292 proceedings: biological society 



expedition to the Canal Zone. The work of former collectors of insects 

 in the region was reviewed as well as that done during the present year. 

 The climatic conditions were described and their effect on the insect 

 fauna Avas considered. The operations incident to digging the Canal 

 have destroyed much of this fauna in the immediate vicinity of the work. 

 In spite of efforts to destroy them, a few flies and mosquitoes still exist. 



Dr. S. E. Meek of the Field Museum spoke of the fishes and other 

 aquatic life of the Canal Zone and showed maps and a series of pic- 

 tures of characteristic scenery along the streams in which collecting was 

 done, as well as of operations along the Canal route. In Dr. Meek's 

 field work he was assisted by Mr. S. F. Hildebrand of the Bureau of 

 Fisheries. They landed at Cristobal, December 28, and at once entered 

 upon their field investigations which they continued without interrup- 

 tion until the twenty-fourth of the following May. They gave first 

 attention to those streams soon to be most changed by the work on the 

 Canal. Then collecting was done in the brackish waters and along 

 the shores in order that ample series of specimens might be gotten 

 of those species most likely to pass through the Canal on its com- 

 pletion. Practically all the streams of the Zone and a few adjacent 

 ones on the Pacific side were thoroly explored. Much additional work 

 remains to be done in the salt and brackish waters, particularly on 

 the Atlantic side, and in the streams in the adjacent territory. 



It is necessary to extend the explorations to the streams and shallow 

 bays on each side of the Zone for a distance of 50 to 100 miles. It is 

 the intention to do this during the coming winter. 



Mr. E. A. Goldman of the Biological Survey told of his field work in 

 studying the distribution and abundance of the mammals and birds, 

 and collecting specimens. He remained in the field from December 

 28 to the end of June following. Gatun was selected as headquarters, 

 as that region will undergo great biologic changes as a result of the trans- 

 formation of a forest into a lake with an area of 164 square miles upon 

 the completion of the Canal. Nearly 2500 specimens were secured. 

 Among bird groups the antthrushes, flycatchers, woodhewers and hum- 

 mers are most numerous in genera and species. Mammals of 39 genera, 

 exclusive of bats, were collected. These included five genera of monkeys 

 and four generations of opossums. One of the most interesting of the 

 mammals collected is a specimen of Bassariscyon, one of the rarest of 

 American mammals in the museums of the world. The genus has a 

 known range extending from Nicaragua on the north to Ecuador on 

 the south, and while it includes four species probably less than 10 indi- 

 viduals, all told, have been collected. 



While the work Avas concentrated largely in the Gatun Lake area 

 collections were also made at various localities along the line of the Pan- 

 ama Railroad soutlrvvard to the Pacific coast, and in adjoining parts of 

 Panama. In March a trip was made overland from Chepo into the 

 mountains near the headwaters of the Chagres River where ten days 

 were spent on the Cerro Azul, a mountain about 3000 feet high. To 

 reach this mountain pack horses were used to transport the field outfit 



