FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 213 
occupied since leaving home and enjoyed a good hot bath next 
morning. 
The following day I called at the American Consulate and 
found the Consul General was away on a trip to the United 
States, but the Vice Consul, Mr. Moran, was quite cordial and 
said that he had been expecting us. After reading my letter from 
the Secretary of State he remarked that I was exceptional in not 
appearing to want any particular favors, explaining that he 
generally had to deal with sailors and men who were down and 
out and not particularly creditable citizens of the United States. 
He expressed the belief that a visit from our party of scientists 
would give a much better impression and be a real aid to his 
office. 
Professor Kirk took me on the promised hunt for Peripatus, 
that strange link between the worms and arthropods so valuable 
for purposes of instruction. We went to a beautiful hilly park, 
much of it in its primitive condition, with many shady paths, 
enchanting vistas of tree-ferns and other strange trees and plants. 
Indeed this was one of the most picturesque spots I have ever seen 
and I knew it would give supreme pleasure to Professor Wylie, 
our botanist, when he visited it later. 
Peripatus, a small eaterpillar-like creature, lives in thoroughly 
rotted moist logs and stumps, is carnivorous and is capable of 
greatly extending and contracting its body. Dr. Stoner, who 
eaptured a large number of them, will give a more adequate 
description in his account of his experiences in New Zealand. 
Professor Kirk dug and scraped into decayed logs with a long 
knife resembling the hunting knife of our pioneer days and found 
several of the interesting creatures, and I was allowed the pleasure 
of digging out some of them myself. He said they are best killed 
in slightly warm water and are thus prevented from retracting, 
indeed they expand before dying. 
In the evening Mr. Hislop took me to the Savage Club, a social 
organization found in all places of importance of New Zealand 
and corresponding in part to our Rotary clubs at home. We 
found the hall packed with men, most of them smoking, and wit- 
nessed the installation of a new Chief Savage, who sat on a small 
platform on which were hangings to represent a tent, and pro- 
vided with a gavel made of a human thigh bone. I seemed to be 
the guest of honor and was invited to occupy a seat beside the 
Chief Savage. There was an excellent orchestra of about thirty 
