ON THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT GE ANTON, SCOTLAND. 251 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor McKendeick, Pro- 

 fessor Strutheks, Professor Young, Professor McIntosh, Professor 

 Alleyne Nicholson, Professor Cossar Ewaet, and Mr. John 

 Murray (Secretai'y), appointed for the purpose of promoting th& 

 establishment of a Marine Biological iStation at Granton,. 

 Scotland. 



The Committee report that the sum of 751. placed at their disposal has been- 

 used to aid in defraying the expenses of carrying on the work of the Scottish 

 Marine Station at Granton. Two reports on the work of the institution 

 during the past year are given below ; they have been sent in to the Secre- 

 tary by Mr. J. T. Cunningham, the Superintendent, who has charge ol 

 the zoological investigations ; and Dr. Hugh Robert Mill, who is respon- 

 sible for the physical work : — 



The Biological work of the Station falls into three principal divisions ; 

 (1) Embryology and Morphology, (2) Faunology, (3) the accommodation- 

 of students and investigators. 



(1) Eiforts to elucidate some facts bearing on the reproduction and 

 development of Myxine formed the principal part of the work under this 

 head during the autumn and winter. In the summer the aquarium had 

 been arranged, and a large tank was specially devoted to the purpose oF 

 keeping specimens of the animal in confinement. After careful attention 

 to the matter it was found that the creatures refused entirely to feed 

 whUe in captivity ; they lived several months, but no signs of reproduc- 

 tive activity appeared, with one exception noted below. It was then 

 determined to continue the examination of large numbers of specimens 

 every month in the year in order to find if the ova were shed at any 

 limited season. As almost nothing accurate was known on the whole 

 subject, the first problem was to obtain ripe males and females. In No- 

 vember the testis in its immature condition was recognised, and it was sub- 

 sequently found that with few exceptions all very immature specimens 

 were hermaphrodite, containing immature testicular tissue at the posterior 

 end of the generative organ. Microscopic examination of the largest ova 

 obtained showed that the well-known polar threads belonged to the vitel- 

 line membrane, and were developed in tubular depressions of the follicular 

 epithelium. In December, January, February, and March females were 

 obtained which had just discharged their ova, the collapsed capsules, still 

 quite large, being present in the ovary. At the end of January two females 

 were obtained in which the polar threads were so far developed as to form 

 projections at the ends of the enclosing follicle. One specimen with egg» 

 in this condition was taken from the aquarium. No perfectly ripe ova 

 were ever obtained. In February moving spermatozoa were discovered 

 in hermaphrodite specimens, but the total quantity of milt present waa- 

 quite insignificant. The greater number of the specimens examined were 

 obtained from fishermen's lines baited for haddock ; some were taken by 

 baited traps. In March dredging was carried on off St. Abb's Head, with 

 a view to obtain deposited fertilised eggs of Myxine, but none were found. 

 It has thus been shown that Myxine deposits its eggs in the months of 

 December to March, and that the females are taken on the hook imme- 

 diately after the eggs have been shed. But no method has been dis- 



