This was a two‑member scientific and natural‑history expedition to St Kitts, supported by the Imperial College Exploration Board, the Royal Geographical Society, and Muller Publishers. It was the first all female expedition supported by the Exploration Board. Its goals were to document the fauna, flora, geology, and agricultural conditions of the islands, with particular emphasis on insect pests, reptiles, amphibians, and the ecology of sugar cane—the dominant crop of St Kitts.
The expedition travelled by French Line steamer to Guadeloupe, by inter‑island aircraft to St Kitts, and stayed at several estates including Wingfield and West Farm. Logistical challenges included limited funds, restricted female travel on cargo vessels, and the severe Hurricane Donna in early September, which damaged infrastructure and interrupted planned fieldwork such as mountain surveys and railway studies.
St Kitts’ physical geography—a volcanic island with steep slopes, deep ghauts, and active erosion—was extensively described, alongside its climate (tropical, trade‑wind moderated, with heavy rainfall events) and vegetation zones ranging from coastal dry scrub to montane rain forest. The report also includes a detailed historical account of the island, from pre‑Carib occupation to European colonisation by Thomas Warner and the establishment of sugar plantations.
A major scientific component was the study of mealybugs on sugar cane, pineapple, citrus, avocado, and guava. Species such as Saccharococcus sacchari, Pseudococcus boninsis, and Pseudococcus nipae were documented, along with their ant symbionts, predators, and attempted biological control measures. The expedition investigated cane‑field infestations, root mealybugs, and limitations of predator introduction programmes.
Extensive zoological collecting was carried out. The team documented tree frogs, toads, and especially reptiles—numerous Anolis lizard species, geckos, and a large ground lizard possibly unique in distribution. Marine surveys recorded corals, sea fans, urchins, starfish, and reef ecology. Overall, the expedition provided valuable ecological, agricultural, and faunal records for a region then poorly represented in British Museum collections.