302 



NA TV RE 



[July 26, 1894 



within a stone's cast of the bay — so rich in a varied 

 fauna and flora. For ten years the work of the laboratory 

 has been carried on under considerable ditnculties in a 

 wooden building originally erected as a temporary fever- 

 hospital, and the walls and roof of which were neither 

 wind- nor water-tight. This structure was situated on a 

 spit of sand near the harbour, and most conveniently 

 placed for easy access to the fishing-boats and the beach ; 

 but it was on a public common, and though for nearly two 

 years every effort has been made to get the new labora- 

 tory erected on the same site, it was found to be im- 

 practicable, and a new site was therefore chosen on 

 University ground, about 300 yards further south, and 

 close to the beach. This site affords ample space, and, 

 besides, a small fresh-water stream flows through it. 



The new laboratory is the munificent gift of Dr. Charles 

 Henry Gatty, of Felbridge Place, East Grinstead, who 

 has placed ^2500 at the disposal of the University of 

 St. Andrews for its erection. The building will face the 

 west, with the back towards the east and the sea, and 

 will be for the most part of one storey. From its eastern 

 or sea face the windows command an extensive view of the 

 picturesque bay, with the Forfarshire coast terminating 



mirror, and other fittings, on the right wall a series of 

 shelves (p) for books and other things, while behind is a 

 cabinet of drawers (o) for storage of delicate apparatus 

 and specimens. From the position of the building three 

 of these windows look to the sea, and three to the west ; 

 while a seventh admits light from the southern end of the 

 building. In the centre of the room is a series of tanks 

 of sea-water, six in number (one for each worker), besides 

 various shelves for smaller glass aquaria, and the 

 necessary pipes and nozzles for distributing sea-water as 

 required. .A fireproof compartment for long-continued 

 use (all night) of the hot bath occurs at one end, while 

 each worker has a separate small paraftin apparatus in 

 his compartment. 



The lobby on the left leads to the tank-room (j) or 

 aquarium, 30 ft. 6 in. X 30ft., and with three windows on 

 each side (east and west) for illuminating the tanks— of 

 slate and glass — ranged round the room, as well as 

 placed in the centre. While that part of the building 

 already described has wooden floors, the aquarium is 

 paved with concrete. A door at the northern end leads 

 by a few steps to the receiving-room (k), with its long 

 table and sink, where the specimens procured by the 



N. 



A. Vestibule ; p. Hall ; r, Director's Room : d, Library : f, Room for Specimens ; p. Cloak Room and Lavatory ; c, Chemical Room ; n, Research 

 Room ; 1, Tank<» of Room ; w, WorJcero' Compartments; o. Workers' Cabinets; p, Workers' Bookshelves : j, Tank Room ; k, Receiving Room ; 



1., Engine and Pumps ; .m, Heating Chamber. 



in the steep rocks of the " Red Head " on the left, and on 

 the right the well-known cliffs from which the '' Rock and 

 Spindle "and "Maiden Rock" standout boldly, while here 

 and there a more gentle slope gives a patch of bright 

 green sward. The western face or front has a view em- 

 bracing the fine old ruins of the cathedral, the southern 

 suburbs of the city, and a wide stretch of Fife, including 

 such eminences as Drumcarro Craig and Ciatto Hill. It 

 has a frontage of 125 feet, and the building is in the 

 Scottish style of architecture — unpretending externally, 

 but comfortable and convenient internally. 



The entrance is in the projecting block on the west, 

 leading into a vestibule (a), and a spacious hall (it), with 

 lobbies leading right and left. In this block are situated 

 three official rooms, viz. the Director's room (c), the 

 library (p), and the room for specimens (K), the two 

 former looking into the bay, the latter to the west, 

 liesides these are a cloak-room with lavatory (f) and a 

 chemical room ((;). The lobby on the right leads to the 

 research room (H), which is 30A ft. X 30 ft., and contains 

 compartments (W) 10 ft. square, with partial partitions 

 about 8 ft. in height, for six workers. Each of these has at 

 the window a large and convenient table (N) with sink, 



NO. I 29 I, VOL. 50] 



boats are arranged by the attendant before being intro 

 duced into the lank-room or distributed to the worker 

 The outer door to this room is on the western face of tin 

 building (front), and above it is a large storage-tank Im 

 sea-water. In this block are the apartments for the 

 engine and pumps (l), a store and the heating-chamber 

 with accessories (.M), all these being entirely separated 

 from the tank-room by a thick wall of stone. 



The main aparlments are healed by hot-water pipes, 

 with the exception of the three in the centre (viz. 

 Directors' room, library, and museum), which have fire- 

 places for gas. 



The laboratory is capable of easy extension should 

 that ever be necessary, and it is readily reached from 

 the class-rooms of the University. Moreover, being in 

 direct connection with the latter, the workers have the 

 advantage of free access 10 the University library and 

 museum, besides that communication with those of 

 similar tastes, which is so congenial as well as profitable 

 to the naturalist, and which cannot be compensated by 

 mere richness of fauna and flora, if ihese are in an 

 isolated locality or difficult of access. 



Further, in addition to its connection with the Univer- 



