Early information on the natural history of the atoll is available only 
from the reports made by various ship’s captains who visited or were wrecked 
there. Even scientists who visited the atoll prior to 1925 were limited to 
a few hours observations* Such early observations were made by Munro (l94l) 
in July 1891, Willett (Bailey, 1956) in March 1915, and Elschner (191W in 
September 1914. • - 
The Tanager Expedition visited Pearl and Hermes from 26 through 28 April 
and again from 17 through 19 May in 1925. Members of the party which camped 
on Pearl and Hermes in April were Alexander Wetmore, Ornithologist; David T. 
Fullaway, Entomologist; David Thaanum, Conchologist; Edward L. Caum, Botanist; 
<g.ric 
C. Grant, Naturalist; and Ms* Schleramer, 1Assistant? Hydrographic charts 
were made of the atoll and two previously uncharted islands were named by 
Dr. Wetmore. Collections were made of birds, mammals, insects, arachnids, 
plants, fish, molluscs, and many varieties of marine invertebrates. 
Twenty-one species of birds were reported, including a mummified gull 
(Wetmore, ■ notes)^ Sber bird and mammal life observed was briefL - y 
by Wetmore (1925). The insects collected were described in papers 
by Timber lake (1924), Bryan (1926), Wheeler (1954), and Zimmerman (1948). 
Eleven plant species found growing on the islands, and two represented in 
beach drift, were discussed by Christophersen and Caum ( 1951 ), and their 
specimens were also mentioned in papers by Sberff (1955) and Fosberg (1959)* 
Arachnid specimens were briefly mentioned by Thompson (1948). Fish specimens 
collected by the expedition have been discussed by Fowler and Ball (1925) and 
Fowler (1927, 1928, 1951, 1954, and 1949). Ihe myriapods were mentioned by 
Attens (1958). The drustacea were treated by Edmondson (1925), the 
steams- by FiBher ( 1925 ) and Clark (1925 and 1£49), and the jforaminifera by 
Cushman (1925). 
t 
