426 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



gives his orders to his crews of fishermen, with various hints as to 

 likely haunts and the best tactics to pursue; and the following morning 

 sees a procession of tubs and baskets filled with glass jars, containing 

 the specimens rich and rare, being conveyed from the little dock to the 

 laboratory — generally balanced in wonderful piles on the heads of the 

 stalwart and picturesque boatmen. Dredging expeditions during the 

 day along the shores or to the neighboring bay of Pozzuoli take place 

 in the steam launch, and workers who wish to search for some special 

 animal or who are studying the fauna can join such trips. Then about 

 once a fortnight or so a longer excursion is organized, say to Ischia or 

 to Capri, occupying the whole day, and to this all in the laboratory 

 who care for it are invited. It is on these occasions that Cav. Lo 

 Bianco is seen — if I may say so with all respect — in his glory ; directing 

 all proceedings, the center of all activities, full of geniality and infor- 

 mation, he is the life and soul of the party. He speaks to us in any 

 language, and knows everything we catch on land or sea; patting the 

 fishermen on the back, talking seriously with the strictly scientific, 

 joking with the more versatile, sympathizing if necessary with the sea- 

 sick and helping everyone to enjoy the day and profit by the experience, 

 he is an ideal leader of the marine biological picnic. 



The finest specimens caught or those not required for immediate 

 investigation are either most skilfully preserved for museums or pass 

 into the tanks of the aquarium. And it is possible, without ever going 

 to sea, to gain a very fair idea of the local Mediterranean fauna from 

 that last named part of the institution. The beauty and interest of the 

 aquarium are due, of course, in great measure to the brilliancy and 

 abundance of the rich fauna in the neighboring waters, but also 

 in part to scientific knowledge and skill. The tanks are most care- 

 fully watched and governed, and their exact condition is always known 

 — the temperature, specific gravity, number of bacteria present, and 

 other particulars of the water, are constantly tested and considered. 

 The public admiring the tanks in the ground fioor little know of 

 the 'council of war' occasionally summoned in the laboratory upstairs 

 consisting of experts in the subjects concerned, chemistry, biology, 

 bacteriology, to examine some unusual sample or settle some delicate 

 question. And so, by much care and thought, results and effects are 

 produced which we admire greatly in the aquarium and which, 

 although no doubt in part due to the latitude, are also dependent upon 

 the scientific knowledge and manipulative skill behind the scenes. 



Amongst the fishes, we see in one tank fine specimens of the Mura?na 

 — the real old Roman eel — coiling their snake-like bodies through the 

 uecks of broken jars just as their ancestors no doubt did two thousand 

 years .ago with the same pots and jars — for those in the tanks are 

 antiques — in the neighboring bay of Baise. We can see the Torpedo or 



