428 proceedings: biological society 



Dr. H. M. Smith called attention to a large whale shark captured 

 during the past year in Florida waters. It originally measured 38 feet 

 in length, but as now mounted, 45 feet. Pictures of this shark were ex- 

 hibited and extracts from a letter by the captor read. Dr. Smith's 

 remarks were discussed by the chair and by Dr. Gill. 



BEGULAR PROGRAM 



The remarkable extinct fauna of southern California revealed in the 

 asphalt deposits near Los Angeles: Dr. C. Hart Merriam. 



The asphalt in this region was known to the Indians for centuries 

 and was mentioned by the early Spanish padres. Altho remains of 

 animals in the asphalt deposits have been known since about the middle 

 of the last century,. they have only' lately been extensively studied by 

 Dr. J. C. Merriam of the University of California. The viscous asphalt 

 appears to have acted as a natural trap, first entangling certain birds 

 and mammals, which in turn served as bait to larger predatory forms. 

 The remains may be. roughly divided into three groups: (1) Birds, 

 some still existing,*but mostly extinct, among them, hawks, eight genera 

 of eagles, vultures, including both North and South American condors, 

 a condorlike bird, Teratorms of huge size, owls, ravens, herons, a pea- 

 cock; (2) Small mammals, as spermophiles, kangaroorats, etc., and small 

 carnivorous forms as weasels, skunks, badgers, bobcats, grey foxes; 

 (3) Large mammals, as deer, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, mastodons, 

 glyptodons, and large predatory forms as wolves, mountain lions giant 

 lions, sabertoothed tigers, and bears. Often several individuals of car- 

 nivorous forms, as giant wolves, sabertoothed tigers are associated with 

 a single large ruminant. Discussed by Messrs. Gill, Hay and others. 



Notes on the big bears of N or th America: Dr. C. Hart Merriam. The 

 speaker commented on the lack of adequate material for a systematic 

 study of these bears. The black bear and allied forms he regarded as 

 constituting a distinct genus from the brown and grizzly bears belonging 

 to the genus Ursus, about forty forms of which could be recognized as 

 inhabiting the North American continent and adjacent islands. 



Distribution of game animals in Africa: Edmund Heller. Mr. 

 Heller spoke of the life zones and areas of East Africa illustrating the 

 subject with maps, views of topography, and characteristic mammals. 

 The following areas, based mainly upon watersheds, were recognized: 

 West Nile, East Nile, Uganda, East Africa, Abyssinia; and these life 

 zones: Congo Forest, Tropical, Nyika, Highland Veldt, Highland 

 Forest. 



M. W. Lyon, Jr., Recording Secretary, pro tem. 



