16 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1907. 
In view of the short time, practically about three weeks, during 
which the climatic conditions rendered it possible to prosecute this 
research, its results as reported by Mr. Fergusson may be considered 
satisfactory. 
MECHANICS OF THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. 
There was published by the Institution several years ago a volume, 
entitled “Mechanics of the Earth’s Atmosphere,” which consisted 
of translations of articles by various eminent meteorologists. Ar- 
rangements have been made with Prof. Cleveland Abbe, editor of the 
first volume, for the preparation of a second volume on the same topic. 
THE ORGANS OF FLIGHT. 
An additional grant has been approved this year on behalf of Dr. 
R. von Lendenfeld, of the University of Prague, for an investigation 
of the organs of flight of the best representative flyers of the insect 
orders—Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. A detailed ac- 
count of this research will be submitted on its conclusion for publica- 
tion by the Institution if desired. 
Previous researches of Doctor von Lendenfeld have been described 
in articles prepared under his supervision by Drs. Leo Walter and 
Bruno Miller. Doctor Walter’s article, already published, was 
referred to in the previous report. The paper by Doctor Miiller 
on the air sacs of the pigeon is now in course of publication. 
SMITHSONIAN TABLE AT NAPLES ZOOLOGICAL STATION. 
In July, 1906, the renewal of the lease of the Smithsonian table 
in the Naples Zoological Station for a term of three years from Janu- 
ary 1, 1907, was decided on, and the director so informed. Doctor 
Dorhn, with his usual ready courtesy, at once ‘notified the Institution 
of his willingness to arrange for a double occupancy by extending 
the time of an appointee then conducting an important research at 
Naples, although the seat had already been assigned for the period 
in question to another investigator. 
It is the intention of the Institution to interfere in no way with 
the regular assignment of the table, and the desire of the Director 
to maintain the international character of the station by encouraging 
the action of the various countries in supporting individual tables 
is fully appreciated. Nations widely separated, at least geographic- 
ally, meet there on the common ground of interest in science, and 
thus, as an appointee of the Smithsonian seat expressed in his report 
to the Institution, an international peace congress, the importance of 
which can not be overestimated, is always in session at the Naples 
Zoological Station. 
