ON THE STATE OF SOLUTION OF PROTEIDS. 305 



An obvious objection to the above interpretation of the results is that 

 the process of washing may so physically alter the proteid that, though 

 originally in true solution, it reaches in the end a state in which it is 

 only in suspension. This objection is much weakened by the fact that 

 if the washings are collected, the salt removed from them, and the fluid 

 concentrated in the vacuum pan (in which the temperature is not allowed 

 ever to exceed 30° C), a fluid is obtained free of proteid but giving a last- 

 ing osmotic pressure, though the washed separated proteid does not give 

 any pressure. In other words, the substance or substances causing 

 an osmotic pressure in the proteid ' solution ' first obtained can be washed 

 out and collected, and a solution so obtained is then found to give a 

 pressure though containing no proteid, while the proteid from which it 

 has been removed is no longer capable of giving a pressure. 



It is interesting to observe that a plain gelatine membrane is permeable 

 by the substance or substances in solution in the washings, and that only 

 when osmotic-pressure-free proteid is added to the solution does the 

 pressure stand steady for the full length of the experiment (nine days). 



It is thought that this solution contains disintegration pi'oducts of 

 proteids, since bacterial action will soon cause a ' solution ' of osmotic-pres- 

 sure-free proteid to give a lasting pressure, and that the pressure exhibited 

 by freshly prepared and unpuritied ' solutions ' of proteid is really due to 

 adherent proteid metabolites in true solution. 



The Zoology of the Saiidicich Islands. — Thirteenth Report of the Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Professor Newton (Chairman), Mr. David 

 Sharp (Secretary), Dr. W. T. Blanfoed, Professor S. J. Hickson, 

 Dr. P. L. ScLATEK, Dr. F. Dij Cane Godman, and Mr. Edgar A. 

 Smith. 



Tins Committee was appointed in 1890 and has been since annually 

 reappointed. 



Since the last report two parts of the Fauna Hawaiiensis, published by 

 the Committee, have appeared, viz. Vol. III. Part 2, 'Hemiptera,' by 

 Mr. G. W. Kirkaldy, and Vol. III. Part 3, ' Coleoptera Caraboidea,' by 

 D. Sharp. 



The first set of the Diptera described by Mr. P. H. Grimshaw has 

 been sent to the British Museum, Natural History. 



The part of the Fauna Hawaiiensis dealing with Vertebrata is in the 

 Press, and copy for two other parts is in hand. 



The Committee asks for reappointment without a grant. 



Coral Reefs of the Indian Region. — Fourth Report of the Committee, 

 consisting of Mr. A. Sedgwick (Chairman), Mr. J. Stanley 

 Gardiner (Secretary), Professor J. W. Judd, Mr. J. J. Lister, 

 Mr. Francis Darwin, Dr. S. F. Harmer, Professor A. Mac- 

 ALiSTER, Professor W. A. Herdman, Professor S. J. Hickson, 

 Professor G. B. Howes, and Professor J. Graham Kerr. 



The Committee present the following Report by the Secretary, who has 

 had charge of the work : — 



1903. -x 



