372 rvEroiiT— 1891. 



tudinal canals, and are probably wliat Professor Allman describes as 

 sncb. 



The exact significance of these endodermal folds and the manner of 

 their attachment to the membrane forming the hypostome are points 

 which I had hoped before now to have cleared up from the material 

 which I preserved while in Naples, but, unfortunately, I have not yet 

 been able to find time since quitting Naples to continue my work on 

 Spongicola. 



With regard to the longitudinal ridges formed of developing thread- 

 cells and surrounded by a layer of longitudinal muscular fibres, I think, 

 from my investigations, there can be little doubt that they are used, not 

 to cause the ci'own of tentacles to invaginate in the manner described, as 

 they are not continued high enough up for that purpose (wliich I believe 

 to be eS'ected in some way by the endodermal folds), but to retract the 

 whole animal after it has invaginated itself into its tube. 



The four chitinous nose-like projections, which are well described both 

 by Schulze and Allman, project inwards in snch a manner as to cause 

 the four longitudinal ridges of developing thread-cells to become horse- 

 shoe-shaped round them, and are, I think, without doubt present to 

 enable the animal to use its muscles with greater effect. 



Sometimes four smaller ones are present, placed between the four 

 larger ones. 



The longitudinal ridges probably enable the whole animal to rapidly 

 expand again after contraction, owing to the extreme elasticity of their 

 contents. 



These are the chief results that I was enabled to obtain while at 

 Naples, but I hope that in the future I may be able to continue my work 

 on the material I collected while there, as there are still several points I 

 should like to clear up. 



In conclusion it is, I think, unnecessary on my part, after the articles 

 that have lately appeai'ed, to say more in regard to the Naples Station, 

 but no praise could be too high for the excellent way in which everything 

 is managed, and the great facilities given to students for original research 

 of every description. 



At the present moment I believe I am correct in saying that without 

 having been allowed the use of the British Association table I could not 

 possibly have obtained either the results I have obtained or those which 

 I hope still to achieve by further study on the material I was enabled to 

 preserve while there. 



In conclusion I wish to express my deep obligation to the British 

 Association for the use of their table, and to Professor Dohrn and his 

 .staff for all their kind assistance to me while at Naples. 



II. Report on the Occupation of the Tahle. Bij Mr. Edward J. Bles. 



Having been allowed, through the kindness of the Committee, to 

 spend three months at the Naples Zoological Station, I left England 

 towards the end of December 1890, and reached Naples on December 22. 

 I found a well-appointed table in readiness, and on the following day 

 living material began to arrive in more than abundance. My visit was 

 unfortunately broken during the eighth week by an attack of influenza, 

 immediately followed by complications which left me extremely weak. 



