14 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION^ 1913. 



of several other lines of investigation in connection therewith, pro- 

 vided for by an additional grant, are discussed on another page by- 

 Mr. Abbot in his report on the Astrophysical Observatory. There 

 was also allotted from the Hodgkins fund a grant for carrying on 

 aeronautical researches in connection with the Langley Aerodynami- 

 cal Laboratory, discussed in other paragraphs. 



There was in press at the expense of this fund during the year 

 a paper by Dr. Leonard Hill and associates, discussing the results of 

 important researches made by them in London on the influence of 

 the atmosphere of crowded places upon our health and comfort. 



SMITHSONIAN TABLE AT NAPLES ZOOLOGICAL STATION. 



In order to afford an opportunity for American biologists to study 

 marine life under exceptionally favorable facilities, the Institution 

 for 20 years past has maintained a table at the Naples Zoological 

 Station. Investigators are assigned the use of this table for stated 

 periods on the recommendation of an advisory committee appointed 

 for the purpose. The authorities of the station have on several oc- 

 casions courteously allowed more than one occupant of the table 

 when there was overlapping in periods of appointment. 



During the year covered by the present report Mr. Sidney I. 

 Kornhauser and Mr. Edward C. Day, both of Harvard University, 

 have pursued studies at the Smithsonian table. 



THE HARRIMAN TRUST FUND. 



Under a special trust fund, established by Mrs. E. H. Harriman, 

 for his investigations in natural history and ethnology, Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam has equipped two offices, the principal one at Washington, 

 D. C, the other at Lagunitas in west central California, a convenient 

 center for field work on the Pacific coast and a favorable place for 

 the preparation of results. 



His principal work during the year has been a continuation of a 

 monographic study of the American bears. Assistance in the way 

 of the loan of specimens has been rendered by all of the larger 

 museums of America, including the Government museums of Canada, 

 at Ottawa and Victoria, and by a number of sportsmen and hunters, 

 who have placed their private material at his disposal. This has 

 been still further augmented by the purchase of specimens, mainly 

 skulls, of rare and little known species, some of which are the only 

 ones in existence. In view of the fact that several species of our 

 large bears are already extinct and others on the verge of extinction, 

 the great value of this material is obvious. 



In connection with the study of the big bears a new method has 

 been developed, namely, an intensive study of teeth from photo- 

 graphs. Owing to the large size of bear skulls, it is impossible to 



