IN WEST AFRICA. 55 



therlauds has hitherto supported this system of zoological 

 explorations is universally known. However, it was only 

 carried out with considerable interruptions, which are a 

 great impediment to the successful application of the sys- 

 tem. In order to avoid these 1 formed the project of 

 organizing , for the benefit of the Museum , a private ex- 

 pedition which was to explore in the way above indica- 

 ted , different parts of Western Africa. A few years ago 

 Dr. F. Pollen had set the example by his zoological ex- 

 plorations in Madagascar. 



The members of the present expedition are J. Biittikofer 

 and C. Sala. The former , who was my assistant at the Mu- 

 seum, offered to be the scientific leader of the expedition 

 for which he possesses all the capacities required ; the 

 second an experienced traveller, who passed a number of 

 years in Java and Angola is at the same time an accom- 

 plished sportsman and collector. 



The equipment of the expedition was carefully superin- 

 tended by myself. A long experience gained by the nu- 

 merous expeditions which I have seen depart from our 

 Museum in the course of this century has taught me to 

 arrange this in a way which proves to be most convenient 

 to the travellers. They were moreover furnished by Gov- 

 ernment with ample recommendations to the difiereut con- 

 suls and shipped in November 1879 for Liberia in a vessel 

 belonging to the Rotterdam firm of Hendrik Muller and 

 Son The facilities granted to the expedition by this gen- 

 tleman, as well as his recommendations to his different 

 agents proved to be of the greatest service. Thanks to 

 the cares of Consul Modderman and Vice Consul Wieg- 

 mann the travellers were able to make excursions both 

 into the interior and along the coast. Through the kind 

 intercession of these gentlemen the Liberia n Government 

 exempted them from paying duty upon the implements 

 imported; here as in the United States of North America 

 science appears to take its place at the head of man's occu- 

 pations. The members of the Liberian cabinet showed 



Notes from tlie Leyden IMixseuiii, Vol. III. 



