192 REPORT— 1871. 



nous nous regardons tous comme vos disciples. Nous suivons les memes cx- 



])erieuccs, ot j'aurai I'honncur de vous fairo part dc mcs dccoiivertes ulterieurcs. 



J'ai I'honneur d'etre avec im respectueux attachement, Monsieur, 



Votrc tres-humble et tres-obcissant Serviteur, 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. Anton Dohrn^ Professor 

 RoLLESTONj a7id Mr. P. L. Sclater, appointed for the purpose of 

 promoting the Foundation of Zoological Stations in different parts 

 of the World: — Reporter, Dr. Dohrn. 



The Committee beg to report that since the last Meeting of the British 

 AssociatioQ at Liverpool steps have been taken by Dr. Dohrn to secure the 

 moral assistance of some other scientific bodies, and that the Academy of 

 Belgium has passed a vote acknowledging the great value of the j^roposed 

 Observatories. Besides this, the Government at Berlin has given instruction 

 to the German Embassy at Florence and to the General Consul at Naples to 

 do everything to secure success to Dr. Dohrn's enterprise. Next October 

 the building at Naples will be commenced under the personal superintendence 

 of Dr. Dohrn, who will be accompanied by the assistant architect of the 

 Berlin Aquarium. The contractors agree to finish the building in one year, 

 so that in January 1873 the Aquarium in Naples may be expected to be in 

 working order. 



The Naples Observatory being thus arranged for, the Committee beg leave 

 to draw the attention of the British Association to the importance of esta- 

 blishing a Zoological Station in the British Islands, and to the opportunity 

 which is now offered for such a proposition in consequence of the cessation 

 of the grant to the Kew Observatory. In the same way as the Association 

 took the initiative in the foundation of the Meteorological Observatories, so 

 may they legitimately and with every prospect of success take in hand the 

 foundation of Zoological Observatories. Until a recent date the Association 

 has given considerable sums of money to dredging-explorations ; but, in con- 

 sequence of the advance of Zoological Science, some of the problems to be 

 solved are so much changed and their nature is of such a character as to 

 demand the assistance of the Association in other directions. The careful 

 study of the development and the habits of marine animals can only bo 

 carried on by aid of large aquariums and cumbrous apparatus, which an 

 individual could hardly provide for himself. This, and the copious supply 

 of animals for observation, can be pro^ided by such a cooperative institution. 

 There can be little doubt of the convenience to naturalists, and of the per- 

 manent benefit to science, which would result from the foundation of a 

 Zoological Station in the British Isles. 



