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relations of all these topics to wild life conservation. The relations of 
museums to wild life investigations were presented by Charles Elton of 
Oxford University Museum, H. E. Anthony of the American Museum of 
Natural History, J. R. Dymond of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, 
and R. M. Anderson of the National Museum of Canada. The importance 
of accurate determination of species when recording field and laboratory 
investigations was stressed. Emphasis was also laid on the function of the 
larger scientific museums obtaining zoological material of all kinds and 
preserving it for investigational research and for future reference and in 
identifying specimens for field workers, game officials, pathologists, and 
bacteriologists. It is expected that the proceedings of the conference will 
be published by the generosity of Mr. Amory, and credit is due to him for 
his service to science in initiating and carrying through this conference. 
Field Work 
Mr. Clyde L. Patch, chief taxidermist, assisted by Mr. J. E. Perron, 
museum-helper, made a biological reconnaissance between Ottawa and 
Kingston, Ont., from July 21 to August 19, 1931. Camps were made at 
Clayton lake near Clayton, Sharbot lake, Clear lake near Arden, Lough- 
borough lake and Collins lake near Inverary, and Seeley bay. In all, 204 
amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds, representing 37 species, were 
collected. These made interesting additions to the museum collections, 
which contained few specimens from the area covered. The several 
broods secured of the ribbon snake, Thamnophis sauritus , supply data on 
the number and individual variation of young and the dates of their arrival. 
This snake is rare in Canada, being recorded from only three localities, 
and was previously represented in our herpetological collection by a single 
specimen. Discovery of the blue-tailed skunk, Eumeces fasciatus , at 
Mountain Grove, Ont., extends the known range of this species nearly 
100 miles eastward. The cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsii, 
was found to be abundant in the southern part of Frontenac county and 
several specimens were taken at Clear lake and Collins lake. Information 
gathered from residents indicates that the cottontail is extending its range 
in that region. During the autumn and winter of 1931-1932 the cottontail 
was reported for the first time in Ottawa and its environs in Carleton 
county. Reports have also been received of damage caused by the cotton- 
tail to trees and young shrubbery in Rockcliffe. No reports of this species 
have yet been received from Quebec, but as specimens have been seen along 
Ottawa river, it is anticipated that the cottontail rabbit will soon spread 
northward into parts of Quebec where prevailing conditions are suitable. 
Mr. Claude E. Johnson, artist, spent the time between July 21 and 
September 14, 1931, at Halifax, N.S., making coloured drawings of Atlantic 
food fishes, to be used for illustrative purposes, in co-operation with the 
Department of Fisheries. Laboratory facilities and assistance in obtaining 
fresh material were provided by Mr. R. S. Shreve, Acting Chief Supervisor 
of the Department of Fisheries at Halifax, and by Dr. A. H. Leim, Director 
of the Halifax Experimental Station of the Biological Board of Canada. 
Thirty -two coloured plates and twenty detail pen sketches were made; 
several plaster casts were made for exhibition in the museum, as well as a 
collection of marine specimens in formalin. 
