488 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 



Sketch of old abais, based on several published photographs. 



markable features of Palau. Here and there on the edge of the reefs 

 there are islets of wave-tossed coral debris and sand, much like the 

 atoll islands. Together, the Palaus offer the most diversified collec- 

 tion of marine habitats to be found anywhere in Micronesia. 



The Japanese recognized the unusual scientific opportunities pre- 

 sented by the Palaus and, during their administration of the South 

 Seas Islands (Nanyo Gunto) , established at Koror a tropical biological 

 station devoted to the study of coral reefs, under the directorship of 

 Dr. Shinkishi Hatai. At that time, Koror was the capital of the 

 Japanese mandated islands of the South Seas and was a thriving city. 

 The Palao Tropical Biological Station is no more, but we hope to build 

 upon its accomplishments and contribute further to a more thorough 

 understanding of the fauna of Palau. 



ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD 



Our first big job on Koror was to unpack and organize our field 

 equipment. The territorial entomologist, Kobert P. Owen, had gen- 

 erously provided us with laboratory space in the entomological labora- 

 tory (pi. 2, fig. 2), one of the few bullet-scarred Japanese buildings 

 still usable. A rebuilt second story over the laboratory served as our 

 quarters until a nearby house could be made ready for occupancy. For 

 days we moved boxes and steel drums full of supplies from the district 

 warehouse to the laboratory grounds, and the unpacking went on far 

 into our first few nights in the islands. 



