736 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLI. No. 1063 



commented upon the scratching of the gray squir- 

 rels in the city parks, which Mr. Bailey said was 

 due to infestation with fleas from their winter 

 boxes. Suitable insect powder placed in the boxes 

 would drive out the fleas, but was not relished by 

 the squirrels. 



The first paper on the regular program was by 

 Dr. A. H. Wright, of Cornell University, "The 

 Snakes and Lizards of Okefenokee Swamp." Dr. 

 Wright said: 



Seven snakes of the dry open sandy fields or 

 pine forests of southeastern U. S. were absent on 

 the Okefenokee Swamp islands. None of the 

 truly Floridan ophidians and saurians were repre- 

 sented. Some forms occurred on the outskirts of 

 the swamp but were wholly wanting within the 

 swamp. The 21 species of snakes and 6 lizards 

 were very variable in seutellation and coloration. 

 Whether the restricted quarters and the incessant 

 warfare and struggle for place caused the wide 

 range of variation is not yet answerable. We had 

 expected to find fixed peculiar stable races or sub- 

 species because of the isolated nature of some of 

 the islands, but segregation has not yet placed a 

 local stamp on any of the reptilian forms. The 

 swamp is the common source of the Atlantic coastal 

 stream, the St. Mary's, and the Gulf affluent, the 

 Suwannee. This factor may have had its infiuenee 

 on the turtles and possibly on the snakes and liz- 

 ards. The swamp does not appear to be a barrier 

 or boundary line between two decided faunal areas. 

 It is rather a melting pot for many of the sup- 

 posed cardinal characters of distinction in snakes 

 and lizards. 



Some of the interesting systematic observations 

 are: the nontrustworthiness of the temporal seutel- 

 lation and coloration in the Elaphe group; the 

 need of further study in the Tropidonotus fascia- 

 tus assemblage; the presence of the Osceola elap- 

 soidea and the Lampropeltis doliatus coccineus 

 characters in one and the same specimen; the re- 

 duction of Diadophis amabilis stictogenys to D. 

 punctatus ; the non-recognition of Ophisaiirus ven- 

 tralis compressus ; the presence of white-bellied 

 adults and young of Farancia; the possibility of 

 Heterodon niger as an end phase of coloration 

 and a query as to the loss of the azygous in 

 Heterodon hrotvni; the overlapping in scale rows 

 and ocular formula in Storeria occipitomaculata 

 and S. deTcayi; the fact that no two heads of the 

 Sceloporus undulatiis specimens had the same 

 plate arrangement; and the unreliability of the 

 mental characters in Flestiodon, our specimens nf 

 P. quinquelineatxis falling into two of Cope 's 

 major groups, if determined on mental seutella- 

 tion. 



Dr. Wright's paper was illustrated by lantern 

 slides showing views of the swamp, of its reptile 

 inhabitants, and of the variations found in certain 

 of the species. His communication was discussed 

 by the chair and Messrs. Wm. Palmer and Hugh 

 Smith. 



The second and last paper of the program was 



by Dr. Arthur A. Allen, of Cornell University, 

 "The Birds of a Cat-tail Marsh." 



Observations on the food, nesting habits and 

 structure of marsh birds showing the limitations 

 of specialized species as to food, distribution and 

 power of adaptability and the dominance of gen- 

 eralized forms were made. 



Specialization in birds goes hand in hand with 

 a high development of the instincts, but with a low 

 degree of intelligence and little adaptability. 

 Generalization of structure, on the other hand, oc- 

 curs with a weaker development of the instincts, 

 greater intelligence and greater adaptability. The 

 generalized, adaptable species persist through the 

 ages, while the specialized, non-adaptable are first 

 to go. This is seen in the lairds of a cat-tail marsh. 

 Seven stages are recognized in the formation of 

 a marsh, represented in the mature marsh by zones 

 of typical vegetation or plant associations, these 

 associations following one another in regular suc- 

 cession. Similar associations and successions can 

 be recognized among the birds if we group them 

 according to their nesting range in the marsh. 

 Most species are not confined to one association, 

 although reaching their maximum of abundance 

 in it. The generalized, adaptable species have the 

 widest range. 



The various associations with their typical birds 

 follow : 



I. The Open-water Association; important in 

 supplying forage, but with n- nesting 

 birds. 

 II. The Shoreline Association, with the pied- 

 billed grebe, a specialized non-adaptable 

 species. 

 III. The Cat-tail Association, with the least bit- 

 tern, coot, Florida gallinule, Virginia rail, 

 Sora rail and red-winged blackbird, find- 

 ing optimum conditions. 

 IV. The Sedge Association, with the long-billed 

 marsh wren, bittern, swamp sparrow, 

 short-billed marsh wren, and marsh hawk. 

 V. The Grass Association, with the song spar- 

 row and Maryland yellowthroat. 

 VI. The Alder-Willow Association, with the 

 green heron and alder fiycatcher. 

 VII. The Maple-Elm Association, with the black- 

 crowned night heron, and great blue 

 heron of the marsh birds and a great va- 

 riety woodland species. 

 Of all these species the one most generalized in 

 habit and structure is the red-winged blackbird. 

 It, too, is the most adaptable and is the dominant 

 species in the marsh. 



Dr. Allen's paper was illustrated by numerous 

 lantern slides from photographs of the marsh, its 

 bird inhabitants, and their homes, and by motion 

 pictures of the least bittern and of the canvas-back 

 and other ducks. 



Dr. Allen's paper was discussed by Dr. L. 0. 

 Howard. 



The society adjourned at 10.15 p.m. 



M. W. Lyon, Jr., 

 Secording Secretary 



