^liv ANNUAL SUMMAKY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



This latter gentleman has attracted very great attention 

 on account of his supposed discovery of the ancient land of 

 Ophir, a region showing traces of extensive and ancient ex- 

 cavations, evidently made in the search for gold. 



Natural History , as usual, claims a large share of attention, 

 in view of its importance as a study, and the increasing fa- 

 cilities that are furnished by civilized nations for acquiring 

 the necessary training for successful work in its prosecution. 

 Although the new facts brought to light during the year in 

 regard to the existence of species, their relationships to each 

 other and to external circumstances, their anatomy, physiolo- 

 gy, and development, are very numerous, it is difficult to se- 

 lect what may be considered of greatest importance. We 

 may, however, mention as extremely interesting the discovery 

 of certain remarkable fossil vertebrates in the Rocky Mount- 

 ains, to which reference will be made hereafter. An im- 

 portant aid to zoological research, esj)ecially among marine 

 animals, consists in the establishment of aquaria, in which 

 they can be examined to advantage and at leisure, in the 

 exercise of all their various functions. Beginning several 

 years ago on a small scale, they have, more lately, been con- 

 structed of considerable magnitude in different parts of the 

 world. The most extensive of these is now in operation at 

 Brighton, England, and far surpasses all others in dimensions 

 and scope. This, but recently erected, is now in working 

 order, and already important facts have been ascertained in 

 regard to fishes and certain crustaceans that have heretofore 

 eluded detection. Another aquarium of note is that at Ber- 

 lin ; while others to be erected at Manchester and at Vi- 

 enna promise to become very conspicuous. The zoological 

 station started by Dr. Dohrn at Naples is another important 

 establishment of a similar character. This is intended to 

 embrace aquaria on a large scale and in great numbers, ar- 

 ranged in a building thoroughly fitted for research, situated 

 on the Bay of Naples, and with the accompaniment of all the 

 necessary collecting apparatus. Here, scientific men of any 

 nationality can prosecute their studies, at the least possible 

 cost and under every possible advantage. The expenses are 

 to be borne in part by the fees received for the admission of 

 the general public to view the aquaria. This institution 

 promises to assume an international character, and the gov- 



