortunate as to secure for the purpose the services of Mr R. C. L. Perkins, then a young 

 graduate of the University of Oxford. Dr Perkins continued his exploration for some 

 years. As he has given an account thereof in the Introduction that follows this prefa- 

 tory notice it is unnecessary to give particulars here, beyond saying that he underwent 

 great dangers and fatigues, in his arduous and solitary task, with the most determined 

 perseverance, the most unflinching courage ; camping out in the mountains, without a 

 companion, for periods as long as he was able to carry food and equipment. 



As the result of his work the Committee found itself in possession of an enormous 

 number of specimens, and in pursuance of its work decided on investigating this 

 material and reporting thereon. 



It is not possible to state exactly the number of specimens that have resulted from 

 Dr Perkins' labours, but it cannot be far short of 100,000, and not improbably exceeds 



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