’ * x ren Shee : : ~— Roney} Me harass Pon x oy ) 3) retest SPN Bounces ~ 1 . A x 4 So sh de ’ 3 i 9, 49 PAS ees. a eS . n ‘ A ’ H h Does . . 5 Sh ee os + ‘ aes vate) Ye, , RACE ON a me, tht f2. Fat 4 wih Be (wre, 31 FS, Ps ie + Es eres q VOR ALS ee sf " A Lo yy My ® ‘ealot i ? f MW RAN a ge Bupa Ld tt rhs a, Ct ay y j oat i hat , te ages ‘ j 14 R Y ~ " %y , wale Ww i ip rl : ' yh ae ’ : ‘ 7‘ i . ey . # al . Le: . 4 ¥ or wor ) é , L) ‘ mhooelt ‘ ' i Museum of Comparative Zoology NEWSLETTER Published Now & Then Number Ila EDITORS' NOTE This issue of the newsletter is dedi- cated to Ernst Mayr on the occasion of his retirement as Director of the MCZ in the hope that it will afford him (and others) a few chuckles. To him go our Sincerest good wishes. NEWS OF THE STAFF Arnold Lewis, having made al! the possible changes, structural and otherwise, in his new home by the lake in Marlboro, is looking for new worlds to conquer. He has found a willing business partner in Charles Atlas, also expert with the hammer, and together they are busy acquiring extensive property. Mr. Lewis, as is well known, goes on to remodeling, to remodeling, to remodeling, and Mr. Atlas glories in the design of ever fancier bookcases. Kenneth Boss, to the surprise of many of his admirers a devoted horticulturist, has succeeded, through experiments maintained on the roof of the Botanical Garden apartments, in achieving a really black - not just deep purple - tulip. Those interested in investing in the enterprise may see Mr. Boss. (OBU, we are told, is interested in establishing the authenticity of this - so far they do not have any national flower.) Special Edition January 22, 1970 Moonlighting, anyone? Frank Carpenter has a complete line of tools and skills related to the carpentry business and will be glad to give estimates - no job too small. Prof. Carpenter also has openings for qualified assistants. Arthur Chickering is one of our most revered research associates; the spider department would have difficulty continuing without him. We can only urge that in winter he give trees a wide berth while ice storms are in progress. Bill Clench has just returned from a collecting trip in the south with an almost unbelievable tale of narrow escape. Working alone in a desolate area he was Surprised and caught by a fresh-water Tridacna. A chance native hunter found Bill and released him, using only bare hands. Too bad Bill was not able to bring the giant clam back with him, but it swam away and disappeared into the Okefenokee Swamp. What a loss to science and the MCZ. But we are happy to have our Bill safely back. om. Lie i th ibe Me | Ray Paynter reports finding a colony of 13 nesting ivory-billed woodpeckers on his homestead in New Hampshire. Identification of the birds, formerly thought to be completely extinct, was corroborated by that intrepid pair of MCZ ornithologists, Bill and Annette Cottrell. Are you interested in comparative rapacity among the Crocodilia? Prof. Darlington will, for appropriate compensation, conduct experiments personally with gavials, Spectacled, smooth-fronted or broad-snouted caimans, American or Chinese alligators, and a wide variety of crocodiles. If you ask for credentials, he may show you his scars. Dr. Deichmann has been asked to address the Norwich Terriers Association at their annual meeting in St. Giles Cathedral, Norwich, with special reference to the suitability of the breed to the mini-car. To Barry Fell: Beware Gondwanaland, my son, And lavas from deep-hidden fires. Tuz Wilson and the silly coves Have jumbled up the gyres. All crazy are the compass points And commonsense retires. Steve Gould has just been appointed chairman of a university committee whose Stated objective is the preservation of the Status Quo at Harvard. Richard Johnson has regretfully decided that his scheme for a unionid food industry designed, in conjunction with the anti- poverty program, to alleviate protein Shortage in Appalachia is, due to the pollution of all southern rivers, not feasible. Flash! Vicki Kohler breaks both legs this time while skiing with geological intent in Antarctica as a member of the Polar Research group of Ohio State. (Anybody from anywhere who goes to Antarctica is liable to end up as being from Ohio State.) Miss Kohler is contemplating taking up tiddly winks for the balance of the winter. Due to recent discoveries, enthusias- tically reported in the newspapers by Dr. Laurence Gould, of Triassic ammonoids in Antarctica, Prof. Bernhard Kummel is revising his prejudices concerning Continental Drift. Kummel doubts that Gould has discovered any, but he is prepared for any eventuality, however dire. Ever since the New York Times came out editorially for drift, he hasn't been quite his old self. Despite the best efforts of exterminators, several specimens of the