RECORDS OF MEETIXGS 459 



2. Zoology 

 By Professor Henry E. Crampton 



Professor H. E. Crampton's field-work included part of January, 1915. 

 During his sojourn renewed studies of land organisms were made in the 

 Aibonito-Coamo section, while in addition the general reconnaissance of 

 the island was extended so as to include the Quebradillas-Isabella area 

 and the southwest region centering about Guanica. Among the novel 

 items discovered in the northwest are fresh-water sponges and specimens 

 of the peculiarly interesting crustacean Brachippus. 



Dr. F. E. Lutz and Mr. A. J. Mutchler were in the field from May 

 until July 12, and from various parts of the island they obtained about 

 15,000 insects of all orders and an additional series of spiders. This 

 mass of material has been mounted, labeled, and assorted into the larger 

 groups. Dr. Lutz has devoted much time to the detailed study of the 

 bees among the Hymenoptera, and Mr. Yiereck has been engaged tem- 

 porarily by the Museum to investigate the parasitic Hymenoptera. Some 

 new species and many new records have been established. Messrs. Leng 

 and Mutchler have made substantial progress in the study of the Cole- 

 optera, and Mr. Frank E. Watson has continued the investigations of the 

 Lepidoptera. 



Mr. R. W. Miner and Mr. H. Mueller spent several weeks in the 

 Guanica region, and collected extensively in the harbor itself, and on the 

 coast and reefs to the east and to the west. In all cases particular atten- 

 tion was paid to the environmental situations from which the specimens 

 were taken. Additional studies were made in Condado Bay and in cer- 

 tain characteristic land-regions. About 8,000 marine specimens were 

 collected by this party; they have been assorted into their phyla and 

 systematic work has been prosecuted in certain divisions. 



Professor Raymond C. Osburn also completed, in July, his studies in 

 the deeper water organisms, which were carried on in the Guanica region 

 especially. About 2,000 specimens were taken by dredging in various 

 depths from the shallows near the shore to the 100-fathom line. Pro- 

 fessor Osburn will work up the Bryozoa, in which he is interested as a 

 specialist. 



A paper by Dr. F. E. Lutz on the distribution of Arachnida has clearly 

 demonstrated the value of the Porto Rico collections for fundamental 

 studies in zoology. Briefer notes on certain species of fishes have been 

 published by Mr. J. T. Nichols, who participated in the field work of last 

 year. Other articles of a general nature are in course of preparation. 



