24 



The sense in which the term "biok:>ij;ical survey" is used in 

 this paper is as follows. A biological survey of a given region 

 is an 'enumeration of all of the organisms, (both plants and 

 animals, fossil and living), that inhabit the region, together 

 v.ith an adequate explanation for the specific distribution, 

 both in time and space, of each organism. This definition in- 

 cludes then two types or classes of data, first, the list of plants 

 and animals ; second, statements elucidating the distribution 

 of each form. As stated by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, for many 

 years Chief of the U. S. Biological Survey, — "The primary ob- 

 iect of mapping the geographic distribution of species is to 

 ascertain the number, positions and boundaries of the natural 

 faunal and floral areas — areas which are fitted by nature for 

 the existence of certain native animals and plants. . . . The 

 obvious reason why certain animals and plants inhabit re- 

 stricted parts of the earth's surface and do not occur in other 

 parts, w'here there are no impassable barriers to prevent, is 

 that such species have become adapted to the particular physi- 

 cal and climatic conditions' there prevailing, and their sensi- 

 tive organizations are not sufficiently plastic to enable them 

 to live under other conditions. 



"The present biological survey . . . has demonstrated that 

 mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants so coincide in 

 distribution that a map showing the boundaries of an area 

 inhabited by an association of species in one group serves 

 equally well for other groups. The reason for this coinci- 

 dence in distribution is that all terrestrial forms of life inhabit- 

 ing the same area are exposed to the same surroundings and 

 governed by the same general laws." 



It is at once evident that whereas the first function of this 

 survey is purely biological, the second is dependent upon sur- 

 veys conductecl by the other -sciences. Statements as to the 

 distribution of each organism have little significance until 

 jjreceded by the following surveys : 



1. Topogra])hy or physiographic. 



2. Ilydrographic. 



3. Geologic. 



4. Meteorologic or climatic. 



5. Soils. 



With this data available, the proper correlations can be 

 made between the distribution of organisms and the physical 

 factors of their environment. 



st•R\•I•:^•s IX HAWAII. 



Tin- llawaiian islands, although known to scientists for 

 over a century, and notable among island groups for their re- 

 markable natural history ])henomcna, have never been favored 

 with a bil»l()^■ical survev. Scicntilic work of greatest value 



