14 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1942 



9. Solar Prominences in Motion, by Robert R. McMath, director of the McMath- 

 Hulbert Observatory of the University of Michigan. January 16, 1940. 

 10. Biological Effects of Solar Radiation on Higher Animals and Man, by Brian 

 O'Brien, professor of Physiological Optics, University of Rochester 

 February 25, 1941. 



EXPLORATIONS AND FIELD WORK 



Explorations, often in out-of-the-way corners of the earth, have 

 always formed a major part of the Institution's program for the 

 "increase and diffusion of knowledge." Although world conditions 

 during the past year have made it either impracticable or undesir- 

 able to send out many of the expeditions that normally would have 

 taken the field, nevertheless, even under the present unfavorable con- 

 ditions it was found possible to carry on some field work in connec- 

 tion with researches previously commenced. 



In astrophysics, the Institution's field observers carried on their 

 study of the intensity of solar radiation at the three Smithsonian 

 observing stations on Mount Montezuma, Chile, Table Mountain, 

 Calif., and Burro Mountain, N. Mex. Observations were made on 

 every suitable day throughout the year, and the results were trans- 

 mitted to Washington where they are used in investigations on the 

 variability of solar radiation and on the relation between this varia- 

 bility and the earth's weather. 



In geology, Dr. W. F. Foshag directed an expedition in coopera- 

 tion with the United States Geological Survey with the purpose of 

 studying certain strategic-mineral resources of Mexico. Dr. Charles 

 E. Resser continued his studies of Cambrian rocks from Montana 

 into the Canadian Rockies, obtaining much new information and 

 many desirable specimens pertaining to the ancient Cambrian period. 

 Dr. G. Arthtir Cooper made large collections of Carboniferous and 

 Permian fossils in Texas and Oklahoma, including much material 

 hitherto lacking in the National Museum collections. A third ex- 

 pedition to the Bridger Badlands of southwestern Wyoming in 

 search of extinct vertebrate animals was directed by Dr. C. Lewis 

 Gazin; many interesting exhibition and study specimens were 

 brought back to the Museum, including a 1,270-pound slab containing 

 12 or 13 fossil turtles. 



In biology. Dr. E. A. Chapin visited the island of Jamaica to con- 

 tinue his studies of the insect fauna with special reference to the 

 termites. Large collections of the plants of Cuba were made by C. 

 V. Morton, who spent 2 months on the island in botanical field work 

 accompanied by two Cuban Government botanists. 



