2,72 THE BIOLOGY OF HYDRA : 1961 



Cordtjlophora lacustris which he has isolated. In our laboratory we 

 have also found morphological and physiological differences 

 between different strains of Corclylophom lacustris and of Craspeda- 

 custa sowerbii which are both stable and transmissible. The extent 

 and significance of these differences are not yet fully analyzed, but 

 we are convinced that they do exist and that they are characteristic 

 of our various strains. 



Therefore, in view of the growing complexity of this situation, I 

 should like to suggest that we establish some orderly and uniform 

 system for designating these various strains of hydroids. The in- 

 creasing number of investigators doing experimental work on hyd- 

 roids and our frequent exchanges of stocks made it imperative that 

 we take action on this matter. 



There are already workable systems in operation for the iden- 

 tification of stocks of Protozoa, algae, Drosophila, and various other 

 organisms important in research. Perhaps we should model our 

 system after one of these existing schemes; at any rate, the impor- 

 tant thing is that we establish a system for the identification of our 

 stocks and that a central register be established for the purpose of 

 listing them. 



PARK: Some of us have been talking about this since we arrived. 

 I don't know which laboratory could do it, but it seems to me 

 that we need a type of collection of coelenterate strains, or at least 

 of the ones that are being used in more than one laboratory. 



