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plain how those same animals got there, not only in our classifications but in nature; in fact, in the world in which they live? The advent of Darwin's theory can be said with some justification to mark a renaissance of biology after a long period of stagnation during which faith fettered the freedom of intellect. The hundred years that have followed have led us from an almost unquestioning belief in the creation and fixity of species to a realization not only of the fact of evolution but of its mechanics, and almost to the solution of the problem of how life itself originated. And in this entomologists have played no small part, from Wallace, himself no mean entomologist, to the present day. Not long after Darwin, Bates produced his theory of mimicry, subsequently elaborated by Fritz Muller and later by Poulton and his school, a theory that can only be explained in the light of natural selection, whatever its antagonists (if there still be any) may say. Later came the rediscovery of Mendel's work, and it is interesting to speculate what Darwin's reactions to Mendel's experiments might have been had he known of them. Here was the key which unlocked the door to the machinery of natural selection, and it was not long before insects were recognized as most admirable subjects for experimental genetics. Using the common European Currant Moth {Abraxas grossulanata), Doncaster discovered sex-linkage; and using Drosophila a whole school of geneticists soon discovered, one is tempted to say, almost everything else. Now, through the work of entomologists like Dobzhansky and Hovanitz in the United States and E. B. Ford and his Oxford school in England, all of them using Lepidoptera, we are beginning to learn something of the genetic barriers between species, and almost to see natural selection producing evolutionary results 'before our eyes.' The 'marvels of creation' were a constant source of wonder to our grandparents and their forebears; nowadays if we touch a piece of bark and it walks off, rub a thorn, only to see it fly away, we can offer acceptable explanations of the astonishing adaptations of these insects. The same can be said even of such incredible developments of shape, form and habits among insects as I have had the privilege of seeing illustrated recently in E. S. Ross's fantastic colour trasparen-cies taken in the Amazons; in the light of present-day knowledge such marvels lose none of their wonder, if anything they become doubly marvelous. Of such insects, indeed, one might say, like the old farmer after stolidly contemplating a rhinoceros for several minutes, 'Martha, there h'aint no such hanimal.'
"But I fear I weary you. You need to be up and doing. And what a country you live in, for just that. California itself is three times as big as my own small homeland, it has many times the variety of environment; with its sea-board and mountains, plains and alpine valleys, deserts and forest it is full of the stuff that delights the student of variation and evolution. Have you yet solved the systematic problems of such genera as Argynnis, Melit&a (or is it Euphydryas now?), Colias and Hesperia, all of them incidentally gifts long ago from the Old World (like many other troubles)> from which this message comes?
Good hunting to you all!
,/S/ N. D. Riley 30th July, 1958."
Various announcements and arrangements were then made. Those present were reminded of the dinner reservations that evening with an informal get-together to follow. Dr. Mattoni announced a change in the Sunday afternoon symposium upon receiving word that one of its participants, David L. Bauer, would be unable to attend.
The time remaining in the morning session was occupied by the reading of an invitational paper titled, "A Basic Classification of the Types of Animal Movements, Based on a Consideration of the Relative Essentiality of its Qualities," by Charles Hogue. It pointed out the general lack of a precise terminology in the field of animal migration and suggested that a reevaluation of the different types of animal movements and their synthesis into a sound classification might provide a basis for redefinition and clarification of terms. An attempt at such a reevaluation constituted the main body of
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the paper. A general group discussion of butterfly migration, led by Mr. Hogue, with particular reference to the movements of Vanessa cardui in southern California during the spring of 1958, followed.
At noon the meeting was adjourned. From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. the group enjoyed a buffet luncheon provided and hosted by the Museum in the Junior Library.
Donald Patterson, acting as Chairman, called the afternoon session to order at 2:00 p.m. Three presentations composing a symposium on "Ecological Studies of Butterflies and Moths" were given. The first was "Seasonal Flight Periods of Euchloe ausonides in a Lowland Area," by O. E. Sette. It consisted of a detailed statistical analysis of 5 years' collecting data from one restricted locality. Several graphs showing seasonal tendencies were exhibited. Particularly evident from these was the presence of two flights per year in this locality. The speaker also emphasized some general aspects such as the need for more observations of species, not just economically important ones, in small populations to learn of the "normal" or "ordinary" flight pattern:, which must be understood before more complex patterns such as migrations can be analyzed.
Dr. J. W. Tilden next reviewed his comprehensive studies of "Butterfly Associations in Tioga Pass." The 42 species found in this area were listed and categorized according to associational groups. The groups followed those of the plants usually because of host relationships. The peculiar "inversion" phenomenon, or the earlier appearance of butterflies at high altitudes rather than low altitudes, was noted as occurring in the area. No good explanation for the phenomenon is yet available.
"A Comparison of Flight Patterns of Philotes sonorensis in Two Different Years" by Dr. R. H. T. Mattoni was the subject of the last presentation in the symposium. Dr. Mattoni first recapitulated the life history of the species and then with slides demonstrated some very interesting comparisons in the flight patterns for two years in a restricted area of San Gabriel Canyon in southern California.
