ON THE FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 355 



niTich less cultivated, is covered with dense forest, and possesses a greater 

 range in elevation. 



The Committee recommend their reappointment with the following 

 members: — Dr. Sclater (Chairman), Mr. George Murray (Secretary), 

 Mr. Carruthers, Professor Newton, Mr. Godman, Dr. Giinther, Dr. Sharp, 

 Dr. Scott, and Colonel Feilden. The Committee also recommend that a 

 grant of 200Z. be placed at their disposal for the continuation of their 

 work. 



Second Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor A. Newton 

 (Chairman), Dr. W. T. Blanford, Dr. S. J. Hickson, Professor 

 KiLET, Mr. 0. Salvin, Dr. P. L. Sclater, Mr. E. A. Smith, and 

 Mr. D. Sharp (Secretary), appointed to report on the present 

 state of our knowledge of the Zoology of the Sandivich Islands, 

 and to take steps to investigate ascertained deficiencies in the 

 Fauna, with power to co-operate ivith the Committee appointed 

 for the purpose by the Royal Society, and to avail themselves of 

 such assistance in their investigations as may be offered by 

 the Hawaiian Government. 



Tour committee met that appointed by the Royal Society, and a joint 

 committee was formed, with Professor Newton as Chairman, Dr. Hickson, 

 Treasurer, and Mr. D. Sharp, Secretary. The joint committee decided to 

 send out a competent collector to the islands, and finally Selected, from 

 among several candidates who presented themselves, Mr. R. C. L. Perkins, 

 B.A., of Jesus College, Oxford. 



Mr. Perkins left England in February last, and reached Honolulu in 

 March. Letters received from him since then give assurance that he is 

 sparing no effort to carry out successfully the task with which he has 

 been entrusted, and a case containing the material results of his first two 

 months' work in Oahu is now on its way to England by sea, its trans- 

 mission by the nearest route being considered inexpedient. 



The Committee have left considerable discretion to Mr. Perkins in 

 regard to his operations in the islands, and it being evident that the 

 birds and some groups of molluscs are those which chiefly attract the 

 amateur collector, he has rather devoted his attention to the rest of the 

 fauna, which unless taken in hand by some body, such as this committee, 

 -would probably not be investigated at all. At the same time, Mr. Perkins 

 has been directed to pay attention to certain points in Ornithology and 

 Malacology which require elucidation, and the Committee are confident 

 that he will not neglect them. To attend to these points in Ornithology, 

 to collect the Mollusca with special attention to their local range, and to 

 make as complete a collection as may be possible of the other invertebrate 

 fauna will, the Committee consider, occupy Mr. Perkins for fully two 

 years. 



The Committee have no reason to think that Mr. Perkins is incurring 

 any unnecessary expenses ; but the cost of living and travelling in the 

 islands is very considerable, and, in order to retain that gentleman's 

 services so as to complete the task in the way the Committee think de- 



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