proceedings: biological society 307 



One burrow was carefully studied; its galleries totaled 75 feet, mostly 

 on a level of about two feet below the surface. Store rooms with but 

 little in them (May 15), a nursery and a relatively large empty room, 

 were found, also compartments for gathering feces, one especially for 

 the young, near the nursery. There were 9 or 10 openings, 2 or 3 of 

 which were vertical shafts used apparently only for ventilation. 



The nocturnal habits of the Kangaroo Rat are necessarily hard to 

 follow. They jump 8 to 10 feet regularly, perhaps 15 feet in an emer- 

 gency. They travel considerable distances, a mile, perhaps, for food 

 such as alfalfa when it is available. They have great ability to find 

 their way home and through their galleries, and a corresponding de- 

 velopment of the semicircular canals of the ear as in the homing pigeon 

 and other animals with greatly developed sense of direction. Between 

 the shoulders of both sexes is a gland of considerable size. The suppo- 

 sition that this gland is rubbed on branches or elsewhere for purposes 

 of communication or identification in a manner comparable to that of 

 some ungulates could not be confirmed. They communicate very little 

 by squeaks or other recognizable means. The Kangaroo Rats dig 

 in the open places among the bushes. Search in such places revealed 

 a few insects, mostly beetles. Perhaps this is the only source of fluid, 

 other than that released by oxidation of carbohydrates, for a large 

 part of the year. There is evidence that these animals have games 

 at their gatherings in open places among bushes. In the burrows are 

 some symbionts, mostly beetles, but no rattlesnakes or other large 

 animals. 



Mr. Seton's paper was discussed by Vernon Bailey, E. W. Nelson, 

 H. H. T. Jackson, L. O. Howard, and the Chairman. 



The Chairman of the Committee on Communications, S. A. Rohwer, 

 announced that the suggestions which had been laid before the Society 

 relating to the meetings had been taken under consideration, and that 

 the subject of submitting questions for answers was especially discussed 

 with a view of puting the suggestion into effect. 



606TH MEETING 



The 6o6th meeting of the Biological Society of Washington was held 

 in the lecture hall of the Cosmos Club at 8 p.m. February 7, 1920, with 

 Dr. A. D. Hopkins in the chair, and 45 persons present. 



Under the heading of Brief notes, Dr. W. P. Taylor made inquiry 

 regarding the flocking habits of certain species of small birds in the 

 woods of the northwest coast, such as the Western Golden-crowned 

 Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Shufeldt Junco, Red-breasted Nut- 

 hatch, and Townsend and Lutescent Warblers. Reasons suggested for 

 these interspecific associations, such as sociability, protection from 

 enemies, and more efficient food getting, may partially account for the 

 flocking but are not fully satisfactory. 



