238 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 48 
Station. During that period free use of this table has been granted 
to about forty specialists in various lines of biological research. 
Applications for the Smithsonian seat have been numerous, and 
although the collective appointments for any year have but twice 
exceeded an occupancy of twelve months for one student, not infre- 
quently two, and in rare instances three occupants have been ac- 
commodated at the same time through the kindness of Doctor Dohrn, 
the Director. i 
In the interest of science and in order that the utmost possible 
benefit may be derived from the table supported by the Smithsonian 
Institution, it is desired that the aggregate time of appointments for 
each year shall equal the continuous occupancy of one student for the 
same period. With this object in view the conditions on which the 
seat is granted have been made such as can be reasonably complied 
with, so that while it is an advantage in the way of completing the 
permanent record of each occupant for an investigator to make as 
full a statement of his scientific history, publications, etc., as con- 
venient, it is essential to submit with a request for a seat only such 
data as will show the capacity of the applicant for original work in 
embryological, histological, and other fields for which special facil- 
ities are offered at Naples. 
The individual periods of occupancy of the Smithsonian table have 
varied in length from a month to six months, it having been decided 
in the interest of all who desire the seat that no appointment should 
be approved for longer than the latter term, although in exceptional 
cases an extension may be asked for and granted, if such action does 
not interfere with the occupancy of other applicants. 
In order to give all prospective appointees equal opportunities to 
avail themselves of the advantage of the table, the Smithsonian seat 
is not assigned more than six months in advance of the date for 
which it is desired; it has therefore been requested that applications 
be submitted at the time when it is in order to take them up for con- 
sideration. Should more than one request be filed for the same 
period, appointment is made according to priority of application, 
within the specified six months. 
An application for a seat accompanied with historical data and 
recommendatory letters is referred to an Advisory Committee for 
consideration and report, and on this report the Secretary of the 
Institution bases his action. In case of approval, the Director of 
the Station is notified and a summary of the appointee’s scientific 
history is transmitted to him, so that each investigator finds himself 
introduced in advance to Doctor Dohrn and his assistants. 
