40 Report of the President 



has been planned and work has progressed on three until they 

 will soon be ready to assemble. The total number of casts 

 made for these groups is eighty-seven, making a grand total 

 for the synoptic series and casts of one hundred and seventy- 

 five. The groups are as follows: 



First, a group to show some of the common batrachians and 

 reptiles of a summer pond in the coastal region of the north- 

 eastern United States, with the bullfrog especially prominent. 

 The plant accessories for this and the other groups under way 

 have been made by Mr. Patch and other assistants in the 

 department of preparation. Fourteen wax casts of bullfrogs 

 are ready to take their places in this setting. They have been 

 cast and colored by Mr. Franklin. They teach as far as pos- 

 sible the general biology of the frog, covering the questions of 

 life in water and air. Painted turtles, adult and young, for 

 this group have been cast by Mr. Franklin and colored by Mr. 

 Bleakney. The second of the groups will present a study of 

 the toads of southern New England in May. Fifteen toads of 

 two species, Bufo fowleri and Bufo americanus, have been cast 

 in wax by Mr. Franklin and colored by Mr. Bleakney. The 

 positions and activities chosen present forcefully the habits of 

 the toad. Secondary in interest are green frogs, common 

 tree-toads, painted turtles and water-snakes. The third group 

 will show wood frogs, Pickering's hylas, spotted turtles and 

 ribbon-snakes. Fourteen wood frog casts, seven hyla casts 

 and two casts of spotted turtles are completed. In addition 

 to these three groups twenty-four casts are completed as a 

 partial equipment for a southern group. 



Research on the relationships of certain specimens of 

 Bufonidae of the United States and on the ecology, general 

 biology and taxonomy of the Urodela of North America has 

 progressed, though slowly because of the demands of other 

 work. 



A short field expedition was made into southern Massachu- 

 setts in July for collections and study relating to the bullfrog 

 group. Much material for the accessories was obtained and 

 many photographic studies were made. The field trip planned 

 to South Carolina for work on an alligator group had to be 

 postponed because of pressure of work in other lines. 



