ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 289 



tribation of Zoological Stations should be world-wide — uot simply con- 

 fined to Europe only ; and further than this, means should systematically 

 be devised for enabling naturalists to visit and to avail themselves of the 

 opportunity of investigating unknown districts at distant stations. Upon 

 such a basis it is not too much to say that Zoological Stations would 

 become the recognised centres from whence the unsolved problems of 

 Zoological Science might be appi'oached with every prospect of successful 

 solution. It has always been the aim of the Directorate of the Station at 

 Naples to develop an organisation which would afford a saving to the 

 working naturalist of the three important factors of time, space, and 

 money. The amount of success which is obtainable in this endeavour is 

 directly proportionate to the amount of assistance and co-operation 

 received; and hence it follows as a consequence that the greater the 

 patronage and support, the more speedily and the more perfectly will 

 this object be attained. 



The Puhlications of the Station. — In the management of the 

 Zoological Station at Naples, especial energy is devoted to the publica- 

 tions issued under its auspices. The various works, which are already 

 well before the public, have taken a place in the front rank of scientific 

 literature ; and each of the series is an undertaking worthy of the sup- 

 port of all biologists. It is unnecessary in the present place to do more 

 than report that the following is the state of progress of the respective 

 publications : — 



1. Of the ' Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel,' four monographs 

 have already been issued. Monographs by Dr. Paul Mayer on the 

 Caprellidfe, and by Dr. Grussi on the Sagittte, are in the press ; and 

 succeeding monographs by Dr. Spengel on Balanoglossus, by Baron 

 Valiante on the Cystosirae, by Dr. Andres on the Actinife, and by Dr. Lang 

 on the PlanarisB, are in preparation. There are at present 260 subscribers 

 for the ' Fauna und Flora ' monographs — a number which cannot fail to 

 be considerably augmented so soon as the character of the works already 

 published is more widely known. 



2. Of the ' Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station,' vol. iii. 

 part iv., and vol. iv. part i., are in the press. The former contains papers 

 by Berthold on the Bathymetrical Distribution of the Algse of Naples, 

 and by Mayer on Fig Insects ; and the latter part, papers by "Whitman 

 on Dicyemidce, and by Salenski on the Development of SalpjB. 



3. The ' Zoologischer Jahresbericht ' for 1881 is in an advanced state 

 — a considerable proportion being already printed off. Parts i., iii., iv., 

 are edited by Professor J. V. Carus ; part ii., by Dr. Paul Mayer. 



The British Association Table. — Your Committee have much pleasure 

 in reporting that the British Association Table has been almost con- 

 tinuously in use during the past year — three naturalists having worked 

 there successively, viz., Mr. Patrick Geddes, Mr. A. G. Bourne, and Mr. 

 Frank E. Beddard. The reports furnished by these gentlemen indicate 

 that in each case important investigations were successfully undertaken. 

 These reports will be found appended, along with the usual lists and detailed 

 information courteously supplied by the staff of the Zoological Station. 



Applications for the use of the table during the coming year have 

 already been received by the Committee. 



With these assurances before them of the utility of the Association 

 table, and of its direct and fruitful application to the advancement of 

 science, your Committee confidently recommend the renewal of the grant. 



1882. u 



