E. Raymond Hall

The Gross Anatomy of the Tongues and Stomachs of Eight New World Bats

Receipt at the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History of freshly preserved specimens of several species of Mexican bats of diverse food habits, led to a comparison of the gross anatomy of the tongue, stomach, and some associated structures in these specimens. Such a comparison, it was thought, might permit the correlation of certain anatomical conditions with certain specialized food habits. A logical starting place for work with the digestive tract of bats is H. A. Robins Recherches Anatomiques sur les Mammiferes de lordre des Chiropteres (Ann. d. Sci. Nat., Zool. et Paleo., tome 11, pp. 111-180, pls. 2-9, 1881) since he not only presents new information, but also summarizes the previous work pertinent to his subject. Of later papers, F. Lautenschlagers Ueber un besondere anpassung mechanischer zungen Papillen an die Nahrungsaufnahme in fluge bei Fledermaiisen (Zool. Anz. Leipzig, vol. 109, pp. 263266, 1935) suggests some correlations between structure and function which seem sound, although a knowledge of the anatomy of a larger number of species of bats will be necessary to prove or disprove his hypotheses. In the present account the anatomical structure is for the first time recorded for some kinds of bats and correlations of certain structures with

Introduction of Exotic Species of Mammals

We read that Animal species new to the fauna of the U.S.S.R. are being brought in .... Acclimatization ranges from the protection of birdlife by means of artificial nesting sites to the introduction of new types of food for fish .... At present the introduction of land animals is done mostly under the auspices of the Institute of Hunting as well as under the national parks .... It was only after 1917 that the introduction and reintroduction of animals was undertaken on a large scale. (Atlantic Naturalist, vol. 14, No. 1, 1959.) From 1927 to 1953 inclusive 117,000 muskrats were introduced in 500 localities throughout the U.S.S.R.... In 1930 another rodent, the nutria (Myopotamus coypus), was brought into Caucasia and Turkestan. In many regions the American raccoon was introduced, as was, in great quantity, the American mink (Mustela vison). The Ussuri dog (Nycthereutes procyonoides) was introduced in European Russia and the Transcaucasia .... These are only a few examples of work undertaken by the U.S.S.R. in introduction and reintroduction. (Op. cit.)

A Westward Extension of Known Geographic Range for the Timber Rattlesnake in Southern Kansas

Mr. J. W. Lane of Winfield, Kansas, recently deposited in the Museum of Natural History of the University of Kansas (Accession No. 929) a Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus Linnaeus, mounted for him at the Justice Taxidermy Studio in Arkansas City, Kansas. The snake was captured on August 22, 1951, approximately one-fourth mile from timber in a plowed field abutted by limestone outcroppings, on the G. S. Feaster Farm, three miles east of the town of Elk Falls, Elk County, Kansas. The specimen was forty-four inches long.

State Administration of Wildlife, a Natural Resource

The author of this timely review of one of the aspects of conservation in Kansas, is a native of the state for he was born at Imes, Kansas, in 1902. His training was received at the Universities of Kansas and of California. Since 1944, Dr. Hall has bee, chairman of the department of zoology and director of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas. It should be the desire of all supporters of the views expressed below to secure as wide spread attention to this article as is possible. Members of the Academy will do the cause of conservation a service by seeing that it secures publicity in the newspapers of the state. Reprints will be made available to all interested by addressing the Museum of Natural History. University of Kansas, Lawrence.-The Editor.