﻿I46 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [VOL. 47 



the same committee in the examination of testimonials and in recom- 

 mending action with regard to applications for the seat. 



The fact that a table in the Naples Zoological Station had been 

 obtained by the Smithsonian Institution and placed at the service of 

 American students was at once announced, the main condition of 

 appointment being that with an application for the seat a candidate 

 should submit credentials as to his capability for carrying on original 

 investigations in some field for which especial facilities are offered at 

 the Station. Candidates for the seat were invited to submit an out- 

 line of their scientific history, mentioning the degrees received and 

 the original papers published by them. They were also permitted to 

 submit any letters of recommendation they might wish to have placed 

 on record, a summary of such data being forwarded to Doctor Dohrn, 

 the Director of the Station, with each notice of an approved appoint- 

 ment. Although many of the leading biologists of the country, whose 

 services as such are widely known, have occupied the table, these 

 conditions, necessarily established in the interest of a general candi- 

 dacy, have been courteously complied with. 



While a circumstantial report of the work accomplished at Naples 

 has never been required, those whose applications are approved are 

 requested to notify the Secretary at the close of a session, and at 

 the same time to present a brief outline of their investigations. In 

 this way the Institution is able to keep in touch not only with the 

 work of its special appointees, but also to obtain an interesting insight 

 into the admirable methods employed at the Station for the accommo- 

 dation of investigators. A summary of the data thus submitted has 

 appeared at intervals in the Smithsonian publications, the action of 

 the Institution in this connection being designed to interfere in no 

 way with the plans of the author as to publication elsewhere. 



Applications for the Smithsonian seat have been numerous, to such 

 an extent, in fact, that although the collective appointments for any 

 year have but twice exceeded an occupancy of twelve months for one 

 student, not infrequently two, and in rare instances three occupants 

 have been accommodated at the same time on behalf of the Institu- 

 tion, through the kindness of Doctor Dohrn, who has in several in- 

 stances exceeded any favor requested at his hands. The courtesy 

 thus extended to the Smithsonian and its appointees has frequently 

 proved an advantage to students who have been prevented by unex- 

 pected changes in their engagements at other establishments from 

 reaching Naples at the date fixed for their reception, and who would 

 otherwise have been deprived of a part of the period allotted to them. 

 The irregularity with which applications for the Smithsonian seat 



