226 REPORTS 01^ INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



Duerden, James E., Rhodes University College, Grahamstown, South 

 Africa. Grant No. 432. Continuation of investigations on the mor- 

 phology and development of recent and fossil corals and physiology of 

 the Zoantharia. (For previous reports see Year Book No. 2, p. xli; 

 Year Book No. 3, p. 137; Year Book No. 4, p. 277, and Year Book 

 No. 5, p. 245.) $500. 



Owing to the necessity, in Dr. Duerden's new appointment, of conducting 

 certain physiological and genetical researches having some local importance, 

 it has not been possible to devote much time to coral studies, but it is hoped 

 that it may be possible to secure some trained assistant to complete the 

 working over of the material in hand. 



Eigenmann, C. H., Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Grant No. 

 68. Investigation on the blind fishes in the caves of Cuba. (For pre- 

 vious reports see Year Book No. 2, p. xlii ; Year Book No. 3, p. 138, 

 and Year Book No. 4, p. 278.) $1,000. 



Professor Eigenmann reports that as a result of the investigation carried 

 on with the aid of the above grant, it has been found that the Cuban blind 

 fishes give birth to living young about 20 mm. long ; that some of the young 

 at the time of birth have ey<=^s that are well formed and can be moved, which 

 pro'DaI)Iy might t»e functional ; that the eyes in different individuals at the 

 time of birth differ greatly, and that they have scleral cartilages much too 

 large for the eyes ; that the eyes of even the youngest individuals examined 

 show signs of degeneration, and that the eyes after birth undergo '' rapid 

 degeneration, emphasized first by the loss of the lens and the scleral cartil- 

 ages ; that further degeneration is progressive to old age, where the vanish- 

 ing-point is reached; that this degeneration may early result either in the 

 shriveling of the eye or in its great distention, and that these two methods 

 may be found on opposite sides of the same fish ; that this eye varies to such 

 an extent and is disappearing by a progressive process which excludes muta- 

 tion and natural selection as possible explanations. The final report has been 

 submitted for publication. 



Hodge, Clifton F., Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts. Grant 

 No. 424. Studies in the domestication and evolution of varieties of the 

 grouse, partridge, and quails of North America. $500. 



The work of domesticating the ruffed grouse and American quail or bob- 

 white has progressed well during the season. During May 54 eggs of the 

 ruffed grouse were obtained, of which 39 hatched. Of this number 10 fine, 

 healthy birds have been reared, the largest flock that has ever been reared 

 in domestication. As to the rest, an attempt was made to rear one brood of 

 16 on clean ground with a hen. All of these sickened and died early in the 