MCZ's poisonous spiders have been seen in the building. However, thanks to Dr. Levi's recent development of a specific anti-venom (NIH Grant No. 10351), the staff need have no worries about contacts with these arachnids. Giles Mead has joined forces with Cesar Chavez to reform labor relations in the California grape industry. Flash! Mr. Benjamin Shreve has promptly, and for the first time, answered a letter that ended "with sincere thanks in advance for your trouble, | am ...." quit riche te. Te weanwitee alas ay, 4} s bobn it Tr yee bs | yj TW) ¢ 7 ay L ens vos - ae 4 slekaliaiad ty? ‘om bigot) tlt § oss bos bl e “1 id ne i =>. a. aa ‘ ssanesoe ol Bad oF sel “ord Sailthaoow) eet , ie tL Meets oeiwoxige wh "i pieme Oliw yl fie zieg rig yr hohe Sea WwW bain arenas oe wiittd Aa: ty wT 326 or up oad 6) bales heed pee iolisizoea A exsieT T datw Sem ealid $2 al erite on in sanaieiay leteeqe niiwi ron oF :w-intite an¥ oF beond oft Ge moe Yin sm toni nebbiri-geab mol é esvoo yili2 Sf On NGe 2onn ai) qu bale ye Se pinion zzenmoo oil aim 22), s2nee i : vas j batnioggs nead teul aang seorlw gapmudss Q2ieIa ee ott jo nol nveaany ot ab i ia | aie ss a oi el ae i Pa ye ‘sae ‘ om ‘ + : - ‘ i m1 ates, = —s 2 i U ee ig pea | Pa i ‘> ae c Pies ry Mad poe vi ‘ ° o> Pr aoe From Miami, via AP. Dr. Ruth Turner, MCZ's spectacular scuba diver has discovered a shallow water form of a hitherto exclusive deep-sea mollusc, a relative of Neopalina, found at 10 fathoms depth. "Remarkable modification of gill apparatus" says Turner. Reevaluation of distribution of primitive marine relicts is probable. E.E. Williams is the unknown, unsung hero of the student protest movement. SDS and other organizations that deplore and decry the lack of communication between students and faculty have only to look at Williams, whose students seek every day a new excuse for a party in his honor. Among their recent inventions: the 25th anniversary of publication of his thesis, and celebration of the Russian Christmas (with appropriate beverages). E. O. Wilson has purchased Kerguelen Island. He is interested in the development of strains of Atta adapted to the Kerguelen cabbage with a view to determining colonizing potential in face of this Specialized (and almost only) plant food. Barbara Lawrence rediscovers Canis dirus, supposedly extinct these 10,000 years, in Berkshires. Charles Lyman Speculates animal unique in hibernating for 5-year stretches, appearing briefly to seize cattle (see press on periodic recent losses in New England states). Charles Mack prepares to depart for region with Subterranean sounding equipment. (William Schevill reports present underwater detecting techniques inadequate for subterranean probing.) The disappearance from the premises of a wide variety of commercial fish foods sent for testing to the MCZ by various manufacturers has caused some concern of late. Myvanwy Dick has been narrowl y questioned in this matter. She denies any responsibility and claims being an ailurophile is beside the point. It has been suggested that Mr. Dick, a noted food fancier, may have had some connection with the dis- appearance. Our new lepidoptera expert, John Burns, has alarmed our nature-loving friends. What does he do with his beautiful butterflies ? Admire them? No. He cuts off and mashes their rear ends to determine their relationships by how far their distinctive proteins dribble. It is proposed to buy him a Waring blender, so that his ghastly deeds may be performed in a shorter and more humane fashion. Ona recent field trip Prof. Romer discovered a deep-dish fossil turtle in Texas Permian redbeds sediments. He has, however, attempted to conceal this find. His argument is that there should be no turtles in the Permian: either these beds are not Permian, or the critter isn't a turtle. A good example of circular reasoning, what? However, Ruth Romer is at the ready for further field trips anywhere to collect more non-existent Permian turtles. What does Nelda Wright do with the considerable free time available to her Since her retirement more than a year ago? Sleuths have found that she has gone into the catering business. Her speciality is chocolate cake. The one item she refuses to bake is a white cake camouflaged with chocolate frosting. Her chocolate cakes are chocolate to the core! One of the first orders received for a Wright chocolate cake came from former MCZer Stan Olsen in Florida. jS2ip ae it an! ae io 1 : _ | Pe) e \ Mi A 6 | L i dom ‘i ric A A 4 70 ; St F 4) j ii fy : & : j ' ' 7 : 1 a : = : ; , Sui - + 5 000! ‘ } a 4 § | ' et ihe, mo : in Si8iGo0n 3 i ee en othe. 0/ I§ ae Bin Yo nonssaiNbow 9 rolibu ts vooR en : oi iley anism — Sey y au worn ‘orl. 2i ang Wo e202 ins pre avom Jaatory iid we? viasb bas giolqsb feds anol. sxin Bp jabuie noowled neilsainommen ti 27061) at is xool