376 REPORT— 1901. 



progress from early morning to noon, others as going on until night sets in.^ 

 During the autumn and spring migration (though concerning the latter 

 we lack definite information) the English Channel is probably crossed by 

 many routes, but there are certain much-used points of departure to reach 

 which the birds shape their course. Beginning in the west, we find among 

 them the Land's End, the Lizard, the Eddystone, and Start-Point. It ia 

 otherwise, however, on the Dorset and Hampshire coasts, along which 

 Swallows are recorded as proceeding to the eastward, and it is not until 

 the Nab Lightvessel is reached that the flight becomes southerly towards 

 the French coast. In Sussex, too, the flight is easterly towards Beechy 

 Head, just before arriving at which many birds cross the Channel.^ 

 Others still pursue their easterly flight, and finally cross the Straits of 

 Dover. There may be other routes taken, but the points of departure 

 just named are those which result from the present inquiry. There are, 

 however, some records of Swallows occasionally moving westward along 

 the south coast. If this should be more than accidental, a cross-movement 

 of departing birds occurs then. The shore line is closely followed by 

 many of the Swallows moving south, especially by those which are on 

 passage. 



Investigations made at the Marine Biological Lahoratory, Plymouth. — 

 Rejwrt of the Committee, consisting of Mr. G. C. Bourne (Chair- 

 man), Mr. W. Garstang ((Secreia?-!!/), Professor E. Ray Lankester, 

 Professor Sydney H. Vines, Mr. A. Sedgwick, and Professor 

 W. F. R. Weldon. (Drawn up hy the Secretanj.) 



The British Association's table has been occupied during the past year 

 by the following naturalists, who devoted themselves to investigations or 

 to the collection and preparation of material for research on the subjects 

 mentioned : — 



Mr. E. C. Punnetc, August-September 1900 (two months) : On the 

 Pelvic Plexus of Elasmobranchs, and on the Anatomy of Nemertines. 



Mr. S. D. Scott, August 1900 (one week) : On the Excretory Pro- 

 cesses of Ascidians. 



Dr. F. W. Gamble, April 1901 (one week) : On the Histology and 

 Physiology of Mysis. 



Mr. W. B. Randies, July- August 1901 (one month) : On the Anatomy 

 of Trochus. 



Mr. AV. M. Aders, August 1901 (two weeks) : On the Spermatogenesis 

 of Coelenterata, 



Dr. Gamble's work was unfortunately cut short unexpectedly by private 

 causes, and another gentleman, to whom the table had been allotted — 



' At the Nab Lightship, October 1, 188G, Swallows are recorded as passing south 

 at intervals, twenty at a time, from dawn to dark. The returns from Hanois Light- 

 house, on the west coast of Guernsey, show that Swallows pass southward from 6 A.M. 

 to 8 P.M. At the Casqaets, west of Alderney, on October 1, 1880, Swallows, with 

 other birds, Song-Thrushes, Ring-Ousel, Land- and Water-Rails, and a Woodcock, 

 occurred from II p.m. to 3 A.M. : 200 Swallows struck the lantern. The movements 

 at this station, however, may possibly have nothing to do with migration on the 

 British coasts. 



- When crossing between Newhaven and Dieppe in September I have seen 

 Swallows passings in a sov^th-eagterljy direction tQwavds the ifrench coast, 



