SECRETARY'S REPORT 181 



BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, AND IMPROVEMENTS 



The existing facilities on Barro Colorado Island were improved in 

 a number of ways during the last year. The top floor of the Old 

 Laboratory was renovated to provide additional living accommoda- 

 tions for visitmg scientists. The reconstruction of Barbour House at 

 its new site, necessitated by the 1959 landslide, was completed. Ex- 

 tensive repairs were made to the dock, and a new landing stage, to 

 facilitate loading and unloading of gas and diesel oil drums, was 

 constructed. Routine maintenance activities included painting some 

 buildings, and minor repairs to several houses and aviaries. One 

 generator was overhauled, and a new electric i/^-hp. water pump was 

 installed. New rain-recording equipment is in process of being in- 

 stalled by the Hydrographic Office of the Panama Canal Company. 

 Expansion of the library continued. 



OTHER ACTIVITIES 



Scientific research conducted on Barro Colorado Island during the 

 past year encompassed every field of tropical natural history except 

 anthropology. 



The Resident Naturalist continued his research on the behavior of 

 several groups of tropical birds and monkeys. Field observations of 

 the behavior of tropical American carnivores were completed. 



Dr. John Ebinger, of Yale University, conducted botanical studies 

 in addition to adding considerably to the collection of botanical speci- 

 mens and reorganizing the station herbarium. 



John Zimmerman continued the research on the physiology of 

 tropical birds begun in 1959 by Dr. Charles Kendeigh of the Uni- 

 versity of Illinois. Other research projects continued dealt with 

 temperature and humidity gradients conducted by Dr. Charles F. 

 Bennett, Jr., and the analysis of the behavior of Lepidoptera by Dr. 

 Andrew Blest. A summaiy of Dr. Blest's earlier work on Barro 

 Colorado Island appeared in the Annual Report of the Smithsonian 

 Institution for 1959. 



Termites and ants, both of which have been favored subjects for 

 study from the inception of the station, continued to provide material 

 for several scientists. Those birds that follow amiy ants were the 

 subject of a year-long investigation by Edwin Willis of the University 

 of California. 



FINANCES 



Trust funds for the maintenance of the island and its living facil- 

 ities are obtained by collections from visitors and scientists, table 

 subscriptions, and donations. 



The following institutions continued their support to the laboratory 

 through the payment of table subscriptions: Eastman Kodak Co., 