af, lade woth) it h ysb yeve dope ainabal feAgsy +i iets prion A wart aie iY {; , o yisersvinns WES oft HE lo ne ade Iga BAS 2hasdd i“ isisqo Inds ditw) esmiei Oko WS : ' we: nstsupiat bezedowg een hoe! \ hb pita b ont ni belestaitti nelsipieA ani of baiqsbss At onininisish of wel B iit we eit? Yo son) wi tetdn! =) | sboo) fnatq (ying laomls bn a co er. Bini J 29 ooeibey ssioin 6 f 5! . B00 ol 529) } tonisxs" 16 yt tolet. rea Vian | thi ry nisdidoni oupini | igen nase | ‘od yNesitd priiveeqgs veaitote trees inaost siholtey no 22sr4 (9987 re eoliatd (eethie te we a | — “thw-toipey wot Bgotro; nei EW) Snemgiupe | oni tee : . a‘ c be e044 ey wed 90 Tf 1936 unalina sng s Pe ieee ) i x ne ; It is reported that Gretel Mayr has been seen shopping for luggage. When questioned, she reports the need for extra suitcases to carry off the considerable collection of Ernst's personal papers and records of his administration. Later, it is planned to house these, along with Mayr's extensive collection of scientific papers, in the new wing. These papers will be available to serious students, especially ardent advocates of numerical taxonomy. Prof. B. Patterson extols computer as paleontological tool of the future, saying it now takes its place with radioactivity and carbon I4 dating. A small bit of bone, collected by Patterson was fed into the Harvard computer and out came the identification - Hominid for sure. (Question - was it the bone or its measurements which the computer devoured ?) THE DIRECTOR Everybody is aware of the public Mayr - investigator, educator, administrator, author of "one damn thick book after another" (to misquote one of the Georges on the subject of Mr. Gibbon), sixth director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, advisor to govern- ment, etc., etc. - but the private Mayr, the very human Mayr, is perhaps not as well known. On this occasion, when we come together to honor the public figure, we are privileged to observe a few of the less familiar incidents in his career. We see him first (fig. |) in eager, charming, unformed innocence. At this stage he could have become almost anything: banker, statesman, journalist, pastor. None of these, and many other, occupations ever really had a chance. Evolutionary biology claimed him almost from the outset. Fig.!. Tabula rasa. In a little-known work published in 1932 he remarked: "falthough/ barely 23 vears old . . . 1 had had many years of experience in the study of European birds." Those of his colleagues capable of counting backwards on their fingers have tended to smile at this - quite wrongly as it turns out. There is indisputable, photographic evidence to substantiate the claim. Fortunately he was snapped (fig. 2, right) in the act of making one of his early field identifications: 'Da ist ein Trauerfliegenschndpper (Muscicapa atricapilla L.)."" The determination was at once confirmed by the Honorary Secretary of the Bayrischer Staats Vogelbeobachter Verein who happened to be present at the time and remarked that the child should go far. He did; from beginnings such as this there is no turning back. Fig.2. The twig is early bent. ~"s ’ i ' ”" « a “4 : we ° i f — é , ; F)) a Be 4 ¥ . “ bong ian ry ol, a Bit 5 EA, ey of 2eenaline Ny Wits | r. Ww rol #oathos ae “ i] | ail te Sbrooet mM iY terre lq 2 . ~~ oats iy i ea irs ade’ | vor att cil 2 vsqsq. oil , pyst ; Phe mo} eldelisve 4 ad Iliw 21 ' | Ray . - Swabs vitelaea . ™ ¥monoOXB) "enn a: a 26 valomo> eloixs nogietisd .8 ste ie i $2 nul only to loos Is3 ipolain ri ichin ) : 7 wl + nods bres iivitaset a (iw a9 . ri | ‘3 hon ) ori Bi hel loo .enod 19 Hid Hs A atl ail ey Bingmes bev onli oi) b noes | | inimok: - polisal Vignabi ofl prara: . 7) eine) 2) 10 Sito ait) 1 2e6w = do uO) 9 » od ; y40n)1 vier AO - (Y bswevsb ¥ ah: ott hai ee 7 © ss OTD aAIG 3 HT Fas " <4 Ob 196 - WEM ollduq ort 1o-o1s we ai bodys vi (ilo s oriue .,olevalnimbs Woleaubs off sp is 4 p hee ions 1936 dood | Aol amp: re 2i1i6 ie 12 ori no e9pios” ot) 10.8 eno alot io} alive’ Artnes mysevi al} io tofoetib dixie, la ode id | | aris -iisvop o} wo2ivbs yeoloo’ Sie sq niewsV of 8M sisving Sd dud = . 