ON THE LABORATORY OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. 551 



saw them, and recognised them as food ; for it rushed at them and took 

 them while they were still falling through the water. When a number 

 of worms were subsequently put in at once, the rockling swam two or 

 three times rapidly round the tank, taking all that were within reach. 

 As I wrote in my note-book at the time, this is ' clear proof of use of 

 sight.' 



As regards soles (Solea vulgaris) I got evidence more easily. They 

 see well, and will come forward from far back in a tank when a hand- 

 kerchief is waved before the glass. I have seen them gather at once 

 from all parts of a large tank to feed on worms that were thrown to 

 them ; I have seen them rise to take worms that were falling through 

 the water, or to seize without groping or hesita,tion prawns that were 

 swimming about the tank. So 1 have no difficulty in deciding that they, 

 too, use sight as well as smell in seeking their food. I confess I cannot 

 understand why Bateson's soles should have failed to find worms that were 

 suspended a little above the bottom. Perhaps they were more nervous 

 than those I had to deal with ; or mine may have been educated by the 

 experience of the intervening years ! 



The Committee desire to conclude their report by expressing the hope 

 that the Association will place in their hands, for use during the ensuing 

 year, the unexpended balance of 151. They believe that competent 

 workers have been materially assisted by being appointed to the free use 

 of a table at the Plymouth Laboratory, while they feel that the latter 

 institution deserves the further support of the British Association. 



The Physiological Action of the Inhalation of Oxygen in Asphyxia, 

 more especially in Goal Mines. — Report of the Committee^ 

 consisting of Professor J. Gr. McKendrick, F.R.S. (Chairman), 

 Dr. J. T. BoTTOMLEY, F.R.S. , and Mr. W. Ernest F. Thomson, 

 M.A., M.D. {Secretary). {Brawn up by the Secretary.) 



This Committee was appointed, at the Meeting in Edinburgh, 1892, of 

 the British Association, in order to ascertain, primarily, whether oxygen 

 gas is of any service as a restorative in carbonic-acid poisoning, such as 

 occurs in the form of choke=damp asphyxia in mines. Secondarily, it 

 was considered advisable by the Committee to inquire somewhat into the 

 action of oxygen ; first on persons in health, and secondly on those 

 suffering from disease giving rise to retention of carbonic acid in the 

 blood. The Committee, however, do not attach very great importance 

 to their observations of the latter class. 



The Committee consisted of Professor McKendrick, Chairman ; Dr. 

 J. T. Bottomley, and Dr. W. Ernest P. Thomson, Secretary, by whom the 

 work was carried out, and who has prepared the report 



The general conclusions at which the Committee have arrived are 

 based upon a considerable number of experiments on animals, and some 

 observations on human beings. 



The following are the general conclusions : — 



I. In the case of rabbits asphyxiated slowly or ra>pidly, oxygen is of 



