PREFACE. 



The various expeditions of the ** Eagle" and the "Ara" under the 

 leadership of William K. Vanderbilt constitute another link in the 

 long series of noteworthy explorations which have added to our 

 knowledge of the oceans of the world. 



Such voyages may be divided into tM'o categories: first, the ex- 

 peditions initiated and carried out under govermental auspices, and, 

 secondly, those due to the leadership and munificence of private 

 individuals. 



Most of the great oceanic expeditions of the past half century 

 have been undertaken by professional scientists and navigators, and 

 as national enterprises. More recently, the lure which clings to the 

 great areas of the deep, as yet unexplored, has attracted the at- 

 tention of men who, like Mr. Vanderbilt, are able to devote their 

 own resources and energy to this problem. The adequate equipment 

 of such a vessel as the "Ara" with dredges, trawls, sounding ap- 

 paratus and other instruments fitted for both shallow water observa- 

 tions and those of greater oceanic depths is no small task. Mr. 

 Vanderbilt 's success as navigator and explorer, and his appreciation 

 of the significance of the scientific opportunities of his voyages are 

 amply attested by the extensive marine collections brought back by 

 him and by the energy and enthusiasm with which he has pushed 

 their display in the Vanderbilt Marine Museum and in the scientific 

 investigations and publications based upon them. 



The attractively written and beautifully illustrated narratives of 

 the voyages to the Galapagos and around the world on the *'Ara" 

 are greatly appreciated additions to the literature of oceanic voy- 

 ages. The present volume, by Miss Lee Boone, is the third volume 

 on the more technical results of his expeditions, and, together with a 

 companion volume already published, is devoted to the important 

 Crustacean collections. It is a noteworthy illustration of the con- 

 tribution which can be made to the scientific exploration of the seas 

 by one who reckons himself an amateur, and yet whose devotion to 

 science impels him to place at its disposal his energy and resources 

 with such outstanding results. 



Henry Fairfield Osborn", 

 American Museum of Natural History, 

 Octoher 10th, 1930. 



