182 EEPOET— 1881. 



consideration of the additional advantages now afforded to the occupier 

 of a table, as specially mentioned in the last report. 



I. Bejport on the Occtipation of ilie Tahle by Mr. Allen HarJcer. 



By the kind permission of the Committee, I occupied the British 

 Association's table, at the Zoological Station, at Naples, from the 14th 

 Feb. to the 20th May, 1881. For the first few weeks I devoted my 

 attention to a general study of the comparative Morphology of the 

 organs of circulation and respiration in the Polych^tous Annelids, more 

 especially in the sedentary forms (Tubicola). I then confined myself to 

 the examination of one particular group, the family Maldanidm, and the 

 closely allied Amviocharidce, and continued my researches on these 

 families, as represented in the Bay of Naples, during the remainder of 

 my stay. I studied the histology of the remai-kable coloured bands 

 (ceinhires of Claparede) which adorn some of the anterior segments in 

 the various species of Maldanidce, with a view to tracing their relation 

 (if any) to the function of respiration. With that object I made some 

 2,000 sections, and prepared a large amount of material, which I am still 

 engaged in working out. The results I purpose publishing as soon as 

 they are completed. The frequent occurrence in the Bay of the singular 

 Ammochares fusiformis, Delia Chiaja, and its close relationship with 

 the Maldanidce, led me to make a careful study of it, in the hope of 

 elucidating some points in its anatomy which had been left incomplete 

 by Claparede. I succeeded in tracing the nervous system, in continuous 

 sections of the whole animal, which had (by that method) escaped the 

 notice of the illustrious author of 'Les Annelides du Golfe de Naples.' 

 The advantage of having so large a supply of this species enabled me to 

 examine some thousands of specimens, and to note some interesting 

 variations in the form of the branchial apparatus : these, too, I hope to 

 make public shortly, together with drawings of the special features 

 observed. 



I had a further opportunity of studying the habits of Phyllochaitopterus 

 pergamentacem, and extending the observations of Claparede on the 

 structure of its tubes. I was (during the whole of my stay) kept 

 supplied with abundant material, which is so indispensable to the study 

 of my subject. 



In addition to the opportunity afforded of carrying out my studies 

 under the most favourable and perfect of conditions, I am indebted to my 

 visit to the Station for much valuable knowledge of new and improved 

 methods of manipulation in biological research, which cannot fail to be 

 of lifelong service. An opportunity of putting some of that knowledge 

 to a very practical use has been afforded me since my return, in fitting 

 up a small biological laboratory, at the Royal Agricultural College, at 

 Cirencester, where I have been largely guided by my Naples experiences. 



While it would be merely superfluous to add one word in praise of 

 the Station, I should fail in my duty were I not to record my deep 

 gratitude for the uniform and kindly assistance rendered by the whole of 

 the staff, and for the great interest which Professor Dohrn took in my 

 work, and the very valuable advice and assistance he was ever ready to 

 afford me. 



For the permission to occupy the table I beg to tender my sincere 

 thanks. 



