THE NAL'TILLS. 

 THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 



BY MAXWELL SMITH. 



In 1872 Dr. Anton Dohrn founded at Naples the nucleus of the 

 first biological station to be operated in a scientific manner. The 

 original building was erected through the personal generosity of its 

 founder, who in addition supplied funds for some years until the 

 principal European governments recognized the importance of the 

 work done and the advantages afforded the students of their respec- 

 tive universities. At the present time the zoological station, as it is 

 called, receives annual grants from Germany, England and Italy. 

 It is undoubtedly the largest institution of its kind, a fact which may 

 be attributed to the co-operation just mentioned. 



The buildings are situated in the Villa Nayionale, a fine park,, 

 facing the Bay of Naples. In the centre, on the ground floor, is the 

 celebrated aquarium which is open to the pnblic. Nearby, but with 

 a separate entrance, is the receiving room. Here the spoils of the 

 dredging steamer are brought in and either placed in the tanks or 

 preserved in alcohol. Off this room are smaller rooms, lined with 

 shelves, where rows of glass jars filled with specimens are kept. On 

 the floor above is the splendid library, a high ceiling and long 

 windows, which admit plenty of light, combine to make this an 

 admirable apartment for work at any time of the year. Adjacent is 

 the new museum where Prof. Gast, the curator, is following a pleas- 

 ing system of arrangement. This consists of mounting the shells of 

 each species upon a piece of glass which is framed in narrow wood. 

 The glass may be turned over, so that the under portion of a speci- 

 men may readily be examined. The mounted shells are laid in flat 

 cases on a background of dark green linoleum. To this way of 

 exhibiting specimens I have only one objection. The glue used for 

 mounting too often cracks and falls away, or else if put on thickly it 

 shows and detracts from the general appearance. Personally I 

 prefer glass topped boxes. They exclude dust and may be shifted 

 about without fear of a mix-up. The wall cases of the museum are 

 to be filled with preserved specimens. The lighting comes from 

 above, but is arranged in such a manner that direct sunlight is 

 avoided, the writer noticed on exhibition a fine series of Aporrhais 

 serresianus and in a wall case an enormous Argonanta argo L., very 

 well preserved. 



