SECRETARY'S REPORT 47 



tions. Although a spawning reaction was induced in two individuals 

 of one species by the introduction of the sex products of a third, no 

 development of possible fertilized eggs could be noted. It is theorized 

 that natural spawning in this group may occur during the warmer 

 summer months and that the event is initiated by the occurrence of a 

 particular water temperature. Similar studies were carried out on 

 specimens of Littorinidae. 



In connection with her research on Leguminosae, Dr. Velva E. 

 Rudd, associate curator of phanerogams, joined a group of botanists 

 from the University of California and the University of Mexico dur- 

 ing December in a 10-day field trip in the region of San Bias, Mexico. 

 En route she spent 2 days in Mexico City at the Instituto de Biologia, 

 University of Mexico, examining plant specimens. The collections 

 and field experience will be helpful in planning more intensive future 

 work in the area. 



Dr. John J. Wurdack, associate curator of phanerogams, returned 

 in December from Peru where he had continued on the field trip 

 reported last year. Most of his collecting centered around Chacha- 

 poyas in the northern highlands, with the last few months spent along 

 the Rio Maranon from below Pongo de Rentema to Pongo de Man- 

 seriche in the tropical rainforest. Total specimens exceed 12,000. 

 Dr. Wurdack attributes much of the success of the trip to the help 

 received from the staff of the Museo de Historia Natural "Javier 

 Prado" in Lima, where one complete set of his specimens has been 

 deposited. 



Dr. Harold Robinson, associate curator of cryptogams, spent most 

 of May collecting bryophytes in Mexico. The work centered in the 

 Valle Nacional area of northern Oaxaca, with short visits to Chiapas 

 and Guerrero. Dr. Robinson estimates that about 300 specimens from 

 the collection will be retained. 



Early in December, an algologist. Dr. Richard Norris, was added to 

 the staff as associate curator. He left Washington almost immediately 

 to join the first and some of the subsequent cruises of the Anton Bruun 

 of the International Indian Ocean Expedition. 



While in Trinidad attending the Neotropical Botany Conference 

 early in July, Dr. William L. Stem, curator of plant anatomy, gath- 

 ered a small group of wood specimens from the northern part of the 

 island. In the latter part of August, while on his way to attend the 

 meetings of the American Institute of Biological Sciences in Corvallis, 

 Oreg., he collected wood specimens in the Rocky Mountains of Colo- 

 rado and in the Cascade and Coast Ranges of Oregon. 



During February and March, Dr. Stem, accompanied by two other 

 members of his division, Dr. Richard H. Eyde, associate curator, and 

 Edward S. Ayensu, research assistant, conducted fieldwork in Pan- 



