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Scientific Visits 
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The first visit v of scientific importance was that of Herr C. Isenbeck, 
the German surgeon on the Russian exploring vessel MoHer which visited the 
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island in late March 1828. Isenbeck reported his findings to Herr F. H. yon 
Kittlitz when the two met in Kamchatka several years later, and the latter 
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published the information (von Kittlitz, l8;>4). An English translation of 
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Kittlitz's paper appears in The Avifauna of Layean and the Neighboring 
Islands (Rothschild, 1893-1900)* Isenbeck found twelve species of birds, 
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including a duck and a rail, which were apparently the Laysan Teal and 
Laysan Rail, according to his species descriptions. He also noted sea 
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turtles and seals. 
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The account of the wreck of the Holder Borden , Captain Jobish Pell, on 
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Lisianski on 5 April 1844^contains two points of scientific interest. Pell 
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mentions flocks of wild ducks, which were easily tamed, perhaps a second 
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reference to the Laysan Teal on Lisianski. His account also Includes a 
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description of a swampy lagoon in the interior of the island, into which the 
highest tides occasionally flowed. ( The Polynesian , 12 October 1844). 
Henry Palmer and George C. Munro, collecting for the Honorable Walter 
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Rothschild of Gagimmy, visited Lisianski in late June and early July I 89 I, 
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and their findings are reported by Rothschild (1893-1900) • Palmer found 
twelve species of sea birds and four of shorjbirds, seals and turtles, but 
does not mention a duck or a rail. 
On 12 March 1915 A. M. Bailey and G. Willett landed on Lisianski from 
4 the Revenue Cutter Thetis * They liberated 45 Laysan Rails and made brief 
notes on the avifauna, which were later published by^Bailey (1956). When 
the Thetis next visited the Island on 12 September 1914 a chemical engineer 
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Carl Elschner, made observations on the geology, flora and fauna (Elschner, 
19I5)* The Thetis Visited Lisianski on 2k March 1915 at which time 1st Lt. 
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