SECRETARY'S REPORT 11 



Malaya continued to send desirable specimens. In all, 142 creatures 

 were born or hatched at the Zoo— 72 mammals, 55 birds, and 15 

 reptiles. 



Astwphysical Observatory.— -The research work of the APO pro- 

 gressed in both of its divisions— astrophysical research and radiation 

 and organisms. In addition to their regular programs, both divisions 

 are conducting cooperative projects under contract with other Gov- 

 ernment agencies. Solar-radiation studies continued at the Observa- 

 tory's two "field stations, one at Table Mountain, Calif., and the other 

 at Montezuma, Chile. Five silver-disk pyrheliometers were con- 

 structed and furnished at cost to institutions in France, Finland, Cen- 

 tral Africa, Greece, and Rhode Island. The division of radiation and 

 organisms continued its investigations of the biochemical reactions 

 involved in the absorption of light energy in green plants. 



National Air Museum.— Owing to the necessity of vacating all the 

 NAM's storage facility at Park Eidge, 111., space had to be found 

 elsewhere in order to preserve the storage collection. Through the 

 assistance of the National Capital Planning Commission, a plot was 

 made available at Suitland, Md., near Washington, D. C. Several 

 prefabricated buildings will be erected there to house the nearly 

 4,000 specimens in the storage collection until the permanent National 

 Air Museum Building is provided. Accessions for the year brought 

 additions to many phases of the aeronautical collection, including 

 full-sized aircraft, engines, instruments, experimental and scale- 

 model aircraft, parachutes, and trophies. In all, 110 specimens from 

 21 sources, comprising 30 separate accessions, were received during 

 the year. These are listed in the full report of the Museum (Appen- 

 dix 9, p. 136) . Members of the staff made special surveys for materials 

 desirable for the collections. As space and facilities permitted, im- 

 provements were made in the public exhibits in the Arts and Indus- 

 tries and Aircraft Buildings. 



Canal Zone Biological Area. — The new laboratory building begun 

 last year at the Barro Colorado Island station was completed. Dur- 

 ing the year, 602 visitors came to the island ; 48 of these were scientists 

 who used the facilities of the island to carry on studies in various bio- 

 logical fields. One such study, carried on over a period of years, by 

 Dr. Eugene Eisenmann, resulted during the year in the publication 

 "Annotated List of Birds of Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal 

 Zone," issued by the Smithsonian Institution. This lists 306 species. 

 Other than birds, seven species of vertebrate animals have been added 

 to the known fauna of the area since the list was published in the 1950 

 report — two mammals, four reptiles, and one amphibian — making in 

 all 486 vertebrate forms known from the island. 



