146 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



To comprise the answer in as few words as possible, " it is a 

 laboratory established for conducting investigations in anatomy, 

 embryology, histology, and, if possible, physiology as well.^^ The 

 idea is not a new one. In the year 1868, Dr. Anton Dohrn and 

 myself were stopping in Messina for the purpose of zoological 

 studies, and we then became convinced that the establishment of 

 zoological stations was becoming a vital question, and a necessity 

 for science. That this was not merely my conviction I will show 

 by quoting the words of my friend Dr. Dohrn himself: — "In 

 " spite of a tolerably rich supply of instruments and books, I 

 " must, in my regard for the truth, confess that my performances 

 " fell very far short of my expectations. It fared no better with 

 " my Russian companion, Mikluho-Maclay. We were striking 

 " examples of both the cases described above, of labor expended 

 *' to no purpose, and we were both brought spontaneously to 

 " reflect on the great advantages which we might have derived 

 " from a well-established laboratory."* 



For ten years past I have often found myself, during my travels, 

 in circumstances similar to those experienced in Messina. During 

 my wanderings I have often found myself lodged for weeks and 

 months together in the houses and palaces of noble and even 

 Royal hosts, and yet how gladly would I have exchanged the 

 comforts and splendour of such dwellings for a small but 

 tolerably well furnished laboratory where undisturbed and 

 undisturbing I could have carried on my work. 



When I arrived in Sydney about six weeks ago, I found myself 

 once more in a similar position. 



I had in my voyage from Singapore to this place so far re- 

 covered from an illness arising out of a prolonged residence in 

 New Guinea, that I was once more able to work ; but there was 

 no suitable place to work in. Ten or twelve days elapsed, and I 

 was still idle. Probably a still longer period would have passed 

 in the same conditions, had not the friendly proposal of Mr. W. 



* A. Dohrn. Der gegenwertige Stand der Zoologie, und die GrUndung Zoologischer 

 Stationen. Preussische Tahrbucher, Vol. XXX., ji. 8 of copy. To those who are interested 

 in this question, I cordially recommend the perusal of the article above quoted, as likewise 

 of another by the same author— Die Einwaihung der Zoologischer Station zu Neapel. Vol. 



A.A.A. V. 