Three invitational papers occupied the remainder of the afternoon following the symposium. That of Dr. John Eyer of New Mexico College of Agriculture on "Moths of the Genus Opostega" was first. Dr. Eyer began by discussing the North American species in a general way, covering their taxonomic relationships and morphology, and then stressed, with the aid of slides and photographs, their outstanding taxonomic characters. He showed that the male genitalia are particularly useful in species discrimination.
A paper titled "The Value of an Entomological Collection to a Museum" was next read by Lloyd M. Martin. The difficulty of maintaining a collection with inadequate finances and staff, a major hindrance to most public museums, was discussed. Particularly stressed was the responsibility of the museum to make its collections available to individual workers with no discrimination against those without recognized official position or professional reputation.
The last talk of the afternoon was given by Frank Sala on "Life History Studies." Mr. Sala reviewed, by narrating a series of excellent color transparencies taken by himself, the life histories of two rare southern California Lepidoptera, Papilio indra fordi, Atlides halesus, and one Arizona species, Arachnis zuni. Apart from the biological information itself, Mr. Salads pictures aptly demonstrated the usefulness of the technique of recording life history data photographically, /it the conclusion of Mr. Sala's presentation the Saturday meeting was adjourned.
At 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening members and guests gathered at the El Presidio Restaurant in Santa Barbara for dinner. After dinner several members showed slides of Lepidoptera and collecting experiences and the group enjoyed a long evening of conversation and fellowship.
Fred Thorne called the Sunday, August 24, morning session to order at 10:00 a.m. and conducted the main business meeting. The items of business were as follows: (1) Election of a Program Chairman for the 1959 meeting. Bob Langston was unanimously elected. (2) Decision of a place of meeting for 1959. After suggestions by
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several members to hold the meeting at various places, it was finally decided by a vote to again hold it at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. (3) Decision of a date for the 1959 meeting. After suggestions by several members to hold the meeting on various dates it was finally decided by a vote to hold it on the week-end before Labor Day, August 29-30. (4) Statement of society finances. This was given by Nelson Baker, Treasurer pro tempore. (5) Letters. It was recommended that the Secretary send a letter to Dr. J. A. Comstock, expressing regret for his absence from meetings. Letters of appreciation to Harold Chase of the Santa Barbara Museum for providing the facilities of the Museum, to R. H. T. Mattoni for acting as Program Chairman, to Levi Phillips for generously providing the programs, and to Nora Morres of the Museum for planning the Saturday luncheon, were to be communicated by the Secretary also. Two additional letters, one to F. Martin Brown to express thanks for his work in arranging the printing of the Nevus with the new printer, and condolences for his recent illness, and the other of thanks to Kodo Maeki for sending the exhibit of butterfly chromosomes, were to be written by J. W. Tilden and R. H. T. Mattoni respectively. (6) Suggestion for a field day for the 1959 meetings. This was decided to be impractical. (7) Discussion of make-up for the 1959 program. It was decided that more papers of a general nature would stimulate the interest of the younger and amateur members, whose attendance at the annual meetings is decreasing. Such topics as collecting experiences, recaps of the year's collecting, local collecting records, etc. were suggested. (8) Decision to hold the group dinner in 1959. This was unanimously favored.
The rest of the morning session was occupied by two invitational papers. ''Tent Caterpillars and Other Lasiocampidae" was the subject of a talk by Robert Langston After giving an introduction to the major characteristics of the family, Mr. Langston discussed the largest genus, Malacosoma, in detail. Each North American species was systematically treated with regard to distribution (illustrated by maps), taxonomy and biology. Specimens of each were exhibited.
The last topic was ''Collecting Butterflies in the San Pedro Martir with Remarks on the Relationship to the Fauna of California" by Donald Patterson. The remote San Pedro Martir range of mountains in Baja California was explored and collected by Mr. Patterson and Jerry Powell. Prior to the travels of Patterson and Powell, the area was one of the largest in the Southwest from which virtually nothing was known of the butterfly fauna. With the aid of color transparencies Mr. Patterson described some of the history, topography and geology of this interesting region and related experiences of the expedition. Specimens of the species collected were exhibited afterwards.
Because the scheduled participants in the Sunday afternoon S3rmposium "Discussions of the Nymphalidae" were unable to be present, it was not held and the final adjournment was made by Chairman Thorne at approximately 12 noon.
No group picture was made.
The following members registered for the meetings: Nelson Baker, Peter Bellinger, William Burdick, John Burns, John Eyer, Richard Fall, Charles Hogue, Samuel Kay, Jr., Carl Kirkwood, Robert Langston, John McBurney, John McBurney, Jr., Lloyd Martin, R. H. T. Mattoni, Donald Patterson, William Rees, R. H. Reid, Richard Roston, Al Rubbert, Frank Sala, Elton Sette, John Spencer, J. W. Tilden, Fred Thorne, William Wheaton, and Russ Yeomans.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES L. HOGUE
Secretary pro tempore