ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 165 



Of material, whicli I had more or less prepared for examination, I 

 sent home a series in tubes and bottles at that time, hoping I should in 

 the future have the health to complete the investigation, but if unable to 

 do so, these points will no doubt all be elucidated ere long by others. 



I found the zoological station much changed in several particulars 

 since I was previously there. The staff is now much larger, with the 

 duties more subdivided ; and the library, which is now removed into a 

 more convenient room, is much improved ; but for some time the weak 

 point is likely to be in systematic works. I cannot close without saying 

 that I always found the staff ready to give me every assistance, and 

 must thank Dr. Dohrn and Dr. Eisig for their kindness, especially in 

 giving me leave to apply to the Station for help in any work I undertook 

 while remaining in the neighbourhood. 



II. Beport on the Reference Collection. 



The General Reference Collection has latterly received considerable 

 attention under the management of Dr. Paul Mayer (in conjunction with 

 Mr. Schmidtlein for Fauna and Distribution, and Dr. Berthold for Botany). 

 Dr. Mayer has kindly furnished the following notes. 



1. The object of collection is : — 



a. To facilitate the determination of specimens for students work- 



ing in the laboratory, and to serve as a reference in doubtful 

 cases. 



b. To collect material for the Fauna of the Gulf of Naples (extend- 



ing northward to Gaeta and southward to Salerno), and 

 specially for comparison with the forms from Messina. 



c. To collect material for systematic purposes, such as the in- 



vestigation of individual variation, mimicry, and biological 

 questions in general. 



d. To obtain material for anatomical and special histological in- 



vestigations, special reference being had to the best methods 

 of preservation. 



2. Preservation is generally effected in alcohol of 70 to 90 % ; for 



fishes, alcohol of 50 % is mostly used ; and plants are usually 

 placed first in concentrated solution of common salt, and then 

 in alcohol. 



3. The number of specimens representing the diS'erent groups of 



animals varies greatly, because (a) some of the forms are not 

 equally abundant in all localities ; (b) the preservation is not 

 yet sufficiently good in many groups for the animals to remain 

 thoroughly recognizable ; (c) in many groups the determination 

 cannot at present be carried out. 



4. The determination of the specimens is undertaken, as far as prac- 



ticable, by specialists. 



5. The following summary will indicate the present condition of the 



different groups : — 



a. Fishes. — Most of the forms of the Gulf represented, together 



with some interesting young stages. 



b. Tiinicata. — Well represented, specially Ascidiee ; and nearly all 



determined. 



