8 EXPEDITION TO LAYSAN ISLAND IN 1911. 



Through the instrumentality of Prof. C. C. Nutting, head of the 

 department of zoology, State University of Iowa, arrangements were 

 made in 1911 with the Secretary of Agriculture to send a coopera- 

 tive expedition to Laysan. The principal objects of the expedition 

 were to obtain for the Bureau of Biological Survey of the department 

 data for a comprehensive report as to the present condition of the 

 rookeries and as to the effects of the nefarious work of poachers on 

 the avifauna and to make a collection of the birds, their nests, eggs, 

 and the necessary accessories for making a large panoramic grouD 

 for the State University of Iowa. 



The personnel of the party consisted of the writer and three assist- 

 ants, Mr. H. C. Young, Mr. C. J. Albrecht, and Mr. C. A. Corwin. 

 Mr. W. A. Bryan joined the party in Honolulu as the representative 

 of the Department of Agriculture, spent a week on Laysan, and 

 returned to Honolulu on the Thetis. 



The writer is indebted to Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn, Mr. D. B. Kuhns, 

 Mr. Max Schlemmer, Mr. W. A. Bryan, the members of the University 

 Club, and others for their kind assistance and hospitality while in 

 Honolulu. I wish also to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of 

 the men who accompanied me: Mr. H. C. Young, who assisted in 

 assembling data for this report, Mr. C. J. Albrecht, who made the 

 photographs, and Mr. C. A. Corwin, who made paintings for our 

 group. I am also indebted to Mr. Dayton Stoner, of our museum 

 staff, for his careful drawing of the map on which I have indicated 

 the bird rookeries. 



HAWAIIAN ISLANDS RESERVATION. 



The Hawaiian Islands Reservation is composed of the islands and 

 reefs included in the leeward chain extending in a northwesterly 

 direction from the main Hawaiian Group. These islands are situated 

 from 100 to 300 miles apart and are composed principally of lava. 

 Laysan, the largest island of the reservation, is low and flat, the 

 highest point being only 50 feet above sea level. On the surface of this 

 island is a layer of coral sand and phosphate rock. Laysan has an 

 area of about 2 square miles; the others vary in size from 1 square 

 mile to small rocky reefs. Bird Island is high and precipitous, 

 having a peak of 903 feet, and one side of the island is perpendicular. 



These islands have a vegetation of low bushes and sand grasses. 

 The climate is warm but not enervating, tempered as it is by the 

 northeast trade winds. Severe thunder storms are almost unknown. 



At the present time the islands are entirely uninhabited by man, 

 and indeed landing can be effected only in favorable weather; but 

 they offer excellent nesting sites and abundant food for the millions 

 of sea birds which resort to this remote oceanic reservation. 



