Uoteb« 14, 1958 
mmiuM&m cusc :kbisg maxural HiaxoRY qolu-^imq um pacific i«i©axohjul 
Ibis iusm appr@cir.tes very such the valuable natural history specimens 
which have been collected on Jr.rvis* Hyland# B-sjeer, and other Pacific Equatorial 
islands which have been visited by the various trips of the U.3.C.G*Itasoa* 
In answering the question as to what else could be collected for the Museum* 
1 would like to point out the present state of our knowledge concerning toe 
natural history of these islands* The number of species tea oeoh of toe three 
islands, J * rvia, Howl and, and Baker, er<d tl«© total number of different species, 
as recorded in the writer’s swum script report, are as follows* 
Jervis 
Howland 
Baker 
Total 
Plants 
9 
8 
17 
20 
UsmmXB 
1 
1 
1 
3 
Birds 
13 
13 
12 
18 
Reptiles 
8 
2 
2 
1 
Fishes 
20 
& 
28 
34 
Crustacea 
m 
81 
19 
98 
The insects have not yet been worked up sufficiently to allow a suraaary* 
A large porportioa of toe pleats and marine salmis had 'm<m collected 
by the WhippoormH Expedition, in 1924# but substantial representation of toe 
spe«i«s has been brought basic by the Itasca Expeditions* 
It ‘Mould be wry desirable to obtain more specimens of insects from 
Baker Island* the writer had lose time to collect such on that island 
last year than on the other too, and fewer specimens haw been received from 
others* Spooiams of eggs, with their contents bierm out, which were definitely 
associated with toe various birds; and specimens of rats, mice, and lizards, 
would bo welcomed* fro® all tore® of the islands* Farther collecting of marine 
specimenst mall fishes, unusual oruetaoca, and especially stor fishes, m urchins 
holothurisas, end marine worms, would form a valuable addition to the scientific 
knowledge of toe distribution of these species in too Pacific* Hie re is no need 
to collect plants, unless something appears which ms not previously known* but 
a statement regarding to® progress of agricultural experiments would be appreciated 
Considerable collecting equipment h* s been furnished from this msmm for 
all three islands* Unless spoiled, there should be considerable left* there is 
a large galvanised iron tank for marine specimens on Jarvis and on -owlsad, which 
might b© brough lack, whether full or not, as the contents might spoil if left too 
long* 1 would appreciate an inventory of the remaining containers end preserving 
fluid, so that more might be supplied next trip if needed* &a insect collecting 
unit is furnished herewith for B«ker Island* 
Yours respectfully. 
S* H* 8ryon,Jr*, 
Curator of Collections* 
