Page:The Natural History of Sokotra and Abd-el-Kuri.djvu/13

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This volume contains the results of a conjoint Expedition undertaken in the winter of 1898-9 by representatives of the British and Liverpool Museums, for (chiefly) the Zoological exploration of Sokotra. By incorporating the results of previous or (where available) contemporaneous explorations, the work forms practically a Monograph of the islands visited.

The cost of the Expedition was borne by votes from the Government Grant of the Royal Society of London and the Museums Committee of the Liverpool City Council, supplemented by subsidies from the Councils of the Royal Geographical Society of London (in addition to a loan of instruments) and the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

This volume is issued, in accordance with a mutual agreement under the authority, and at the expense, of the above named Committee of the Corporation of Liverpool, as a special Bulletin of the Liverpool Museums, its official publication.

The Committee desires to thank very heartily the various distinguished specialists who have contributed sections on the different groups on which they are authorities, to whom the Editor would beg to add his acknowledgements of their forbearance over the delay in the publication of the work, which he deeply regrets, but which is due to circumstances quite beyond his control.

The grateful thanks of the two Institutions interested in the Expedition are due to the for so generously granting the service of the despatch boat Elphinstone, of the Indian Marine at Aden, for the conveyance of its members to and from their destination; for the loan of tents and for the protection, while on the islands, of a military guard consisting of a native sub-officer and a Sikh, as also for the use of camels in their excursions in Arabia : to General, V.C, Political Resident at Aden, for the fullest official aid, and, together with Mrs. Creagh, for much private kindness : to Captain , First Political Assistant, from whom they received constant and valuable advice and ready assistance, besides his own and Mrs. hospitality in their delightfully-situated residence, on their return from Sokotra : to Captain and the officers of the Elphinstone, who did everything possible for their comfort and assistance while on board : and, finally, but not less sincerely, to D., Esq., and the British India S.S. Company, for generous concessions and privileges in the matter