166 report— 1879. 



twenty-six naturalists have occupied the tahles at the Institution. A list 

 of their names and the time of stay will be found appended. During the- 

 same period, packages of specimens have been forwarded to fifty-one 

 different naturalists and institutions. A list of these is also appended. 



Recently a new department has been added to the Station. Through 

 this naturalists will be enabled to obtain mounted specimens of microscopic 

 animals, viz., sections of embryos of all kinds of fishes, &c, preparations 

 of larvae or other animals too small for being sent in alcohol or other 

 preservative solutions. Next year a catalogue of these specimens will be 

 published, and the Station will be prepared to send the specimens to any 

 naturalist requiring them. 



Trials of diving by means of the new Scaphander apparatus have alsa 

 recently been made with very satisfactory results. 



The aquarium of the Station is being in part reconstructed, with some 

 important new features, viz., moveable rockwork, for saving and examin- 

 ing the different animals which thrive by themselves on these rocks. This 

 will enable statistical notes to be established on the growth of these ani- 

 mals, and on such changes as may occur by changing their habitat, inas- 

 much as these rocks may be replaced in the sea at different depths. 



The following monographs are in preparation by workers in the Sta- 

 tion : — Ctenophoraa, Fierafer, Balanoglossus, Sipunculoida?, Capitellidse, 

 Planariae, Nernertineae, Pycnogonidaa, Caprillidaa, and on sevex'al families of 

 Algae. 



Three parts of the ' Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu 

 Neapel, zugleich ein Repertorinm fur Mittelmeerkunde ' have been pub- 

 lished, containing sixteen papers illustrated with many very carefully 

 executed plates. Further parts are in active preparation. 



It is, moreover, intended to publish the following works : — 



' Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden 

 Meeresgebiete.' Folio. Yearly, 1 volume with 10-20 plates. The first 

 volume is already in the press. 



' Prodromus Fauna? Mediterraneae.' A selection from the whole 

 Zoological Literature of short Latin Diagnoses of the Animals found in the 

 Mediterranean, with their habitats and local names. 



' Zoologischer Jahresbericht.' This will contain short notices on the 

 various memoirs and papers published in various countries on the subjects 

 of Zoology, Development, and Comparative Anatomy. It is under the 

 editorship of Professor Carus, with the assistance of four collaborateurs in 

 different countries. One volume will appear yearly. 



Two naturalists have occupied the table hired by the Association, viz., 

 Mr. Walter Percy Sladen and Mr. Patrick Geddes. Mr. Sladen has sent 

 in a report on his stay and his work, which is appended. In this report 

 he proposes ' a means by which the table might be even more fre- 

 quently occupied than it has been, and its sphere of utility thus extended, 

 by suggesting to the consideration of the Committee that a further addi- 

 tional grant might be made by the Association, which would serve as a 

 travelling fund. This might be apportioned in moieties say of 251. to 

 naturalists who desired to avail themselves of such assistance, and it is not 

 improbable that many a student would by this means be enabled to par- 

 ticipate in the advantages of the table at Naples, who might otherwise be 

 j j. erred by the expense of the journey. The plan, extended or modified 

 ording to circumstances, is one adopted by several of the foreign bodies, 

 ha * n & tables at the Zoological Station.' 



