ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 179 



water throughout the establishment have been considerably improved. 

 In all the small separate work-rooms, tanks similar to those in the large 

 laboratory have been erected, and the number of small portable breeding 

 aquaria has also been increased. The aerating apparatus, which have 

 now been in use for some time, having proved so satisfactory for develop- 

 mental investigations, a larger apparatus of the same description is about 

 to be constructed, in order to supply a current of air of greater strength 

 and capable of subdivision. 



(Library^ — The library is being continually increased by the ex- 

 change of publications with other institutions and by donations from 

 authors, whilst a number of the older systematic woi'ks and descriptions 

 of travels have recently been purchased. A new appendix to the library 

 catalogue is issued in the ' Mittheiluugen,' Bd. ii., Heft 4. 



{PiMications) . — The various publications undertaken by the Station, 

 and brought out under its auspices, are now well before the scientific 

 public, and have already received a worthy and well-merited meed of 

 praise. 



(1) Of the series entitled 'Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel' 

 two monographs have been issued since the last report, viz., ' Die 

 Ctenophoren des Golfes von Neapel ' by Dr. Carl Chun, and ' Le Specie 

 del Genere Fierasfer nel Golfo di Napoli ' by Dr. Carlo Emery. Three 

 monographs are announced to appear during the present year, viz. : — 



Monographic der Pantopoda (Pycnogonid^), by Prof. Anton Dohrn. 



Die Corallineen, by Graf zu Solms-Laubach. 



Monographic der Gattung Balanoglossus, by Dr. J. W. Spengel. 



Of these the two first-mentioned are now in the press, and the plates 

 of Dr. Andres' monograph on the Actinite, which will be published sub- 

 sequently, are already in the lithographer's hands. A list of twenty-two 

 monographs has been promised for this series up to the present date. 



(2) Of the ' Mittheiluugen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel,' 

 vol. ii. is now completed, and vol. iii., part i., is in the press. Many 

 valuable memoirs have already been published in this periodical. 



(3) The ' Zoologischer Jahresbericht ' for 1879 was issued at the end 

 of last year, and that for 1880 is already in the press. The ' Bericht ' 

 for 1879 occupied 1,250 pp. and formed two thick volumes, comprising 

 the labours' of thirty-six referees. The present Report will not be less 

 bulky, but will be issued — with a view to the convenience of many 

 naturalists — in four parts. These will be independently paged, and may 

 be purchased separately. The division of the work will be as follows : — 

 Part 1,- "Lower Animals ; 2. Arthropoda ; 3. Mollusca; 4. Vertebrata. 



(Submarine Collecting). — During the past two years very important 

 service has been rendered to the Station by the introduction of diving, 

 not only as a means of collecting, but also of investigating in sitit, the 

 fauna and flora of shallow and moderate depths. As the application of 

 this method to Natural History purposes is novel, the following particulars 

 may not be without interest. 



Nearly three years ago, Dr. Dohrn conceived the idea that some of 

 the modern appliances for diving might be made use of for the purposes 

 of the Zoological Station ; and being at that time in Berlin, a journey was 

 forthwith taken to Kiel, for the purpose of making preliminary experi- 

 ments. The water was not especially clear where the descent was made, 

 in consequence of the bottom being somewhat muddy ; nevertheless, 

 shells and other objects were to be seen distinctly, and the conviction was 



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