Scientific Visits 
The first scientific observations made on Kure were those of Munter 
(op. cit .) who visited the island in March of 1915. He reported the 
presence of seals and rats, and a population estimates and breeding infor- 
mation on eight species of sea birds and one shore bird. Prior to this 
visit available information on the natural history of the atoll was limited 
to the comments made by the various ship ? s captains who visited, or were 
wrecked there , 
The first visit to Kure of major scientific importance was that of the 
Tanager Expedition in 192J. The members of the party -Which camped on Kure 
16-21 April 1923 were Alexander Wetmore, Ornithologist; David T, Full away, 
Entomologist; David Thaanum, Conchologist; Edward L. Gaum, Botanist; 
Major C. Grant, Naturalist; and Max Schlemmer, Jr,, Assistant, Hydrographic 
charts were made of the atoll, and collections made of birds, mammals, 
insects, arachnids, plants, fish, molluscs, and many varieties of marine 
invertebrates* 
Nineteen species of birds were reported, including a mummified gull, 
(Wetmore, unpub, pers. notes) the Hawaiian monk seal was rediscovered, and 
thousands of Polynesian rats were found on Green Island, The bird and 
1 
Manual life observed was briefly reported on by Wetmore ( 1925 ), The insects 
* 
collected were described in papers by Timberlake (1924), Bryan ( 1926 ), 
Wheeler ( 1934 ), and Zimmerman (1948). Thirteen plant species found growing 
on Green Island and four species represented in beach drift, were discussed 
by Christoph*rsen and Caum (1931), and their specimens were also mentioned 
in papers by oherff (1935) and Fosberg (1939). Arachnid specimens were 
briefly mentioned by Thompson (1948). Fish specimens coll ea ' the 
expedition have been discussed by Fowler and Ball ( 1925 ) and Fowie. ^ 1927 , 
1928, 1931, 1934, and 1949). The myriapods were mentioned by Attems ( 1938 ). 
The Crustacea were treated by Edmondson ( 1925 ), the echinoderms by Fisher 
( 1925 ) and Clark (1925 and 1949), and the Foraminifera by Cushman ( 1925 ). 
