THE DIRECTOR S REPORT. 9 



Some of the most interesting catches of the past year have been 

 made with the tow-net. In the summer months the surface of the 

 sea swarms with minute organisms^ many of which are the develop- 

 mental phases of sand or shore-inhabiting' animals. Thus the larva 

 of Balanoglossus^ an animal hitherto unknown to the British coast^ 

 was taken in August and September, and forms the subject of a 

 memoir in this number. Actinotrocha, the larva of Phoronis, is 

 common, and the larvae of Echiuoderms, Chaetopods, Molluscs, 

 Nemertines, and Polyzoa are equally abundant. Several specimens 

 of larval Amphioxus were taken in the tow-net towards the end of 

 October. In the summer months Ctenophora, Medusae, and other 

 interesting forms afford abundant material for research. 



It is needless to say more of the natural advantages of the 

 Devonshire coast. Special facilities for study are afforded by the 

 Laboratory, and as soon as a competent body of naturalists can be 

 established at Plymouth, it will be possible to attack the problems 

 of marine life in a manner hitherto unknown in England, to the 

 great advancement of biological knowledge and to the advantage of 

 practical questions concerned with sea fisheries. 



G. 0. Bourne. 



December bth, 1888. 



Naturalists working at the Plymouth Laboratory during the sis 

 months ending December 31st, 1888 : 



Name. Date of arrival. Date of departure. 



W. F. R. Weldon, M.A., ... June 30 ... Dec. 19 



St. John's College, Cambridge. 

 W. T. Hardy, B.A., .., July 17 ... Sept. 15 



Caius College, Cambridge. 



C. A. MacMunn, M.A., M.D Aug. 14 ... Sept. 12 



r. E. Beddard, M.A., F.Z.S., ... Aug. 3 ... Aug. 30 



Prosector of the Zoological Society. 

 Prof. Burdon Sanderson, M.D., F.R.S. 7 

 F. Gotch, M.A. S 



Sept. 3 ... Sept. 29 



In addition to the above, the Resident Director, Mr. Bourne, the 

 Naturalist of the Association, Mr. Cunningham, and Mr. Garstang, 

 Secretary to the Director, have been continuously engaged in zoo- 

 logical research. 



