UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
ALLAN HANCOCK FOUNDATION 
UNIVERSITY PARK 
LOS ANGELES 7. CALIFORNIA 
14 June 
1963 
Dear Dr. Schmitt: 
Thank you for your two very welcome letters which we enjoyed. 
I am genuinely relieved that you are interested in having the 
Antarctic invertebrate fauna seriously studied, for I know that 
your opinion and suggestions carry much weight with agencies con- 
cerned with the granting of funds for systematic study. 
V p <=* 
I have prepared a workable (for me) Handbook (in MS) on 
polychaetes and other VERMES of Antarctic regions. This includes 
all published (through 1962) records south of 40°S Latitude (hence 
also subAntarctic regions and southern Islands) . The records are 
mainly those established by expeditions of foreign governments 
(French, Belgian, British, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Russian, 
Australian and USA, together with a few others) for which collect- 
ing polychaetes was probably the least of their objectives. Con- 
sequently there is a sparse representation of these animals,' and 
in many instances only the large or very obvious animals are 
named. Only 66% of the known families of polychaetes are repre- 
sented, and not nearly as many species as are expected. There 
437 specific entries (not counting the names which have been 
eferred to synonymies) . A few species (notably Harmothod s o ino s a 
cii ft 
irotamiiia antaretica 5 and some o oners ; 
namea over ana over, but: 
most species are known through single, incomplete records for 
which the descriptions leave much to be desired and illustrations 
4m 
are even more wanting . Someone, using NS? funds, has recently 
^ — W *r> *- 
contoura- copied some or the illustrations. To me it would seem more 
rewarding to emend the diagnoses and replace the illustrations, with 
O 
more diagnostic ones based on studies of collection 
« 
Concerning your own immediate need- that of having useful 
specific names for polychaetes you saw or collected- it would seem 
that your Museum staff (equipped with books, collections, special- 
ists, secretarial help, etc.) is best equipped to handle the 
problem,. Dr. Pettibone may be able to place the genera or even 
species very quickly, simply by consulting the Antarctic expeditiona 
\olumes . 
Or would you suggest that I plan a trip to Washington (not 
before September) to examine your collections? Then I might label 
them as I go over them and indicate where descriptions are needed. 
How could such a trip be financed? Would it be advisable to dis- 
proposal to NSF (Systematic section) designed to support a 
: study of Antarctic polychae'bes , using especially those 
in the USNM and those taken by the ELTANIN? What, in yo ur opinion 
are the chances that such a orooosal would receive acceptance? 
cuss 
monograpn: 
Thank you for your help, and Best Wishes to you and you 
Associates . 
Yours sincerely, 
/ • •< / 
'hr,-,, ,A*i 
Olga Hartman 
i / * 0 
