ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 235 
gists. The new steamboat is also frequently used for towing the rowing 
and the diving boats. 
In the course of next year the whole collecting department will be 
placed under the management of a scientifically qualified member of the 
staff, who will be especially engaged for this purpose. This official will 
direct his attention to the investigation of the fauna, and with this object 
in view will resume the keeping of the various lists and records bearing 
on these enquiries, which have unfortunately been interrupted for some 
time, since the previous official by whom they were undertaken left the 
station. 
Preserved Specimens.—The number of prepared specimens sent out 
during the past year has considerably increased in comparison with the 
previous year. Experiments in new methods of preservation are continu- 
ally prosecuted, and most satisfactory results are constantly being attained. 
Mention may here be made that the station is represented in the Inter- 
national Fisheries Exhibition, now being held in London, by a collection 
of these preparations ; and of these it may be said impartially that never 
has a fauna furnished a more perfect, and at the same time more beautifully 
preserved, series of organisms. 
Microscopie Preparations—The demand for microscopic preparations 
has diminished in comparison with last year. As this branch of the 
Institution has hitherto failed to a certain extent to fulfil the expectations 
originally entertained, the attitude of the Directorate in respect thereto 
is at present of a somewhat passive nature, and it will be a subject for 
enquiry and ultimate decision whether this department can be further 
developed, and, if still maintained, whether any reform is necessary to 
promote its efficiency. 
The Aquarium.—The aquarium continues to be an important means 
of enlisting the sympathy and interest of the general. public in behalf of 
the station and the biological sciences. To attain this end nothing is 
left undone which can be undertaken without prejudice to the establish- 
ment in general. 
During the course of the past year an English ‘Guide’ has been 
added to those already existing in the German, French, and Italian 
languages; and an atlas, comprising 250 figures of the most interesting 
animals, which will supplement the ‘Guides,’ is at present in the 
press. 
The number of visitors to the Aquarium is as great as in previous 
years. 
The Publications of the Station.—The various works undertaken by the 
station show steady progress. 
“1. Of the ‘Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel’ the following 
monographs have been published :— 
For 1880. I. C. Chun, Ctenophore, 313 pp., 18 pl. 
Il. C. Emery, Fierasfer, 76 pp, 9 pl. 
For 1881. III. A. Dohrn, Pantopoda, 252 pp., 17 pl. 
IV. Graf Solms-Laubach, Corallina, 64 pp., 3 pl. 
For 1882. V. B. Grassi, Chetognati, 126 pp., 12 pl. 
VI. P. Mayer, Caprellide, 201 pp., i0 pl. 
VIII. G. Berthold, Bangiacee, 28 pp., 1 pl. 
