130 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109 



ducing a poisoning that results in progressive paralysis and, usu- 

 ally, death. Experiments with wild waterfowl captured when 

 young and reared in captivity — to obviate the possibility of their 

 having taken lead before the beginning of the experiments — have 

 shown that six pellets of No. 6 shot constitute an amount of lead 

 that is always fatal. Two or three shot were sufficient to cause 

 death in several instances. In one experiment, two mallards were 

 given one No. 6 shot each. One of them died in nine days and the 

 other was able to throw off the poison. 



The list of species known to have been poisoned by eating 

 shot consists of mallard, pintail, and canvas-back ducks, the whist- 

 ling swan, and the marbled godwit, but many other species, partic- 

 ularly of ducks and geese, are undoubtedly affected by it, accord- 

 ing to the bulletin. 



Unfortunately, nothing can be done at this time to protect 

 waterfowl from lead poisoning except to call attention to the mal- 

 ady and to make known its cause and symptoms. The Depart- 

 ment, however, desires statistics on the numbers and species of 

 birds affected and asks that sportsmen and others report to the 

 Bureau of Biolgical Survey all cases that come to their attention. 



THE ANNUAL MEETING 



Bear in mind that our next annual meeting will be held in 

 St. Louis. Missouri, in conjunction with the meetings, of the Amer- 

 ican Association for the Advancement of Science. No program of 

 these meetings has been issued, so that the dates of our meetings 

 cannot be announced at this time. But it is probable that our meet- 

 ings will be held on December 30 and 31. Announcement of the 

 exact time and place of meeting will be made in ample time by 

 circular letter. It is hoped that you will not wait for an invita- 

 tion to prepare and read a paper at this meeting, but that you 

 will send your title as soon as possible to the secretary, A. F. 

 Ganier, 1023 Villa Street, Nashville, Tenn. Liberal cooperation 

 will ensure a most profitable and interesting meeting. 



