may be supplemented by a more general study of the entire 

 state, showing the distribution of such association groups as 

 forest and prairie, sand regions, cypress swamps, etc. Both 

 lines of work lead to the production of an ecological map of 

 the state, showing the distribution of all the associations rep- 

 resented. Survey work of this nature will give appreciable 

 results in a comparatively short time, will indicate the gen- 

 eral nature of the survey, will serve as a pattern to amateurs, 

 will open a large field for the use of teachers, and will be a 

 foundation for subsequent investigation. Work on other 

 phases of ecology, such as "the correlation of associations with 

 environmental factors or their interrelations with each other, 

 will necessarily accompany the cartographic work to some 

 extent. 



Members of the committee reported the following field work 

 under way : 



F. C. Baker, ecological study and mapping of a limited area 

 at vShermervdIle, with especial reference to Mollusca. 



H. C. Cowles, mapping the plant associations of portions of 

 the South Chicago area. 



H. A. Gleason, a study of the vegetation of inland sand de- 

 posits. 



T. L. Hankinson, the breeding habits of fish near Charleston, 

 correlated with environmental conditions. 



V. E. Shelford, ponds in the dune region at the head of 

 Lake Michigan. 



E. N. Transeau, plant associations in the vicinity of 

 Charleston ; studies of evaporation. 



After a discussion of the need of state aid for the survey, 

 it was formally rcommcnded by the committee that, 'instead 

 of a separate organization, the Academy cooperate with the 

 State Laboratory of Natural History in securing funds and 

 in carrying out the work of the proposed ecological survey. 

 The State Laboratory has been engaged in this work for years, 

 and is now willing to aid in the survey and to bring together 

 in a comprehensive plan the ecological results of the work of 

 both institutions and individuals. 