2% suet ns is IW 26 Jon pikeak ye Tr o J sd ge nO sw reriw 10126990 Bs) 4 nC | earl} O16 SW .owpil rildug ‘orld 40 onorl ezs! orl} 10 wal & 1 119159 arn al & * , ode . \repse ni €f pil). by Aye psia 2th 1A. sonsaonnl b > lain ~ ynirlivne s20mhs ome a og: aM, 10M yodeRq) Jeilemuoi meals: | wsv8 eriofsquose fen at a : Yooleid ysnoitwloval Pa rs 5 4 . oeatie any mor 4 © ak - a Throughout his boyhood and schooldays no European bird in his vicinity could be said to have enjoyed any privacy at all. Even in his moments of relaxation he was, however unconsciously, preparing for his life's work (fig. 3). Those familiar with the illustrations in Wallace's The Malay Archipelago will at once appreciate how useful conditioning of this sort can be if one is going to study birds of paradise in their natural tree-top habitats. As a university student he participated to the full in academic (fig. 4) and social (fig. 5) life. From it he emerged full fledged, well rounded and ready for whatever life might bring (fig. 6). His Wanderjahre began almost at once. Hand-picked by Lord Rothschild to head an expedition to the East Indies he embarked upon explorations (fig. 7) that were to take him to places where no scientific foot had ever trod. While not neglecting such opportunities for relaxation as presented themselves along the way (fig. 8), he turned ie Nis shi a | , ae we Fig.5. Professor Stresemann, who seems to have been the Carroll Williams of the Univer- sity of Berlin, entertains the students at tea. Fig.3. Behavioural preadaptation. Fig.6. The future lies thataway. a ¥ cw ove ie iggy = ha ¥.\ ~~ - -? pre Ns s°T @ > « X Sin } a Hee. ty a 10; poinoisibnos- Wasa ‘ af | dn ms atid ybuie 2 oj ‘trio. 26, gn Sek thy ; . 26 stide r qol-squ Tew oak a able oftoe brit ; . bi 62 102 Hii yy | 7 SY Mi Ly). ni aed a ie r: al i reveworl 2m we a4 ol y ales lo Ke 1 2 ’ ; hom a ‘ohh aint 10} pris qs ¥ ; /- * erential oly j wi tine isi ® | bhiwe »prloaideay ie pes ” Olt bails qivihaq: oft. ooh se arr ae ad (2 .pit) Isiooe bas (4. pi) aimgh weal how ,bapbell Mul boptoiis. 14} iipim sti} seveterly, vo} | = iim ¥ 7 4 : : a. 3 ‘ - Pa ki < at! q ty ee ae” .son0 Is eons anted olsitab if re : ; y Pe oe . ry aed WwW byt eee ‘CG bs: ee “boohudms od astbail as & to. Aa _ Saat of grow Maal) ("Soi i hats ae, bet jJool sitisnaioe ons : ih 2928 ee 2% Wie Shaw pnidosipsn ton’ 1 ee bsinszag 26, AB ge rh eat in one of his more outstanding performances. While in New Guinea he found himself in unusually congenial company. 'l was amazed", he later wrote, "at the exact knowledge . these natives possessed. Almost every species had its own name," and they even distinguished some species which have been confused with others by some systematists on account of their similarity." He cited this experience in subsequent studies on species (a topic to which he is somewhat addicted), as evidence of their objective reality. (Evidence can sometimes be interpreted in more than one way, however; it is reported that Professor James D. Watson, himself a promising bird watcher in youth, remarked on Fig.8. La dolce vita in Macassar. reading this: "to be a taxonomist you don't even have to be literate. ')* In 1931 he was faced with a momentous decision: to come or not to come to America. He came and to his delight (fig. 9) found this country almost everything that he had hoped for. It was here that he found romance. * Watson was wrong here: literacy is a prerequisite for coping with The International COS ee ue, Rules of Zoological Nomenclature. Sepa Fig.9. Exuberance upon discovering America. Fig. 7. Lord Rothschild's emissary to the Fig.10. The best bird yet. farthest fringes of the far east. ge | Lau ; eG bs ra BY SRW TT. VAROINOS Tire _. Sebatwonak tamsa'silt ye Yeve Mee: yH229220 neve yell! bak” yathen avo need: ove Hadid 2313 | eseite mpdeye omoz yd 2 2ind batia gH” arate tah 29198q2 10, ssibute Ins ae G (baloibbs Isdlwemoe & feral E vss wvisdaide sisi W669 yah fit US tarasi| BT 29011 SOS whi ft bahoqe 2) HW “ayvewor ow 9 oti art; & egealet | soeisW Vd eamel yor o Dente? hiroy nt tarlothw bid fe: A al Ug Merl i od oF SY rot ue j zit MOroxhs 8 ‘ot os QUOI SMO Bi) hw beast enw wa rf ER Bort mA 0) sine of ton wm amo OF ene heal (©. pil) frei tab etn ‘bas in art jeri) om idivevs: act nid onemorbrdol ad jee stoi 2 26 | - eet vaerafil sone, prow ® ze bi wad isvolismain! oAT iw priqon tol at etue 9 nWI6I9 nemrigld isaip olooS 0% Ac »2 * ~~ Robbing Wheaton College of its fairest flower (fig. 10), he has experienced the joys and tribulations of fatherhood (figs. Il, 12). His work has gone from triumph to triumph, honors have been heaped upon him (figs. 13, 14), and he has guided us through eight critical years. He's come a long way since that first Trauerfliegenschnapper. Although we must now say "Farewell" to him as Director, we can still say "Hail" in September to the returning Agassiz Professor. Fig.13. Another medal (adequate represen- tation of MCZ types is surely not fortuitous). aS. be b> ¢ i =f Vis: cy J a ond ‘eas . ¢.d an : We Wer - NATIONS! RNITHE ) - : iS f RTH CICA > - "ey ‘gy ® | ‘a »>.. A Me Wf \ Rm I: wy ¥. bia : el ; %, ¢ mi: has bs . Fig.l4. Professor Stresemann sees a former Fig.l. "Marriage gives that fullness to life which student make it big. nothing else can give." Excellenz von Helmholtz in the course of a conversation recorded in 1888. 