1885.] KEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 51 



Amon.o^ most active agents of progress in the stndy of In- 

 verfehrata maybe classed the numerons sea-side laboratories. In 

 1873, Agassiz established at Penekese, in Bnzzard's Bay, Mas- 

 sachnsetts, a laboratory for teachers and for stndents of natnral 

 history, particnlarly of marine animals. Its location did not suit 

 the pnrpose, as there wei'e few marine prodnctions to be obtained 

 without going to a considerable distance. Curiously, there 

 were abundant species on cither side of them. This station 

 Avas given for the pnrpose by Mr. Anderson, of New York, and, 

 in all respects, save the one mentioned, was admirably adapted 

 for the purpose. 



Johns Hopkins University now established a laboratory in 

 Chesapeake Bay, which is yet doing much good work. Sub- 

 sequently, Alexander Agassiz formed a private estal)lishment for 

 the study of marine forms at Newport. The fine Italian labora- 

 tory of Naples was now formed, as is said, through the examples 

 above mentioned; its success has been perhaps beyond all others. 



Lacaze Duthiers, at Iloscoff, Banyal-sur-Mer, in France, has 

 also established a similar laboratory. Prof. Hyatt's, at An- 

 uisquam, has become a regular school, and accommodates a cer- 

 tain number of students each summer, his yachtbeingin constant 

 use for dredging. Prof. Packard for several years maintained a 

 summer school of biology at Salem, Mass., in connection with 

 the Peabody Academy of Science. 



Of American zoology it is known that its true commencement 

 dates from 1796, when John Barton published, alternately in Eu- 

 rope and tiiis country, his memoirs and zoological tracts. Sys- 

 tematic zoology was even later, when Wilson and Prince Bona- 

 parte appeared in American ornithology, during the years 

 1808-14. Harlan came on, in his "Fauna Americana," 1825. 

 Dr. Godman was now the prominent anatomist and naturalist, 

 Thomas Say ]iroduced his elegant works on American ento- 

 mology, 1824-28, and subsequently on conchology. Philadelphia 

 was now the acknowledged home of Amei'ican zoology. 



The Academy of Natnral Sciences of Philadel]ihia, organized 

 in 1815, was a centre of influence. In the city of New York, our 

 society, then the "Lyceum of Natural History," dating from 

 1817, heljied on the woi'k, and the names and laboi's of many 

 autliors are given an im])erishable fame in our " Annals." 



In 1847, an imjtortant period for this science began. The 

 Smithsonian Institution, established thi-ough the liberality of 

 Joseph Smithson, an Englishman of wealth, was oi'ganized;; 

 Josejih Henry was chosen its head or Secretary, and Spencer F. 

 Baird its Assistant Secretary. 



An important impetus was given to zoological studies through 

 the extensive explorations instituted by the U. S. Government. 



