1899] FRESH-WATER BIOLOGICAL STATLONS 453 



examined. Among other published results, however, has been the 

 issue of a valuable paper by W. J. Monkhaus on the comparative 

 variation of two species of darter fishes living in Turkey and Tippe- 

 canoe lakes (15), from which it appears that the specimens of both 

 species in one lake differ in every structure examined from those in 

 the other ; further, that they are modified in the same way in the 

 the same lake, and that this is not the result of selective influence but 

 apparently the direct effect of the environment. Apart from the 

 scientific work accomplished by its aid, the biological station has 

 also been of immense service to the Indiana University in connection 

 with the training of biological students, of whom no less than 105 

 made use of the station last summer. 



A year later (1896) yet another fresh- water biological station came 

 into existence in the United States. This was the Lake Laboratory of 

 the Ohio State University, established at Sandusky on Lake Erie, under 

 the direction of Professor I). S. Kellicott. This station was started 

 mainly to afford favourable opportunities for the students and instruc- 

 tors of the university to study the fauna and flora of one of the Great 

 Lakes and of the rich zoological district around Sandusky. The sub- 

 jects to which special attention has been given during the time that 

 the station has been open, have been the fishes, their food and parasites, 

 the aquatic insects, the rotifers, the sponges, and the crayfishes. Some 

 progress is also said to have been made in the investigation of the 

 plankton. As nothing seems to have been published, however, bearing 

 directly on the results obtained by the workers at the station, it is not 

 possible to give any details on this subject. It is sincerely to be hoped, 

 nevertheless, that, notwithstanding the death of Professor Kellicott, the 

 work of the station will be continued and its results given to science 

 in due course. 



In addition to the foregoing stations actually in existence, proposals 

 have been made to establish similar institutions in Iowa, at Eochester 

 in western New York, and elsewhere. Canada, too, is hankering after 

 a fresh-water biological station, although in spite of the grant of £75 

 by the British Association when in Toronto, nothing definite appears 

 to have been done in the matter. Altogether there appears to be little 

 doubt that the year 1900 will see at least half a dozen fresh-water 

 biological stations at work in America. 



The contrast between such a state of affairs and that existing in 

 this country is surely enough to make us ask anew, — When will our 

 biologists wake up to the fact that good systematic work can be done 

 and important biological problems attacked by fresh-water as well as 

 marine stations ? When shall we be able to report to our Continental 

 and American confreres that, in the words of Dr. Fritsch, England has 

 done her duty by fresh-water biology ? Unfortunately it is only too 

 true that up to the present England has not done her duty in this 

 matter, and as a striking instance of this it may be pointed out that of 



31 NAT. SC. VOL. XIV. NO. 88. 