8 = aA aN\ \ We@ ems AA § ; [| il ‘{ Fig.12. New Jersey Gothic (photo by G. H. R. von Koenigswald). ey Back / ao a 29% 7 2 i ie a ; zyoi ehiogxs 4 : (tr > hoo ’ prt at of lqits Pee hy whe Et api) min wai be qs: ;, ¥ y ro . nde Lo Ve. - ? £ 7 , ie, - hes hh Rie ial ae hipis pvorts eu a iebict dee a 7 mn en wv . ie J wit. — he Yi oe a. a Nh) Mia Pa) wy a 1d a, er ee ‘ ee pred oe 4, My . d ; is dy eoni2 yew ie TOS a, ; ae jaum gw viguoitiA. .yoqqsniloznspe : iy ie » Pi Py " - 4 h pe ry heh Ts ca | he my IW 10 Joe exit) sis mrt gt * oem 5 ’ % a , 7 » ab an) of. 7908 ase ni at Nis" 4 LY. sozealovl ‘siei t ‘ ean v yi + 7 J : —_ he | ’ a0 ae 4 sa by ii . os aust awed j! é H nov v twallSoxd f rr ata | iit ob v3 9% ean é ‘ ' a \ W\ " \ , a) 41 A v Museum of Comparative Zoology NEWSLETTER Published Now & Then ——-— Number tla EDITORS' NOTE This issue of the newsletter is dedi- cated to Ernst Mayr on the occasion of his retirement as Director of the MCZ in the hope that it will afford him (and others) a few chuckles. To him go our siicerest good wishes. MEWS,OF THE STAFF Arnold Lewis, having made all the possible changes, structural and otherwise, in his new home by the Jake in Marlboro, is looking for new worlds to conquer. He has found a willing business partner in Charles Atlas, also expert with the hammer, and together they are busy acquiring extensive property. Mr. Lewis, as is well known, aqoes on to remodeling, to reniodeling, to remodeling, and Mr. Atlas glories in the design of ever fancier bookcases. Kenneth Boss, to the surprise of many of his admirers a devoted horticulturist, has Succeeded, through experiments maintained on the roof of the Botanical Garden apartments, in achieving a really black - not just deep purple - tulip. Those interested in investing in the enterprise may see Mr. Boss. (OBU, we are told, is interested in establishing the authenticity of this - so far they do not have any national flower.) Special Edition January 22, 1970 Moonlighting, anyone? Frank Carpenter has a complete line of tools and skills related to the carpentry business and will be glad to give estimates - no job too small. Prof. Carpenter also has openings for qualified assistants. Arthur Chickering is one of our most revered research associates; the spider department would have difficulty continuing without him. We can only urge that in winter he give trees a wide berth while ice storms are in progress. Bill Clench has just returned froma collecting trip in the south with an almost unbelievable tale of narrow escape. Working alone in a desolate area he was Surprised and caught by a fresh-water Tridacna. A chance native hunter found Bill and released him, using only bare hands. Too bad Bill was not able to bring the giant clam back with him, but it Swam away and disappeared into the Okefenokee Swamp. What a loss to science and the MCZ. But we are happy to have our Bill safely back. i aa i) 3J onan. a 4 ne : wor bedaj ‘9 ne | inesn G6 ; Bf tioh ie? igoi | yao $208 9M a 1 ends 29 ni 16: ovat Yo vit a oat 3 “ee tot enor el 1) sol awa “' 1 to. 262290 oil. tho: al J on t ailtte w pang P-.) te that bots Hh y Tir cp firs in of ; : i. a -* ver Es 11 11S ober Nivel alin Neat enone 8 nine ce! ,cwOo iM ri Sagt any y rd one be 14) pi "OD 0 ‘Jiowe ws . nat ) wi yor Ta 22911 aud pe iti rt told fyi we ae at as =e 119g) ~* ine UpSe ye + SUR ond How 25 am vRby ort waite? Hh Od". ilsbo Dom ee “ Al 2oi% ‘g Ar pine bec : walood dione» 7 ? ~y a * se a al sto J ied. Oya 0 2 ae earls O58 Jew wot? roll veh. tye ‘edt eingmisseixy ple vil: . } 8 at ; ty) ne ani eet! BS | pai rout Ai hele Ray Paynter reports finding a colony of 13 nesting ivory-billed woodpeckers on his homestead in New Hampshire. Identification of the birds, formerly thought to be completely extinct, was corroborated by that intrepid pair of MCZ ornithologists, Bill and Annette Cottrell. Are you interested in comparative rapacity among the Crocodilia? Prof. Darlington will, for appropriate compensation, conduct experiments personally with gavials, spectacled, smooth-fronted or broad-snouted caimans, American or Chinese alligators, and a wide variety of crocodiles. If you ask for credentials, he may show you his scars. Dr. Deichmann has been asked to address the Norwich Terriers Association at their annual meeting in St. Giles Cathedral, Norwich, with special reference to the suitability of the breed to the mini-car. To Barry Fell: Beware Gondwanaland, my son, And lavas from deep-hidden fires. Tuz Wilson and the silly coves Have jumbled up the gyres. All crazy are the compass points And commonsense retires. Steve Gould has just been appointed chairman of a yniversity committee whose Stated objective is the preservation of the Status Quo at Harvard. Richard Johnson has regretfully decided that his scheme for a unionid food industry designed, in conjunction with the anti- poverty program, to alleviate protein shortage in Appalachia is, due to the pollution of all southern