ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 83 



proliferation. It might appear, tterefore, tbat the ' processes ' of which 

 I have spoken merely indicated an occasional special mode of prolifera- 

 tion, and that my ' zoospores ' were no zoospoies, the later conclusion being 

 a priori pcssibJe, on account of my want of experience in these matters. 

 But I am quite positive about my observations on the apparent conjuga- 

 tion, and my lurking conviction that the moving green bodies will turn 

 out to be really zoospores is strengthened by the fact that I am told by 

 the authorities here that a botanist who had formerly studied here had 

 seen the zoospores of Caulerpa but had not been able to work at them. I 

 trust to make some decisive observations in the great breeding period for 

 many algaj which is approaching. 



At present, while keeping an eye on Cmilerpa, I am working mainly 

 at the reproduction and development of Sargassum. My observations are 

 as yet too incomplete for me to give a connected account of them. I 

 have not seen the discharge of the antherozoids nor the process of 

 fertilisation, though I have followed the development of the antherozoids 

 and of the oospore. I have also succeeded in obtaining a tolerably com- 

 plete series of embryos, including nearly all the early stages in the 

 division of the egg. The difficulty in the earliest stages is to determine 

 what is normal and what is abnormal (owing to artificial conditions) 

 division ; I have some embryos with the same number of cells, having 

 these cells arranged in quite different ways. I hope, however, to conquer 

 this difficulty and to be able to present a complete account of the deve- 

 lopment of Sargassum at the meeting of the Association in 1888. So far 

 as I can see at present, the development is much like that of Gysiosira. 

 I am also collecting material for a study of the development of the con- 

 ceptacles in Sargassum. 



As yet I have not published, or prepared for publication, any of my 

 work, because I consider that I serve my own ends and those of the 

 Association in appointing me to this table better by devoting all my 

 working time while at Naples to the actual business of research and of 

 collecting material for future work. 



I have to thank the staff and my fellow- workers at the Station for 

 much valuable information as to methods of preservation, staining, &c., in 

 use among zoologists, which I thought might be serviceable in botany 

 also. I have devoted a good deal of time to the study of these methods, 

 and hope to publish an account of my conclusions when I leave the 

 Station, if not before. 



Besides completing my work on the plants already mentioned, I 

 hope to be able to make some researches into the algise growing in the 

 hot mineral springs of Ischia, and into the algal flora of Lake Avernus ; 

 and I expect to find much to observe in the autumn when many algas 

 reproduce very actively. 



Before concluding, may I be permitted to call the attention of the 

 Committee to the great claims which the Station has upon the support of 

 scientific men in England as well as on the Continent ? I would speak 

 with special reference to England, because England, though second to no 

 Continental country in the amount and value of the biological work she 

 produces, has only two tables at the Station, and even these two she 

 shows some inclination to give up. The advantages which the Station 

 ofi'ers to the student, whether he be zoologist, botanist, or physiologist, are 

 these : the best arranged marine laboratory in Europe ; a staff of distin- 

 guibljed men at the head of it, ever ready and willing to assist the student 



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