94 



NATURE 



[March i6, 191 i 



IMJoiQi", but this is evanescent, the compound racemising 

 rapidly and bfcoming inactive in the course of a few 

 minutt-s or hours. 



From its inari<ed optical activity, it is clear that the 

 oxime is asymmetrical in its structure; this probably 

 applies both to the hydroxime >C=NOH and to the 



Nil 

 isoxime ^C<^ | forms of tiie com|)ound, but further 



work with derivatives of both types would be of great 

 value in determinin;,' tlv rnn^'.- nv. r \vhi( h the lack of 

 symmetry extends. 



MARINE BIOLOGY AT PORT ERIN. 

 ''PHK twenty-fourth annual report of the Liverpool 



Marine Biology Committee, dealing with the year's 

 work of the Port Krin Marine Biological Station, affords 



atefu h ufipmrfioor 



'J'he report gives an account of ttie wurtc don< 

 first course on oceanography, held at the station Uui 

 Augu.st last. The usual work of the laboratory, in ci. 

 nection with research and the instruction of sen. 

 students, has been carried on ; fifty-seven researchers ;. 

 students have occupied the working places during • 

 year. Mr. Kiddell, who has been collecting the Po! 

 cha?ta, reports the addition to the previous records i 

 Port Erin of twenty-eight species. A note by Dr. Ro 

 on his investigations on the secretion of the hypobramli 

 gland in Purpura lapillus, states that the purpU-form 

 area of this gland is the site of formation of an adrenal 

 like substance. The operations of the fish hatcher)- 

 the station have resulted in the liberation into the - 

 of more than eight millions of plaice larva: and I: 

 thousand lobster larvae. 



The concluding portion of the report contains 

 account, by Prof. Herdman, of his plankton observatioi 

 -Among the subjects to which he refers is the history 

 the spread of the diatom biddulphia sinensis, which \r 

 probably introduced, in 1903, by some ship from the L. 

 into the mouth of the Elbe, whence it spread so that, 

 1907, it had penetrated into the Baltic and extended 

 the English Channel, Norway, and the north of Scotlai 

 This diatom was first observed at Port Erin in Novemti 

 1909; it appeared again, in more vigorous condition, 

 year later, and seems, therefore, to have become a w- 

 established member of the plankton of our seas. Pr^ 

 Herdman also records some observations made during : 

 last four years on the summer plankton of the Hebrid 

 which show that the plankton was of different types 



Plan of the Port Erin Biological Station, showing both Floors of the new Research Wing. 



ample evidence of the continued activities of this station. 

 Details are given of the recently built research wing, the 

 equipment of which is being pushed forward so as to be 

 ready for use during the coming Easter vacation. This 

 wing, 44 by 18 feet, two storeys high, contains on the 

 ground floor a photographic dark-room, and a large and 

 two smaller tank-rooms suitable for experimental work in 

 biochemistry, comparative physiology, and embryology of 

 marine animals. These three well-lighted rooms have 

 cemented floors and walls, and are well provided with 

 concrete tanks, of different sizes and depths, over which 

 there are taps giving abundant supplies of sea water. 

 Over a large central concrete platform, on which aquaria 

 can be placed, will be a " plunger " apparatus for keep- 

 ing in motion the water in the aquaria in which small 

 animals are being reared. The upper floor contains eight 

 separate rooms, each with about 13 feet of working bench. 

 a sink, and supplies of fresh and sea water, which make 

 an excellent addition to the accommodation available to 

 research %vorkers and senior students. 



NO. 2159, VOL. 86] 



different localities, but presers-ed a constant character in 

 each; appended are some suggested explanations of th 

 facts. 



THE METHOD OF SCIENCE."^ 

 CCIENCE governs human life by determining the con- 

 ditions of existence and by furnishing the means of 

 civilisation. Religion prescribes the motives, governme-^ 

 formulates the customs of mankind, science fixes what w 

 can do and how. If, at the present meeting, we appro- 

 priately emphasise the rdle of science, it does not imply 

 that we belittle the ethical or social factors of civilised 

 life, but answers the demand for a more just and general 

 recognition of the actual importance of pure science. 



We are so accustomed to the practical advantages that 

 have followed from abstruse science, that we connect them 



1 From an address delivered by Prof. C. S. Minot as president of the 

 Section of Phyiologyand Experimental Medicine of the American Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science, at Minneapolis, December 29, 1910. 



