278 transactions, natural history society of glasgow. 



26th February, 1907. 



The meeting was held in the Laboratory of the Natural 

 History Department, Glasgow University. Mr. D. A. Boyd, 

 President, occupied the chair. 



In the course of some preliminary remarks, the chairman 

 referred to the many associations which in past years had 

 existed between the Professors and Lecturers in the University 

 and the Natural History Society of Glasgow. 



Professor J. Graham Kerr, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., made 

 some remarks expressive of his views regarding the sphere of 

 work of Marine Biological Stations, with special reference 

 to the Millport Marine Station, in the management of which 

 some differences of opinion as to policy have recently arisen. 

 When the magnificent natural facilities existing in the Clyde 

 estuary for the work of such an institution are taken into 

 account, a splendid future may be regarded as certainly in 

 store for the Millport Laboratory, if all concerned with its 

 management can agree to sink minor differences of opinion as 

 to detail, and so work together as to enable the professed aims 

 of the Association — the " Investigation of the Marine Fauna 

 and Flora " — to be fully realised. Much misconception, how- 

 ever, appears to have arisen with regard to the meaning of 

 these words. Reference may therefore be made to the series 

 of magnificent monographs issued by the Naples Marine 

 Station, as affording an indication of what a biologist 

 means when he uses such an expression. It is only 

 possible to specify, in its most general lines, the kind of work 

 involved in such investigations. It would mean that every 

 day throughout the year, when circumstances permit, the 

 steamer should be employed in this work ; and that active 

 collecting would be carried on, and exact observations made 

 as to time, position, direction of currents, temperature of 

 water, and various other conditions of environment existing 

 at the moment. These observations would be carefully recorded 

 at the time in a detailed log, the entries in which would form 

 the justification for each day's work with its corresponding 

 expenditure. The staff of the station would be kept fully 

 occupied by their work of collecting, observing, and recording, 

 as well as by their administrative duties ashore. In regard to 



