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Vol.10: no.5
MINUTES OF THE THIRD PACIFIC SLOPE MEETING OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY, AUGUST 4 and 5, 1956
Through the kindness of Dr. COGGESHALL and his associates every facility was provided for the western meeting at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Members convened at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday, August 4, and were favored with exceptionally attractive headquarters and unusually fine weather.
The first hour was devoted to registration, to the renewal of old friendships, and to becoming acquainted with those who were attending the western meeting for the first time. After refreshments which the museum kindly furnished, the formal meeting began when Dr. COGGESHALL welcomed the group to Santa Barbara and extended the hospitality of the museum. He spoke of his long association with Dr. W. J. HOLLAND at the Carnegie Museum and called attention to collections of Lepidoptera on display or placed at the disposal of the members. Dr. JOHN ADAMS COMSTOCK in accepting his welcome expressed appreciation for the fine facilities provided and commended the museum for the excellent job it is doing in its field.
Dr. T. N. FREEMAN'S presidential address was read by Dr. COMSTOCK and is published in this issue. After completing program arrangements, members examined the collections on display among which were many strikingly beautiful exotics. The group adjourned to a very enjoyable luncheon as guests of the Board of Trustees of the museum. Following this pleasant interlude the group picture was taken by Mr. FlNLEY, museum photographer.
The afternoon was devoted to a symposium on the taxonomy of Lepidoptera. Dr. WILLIAM Hovanitz was moderator, and the participants were Dr. R. H. T. MATTONI, Prof. Kodo Maeki, Mr. F. Martin Brown, Dr. J. A. Comstock, and Dr. Hovanitz. The substance of each paper will be published in an early issue of the News, and comments are therefore omitted from these minutes.
A large crowd enjoyed the evening banquet in the Red Room of the quaint and colorful Restaurante El Paseo. From there the group convened in the home of Mr. and Mrs. DEAN BLANCHARD, who were most gracious hosts to a large group of members and guests. Highlights of the evening were Lloyd Martin's fascinating talk on Arizona collecting which was illustrated by many beautiful colored slides, and an inspection of Mr. Blanchard'S remarkable hummingbird collection.
Under Dr. COMSTOCKS able chairmanship the Sunday meeting began with a report by Dr. MATTONI covering novel field studies on Philotes sonorensls undertaken in cooperation with Mr. MARVIN SlEGER. The numbers and distribution of individuals was determined by establishing six stations in San Gabriel Wash twelve miles east of Pasadena. Over 1100 specimens were marked and released in a manner explained and illustrated by colored slides. Recaptures numbered 258 specimens from which a number of conclusions about densities, sex ratios, and movements were drawn.
FRANK SALA then showed how the camera may be used as a taxonomic tool in recording life history stages. He showed numerous beautiful slides of California Pieridse and other species. Dr. Leland Brown, author of the article on insect photography in the Lepidopterists' News (Vol. 7: p.148), assisted in taking these fine pictures. Group discussion centered around diapause in Lepidoptera.
Members then inspected the Hall of Insects which is under construction at the museum. Mr. NELSON Baker explained the techniques he is using, and some of the problems he is having in displaying to the general public the remarkable adaptations of insects. Several attractive habitat groups are being prepared.
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Mr. DAVID BAUER then gave a comprehensive and interesting report on his studies of the new world Melitseinse. Careful genitalic studies of the American and European members of this subfamily show that the nearctic species are in need of generic rearrangement. There was considerable discussion by members on various species in this popular group.
The Mexican restaurant in El Paseo was once again the site where a large group of members and guests enjoyed lunch together. Following lunch the business meeting was advanced to first place on the afternoon program in consideration of those members who were travelling.
The first subject discussed was how to make better use of available automobiles in attending future western meetings. Those in Southern California who are driving and have extra room, and those who wish a ride are to leave word with LLOYD MARTIN in Los Angeles, while those in the San Francisco area will leave word with DON PATTERSON in Atherton. A motion requesting that consideration be given to the allocation of a portion of the dues of members in an area for support of regional meetings was passed and has been referred to Society officers.
Lengthy discussion ensued when the subject was broached as to whether the western group should organize further by drawing up a statement of aims and purposes. No action was taken. A motion was unanimously passed requesting the Society to notify the members at least six months in advance of the time and place of the national meeting. Fees of &28.00 collected at the meeting were sent to W. Levi PHILLIPS to defray some of the costs of printed programs on a motion from the floor, and a resolution was passed thanking him for his excellent job.
A resolution was passed asking that the Society give consideration to the establishment of an Editorial Board to be chosen to represent the members of the Society,
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and to pass upon the merits of all material printed in the Lepidopterists' News. The secretary was instructed to express the appreciation of the group in letters 1) to the Museum Board of Trustees, and to Mr. and Mrs. DEAN BLANCHARD for their fine hospitality, and 2) to those who submitted papers in absentia.
The American Museum of Natural History field station in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona was selected after much discussion as the place for the 1957 western meeting over the Labor Day weekend, but since several members would be unable to attend, a second meeting in Santa Barbara sometime during October 1957 was also scheduled. NELSON Baker was unanimously elected as program chairman for both meetings. Following a coffee break the hour was so late that it was decided to dispense with the balance of the scheduled program.
Members who registered were: RAY ALBRIGHT, NELSON BAKER, DAVID BAUER, J. A. Comstock, Charles Hill, William Hovanitz, Robert Kaiser, Carl Kirkwood, Robert Langston, Ron Leuschner, Lloyd Martin, R. H. T. Mat-toni, Noel McFarland, Joe McKenney, Paddy McHenry, S. S. Nicolay, Paul Opler, Bill Patterson, Donald Patterson, Robert Reid, William Rees, Frank Sala, Dora Schmela, Marvin Seiger, Elton Sette, John Spencer, J. W. Tilden, Fred Thorne, and Patrick Wilson. Guests included Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Kirkwood, Mrs. Sala, Mrs. Thorne, Mrs. Tilden, Dr. Coggeshall, and several others.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Thorne Secretary Treasurer, Pro tern.
The cover drawing of the stylized cossid moth on the current volume of the News is by Harry K. Clench, curator of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.