350 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
September 4 was a busy day. We took on our pilot at 3:15 
A.M., and were up shortly after five in the morning to find the 
ship anchored at quarantine and the engines at last at rest. The 
medical inspection took place in the chilly dawn and consisted 
chiefly in our passing in review before the Inspector as our 
names were called. Passports were not even looked at. We had 
breakfast on board and were allowed to land at about 7:30, the 
ship then being tied up at her dock. 
The tuataras had stood the voyage well and the butcher had 
earned his tip. When my strange pets were taken to the customs 
house they were the object of excited attention but were passed 
without trouble by the customs officials. My personal baggage 
was opened but not disturbed, 
Thomas was introduced to the chief official and acted as our 
transportation agent in getting collections and equipment 
through. 
Our party separated at the customs house, Wylie and I being 
the only ones who intended going right through to Iowa City as 
quickly as possible. My chief duty was to get the four tuataras 
through as quickly and safely as practicable; no mean respons- 
ibility. As it was Labor Day we expected trouble in getting off 
that evening, but the railway officials put through our change of 
routing very quickly and had arranged for our Pullman accom- 
modations on the night train. 
After passing customs Wylie and I took a taxi to the ferry 
wharf and wired our safe arrival to President Jessup and our 
families. 
I had a great time arranging for the transportation overland 
of our distinguished companions, the tuataras. It was exceed- 
ingly important that I be on the same train with them through- 
out the trip so as to be able to attend to their wants in the way 
of food and water at proper intervals. It was therefore necessary 
to have them sent as baggage if possible; but the baggage man 
promptly vowed that it couldn’t be done, never having been 
done (which was strictly true) and that it was therefore un- 
thinkable. I demanded an interview with the baggage master 
himself and he, being a man of wisdom and resource, looked the 
strange creatures over and said, ‘‘Those are mud puppies. Pup- 
pies are dogs. Dogs are domestic pets. We will send them 
through as baggage billed as domestic pets!’’ The really great 
mind can always find a solution for even the most perplexing 