rivers, not feasible. Flash! Vicki Kohler breaks both legs this time while skiing with geological intent in Antarctica as a member of the Polar Research group of Ohio State. (Anybody from anywhere who goes to Antarctica is liable to end up as being from Ohio State.) Miss Kohler is contemplating taking up tiddly winks for the balance of the winter. Due to recent discoveries, enthusias- tically reported in the newspapers by Dr. Laurence Gould, of Triassic ammonoids in Antarctica, Prof. Bernhard Kummel is revising his prejudices concerning Continental Drift. Kummel doubts that Gould has discovered any, but he is prepared for any eventuality, however dire. Ever since the New York Times came out editorially for drift, he hasn't been quite his old self. Despite the best efforts of exterminators, several specimens of the MCZ's poisonous spiders have been seen in the building. However, thanks to Dr. Levi's recent developnient of a specific anti-venom (NIH Grant No. 10351), the Staff need have no worries about contacts with these arachnids. Giles Mead has joined forces with Cesar Chavez to reform labor relations in the California grape industry. Flash! Mr. Benjamin Shreve has promptly, and for the first time, answered a letter that ended "with sincere thanks in advance for your trouble, |am...." | > ) » Ihe oO noi tuHog Fe : -Stdizne? . _ a K * AG Perehe itnsbl ; ‘Ylste qr 03 od ! of Srloue: dtbilncas oie ee bigawai: sold vd bene oo - stisnaA bg eh ate 7 $e . | bodynA) | 7° de Sn Soldomiaa 25 | Sv Sano | tiete on ; 107 Tsilibo nds b sn sen bids > bem ngs. >i iveg itiiwey lonozieg 2 iv inne! nae Ww beso F IVE, peace: seariitl a ol ¥28 voy eli 10.20%! 276 32 air voy W oe VBA haz is —. of bs} en neat nolslooeeA, 2yalte Bs i o9/iD J2nig pret 799 { q eonarsies isiagqe iw aot Mi 3~i phn | a oJ bastd » ol oy: a ;? io) ise in Moe m bape ew bien 277 neh! birl-qaatrmog 4). 28 29v00 v!li2 ort! bag nom 2919 avi) 10 3 fs 109 22K qKIOg anit : -29niten 2209200 off esi OOGs reed tay ert SoWimmoo yWiawsyviny 0 110 livageany ty abs 7 NE vIBE gt 7 tae babiosb ville es nos 3 veubni "toot bin w Boh aap : © rlittas gold 4 Diw-nold iat ; From Miami, via AP. Dr. Ruth Turner, MCZ's spectacular scuba diver has discovered a shallow water form of a hitherto exclusive deep-sea mollusc, a relative of Neopalina, found at 10 fathoms depth. "Remarkable modification of gill apparatus" says Turner. Reevaluation of distribution of primitive marine relicts is probable. E.E. Williams is the unknown, unsung lero of the student protest movement. SDS and other organizations that deplore and decry the lack of communication between students and faculty have only to look at Williams, whose students seek every day a new excuse for a party in his honor. Among their recent inventions: the 25th anniversary of publication of his thesis, and celebration of the Russian Christmas (with appropriate beverages). E. O. Wilson has purchased Kerguelen Island. He is interested in the development of strains of Atta adapted to the Kerguelen cabbage with a view to determining colonizing potential in face of this specialized (and almost only) plant food. Barbara Lawrence rediscovers Canis dirus, supposedly extinct these 10,000 years, in Berkshires. Charles Lyman speculates animal unique in hibernating for 5-year stretches, appearing briefly to Seize cattle (see press on periodic recent losses in New England states). Charles Mack prepares to depart for region with Subterranean sounding equipment. (William Schevill reports present underwater detecting techniques inadequate for subterranean probing.) The disappearance from the premises of a wide variety of commercial fish foods sent for testing to the MCZ by various manufacturers has caused some concern of late. Myvanwy Dick has been narrowly questioned in this matter. She denies any responsibility and claims being an ailurophile is beside the point. It has been suggested that Mr. Dick, a noted food fancier, may have had some connection with the dis- appearance. Our new lepidoptera expert, Jolin Burns, has alarmed our nature-loving friends. What does he do with his beautiful butterflies ? Admire them? No. He cuts off and mashes their rear ends to determine their relationships by how far their distinctive proteins dribble. It is proposed to buy him a Waring blender, so that his ghastly deeds may be performed in a shorter and more humane fashion. On a recent field trip Prof. Romer discovered a deep-dish fossil turtle in Texas Permian redbeds sediments. He has, however, attempted to conceal this find. His argument is that there should be no turtles in the Permian: either these beds are not Permian, or the critter isn't a turtle. A good example of circular reasoning, what? However, Ruth Romer is at the ready for further field trips anywhere to collect more non-existent Permian turtles. What