12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Professor Dewar, to whom, by the courtesy of the Department of 

 State, it was conveyed through the American ambassador in London, 

 in April, 1899. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



The following applications for the seat at the Smithsonian table in 

 the Naples Zoological Station were approved for the year ending with 

 June, 1899: 



Dr. J. H. Gerould, of Dartmouth College, whose appointment to 

 the table dated from November 1, 1898, remained in occupation until 

 the end of Februar}', 1899. 



Dr. F. W. Bancroft received an appointment for the period from 

 March 1 to July 1, 1899, going to the station from the University of 

 Berlin, where he had been studying under a traveling fellowship from 

 Harvard University. 



During the absence in Europe of Prof. E. B. Wilson, of Columbia 

 University, New York, who represents the Society of American Natu- 

 ralists on the Naples table advisory committee, his duties were courte- 

 ously assumed by Dr. T. H. Morgan, of Bryu Mawr, who will be 

 remembered as an early appointee to the station. Dr. Wilson has 

 been a valued member of the advisory committee since its formation, 

 and it was a pleasure to approve his application for the Smithsonian 

 seat for three months during the summer of 1899. 



The occupation of the Smithsonian table during the past year has 

 been equivalent to the time of one student for ten months, or the full 

 annual period for which it is practicable to study at Naples. 



With the exception of the time covered by the absence of Dr. Wilson, 

 the personnel of the advisory committee has remained unchanged since 

 ui}' last report. I have again to record my appreciation of the efficient 

 aid afforded me by the connnittee in examining applications and recom- 

 mending action in connection with appointments to the table. 



The continued courtesy of Dr. Dohrn, the director of the station, 

 in arranging for the accommodation of all the Smithsonian appointees, 

 when two, or even three, have desired to be at Naples at the same time, 

 has frequentty been of advantage to students, who, being prevented 

 by their engagements at other institutions from reaching Naples on 

 the date fixed for their reception, would otherwise have been deprived 

 of a part of the period allotted to them by the Institution. 



The lease of the seat in the Naples station on behalf of the, Institu- 

 tion for the second term of three years expired June 1, 1899. A con- 

 tract for a third term has not yet been concluded, but the urgent desire 

 of the leading biologists of the country that the Institution should con- 

 tinue to afford this undoubted advantage to our investigators will 

 receive due consideration in reaching a decision. 



