252 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



has a complete set of reagents, and is allotted to one 

 of the naturalists ; the north light is admirable for 

 working with the microscope, and there is plenty of 

 it since each cubicle is fronted by a large window. 



The room below this also occupies the whole length 

 of the central part of the building, and contains a 

 number of large handsome tanks wherein forty-pound 

 congers, huge bass, and the like may find plenty of 

 room to disport themselves. These are at present 

 occupied by congers, soles, bass, rays, lobsters, crabs, 

 etc., which are expected to afford the association, in 

 return for their keep, an abundance of eggs and 

 larval stages. Mr. Cunningham, M.A., the resident 

 naturalist, has special charge of these, and has con- 

 tracted a most fatherly liking for his finny charges, 

 especially the huge 1 andsome, sleepy congers with 

 their velvety black sides and graceful movements. 

 His two papers in the current number of the Journal, 

 and the short account of the segmentation of some 

 Teleostean eggs furnished to the British Association, 

 are an interest of the results to be obtained. Up to 

 the present, however, the congers have not answered 

 his expectations, since they resolutely refuse to breed ; 

 and this is the more disappointing, because the life- 

 history of these, as well as of other eels, is a complete 

 mystery which has tantalised naturalists for a long 

 time past. In the base of the building are the engines 

 and pumps which keep up the circulation of the sea- 

 water, which is done by two large gas engines and a 

 number of centrifugal pumps. The larger of the two 

 engines is also in connection with an ejector placed 

 below low-water level, which supplies sea-water 

 wanted to make good any loss from evaporation or 

 leakage. This fresh supply, together with the over- 

 flow from the aquaria tanks, passes into a large 

 reservoir from which it is sent afresh through the 

 pipes by the pumps. By having a closed circulation 

 of this character, the density of the water can be 

 artificially controlled, and this is the more necessary, 

 since Plymouth Sound receives the flow of two rivets 

 and at times of large rainfall, as for instance, this last 

 summer, when its water fell much below the normal 

 density. 



The institution is dependent for its supply of fish 

 and specimens generally upon hired boats, one of 

 which goes off every day with tanks and bottles in 

 which to bring home the catch alive. The dredge and 

 surface-nets are employed. These boats are under 

 the control of a practical fisherman, Mr. Roach, who 

 is rapidly making himself invaluable to the institution. 

 His readiness to help in every way is most marked, 

 and the pleasantest reminiscence of a couple of months 

 spent there is inseparably linked to his cheerful 

 bronzed face and hearty voice. The other source 

 from which supplies are drawn is the professional 

 trawlers, fine vessels of thirty to sixty tons, manned 

 by a splendid class of men, remarkable for their steady 

 industrious habits. The strong religious feeling which 

 is characteristic of the class is a survival of John 



Wesley's preaching more than a century and a-half 

 ago. It is equally present at Brixham, another large 

 trawler's centre, where it is one of the sights to see 

 the men go to church in procession on a Sunday 

 morning. The trawling boats come home every 

 Saturday, and start on the Monday ; the supply 

 derived from them is thus intermittent, and it is 

 rapidly becoming most necessary to have some means 

 of following them to their fishing grounds to obtain 

 what is necessary. Nothing but steam will enable 

 this to be done, and the most pressing need now felt 

 at Plymouth is the want of a small steamer, so that an 

 opportunity is afforded to any lovers of pisciculture 

 and practical biology to obtain one. Want of space 

 prevents us from completing this account, but one 

 must say a few words in grateful acknowledgement of 

 the services already rendered by the present director, 

 Mr. G. C. Bourne, M.A., F.L.S., and to the 

 efficiency of the laboratory. His indefatigable zeal 

 and sympathy communicates itself to all who may 

 have the pleasure of being associated with him on the 

 work. W. B. A. 



NOTES ON THE DIVISION OF THE VOR- 

 TICELLA. 



OBSERVED under J-inch objective. Eye-piece 

 B. Spot lens. Daylight : — At 10 o'clock 

 observed an isolated vorticella with the following 

 appearance. 



There were no cilia observable. 



At 10. 1 there were cilia at work at a. 



Fig- 93- 

 At 10.2 a sharp contraction of stem occurred. On 

 regaining its position, the black mass has divided in 

 the middle. There seems to be no attempt at assimi- 

 lation, the granules and monads in the vicinity being 

 perfectly quiescent. 



At 10.5 greater segmentation in the 

 middle. The stem apparently has a 

 tendency to divide. 



Fig. 94. 



At 10. 11 a sharp contraction of stem, 

 the vesicles being further divided. Lateral 

 movements frequently occur, as if the 

 vesicles were desirous of parting company. 



Fig- 95- 



