TROPICAL RESEARCH STATION 



Ihutictt District, British Guiana. 



SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR 1917. 



William I5cci)i', Dircctiim' ("uralnr ; ('■. Imu-ss Hartley, Research Associate; John 

 Tee N'aii, As.sistaiit; Isabel Cooi)er, Artist. 



r^WlNG to war service it was thought impossible to accom- 

 ^ plish any work during the present year at the Research 

 Station of the Zoological Society in British Guiana. But dur- 

 ing recovery from an airplane accident, I made a short expe- 

 dition to Guiana, with Mr. Tee Van as assistant; Isabel Cooper, 

 artist, and a party of Americans interested in this British Col- 

 ony and the work of the Station. My purpose was to make cer- 

 tain that the year's storage had not injured the instruments, 

 books and other equipment of the laboratory, and to recrate 

 the more perishable paraphernalia. This was successfully ac- 

 complished, and, in addition, the month of September was spent 

 in intensive work. The second-growth about Kalacoon had been 

 cut and burned for rubber planting, and for this and other rea- 

 sons it was deemed advisable to move the entire outfit of the 

 station directly across the river to the Penal Settlement, where 

 the Government, through the kind offices of Messrs. Frere and 

 Rolleston, placed a large building at my disposal, for use during 

 the continuance of the war. This we occupied at once and for 

 the succeeding month concentrated on the jungle which began 

 within a hundred yards of our new home. 



Our work dealt with the specimens which, from the first 

 day, began to accumulate, and with certain unfinished researches 

 begun last year. Especial attention was given to birds and in- 

 sects. The number of the former known to inhabit Bartica Dis- 

 trict was increased from three hundred and fifty-one to over 

 four hundred. This was achieved through three sources ; actual 

 specimens taken this year, identification of uncertain species 

 secured last year, and through published records. Many inter- 