does Nelda Wright do with the considerable free time available to her Since her retirement more than a year ago ? Sleuths have found that she has gone into the catering business. Her speciality is chocolate cake. The one item she refuses to bake is a white cake camouflaged with chocolate frosting. Her chocolate cakes are chocolate to the core! One of the first orders received for a Wright chocolate cake came from former MCZer Stan Olsen in Florida. “4 ar ~ i‘¢ won + SNOHe hyn wit 2 of) 13d ech WO ' 2b Si itiw tq offi mort 261 “ek ott d2it atomuh aD lo VieiwGy abigs'lo” ie iee GY | SIM onl? 0} oniigatset lise i 2rewdostuncim 1310 yenaveM - isl Wilh zis af banoiizsup O16 Wilidiznoqesy wie WM isd } 20ns we }Prin Ts 4r} TF vi £ OC Gl )e2008 & vet 7 /9 Ww Of ad ed 2H iba 2900 Jarl\/ ai] « hisrabionos 1993 19ff.s5ni2 svBA arliusl2 Ponizud oni tase orl ‘T . odB3 NGlaoggis 5 2) avd of rie 3£, i? Oro! Ono WH | onbiees sltlovards 09n0 ‘S100 oA po} ots longs 62 SIRS sthinzods inpliW & ia} bayieaat : Aji 4 ! F kelO mete who sono! mort inion aelt abiesd 2)... eo 5 ; \ 5 ew . . ica ore woud =) at on eU2 .Jnsaisvom Jeate a in vt390 bie stolysb ipl)’ af oils 2jnabule notwied nolisain eine IW Joa! ef i S2uIKS Wan & ysb'viove o 2 $99) W9ils phoma aor ny to yiseravirins io noitsidales big. 2 sd a ke le gel fer: é A a laupre bsasdavg a imongolsveb srt ni bolapreian istsugrea rif 0} bajqgh 4 ,] pHinimatsh of we ait Spat ni toide bool tnnly tying Yeon 6b ny a> 6 21160 21s-oges bays 000,0) 9 nant eglghd-. onviensdid pi Gone | oJ vAelid Hida baer . . Ines iboiwe nee oI 2ohaild Cees be (iw noigoy id | mei | iW) aap ge It is reported that Gretel Mayr has been seen shopping for luggage. When questioned, she reports the need for extra suitcases to carry off the considerable collection of Ernst's personal papers and records of his administration. Later, it is planned to house these, along with Mayr's extensive collection of scientific papers, in the new wig. These papers will be available to serious students, especially ardent advocates of numerical taxonomy. Prof. B. Patterson extols computer as paleontological tool of the future, saying it now takes its place with radioactivity and carbon I4 dating. A small bit of bone, collected by Patterson was fed into the Harvard computer and out came the identification - Hominid for sure. (Question - was it the bone or its measurements which the computer devoured ?) THE DIRECTOR Everybody is aware of the public Mayr - investigator, educator, administrator, author of "one damn thick book after another" (to misquote one of the Georges on the subject of Mr. Gibbon), sixth director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, advisor to govern- ment, etc., etc. - but the private Mayr, the very human Mayr, is perhaps not as well known. On this occasion, when we come together to honor the public figure, we are privileged to observe a few of the less familiar incidents in his career. We see him first (fig. 1) in eager, charining, unformed innocence. At this stage he could have become almost anything: banker, statesman, journalist, pastor. None of these, and many other, occupations ever really had a chance. Evolutionary biology claimed him almost from the outset. Fig.!. Tabula rasa. In a little-known work published in 1932 he remarked: "falthough/ barely 23 vears old . . . | had had many years of experience in the study of European birds."" Those of his colleagues capable of counting backwards on their fingers have tended to smile at this - quite wrongly as it turns out. There is indisputable, photographic evidence to substantiate the claim. Fortunately he was Snapped (fig. 2, right) in the act of making one of his early field identifications: "Da ist ein Trauerfliegenschndpper (Muscicapa atricapilla L.)." The determination was at once confirmed by the Honorary Secretary of the Bayrischer Staats Vogelbeobachter Verein who happened to be present at the time and remarked that the child should go far. He did; from beginnings such as this there is no turning back. Fig.2. The twig is early bent. vi wore silt ni , nq a j $ std@ligvi 90 Nive i inabyr xl 94 — INGBOXEE Baia a 1 a ‘mu 7 aan ey > ie alojes. one he owso} arti io 00) iBg Viivis ‘o60ib ity fe ‘Snod- jo. 1 Visi irsvieH ‘od! os) al Off’ noaony ine i od . nod wil) Jteew = noble »b YOIUQMOD a Sil nofo3903 weM sildy iG tt Io “165 — 1orkiue vetsteinibe feat “190 ot if vans yf Ao sid ult Ho pater: ot Ye | ii . voloavib ¢ xia 6 0 OF) vbe ¢ ‘YPC 0S: 1s aving ‘lf i dm sg lisw 86 te + aqethag oe SING sw realy. Hoi 269 ve air? 976 ow suid otldug 28 w0N0 4 4 ws yvinzdae women i er ibs) mre: eile (hese ziti 1A -S2n930FiN born puidivs dae nls’ NODS ee 4 ol26y Je Ist dal aa 52: 1oVv3. 