356 EEPORT— 1901. 



In the majority of cases it was my practice to make use only of such 

 parts of the head as I needed, and it was interesting to note that in every 

 instance, among the Decapoda, at least, the statoliths were visible through 

 the cartilage in specimens just killed, but that the transparency, as would 

 be expected, disappears after fixing. 



The cartilage of the Octopidfe seems to be less transparent, as it was 

 only with difficulty that I could discern the statolith without opening the 

 cyst. 



The statolith, which dissolves in acetic acid, giving off a gas, when 

 tested according to a well-known method proves to consist of carbonate of 

 lime, and by this treatment a membrane enveloping the whole of the 

 calcareous concremer.t is all that is left. 



The statocysts of the Cephalopoda, show the highest state of organisa- 

 tion among tlie invertebrata, occurring for the first time as stationary 

 calcareous organs, held in place by an outer membrane, and situated on the 

 Macula acustica. 



The endolymph contained in the vesicle consists of a clear alkaline 

 fluid, which is shown by the xanthoproteic reaction to contain albumen. 



Time must necessarily elapse before my studies in this direction are 

 completed, when I hope to publish the result of my labours. 



I am continuing my studies at the Zoological Institute of Tiibingen 

 University. 



I should like to take this opportunity to express my warm appreciation 

 of the way in which the Zoological Station is managed, and my sincere 

 thanks to the various members of the staff, especially Professor Eisig, 

 Professor Paul Mayer, and Dr. Lo Bianco, for the many courtesies which 

 they showed me, and the valuable advice and assistance which they were 

 ever ready to give. 



To the Committee of the British Association for the use of their table 

 my especial thanks are due. 



h. Beport on the Occupation of a Table at the Stazione Zoologica, N'aples, 

 during March and April ItOl. 



TJie Fertilisation Process in Echinoidea . 

 By A. H. Reginald Bullee, B.Sc, Ph.D. 



I occupied the table of the British Association from March 20 until 

 April 25. 



The research work undertaken was a completion of a study of the causes 

 leading to the union of the eggs and spermatozoa of the Echinoidea. 



Further observations and experiments were made, supporting the 

 conclusion, already reported, that chemotaxis plays no role in bringing the 

 sex-cells into contact, and that the spermatozoa are probably incapable of 

 responding to chemotactic stimuli. 



Special attention was paid to the movement of the .<?permatozoa upon 

 surfaces, and to ';he manner in which they penetrate the thick zona 

 pellucida surrounding the eggs. 



The following rule was found to hold good : — Whenever the spermato- 

 zoa come in contact with a surface Ijounding the medium in which they 

 are moving, they cling to it, and they either become fixed to it almost 

 at once or, moi'e usually, rotate upon it. In the latter case, if the 



