SiB 



NATURE 



{Feb. 6, 1879 



brackets extend across the windows and between the 

 tables, thus providing a shelf at any desired height. The 

 tables for microscope work are three-legged stands of 

 varying height, adapted to the different kinds of micro- 

 scopes in use. The whole of the northern side of the 

 floor upon which the work-tables and microscope stands 

 are placed is supported upon brick piers and arches 

 independent of the main brick walls of the building, 

 which form at the same time the basement of the building. 

 The rest of the floor is supported entirely upon the inside 

 walls and upon columns with stretchers extending under 

 the crown of the arches reaching to the northern wall. 

 This gives to the microscopic work the great advantage 

 of complete isolation from all disturbance caused by 

 walking over the floor. This will be duly appreciated by 

 those who have worked in a building with a wooden floor, 

 where every step caused a cessation of work, and was 

 sure to disturb any object just at the most interesting 

 moment. The floor is cemented and covered by a heavy 

 oil-cloth. The centre of the large room is occupied by a 

 sink, on each side of which extend two long tables, three 

 feet by twelve. These are covered with different coloured 



tiles, imitating mud, sand, gravel, sea-weed, black and 

 white tiles, as well as red, yellow, blue, green, violet, to 

 get all possible variety of background. A space at each 

 end is covered by a glass plate, allowing the light to 

 come from underneath, thus enabling the observer to 

 examine larger specimens from the under-side, without dis- 

 turbing them when fully expanded. Two shorter and nar- 

 rower tables, eighteen inches by seven feet, are placed half- 

 way between these central tables and the southern face of 

 the building. These tables are intended for larger aquaria or 

 dishes, and are covered with common marble slabs. There 

 is a blank wall on the south side, the whole of which is occu- 

 pied by closets and shelves for storing glass jars, re- 

 agents, bottles, dishes, and so forth. A space is devoted 

 to books. The open shelves for jars and dishes are of 

 heavy rolled glass, supported upon iron brackets. The 

 basement is used for the storage of alcoholic specimens, 

 dredges, trawls, and other similar appliances. In the attic 

 there is a large tank for salt water and another for fresh : 

 the rest of the attic space will be eventually devoted to 

 photographic rooms and room for an artist. The labo- 

 ratory is supplied with salt water by a small steam-pump 



Prof. Agassiz' New Laboratory : Plan. 



driven by a vertical boiler of five-horse power : this is 

 kept going the whole time day and night, the overflow of 

 the tank being carried off by a large pipe. The water is 

 taken some distance from the laboratory, and drawn up 

 at a horizontal distance of sixty feet from the shore in a 

 depth of some four fathoms, the end of the suction pipe 

 standing up vertically from the ground a height of five 

 feet, and terminating in an elbow to prevent its becoming 

 choked. The water is led through iron pipes coated 

 inside with enamel. From the tank the salt water is 

 distributed in pipes extending in a double row over the 

 central tables, over the long narrow tables for aquaria, 

 and along the whole length of the glass shelves on the 

 south wall. Large faucets to draw off salt water are 

 placed at each sink, and by a proper arrangement of 

 valves it is possible to lead fresh water to a part of the 

 pipes, in case it is needed. The pipes leading over the 

 tables and shelves are provided with globe valves and 

 nozzles, to which rubber pipe can be attached and the 

 water led to a vessel below : there are fifty such taps, 

 each of which can supply water or air to at least three or 

 four iars. The overflow runs into gutters laid along- 



side the tables, leading into the main drain-pipe. 

 To aerate the salt water I use an injector invented by 

 Prof. Richards, of the Institute of Technology. 

 This can be used to supply aerated water directly 

 to the jar by providing it with a siphon overflow, 

 or the aerated water can be kept in a receiver, from which 

 air alone is then led to the jar. This latter course is the 

 only practical one for delicate specimens and for the bulk 

 of the work of raising embryos. The east and west sides 

 have large windows and doors provided with blinds ; they 

 always remain open with the blinds closed to keep out sun- 

 light, and serve to ventilate the laboratory thoroughly. 

 Large tables for dissection, covered with slate and adjoin- 

 ing a sink provided with fresh and salt water, are placed 

 across the windows of these sides. Ever since the closing 

 of the school at Penikese it has been my hope to replace, 

 at least in a somewhat different direction, the work which 

 might have been carried on there. It was impossible for 

 me to establish a school on so large a scale, but I hope by 

 giving facilities each year to a few advanced students 

 from the Museum and teachers in our public schools, to 

 prepare, little by little, a small number of teachers who 



