412 REPORT — 1873. 



Strasburg, Professor Claiis,Vienna, to the Seuckenberg Museum at Prankfort, 

 the I^atural-History Society at OfFeubach, and many others. 



Several German zoologists have already announced their intention to come 

 during next winter and work in the Station ; a similar announcement is 

 made from au Italian zoologist and from Dr. M. Foster ; and I am informed 

 that two J'oung English biologists -will arrive at the Station in January. 



The Committee hope this Eeport will convince the Association that the 

 year between their present and last Meeting has been one of steady and con- 

 siderable progress for the Zoological Station at j!^aples. The Committee 

 refrain from making any further proposition to the Association, but express 

 their wish that every influence may be used to secure to the Station at Naples 

 such assistance as will serve to promote the eminent scientific ends for which 

 it has been erected. 



Second Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor Harkness, 

 William Jolly, and Dr. James Bryce, appointed for the purpose 

 of collecting Fossils from localities of difficult access in North- 

 western Scotland. Drawn up by William Jolly, Secretary. 



DuEiNG the past j^ear search has been made for fossils at various points along 

 the great limestone strike of the N.W. Highlands, but, with the exception of 

 the Durness basin, from which the fossils already collected have been alone 

 obtained, none have been found at any new locality. The lessee of the 

 lime-kilns of Loch Eribol has been obliged to give them up. This the Com- 

 mittee have to regret on their own account, as, from his interest in the 

 subject, they anticipated good results from the intelligent search he was 

 making in the large development of limestone in that interesting locality, which 

 till now has continued barren of organic forms. Special search has been 

 made by two teachers in the limestone at Inchnadamph on Loch Assynt, but 

 as yet without success. The Committee have not been fortunate enough to 

 find any thing in this locality, except one piece found by the Secretary, 

 which it is hoped may prove to be organic. 



None of the Committee have this year found it possible to prosecute the 

 search in pei'son ; but this continues to be done by several gentlemen resi- 

 dent in the district, whose services they have been fortunate in securing. 



The Committee have, during the last two years, gathered a considerable 

 number of specimens. These fossils, with those obtained for Professor Nicol 

 of Aberdeen, and deposited in the College Museum there, they think it impor- 

 tant that the Association should have carefully examined by an adept in 

 fossil remains, in order to lead to more certain determination of the age and 

 place of these North-western rocks in the geologic series. They think, how- 

 ever, that this examination should not be made till a larger collection has 

 been obtained. As the discovery of fossils at other localities than Durness 

 is most desirable, especially in order to determine if the fossiliferous Durness 

 limestone is the same as that in the line of the great .strike from Eribol to 

 Skye, they are anxious that the search should still be prosecuted in these 

 hitherto barren localities. The Committee would therefore propose their 

 reappointment by the Association for this purpose. 



