818 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVIII. No. 469. 



Abstract of Report.— Dr. HoM'ard began 

 his work by making arrangements to secure 

 observers at points in the United States, 

 Central America and the West Indies suffi- 

 ciently different in their faunistie char- 

 acteristics to promise comparatively little 

 duplication. He also published an an- 

 nouncement of the proposed monograph for 

 the purpose of attracting voltinteer ob- 

 servers and contributors; and, through 

 correspondence, a great deal has been done 

 in that direction, both in the West Indies 

 and the United States. He also utilized 

 the services of a number of the members of 

 his force in the Department of Agriculture 

 in making collections and observations. 



He reports that the results as a whole 

 have been surprising to him. A number 

 of new species of mosquitoes have been dis- 

 covered and one new genus, and much im- 

 portant specific information regarding the 

 geographic distribution of the differeuit 

 species has been gained. This information 

 has been of special interest and value re- 

 garding the yellow fever mosquito (Stego- 

 myia fasciata) and the different species of 

 the malaria-bearing mosquitoes of the genus 

 Anopheles. A new species of this genus 

 was found in the immediate vicinity of 

 Washington. Great advance has been 

 made in following out the life histories of 

 the different species and genera ; this has 

 been done for nearly one hundred species. 



All the collections and specimens' have 

 not yet been received by Dr. Howard, but 

 every observer will send a series of speci- 

 mens of adults, eggs, larvse and pupa;, to- 

 gether with cast larval skins of all species 

 observed. These have been and will be ac- 

 companied by full notes of habits, etc., 

 together with drawings of structural 

 peculiarities. 



H. S. Jennings, University of Michigan, 

 Ann Arbor, Mich. For experiments on 

 the behavior of lower animals. $250. 



Absti-act of Report.— Dr. Jennings, who 

 is a research assistant of the Carnegie In- 

 stitution, is now at the Marine Biological 

 Laboratory at Naples, carrying forward 

 investigations on the reactions and behavior 

 of very low organisms, such as amcpba and 

 other rhizopoda. He expects to have a 

 general work in regard to the behavior of 

 the lowest organisms ready for publication 

 during the year. He has submitted to the 

 institution for publication a paper entitled 

 'Reactions to Heat, Light and other Stimuli 

 in the Ciliate Infusoria and in Rotifera, 

 with Considerations on the Theories of 

 Animal Behavior.' 



C. E. McClung, Kansas University, Law- 

 rence, Kans. To making a comparative 

 study of the spermatogenesis of insects 

 and other classes of arthropods, and if 

 possible to determine the specific func- 

 tions of the different chromosomes. $500. 

 Abstract of Report.— Frofessor McClung 

 reports that owing to the fact that his own 

 work and that of others show the main 

 features of insect spermatogenesis, he de- 

 termined to make use of the gTant for the 

 prosecution of other more difficult and ex- 

 pensive studies. He commenced by pur- 

 chasing some literature to which he did 

 not have access, and began the search for 

 an object upon which he might prosecute 

 his investigations. There appeared to be 

 two ways to get at the problem— to study 

 the germ cells of hybrids or to experiment 

 upon fertilized eggs in the early cleavage 

 stages. He decided to adopt the first men- 

 tioned plan for the beginning of the work. 

 With this object in view, he spent the sum- 

 mer at the Woods Hole marine biological 

 laboratory, but did not succeed in obtaining 

 satisfactory forms of hybrids. He feels 

 certain, however, that if the proper animals 

 are secured the true function of the chro- 

 mosomes may be settled as definitely as any 

 other fact relating to cell structure. 



