184 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1958 
A reinforced 12,000-gallon concrete water tank was built back of the 
old laboratory. This will assure a steady water supply for the ex- 
panding needs of the station. 
Barbour House was provided with new toilet and shower facilities, 
additional dry-closet space, and a concrete septic tank. 'The old Zetek 
House was divided into two sections, one of which is being used as 
living quarters and the other as a storeroom and office. A new Cater- 
pillar generator was installed on the island and has greatly improved 
the electricity situation. 
Other routine repair and maintenance activities included the re- 
painting of the outside and inside of all the station buildings, small 
repairs to the gasoline winch engine, rebuilding the dock on the island, 
rebuilding the Frijoles dock site, and repairing the trackway from the 
Frijoles railroad station to the dock. 
The labor situation on the island has been greatly improved by the 
hiring of three additional temporary laborers, and another office assist- 
ant was engaged to take care of increased office work in Balboa and 
on the island. 
OTHER ACTIVITIES 
A program was initiated to encourage promising young scientists 
to come to the Canal Zone Biological Area to conduct special research 
projects. The first of these temporary assistants was C. F. Bennett, 
Jr., of the Department of Geography at the University of California at 
Los Angeles, who is studying temperature and humidity gradients in 
the forest during the rainy season. 
The National Science Foundation has provided financial support 
for two research projects to be conducted or supervised by the Resident 
Naturalist. The first will be a 3-year study of the behavior and evolu- 
tion of certain neotropical birds, and the second will be a 6-month 
study of certain behavior patterns of sphingid and saturniid moths. 
This program will be carried out by a research assistant, Dr. A. D. 
Blest, of University College, London. 
PLANS AND REQUIREMENTS 
As it seems probable that there will be an increasing number of 
scientists and students coming to the Canal Zone Biological Area in 
future years, remaining for longer periods of time and bringing their 
families with them, somewhat more comfortable and more private 
living quarters are urgently required. 
It is planned to remodel the second floor of the old laboratory build- 
ing, to make available separate rooms and additional washing and 
toilet facilities. Chapman House is in a very bad state of repair, hav- 
ing been heavily infested with termites in previous years and should 
