6 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
It has seemed that much of interest has been lost to the gen- 
eral public by the failure of those in charge of scientific ex- 
plorations sent out by our universities to recognize the claims of 
the general public to a more popular account of such work 
than is given in the series of technical reports customarily issued. 
To meet this need of easily assimilated general knowledge for 
the public at large these narratives have been prepared and is- 
sued by the University of Iowa, and, if the letters of commenda- 
tion received furnish a reliable criterion, the results have been 
distinetly worth while. 
Each of these expeditions has resulted in a series of technical 
reports written by recognized specialists and issued as a part of 
the publications in the series known as ‘‘Studies in Natural 
History,’’ and a number of these are still to come as it takes 
many years to glean the scientific results of such expeditions 
and to publish them in proper form. 
It is proper here to express our indebtedness to the many 
friends who have been helpful in making a success of the Fiji- 
New Zealand Expedition, although these services are very gener- 
ally acknowledged in the course of the following narrative. 
Official aid of the most valuable kind has been given freely 
by President Walter A. Jessup of the University; Dean Carl E. 
Seashore of the Graduate College, and Professor G. W. Stewart 
who was Acting Dean when the preliminary plans were drawn 
up. We are also under obligations to Senators William S. Ken- 
yon and Chas. A. Rawson, who obtained credentials from our 
Department of State and the British Ambassador at Washington. 
Mr. T. J. Wall, Chicago Agent of the Canadian Pacifie Rail- 
way, and his traveling assistant, Mr. Black, were indefatigable 
in securing concessions and favors for our party in the way of 
transportation by rail to Vancouver and, on the return trip, from 
San Francisco to Iowa City, as well as in securing the good 
offices of Mr. J. C. Irons, General Agent of the Canadian-Aus- 
tralasian Royal Mail line, who did all in his power to make us 
comfortable during our long sea voyage and secured permission 
for us to have our equipment and collections transported as 
baggage. 
Captain J. T. Rolls of the ‘‘Niagara’’ and Captain B. L. Alt- 
well on the ‘‘Tahiti’’?’ did much to make our trip comfortable 
while at sea. At Honolulu we were the recipients of many de- 
