The volume documents the field work of Paul Bartsch on nudibranchs during the Philippines Expedition aboard the U.S.S. Albatross, as well as detailed field illustrations by Kumataro Ito [伊藤, 熊太郎 ]. Also includes news clippings. Inside the front cover is a poem by Bartsch,"count that day lost whose low descending sun finds no new nudibranch described, drawn and done." The illustrations were created on individual sheets of paper and pasted into the volume. They appear to be watercolor and are highly detailed. The artist wrote notations in Japanese alongside images about specimen appearance,collector, and time of collection. Paul Bartsch also wrote notations on the images listing dredge location number (e.g. D139) and page numbers in the volume for relevant entries. Entries are headed with initial specimen determination, dredge location numbers, and followed by a narrative description of specimen characteristics (color, shape, measurements) and observed behaviors. It is unclear where specimens documented in the volume currently reside. The illustrations were the basis of illustrations in related publications. At the end of the volume is a list of what appear to be specimen numbers headed with "Museum del Ateneo Manila."
Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu.
