Menace Expedition to the Philippines 159 



all our plans with a view of getting back here at this time, and it 

 is needless for me to say that to date we have not preserved any 

 specimens, though I hope soon to do so. 



The statement that the pearly nautili can be taken only at this 

 time seems to be untrue, as the inhabitants here say they took 

 fifty odd in a few days' time, some four months ago, and ate 

 them. A lot of fine fresh shells are shown in evidence. They 

 seem to have no doubt of being able to get them now. I arrived 

 here day before yesterday and already have everybody setting- 

 baskets. It is now too soon to hear from them. 



I hope also to be able to obtain specimens of the wild cat, but 

 cannot expect to do much else, as there is no forest within reach. 

 I may possibly be able to get a number of species of land shells 

 through business men who have natives at work in the mountains 

 of the interior. 



Our trip from the time we left Mindoro until Mr. Bourns 

 reached Cebu and I got here to Manjuyot was unexpectedly 

 short. We reached Manila in the afternoon of Monday, May 9th, 

 and left again the following Saturday morning. During our short 

 stay in Manila we had to repack nearly all of our collections, as 

 we had been unable to get good cases and barrels in Calapan. 

 This, with the work of shipping our collections and arranging 

 an exchange with the Jesuits, made every moment m.ore than full. 

 Indeed, we were obliged to spend nearly all of the last night be- 

 fore our departure in the work of packing our equipment and 

 supplies in order to get away. 



On my arrival at Iloilo, where I had planned to spend several 

 days, I found there was but one steamer making the run to Bais 

 and that left in the afternoon, so I had to make another desperate 

 rush. 



We took upon ourselves the exchange of a timaran with the 

 Jesuits, for material from their museum. They have always been 

 very kind and courteous, and in several instances have rendered 

 us service of great value, notably when we were having trouble 

 with our things in the custom house on our arrival here. They 

 have been very anxious to get a timaran, and as they had much 

 material valuable for the Academy's collections from these is- 

 lands, we felt that an exchange could be made to good advantage 

 to both parties. The specimen we gave them was an old bull, and 



