252 



REPORT — 1886. 



covered of obtaining adults in the ripe condition, or of obtaining the fer- 

 tilised oTa and embryos. The research and its results are described in a 

 paper in the ' Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,' and more 

 fully in a paper which will appear in the next number of the ' Quarterly 

 Journal of Microscopical Science.' 



At the beginning of the present year the systematic examination of the 

 ova of all species of fish which could be obtained was commenced. The 

 pelagic ova of the cod, haddock, whiting, and gurnard had been examined 

 in the previous spring, and those of a large number of additional species 

 have now been figured and described at successive sta,ges of development. 

 The results of this work are now being published in full by the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh, and wiU appear as a memoir in the Society's 

 ■' Transactions.' 



(2) The Faunological investigations have been carried on as time per- 

 mitted since the opening of the Station, and have, since June last, been 

 receiving particular attention. A report on the Chjetopoda, in the pre- 

 paration of which Mr. G. A. Ramage is giving his assistance, will appear 

 in the coming autumn ; a report on the Sponges is being prepared by 

 Mr. J. Arthur Thomson ; and miscellaneous notes on other classes will be 

 incorporated with these special reports. 



(3) The following is a list of those who have carried on studies at the 

 Station : — 



The yacht is kept up in the same condition as at the opening of the 

 station, and the number of men is unaltered. The ark at Millport is 

 again in use this summer, and is in the charge of Mr. David Robertson. 

 Mr. Cunningham worked there for one week in June, having found at 

 Millport a particularly favourable opportunity for the study of Teleostean 

 ova. Many other naturalists have taken part in the Medusa's dredgings 

 in the Clyde district during the present summer. The services of Alex. 

 Turbyne, the keeper of the Station, in making excursions in trawlers to 

 procure fish ova, have been most valuable. All those interested in the 

 Station are gi-eatly indebted to Mr. Robert Irvine, of Royston, for the 

 friendly assistance which he has always been ready to afford on every 

 occasion. 



Preserved specimens of marine animals and plants are still sent out 

 to applicants, and some attention is being paid to the question of oyster 

 cultivation in the Firth of Forth. 



J. T. Cunningham, B.A., F.R.S.E. 



