MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATIONS OF EUROPE. 219 



The laboratory is, in a way, a rival of Roscoff, and it is 

 noteworthy that its workers seem to make a point of studying 

 the laboratory methods of the German universities. 



The marine laboratory of Arcachon, one of the oldest of 

 France, was built in 1867 by the local scientific society, and 

 was carried on independently until the time of the losses of the 

 Franco-Prussian War. Its management was then fused with 

 that of the faculty of medicine of Bordeaux, with whose assist- 

 ance, aided by that of a small subsidy from the government, 

 the work of the institution is carried on. Arcachon, near 

 Bordeaux, is in itself a most interesting locality. It has become 

 a summering place, noted for its pine lands and the broad, sandy 

 plage, picturesque in summer with swarms of quaintly-dressed 

 children, the local head-dress of the peasant mingling with the 

 latest toilets from Paris. Here and there is to be seen that 

 accompaniment of every French watering place, the goat boy 

 in smock and berret, fluting to his dozen charges who walk 

 in a stately way before him. The Bay of Arcachon is a 

 small, tranquil, inland sea, long known for its rich fauna. In 

 large part it is laid out in oyster parks, which constitute to no 

 small degree the source of wealth of the entire region. . Shal- 

 low and warm waters seem to give the marine life the best 

 conditions for growth and development. The laboratory is 

 placed just at the margin of the water. It includes a dozen or 

 more work places for investigators, well supplied with aquaria, 

 a library on the second floor, a small museum containing col- 

 lections of local fauna, including numerous relics of Cetaceans 

 that have found their way into this inland sea. A small 

 aquarium room, opened to the public, is well provided with 

 local forms of fishes, and like that of Naples, is eagerly visited. 

 Those who are entitled freely to the use of the work places are 

 instructors in French colleges, members of the Society, and all 

 the advanced students from the colleges of the State. For 

 other students, work place is given upon the payment of a fee 

 whose amount is regulated each year by the trustees. As at 

 Roscoff, material is plentifully supplied. 



The Zoological Station at Cette is a direct annex of the 

 University of Montpelier, and it will be gladly learned that 



