g8 Recent Literature. Ilan 



Bryan's 'A Monograph of Marcus Island.' 1 — Marcus Island is a small 

 islet near the middle of the North Pacific Ocftan (Lat. 24 14' N., Long. 

 154 E.) described as "an ancient triangular atoll which has been elevated 

 above the sea," with an area of about 740 acres, a coast line of about four 

 miles, and an elevation in the interior, which is covered with heavy forest, 

 of from 25 to 75 feet. The island was claimed for the United States by 

 right of discovery, by Captain Rosehill, in June, 1889, and in July, 1898, 

 was taken into possession by the Japanese, who later relinquished their 

 claim in favor of the United States. It has guano deposits and cocoanut 

 palms, but its economic importance is, of course, slight. 



Mr. Bryan gives first an account of its discovery and location, especially 

 with reference to other more or less mythical islands in the vicinity, and 

 a history of recent attempts at its exploitation. Up to 1900 it appears to 

 have been go little known that its exact location and physical characteris- 

 tics were still in doubt. After a detailed description of its physical 

 features, its geology and its meteorological conditions, Mr. Bryan, aided 

 by specialists in various branches, proceeds to give an annotated list of the 

 fauna, and some account of the flora, based on observations and collections 

 made by him during a week's sojourn on the island in August, 1902, 

 under the auspices of the Bishop Museum. The birds (pp. 77-116) num- 

 ber 18 species, all water birds, and most of them pelagic or marine species 

 of wide distribution. Not only was no land bird met with, but Mr. 

 Bryan satisfied himself that had "any existing terrestrial or arboreal bird 

 been in any way introduced on the island, it would have perished for 

 want of suitable food." Fifty-six specimens were taken, which, with his 

 field notes, form the basis of the present list. One species, a tern {Alte- 

 rations marcusi), is described as new, it differing, however, only slightly 

 from M. katvauensis. At the time of his visit the Japanese had a naval 

 officer and a party of marines on the island, and the military regulations 

 imposed by them greatly hampered the work of his party and shortened 

 its stay, and especially interfered with his bird collecting. The Japanese 

 themselves, however, have been exceedingly destructive of bird life there 

 for commercial purposes, particularly of the Sooty Tern [Sterna fuligi- 

 nosa) which is the most abundant bird on the island. Mr. Byran found 

 their number beyond estimate ; "probably" he says, "to say that there 

 were hundreds of thousands would convey a conservative suggestion as to 

 their abundance." The Japanese had a party of some thirty men engaged 

 in collecting their skins for the New York, Paris, and Berlin millinery 

 markets ; and "during the six months from March to September not less 



1 A Monograph of Marcus Island, an Account of its Physical Features and 

 Geology, with descriptions of the Fauna and Flora. By Wm. Alanson 

 Bryan, B. Sc. Illustrated by a map, seven half-tone cuts and line drawings 

 by the author. Occas. Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Mus., Vol. II, No. 

 1, 1903, pp. 77-!j9- 



