oer 
(of de. ae oe ry 
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xL OEY. 
Bulletin 
of the 
Liverpool Museums 
UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL. 
Edited by H. O. Forbes, LL.D., Director of Museums. 

Vou. II. MAY, 1899. No. 1. 

The Expedition to Sokotra. 
DuRING the past winter a biological and geographical investigation of the 
Island of Sokotra (lying in about 12° north latitude and 54° east longitude), 
some 600 miles south-east of Aden, was undertaken, on behalf of the British 
Museum, by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, and, on behalf of the Liverpool Cor- 
poration, by the Director of Museums (Dr. H. O. Forbes). Mr. W. Cutmore, 
of the Liverpool Museum, accompanied the party as taxidermist. The 
expedition Janded at Aden on the 18th of November, 1898, and was there 
augmented by six Somali servants, and by one native officer (Jamadar) and 
one sowar, from the Aden troop. Political difficulties between the Govern- 
ment of India and the Sultan of Sokotra unfortunately caused some delay in 
starting; but through the kindness of the Political Resident, Brigadier-General 
Creagh, V.C., these days were employed in visiting Sheik Othman and Lahej 
in South Arabia, where collections of considerable interest were made. On 
the 1st of December, the difficulties referred to having been surmounted, the 
party was enabled to leave for Sokotra on board the Royal Indian Marine 
steamer Elphinstone, which had most generously been placed at its disposal by 
the Indian Government. Permission was also kindly given to detain the 
vessel for some days at Abd-el-Kuri, a previously unexplored island lying 
between Sokotra and Cape Guardafui, the eastern horn of Africa. There four 
days were spent in making as complete a collection of the fauna, flora, and 
geology of the island as the time permitted. On the 7th of December, the 
expedition was landed on Sokotra, near Hadibu, the capital, and it remained 
on the island till the 22nd of February, 1899. On the return voyage a second 
Visit was paid to Abd-el-Kuri for a couple of days, to enable more complete 
collections from that out-of-the-way spot to be made. Late on the 26th of 
February the Elphinstone anchored in Aden harbour, and the party, after 
discharging its native contingent, embarked for England on the 2nd of March, 
arriving in London on the 14th of the same month. 
A complete account of the island, with a map, a list of the collections, and 
full descriptions of the new species obtained by the expedition, illustrated by 
A 
