BDELLOSTOMA DOMBEVL LAC. I 27 



the simplest form of this organ now in existence. In continu- 

 ance of my investigations of this important organ, it became 

 necessary for me to study in the living condition some repre- 

 sentative of this group of fishes, of which we have only two 

 species in American waters, viz., the Myxine, or Hag-fish, of 

 our Atlantic coast, which is found from Greenland to Cape 

 Cod, and the Bdellostoma of the Pacific coast, which has been 

 found along nearly the whole Pacific coast-line of both North 

 and South America. In reply to a letter of inquiry addressed 

 to President Jordan, of Leland Stanford Jr. University, who is, 

 as you know, preeminent for his knowledge of American Ich- 

 thyology, I learned that Bdellostoma occurs in great abundance 

 in the Bay of Monterey and that it could be obtained there with 

 comparative ease. These two factors determined the direction 

 of my journey, and I accepted the kind invitation extended me 

 by Profs. C. H. Gilbert and O. S. Jenkins of Stanford Univer- 

 sity, placing the facilities of the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory at 

 my disposal. This marine station is an adjunct of Stanford 

 University and has just passed through its second season. 



It is a great pleasure for me to be able to tell you of the 

 true scientific spirit in which the affairs of this rapidly growing 

 laboratory are conducted, and to acknowledge the generous 

 assistance accorded me by the directors, Drs. Gilbert and 

 Jenkins. In the interest of biology in America, it should be 

 made widely known that Mr. Timothy Hopkins of San Fran- 

 cisco, in whose honor the laboratory has been named, has alone 

 rendered it possible to found the institution, and he has pro- 

 vided it with the means of growth. With an insight into both 

 the great scientific and practical importance of the biological 

 researches rendered possible by such a station, an insight as 

 rare in a man of affairs as it is admirable, Mr. Hopkins has 

 supplied the indispensible funds for the undertaking, and has 

 assured the directors of his desire to have the station grow, 

 not by words alone, but by meeting the expenses of the 

 additions to the station buildings and equipment. In doing 

 this Mr. Hopkins has not been unmindful of the library which 

 is a fundamental need of all research work, for he proposes to 

 make and keep it the most complete collection of biological 



