830 llEPOKta ox THE STATE OF SCIENCE, 



specimeiiri. My hearty thanks are tendered to the British Associatioh 

 Committee for allowing me to occupy the table, and to the ])irector and 

 otiicers of the Zoological Station for the great facilities they afforded me. 



Report </Mr. E. 8. Goodkich, F.R.S. 



During a short stay in Naples last winter 1 occupied the iJritibh 

 Association table in the Zoological .Station from the middle of December 

 1905 to the middle, of January 1906. Most of niy time there was spent 

 in working out the nerve-supply of the paired and unpaired tins of 

 Elasmobranch fishes, and in making experiments with a view of ascertain- 

 ing the true nature of the plexus of motor ner^'es. The results of these 

 experiments have been published iji the last number of the 'Quarterly 

 Journal of Microscopical Science.' T also reinvestigated the structure of 

 the nephridia of Amphioxus, and confirmed the observations made some 

 years ago. Professor Boveri criticised the account T gave in 1902, and 

 maintained that the nephridia open into the ctclom ; that no such openings 

 exist, and that my original description was correct, I am now thoroughly 

 convinced. 



Repurt of Dc. J. H. Ashwoktu. 



T beg to thank the Committee of the British Association for the use 

 of the table at the Naples Zoological Station. My occupancy of the 

 table extended from March 22 to April 19. Most of this time was spent 

 in the study of the structure and physiology of the nervous system of 

 llalla. Some account of these researches will be included in a memoir 

 which is in course of preparation. 



'The Qaantitij and Cura[>oMivn of liuinfaU and of Lake and Ricer Dis- 

 charge. — Interim lieporl of ilie Conimittec, confiding of Sir John 

 Murray (Chairman), Professor A. B. Macallum arid Dr. A. J. 

 Herbertson (Secretaries), Sir B. Baker, Professor AV. M. Davis, 

 Professor P. F. Frankland, Mr. A. D. Hall, Mr. E. H. V. Mel- 

 ville, Dr. H. P. Mill, Professor A. 1'enck, and Mr. W. 

 Whitaker. 



The first aim was to tabulate the results of various researclies and obser\ a- 

 tions on the quantity and composition of the rainfall and lake and river 

 water, and efforts were directed to the preparation of a bibliography. This 

 has taken a great deal of time, and is not yet completed. 



The reappointment of the Committee is asked for, with the addition of 

 Mr. A. Strahan, F.R.S., and Mr. N. F. MacKenzie, M.Inst.C.E., and the 

 unexpended balance of the grant. 