2! noingitao' 9 Ho na Al) veoloid: vtenr9igulo Be ¥; Song Je2iue of mou Jeo IE ead in) al > “tabs 4% ne Throughout his boyhood and schooldays no European bird in his vicinity could be said to have enjoyed any privacy atall. Even in his moments of relaxation he was, however uliconsciously, preparing for his life's work (fig. 3). Those familiar with the illustrations in Wallace's The Malay Archipelago will at once appreciate how useful conditioning of this sort can be if one is going to study birds of paradise in their natural tree-top habitats. As a university student he participated to the full in academic (fig. 4) and social (fig. 5) life. From it he emerged full fledged, well rounded and ready for whatever life might bring (fiq. 6). His Wanderjahre began almost at once, 7 ( Tt maa Hand-picked by Lord Rothschild to head an Se Ca idl. cots bonddd Gadd A he a expedition to the East Indies he embarked yy: He i : ey ‘y upon explorations (fig. 7) that were to take ha ga og i poe Vg him to places where no Scientific foot had go! BOS ny Ub Adie ly «- ever trod. While not neglecting such Opportunities for relaxation as presented themselves along the way (fig. 8), he turned Fig.5. Professor Stresemann, who seems to have been the Carrol| Williams of the Univer- sity of Berlin, entertains the Students at tea. Fig.3. Behavioural preadaptation. Fig.6. The future lies thataway. ARR Yaa ; | i 4 ; = 5 - 9 o "= seul i | oh rn ¥, | i To onlnaitt NED, MTS . emid vbule oj | jedider pasha of bate qi dst ie 4 | be a i IZONGE “eos a0 of « | iG o} bh hizerljod A bac in ove of his more outstanding performances. While in New Guinea he found himself in unusually congenial company. "l was amazed", he later wrote, "at the exact knowledge . . these natives possessed. Almost every species had its own name," and they even distinguished some species which have been confused with others by some systematists on account of their similarity." He cited this experience in subsequent studies on species (a topic to which he is somewhat addicted), as evidence of their objective reality. (Evidence can sometimes be interpreted in more than one way, however; it is reported that Professor James D. Watson, himself a promising bird watcher in youth, remarked on reading this: "to be a taxonomist you don't even have to be literate. ')* In 1931 he was faced with a momentous decision: to come or not to come to America. He came and to his delight (fig. 9) found this country almost everything that he had hoped for. It was here that he found romance. * Watson was wrong here: literacy is a prerequisite for coping with The International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature. oo oP Fig. 7. Lord Rothschild's emissary to the farthest fringes of the far east. Fig.8. La dolce vita in Macassar. Fig.9. Exuberance upon discovering America. Fig.10. The best bird yet. oe 4 k se _. re D a =. ; F uk aye iy, t h z. " “oe as ©.2 "1 u v bs Shi We RR 2 + 2 aa Pe ts ‘ . rf ee ee t 1 yb # ' - : Lh ; 7 _& . pe , be ¥ _¥ : . 7 »! red 1 - vi ey 3 Ps . iy ; tay ; 3 : ng bir - See a ies» 8 stot +, : - "e intl ad ees pee “ aalosge ahem : > <2 Fee Go ; tbs siaibbs Mdworwe' al oes . J Ire Al Shh) — 9 via 86a any a? 191 | a mt it c by fhe »} 47 a ~ 7 we! cl Li 7 : Tepete i) ’ } },! / o- “ ue Peay 7 nomen 6 ryiw ictal nop as § rape leks © 0H) Aigo 9 of | | 2 06 Of! SHINY On intvevs Pepetle . . | | * . aonsimed by sol od Sort ove aM ; é upe “e ug . : é os | i ; 4, eo oe Y 7S . = wy ~! * > uJ eg > P ¥] ; * | 2 ° 4 - ; < lahe. < 7 . ; ' ] . *» | t iT 87d enw 5v - i yo SBNISI | alt isi on igo: | BA. “Tonawal legal om pe: Robbing Wheaton College of its fairest flower (fig. 10), he has experienced the joys and tribulations of fatherhood (figs. I}, 12). His work has gone from triumph to triumph, honors have been heaped upon him (figs. 13, I4), and he has guided us through eight critical years. He's come along way since that first Trauerfliegenschndpper. Although we must now say "Farewell" to him as Director, we can still say "Hail" in September to the returning Agassiz Professor. Fig.13. Another medal (adequate represen- tation of MCZ types is surely not fortuitous). ; Peas Pete » Sas: ery: RN } ROE RY re . Bans : “ate: ‘ = ra = ’ “i ey a y > "I ‘ \te ‘ey NAT 8 , : . ae Fae os oie , . ca WE ity i “ 2 x ss tire) 5 | Fig.l4. Professor Stresemann sees a former “* g. il. "Marriage gives that fullness to life which student make it big. eething else can give." Excellenz von Helmholtz in the course of a conversation recorded in 1888. a vy J A Z iA ¢ 4 A ‘ee 2 » Ree 12. New Jerse . Ne y Gothic (photo b GREP yon Koenigswald). j “a ¢ } a ’ LC “ | ee oT » ir Le - ¥ yO. off” oer oie ae tS fi «fu 7 ts 4 : - G it 4 y os fiiitil Ela 1? inl na ® i. @ yt 9 fati} tow soniey feuin sweipuorlgl ow JolosiQ 2h sit Oo) iodmsigae WANDA i 3 2044 128 443 7 oy Lin ; bel are) i enh SERS CASS Nis X te . AS xk ks me MIS tet heel “af . Pe ARERR 4 : at ¥ etry Re Title