384 REPORT— 1900. 



Beimrt on the Occufation of the Table in the Zoological Station 

 at Naples, during fart of Decemhcr 1900. 



h. The Structure of certain Poljjcha-te Worms. 

 B)i E. S. GooDEicii, M.A. O.von. 



During a short visit to Naples last winter, I occupied the Table of the 

 British Association at the Zoological station. I have to thank the 

 Committee for this opportunity of continuing my researches on the 

 structure of PolychiBte worms. 



My observations were restricted almost entirely to the study of living 

 specimens of Alciojnds, Pli gllodocidt:, J'olygordms, and Saccocirrn)<. A 

 considerable amount of material was also preserved for future use. 



The nephridia of the Alciopids were found to closely resemble those 

 of the Phyllodocids, having no internal coelomic opening, and being pro- 

 vided Avith bunches of flagellated cells, the solenocytes. The genital 

 products are carried to the exterior by ciliated genital funnels, which at 

 maturity open into the nepliridial ducts. A detailed description of these 

 organs is about to be published in the ' Quart. Journ. of Micr. Science.' 



Some details were also added to our knowledge of the nephridia of 

 Polygordius ; and the structure of the interesting, but little known, 

 Saccocirrus was carefully investigated. The results of this study, which 

 is not yet completed, will, I hope, shortly be ready for publication. 



Seport on the Occupation of the Uritish Association Table 

 at Naples during March and April 1900. 



c. Observations on Comjiound Ascidians. By W. A. Heedman, D.Sc., F.R.S. 



I occupied the British Association Table for a little over three weeks 

 in March and April, 1900, with the object of examining in the living 

 condition certain Mediterranean Compound Ascidians. Probably the 

 first thought that occurs to any one who has worked at the Naples 

 Zoological Station, on recalling the time he spent at that celebrated 

 laboratory, is one of gratitude to Dr. Dohrn and his excellent assistants 

 for their pei'sonal kindness and help, and of admiration for their highly 

 efficient administration. I feel that if other workers desire to express 

 their gratitude, I esj^ecially should do so, for it is probable that I gave 

 iinusual trouble at a busy period, and it seemed to me that I was treated 

 with exceptional kindness. In addition to Dr. Dohrn, I desire to thank 

 especially Dr. Eisig and Dr. Lo Bianco. With the latter I was brought 

 largely into contact by the nature of ray work. 



During the recent short visit, my intention was mainly to see and 

 examine as many species and specimens of Compound Ascidians as possible 

 in the living condition, and then have them killed and preserved for 

 histological work later. I was ^iven excellent facilities for collectinji in 

 the small steamer Johannes Midler, belonging to the station, and twice 

 — sometimes three times — evei-y day fresh supplies of material, brought in 

 by the fishermen, were placed in my aquaria. 



The Compound Ascidians of the Bay of Naples have not yet been 

 monographed. Some species were described by Delle Chiaje and others 

 long ago, when the genera were imperfectly known and anatomical 

 characters were not recorded. Other species have been briefly diagnosed 

 tnore recently (but without any figures) by Delia Valle. It is now almost 

 impossible in many cases to tell from these descriptions alone which of 



