388 REPORT— 1900. 



When a sufficient numbei' of spermatozoa have penetrated the gela- 

 tinous coat of an egg and have become attached by their heads to the 

 layer which is subsequently raised and forms the vitelline membrane, 

 rotation of the egg takes place. During the rotation, which may be in 

 any direction, the gelatinous coat does not also rotate. 



By means of the capillary tube method an attempt was made to find 

 some substance which attracts the spei^matozoa. Various substances, 

 known to give a chemical stimulus to other organisms, were tested : meat 

 extract, peptone, cane-sugar, glycerine, asparagine, alcohol, oxalic acid, 

 nitric acid, potassium nitrate, sodium chloride, potassium malate diastase, 

 and distilled water. No definite chemotactic attraction could be observed 

 in any case. 



Tlae chief results arrived at were : — 



1 . The spermatozoa of the Echinoidea are not attracted to the eggs by 

 means of any special substance excreted by the latter. The vast number 

 of spermatozoa and the large size of the eggs are sufficient to ensure the 

 necessary contact taking place. 



2. It is not improbable that the spermatozoa are unable to respond to 

 chemical stimuli by change in the direction of movement. 



It gives me much pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to the 

 staft' of the Stazione Zoologica for supplying me with material and 

 apparatus during the research. 



Report on the Occupation of a Table at Naples. 



f. T}ie Methods of Preservatioji of Specimens used at the Zoological Station. 

 By Professor R. Ramsay Weight. 



In answer to my request that I might be permitted to avail myself of 

 the arrangement existing between the British Association Committee and 

 the Naples Zoological Station, the Secretary of the Committee was good 

 enough to recommend me to the kind offices of the Director, Dr. A. 

 Dohrn. 



Although the British Association Table was already occupied, I found 

 Dr. Dohrn anxious to make special arrangements for my accommodation, 

 and I accordingly took advantage of these from December 20 till the end 

 of February. 



My object being to familiarise myself with the methods in use at the 

 station, as well as with the Naples fauna in a living condition, I was 

 installed in a room adjacent to that of Dr. Lo Bianco. Thanks to his 

 intimate and extensive faunistic knowledge and to his untiring willingness 

 to impart the results of his long experience in the conservation of marine 

 animals, I felt at the close of my ten weeks' stay more than satisfied with 

 the results I attained. As Dr. Lo Bianco was engaged at the time in 

 giving instruction in methods to a medical officer of the German Navy, I 

 was enabled to share these demonstrations and to acquire some expertness 

 in dealing with those forms which, like the Siphonophora, had long proved 

 refractory to attempts at preservation until Dr. Lo Bianco succeeded in 

 elaborating the methods at present in use. 



I hope to be able in the near future to utilise the technical experience 

 gained at the New Canadian Marine Laboratory which has recently been 

 brought to the notice of the British Association. 



