Announcement of the 



sandy aspen associations. Rusts, smuts and other parasitic fungi in- 

 fest a vast variety of hosts, offering an abundance of material for the 

 investigator. The study of the Cryptogams is practically a virgin 

 field at the Station, little work having been done in that line. There 

 is, however, a collection of lichens and mosses for comparative study. 



For the study of animals the region is probably not quite so 

 well adapted as it is for the study of plants. The fauna is not as 

 rich as it is in the southern parts of the state. Mammals are few, 

 the number of species of amphibians, reptiles and fish is small but the 

 number of individuals is sufficient for good collecting. The fish 

 fauna of the chain of lakes of which Douglas Lake is a part and 

 their tributaries is interesting and well worth study in comparison 

 with the fauna of the Great Lakes. Birds are sufficiently numerous 

 and the range of their habitats within easy reach of the Station is 

 such that good work can be done. Numerous problems dealing with 

 the ecology of birds, their behavior, and the activities of breeding and 

 nesting birds await attention. A fair proportion of the birds which 

 nest there are known to most ornithologists as migrants only. 



The invertebrate fauna is relatively much richer than the verte- 

 brate fauna. There are many terrestrial and aquatic molluscs and 

 many Crustacea, including the plankton forms. Vincent, Monroe, and 

 Lancaster Lakes which are in easy reach of the Station furnish many 

 conditions not found in Douglas Lake for Plankton and other organ- 

 isms. Sponges and bryozoans are fairly common, while the common 

 fresh water Hydra appears at times in countless numbers and furnish- 

 es good material for experimental work. Insect life abounds in the 

 many varied habitats of the region. There are a number of aquatic 

 annelids of considerable interest but the number of terrestrial anne- 

 lids is greatly restricted by the prevalence of the sandy soil. 



Parasitism in animals is extremely common. Parasitic worms 

 are abundant both in species and individuals. All the vertebrates 

 which frequent water serve as hosts for parasites, both adult and 

 immature, while the numerous invertebrates yield young stages of 

 many of the worms. Owing to the moderate size of the lake the 

 collection of hosts is easy. With pens, cages, and aquaria now avail- 

 able the study of life-histories by means of feeding experiments is 

 rendered possible. Practically no study has been made of parasitic 

 worms infesting those vertebrates not frequenting water. The par- 

 asitic Protozoa of the region have been but little studied. 



The very fact that the fauna is not as rich as it is in many places 

 simplifies many of the problems of the zoologist. Here the ecology 

 of aquatic invertebrates may be studied under most excellent condi- 

 tions. The habitats are almost typical, are readily accessible, and the 

 student is not overwhelmed with the multiplicity and diversity of 

 forms to be found in some localities. 



The attractions of a northern flora, an adequate though not com- 

 plex fauna together with an excellent climate, good conditions for 



