HAI^DWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



233 



case, lioM'ever, well remarked upon by Bell. The 

 dark variety (Water-vole) is found iu the upper 

 Dove. This little creature is not altogether aquatic 

 in its habits ; last week, for instance, in excavating 

 an ancient barrow on the summit of a hill, at the 

 least a mile from any brook or pool, we turned up, 

 as usual in such diggings, quantities of its bones ; 

 the peculiar molar teeth of this little beaver-like 

 animal being quite unmistakable. Vice versa, the 

 common Rat is often a frequenter of water, and to it 

 the heaps of shells seen on the margin of pools and 

 rivers are due. The Hedgehog, as well known, is 

 protected by its power of rolling itself up and pre- 

 senting its spines towards an enemy ; but Bell does 

 not advert (perhaps out of consideration for the 

 animal) to the common but heartless device of 

 placing it in water, when it must either drown or 

 unroll itself. Lastly, there is a deficiency in zoolo- 

 gical books in respect to habitat: to go no great 

 distance for examples, it will be found that Ireland, 

 the Isle of Man, and Cornwall, present many in- 

 teresting peculiarities with respect to zoological 

 distribution not generally noted. — R. G. 



The Naples Aquarium.— On the narrow strip 

 of coast which separates the park of the Villa Reale 

 from the sea, a large stone building is at present 

 being erected at Naples, quietly and almost 

 unnoticed. The strength of the foundations — it has 

 taken three months to lay them— shows that they 

 are intended for an edifice of considerable size and 

 durability ; and on making inquiries I have learut 

 that this is the Zoological Station, which has been 

 occasionally mentioned by Italian, German, and 

 English journals during the last few months. It 

 has been organized and is being built by a young 

 German naturalist. Dr. Anton Dolirn, of Stettin, who 

 has paid nearly the whole of the expenses, which 

 amount to about 50,000 thalers (£7,500), out of his 

 own pocket, the only assistance he has received 

 having come from a few personal friends, who have 

 lent several thousand thalers for the purpose. The 

 following is a short sketch of his plan :— The ground 

 floor of the building, which covers an area of almost 

 8,000 square feet, contains a great aquarium, which 

 will be opened to the public. Dr. Dohrn hopes that 

 the money thus obtained will not only suffice for all 

 the expenses of the aquarium, but also afford a 

 surplus to be employed in covering a part of the 

 requirements of the upper story, which is to be 

 exclusiveiy devoted to scientific purposes. Besides 

 the officials and servants employed in the aquarium 

 several young zoologists will be attached to the 

 Station, and receive a regular salary from the 

 director. Dr. Dohrn. Thus, a number of new 

 positions will be opened up for young scientific men. 

 But this is not all. As the only duty of these 

 zoologists will be to devote themselves to certain 

 \)rauches of scientific work, and their exertions will 



be carefully directed and organized, as has long 

 been the case in astronomical and meteorological 

 observatories, there is every reason to hope that 

 scientific 'research will be greatly facilitated and 

 advanced by their labours. In the upper story of 

 the Zoological Station laboratories will also be pre- 

 pared for the use of naturalists coming from other 

 parts of.Italy and from abroad. For this purpose a 

 large scientific library will be founded, Dr. Dohrn's 

 very considerable private collection serving as a 

 nucleus, and about twelve tables, fully furnished 

 with the necessary appurtenances, established. 

 Each of the latter will be provided with a number 

 of tanks supplied with a constant stream of sea- 

 water. Sea-fishing and dredging will be conducted 

 on an extensive scale by means of several boats, to 

 which, if the necessary means are forthcoming, a 

 small steam-yacht will be added. The animals 

 taken will be given to the zoologist for scientific 

 treatment. It is more than doubtful whether 

 all these rich and expensive conveniences can 

 be furnished to zoological visitors without any 

 pecuniary compensation'; but I hear that Dr. 

 Dohrn has drawn up a plan which will enable even 

 naturalists of limited means to enjoy the advantages 

 of the Station. He proposes to offer one or more 

 tables to various Governments and scientific socie- 

 ties for a fixed annual sum. These tables, and all 

 the scientific resources of the Station, will at once 

 be placed at the disposal of any naturalist 

 who brings a certificate from the Government, 

 university, or scientific body to which the table has 

 been let. This plan, among its many other advan- 

 tages, seems to be a successful attempt to solve the 

 difficult question as to how it is possible to unite a 

 complete self-administration on the part of scientific 

 bodies with the reception of pecuniary assistance 

 from their Governments. Dr. Dohrn speaks 

 in the most grateful manner of the assistance 

 rendered him by the German authorities in Italy, 

 especially by Mr. Stolte, the consul-general at 

 Naples, while at the same time he warmly acknow- 

 ledges the interest in his undertaking displayed by 

 the Government of Italy, more particularly Signor 

 Correnti and Signor Sella, the late and the present 

 Ministers of Public Instruction. The difficulties in 

 the way of the execution of his plan were neither 

 few nor small, as may be gathered from the fact 

 that, in spite of the readiness displayed by the 

 municipal authorities of Naples, more than two 

 years elapsed before a definitive contract could be 

 concluded between the towu and Dr. Dohrn 

 with'respcct to the cession of a suitable site for the 

 building. — E. R. L. 



The Bkitisii Association Meeting at 

 Bkighton.— As was expected, the Association 

 meeting this year was quite a success, not only in 

 point of numbers, but especially in that freedom of 



