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ADDRESS REPLY TO 
CHIEF, BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
AND REFER TO 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. c. February 13, 1323 
Dr* Alexander Wetmore, 
Assistant Biologist. 
Dear Doctor Wetmore: 
You are hereby made the leader of the cooperative Biological 
Survey - Bishop Museum scientific expedition to the Hawaiian Island Bird 
Reservation and outlying islands. You will have charge of the scientific 
operations and photography, and arrangements for stopping on the different 
islands, landings, and other work: of that kind from the ship will be 
arranged by the scientific staff through you as its head with the officer 
in command of the ship. Independent individual arrangements should not 
be permitted since that would interfere with the unity of action and mi^it 
result in friction and embarrassment. It is most desirable that everything 
should go on with the utmost harmony in order that the Davy might be pleased 
with the work and personnel and thus favorably disposed toward other 
possible similar expeditions. 
Promptly on arrival at Honolulu you will get in touch with Professor 
Herbert E. Gregory, Director of the Bishop Museum and confer with him as 
to the details of the trip and the personnel which he desires to send 
representing the Bishop Museum. You should also accompany Professor Gregory 
for a conference with the Commandant of the Pearl Harbor Naval Station in 
order that the three of you may work out definitely the plans for the 
itinerary of the trip, the matter of accommodations, and the storage and 
working quarters on board the mine-sweepe r which the Navy Department has 
allotted for this expedition. 
The bird collection made on this trip will be wholly under your 
direction and all the birds taken placed in your charge. All of the speci¬ 
mens are to be sent to the Biological Survey with the exception of the 
limited number of specimens which will be delivered to Professor Gregory 
for the Bishop Museum to fill gaps in its collection. What these gaps 
are will be determined by you and Professor Gregory at the museum on your 
arrival in Honolulu, and so far as can be done without depriving our 
collection of specimens, which are considered very necessary, you will try 
to fill for him. From Professor Gregory I understood that the number they 
will desire is very limited. 
You have a copy of Dr. Murphy’s letter from the American Museum 
specifying the list of birds desired for their collection through Doctor 
