MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 24l 



phores, showing the distribution of the blue, yellow, red, 

 brown, and chocolate pigment. The whole subject, so far 

 as then known, was discussed in a lecture at Port Erin, 

 to the Isle of Man Natural History Society, in the summer 

 of 1894, and a passing reference to it was made in the 

 Tenth Annual Report, in connection with other cases of 

 colour change, such as those of some fishes. There I left 

 the matter, and I am glad to say that Mr. James Hornell, 

 in Jersey, and Messrs. F. W. Gamble and F. W. Keeble, 

 in our own district, have now taken up the investigation, 

 with the intention of carrying it further. 



Messrs. Gamble and Keeble, both Demonstrators of 

 Biology in the Owens College, have been making a number 

 of interesting observations and experiments in regard to the 

 physiology of the colour changes of Hippolyte and other 

 prawns during this past summer. Most of their work 

 has been carried out at the Piel Sea-Fish Hatchery, but 

 they have in part made use of specimens obtained at 

 Port Erin. Their results are not yet ready for publication, 

 but I may remark that the chief novelty in their methods 

 is the use of water-tight glass chambers, through which 

 fresh aerated sea-water can constantly pass, and in which 

 the prawns can be kept under constant observation while 

 different colours of light are applied. A fuller account of 

 this method, by Messrs. Gamble and Keeble, will be given 

 in the forthcoming Annual Report to the Lancashire Sea- 

 Fisheries Committee. 



Professors Boyce and Herdman, with the help of Dr. 

 Kohn, have continued during the year their work on 

 Oysters and Disease, and presented their third, and final, 

 report upon the subject to Section D of the British 

 Association at the Bristol meeting in September. Amongst 

 the conclusions at which they have arrived may be quoted 

 the following : — 



