136 AINNUAL REPORT SMITHSHDNIAN INSTITUTION, 1950 



"experiencing" a tropical rain forest for the purpose of providing a 

 biological background for his teaching. He also took many color 

 photographs. 



Dr. Cleveland Soper, director of the Tropical Research Laboratory 

 of Eastman Kodak Co., continued exposure tests throughout the 

 year, assisted by Paul Hermle, physicist, George Ade, chemist, and 

 Ismael Olivares, microbiologist. These tests have yielded very 

 valuable results, and, in Dr. Soper's opinion, the test tables for the 

 island are the most practical way to determine the effectiveness of 

 biocides in preventing deterioration of processed photographic ma- 

 terials, as well as the resistance of various protective coatings to 

 tropical climatic conditions, etc. The correlations obtained between 

 samples at the test table and similar items in actual use are more 

 than satisfactory. Several important publications have resulted from 

 these studies, such as "Notes on Tropical Photography," "Care of 

 Films and Cameras in Tropical Climates," "Prevention and Removal 

 of Fungus Growth on Processed Photographic Film," and "Notes for 

 the Photo-Traveler." The prevention of corrosion of lenses by fungi 

 is one of the important projects. These exposure tests emphasize 

 the value of rapid and long-term studies of the effects of temperature 

 and humidity, especially as they pertain to fungus growth. The 

 island is particularly well suited for studies of corrosion and deteriora- 

 tion and the evaluation of biocides under such severe climatic 

 conditions. 



W. E. Lundy, of the Panama Canal and secretary-treasurer of the 

 Panama Canal Natural History vSociety, again spent about a week on 

 the island studying the birds and mammals, and particularly the 

 "voices" of the jungle. His observations are of special interest 

 because they help to give a better idea of faunal abundance and 

 fluctuation in numbers. 



Jay A. Weber, of Miami, Fla., spent considerable time in PanamS,, 

 part of it on the island, collecting mollusks, of which there is a super- 

 abundance of species. He was interested mainly in gathering the 

 fresh-water and land forms of the island, largely for the United States 

 National Museum. His previous visit to the island, to study birds, 

 was 22 years ago. 



Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 revisited the island and held conferences with the resident manager 

 on plans for the future of the area and proposed improvements. W. 

 M. Perrygo, of the National Museum, accompanied him. 



John E. Graf, Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, spent 

 a few days on the island examining the laboratory facilities and the 

 improvements made since his official visit the year before and dis- 

 cussing operations, plans for further improvements, and expansion. 



