6 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 



the bounds of that country, which was done with gratifying results 

 as far as the limited means and time permitted. 



As stated in my last report, it seemed to be highly important to 

 science that such a survey of the Canal Zone be made, for, although 

 it was known in a general way that a certain number of species of 

 animals and plants in the fresh-water streams on the Atlantic side 

 of the Isthmus were different from those on the Pacific side, no defi- 

 nite knowledge of the extent of these differences had been acquired. 

 It also seemed important to determine exactly the geographical dis- 

 tribution of the various organisms inhabiting the Isthmus, which is 

 one of the routes by which the animals and plants of South America 

 have entered North America and vice versa. When the Panama 

 Canal is completed the organisms of the various watersheds will be 

 offered a ready means of mingling together, the natural distinctions 

 as regards distribution now existing will be obliterated, and the data 

 for a true understanding of the fauna and flora will be placed for- 

 ever out of reach. Moreover, a great fresh-water lake will be cre- 

 ated by the construction of the Gatun Dam, and the majority of the 

 animals and plants inhabiting that locality will be driven away or 

 drowned, and quite possibly some species may be exterminated before 

 they become known to science. 



BIOLOGICAL EXPEDITION IN CANADA. 



Through the courtesy of the Canadian Government and of Dr. 

 A. O. Wheeler, president of the Alpine Club of Canada, the Smith- 

 sonian Institution was enabled to send a small party of naturalists 

 to accompany Dr. Wheeler on his topographical survey of the British 

 Columbia and Alberta boundary line and the Mount Robson region. 

 The party started in June, 1911. 



The region to be surveyed includes a most rugged and broken 

 country in the midst of the Canadian Rockies, abounding in a great 

 variety of animals and plants, and it is expected that the expedition 

 will result in a large and valuable collection of birds, mammals, 

 insects, and plants to be added to the National Museum series. 



RAINEY EXPEDITION IN AFRICA. 



Mr. Paul J. Rainey, of New York City, having planned a hunting 

 and collecting trip of several months' duration in Africa, offered to 

 present to the Institution the natural history material obtained dur- 

 ing the trip if there could be sent with him some person skilled in 

 the preparation of specimens. Mr. Rainey generously offered to 

 bear all the expenses of the trip. The route of travel was to be north 

 of that of the recent Smithsonian African expedition, through the 

 country lying between the northern portion of British East Africa 

 and the southern part of Abyssinia. Mr. Edmund Heller, who was 



