SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— D. 427 



variety of fish-carried parasites. Of these, the most varied are the Trema- 

 toda, of which three species are discussed in this paper. Apophallus venustus 

 (Heterophyidas) is a minute intestinal trematode parasitising numerous birds 

 and mammals (including man). It is found in the lower valley of the 

 river Ottawa, where its first host is the pulmonate snail, Goniobasis livescens, 

 and its second hosts are numerous species of fresh-water fish. Cryptocotyle 

 lingua (Heterophyidae), a second intestinal form, is confined to the eastern 

 seaboard from the Labrador to the United States and has almost certainly 

 been introduced from Europe. Its first host is Littorina littorea, and its 

 second, various species of salt-water fish ; the adults occur in both birds 

 and mammals and are serious parasites of foxes. Parametorchis nove- 

 boracensis (Opisthorchidas) occurs from northern Quebec to Saskatchewan 

 and is a serious liver-fluke of various mammals (including sledge dogs and 

 man). Its first host appears to be a species of snail of the genus Amnicola ; 

 its second is the fish called the Sucker, Catestomus commersoni. 



Mr. Homer A. Jack. — The zoological field stations of the United States 



(2.45)- 



A zoological field station is an institution of approximate university 

 ranking which offers facilities for primarily field instruction and/or research 

 in one or more of the zoological sciences, and is a separate administrative 

 unit located in the field. The first zoological field station in the United 

 States was the Anderson School of Natural History, founded in 1873 by 

 Louis Agassiz. To-day there are almost sixty stations in the United States. 

 These vary considerably in ecological location, administration, equipment, 

 living conditions, type of students, investigators, and professors, and in 

 available opportunities for instruction and research. 



This study was conducted to record and analyse material on field stations 

 to aid : (i) prospective and actual students and investigators in the bio- 

 logical sciences to select intelligently the stations most adapted to their 

 needs ; and (2) directors of stations in showing them how their fellow 

 administrators are solving the problems attendant to the efficient organisa- 

 tion and conduct of a field station. A plan is given for the interchange of 

 students, investigators, and professors between field stations in the United 

 States and other countries. This could not only enrich the zoological 

 sciences, but also strengthen international understanding. 



Miss G. E. PiCKFORD. — The Vatnpyromorpha — a new order of Dibranchiate 

 Cephalopods (3.15). 



Since their discovery by Chun the Vampyroteuthidce have been regarded 

 as aberrant if rather primitive Octopoda. Recognised as Octopodan 

 characters were the eight conspicuous arms united by a deep web and the 

 apparently normal union of head with mantle. Outstanding as primitive 

 characters were the fins, the arrangement of suckers and cirri on the arms 

 and the lack of condensation of the central nervous system. Specialised 

 features, such as black pigmentation, phosphorescent organs and peculiar 

 tentacles lodged in pockets of the web, could be regarded as adaptations 

 to a bathypelagic life. Robson first recognised the Vampyromorpha as a 

 sub-order distinct from other cirrate armed Octopoda. 



Two well-preserved, but unfortunately immature, female specimens in 

 the Bingham Oceanographic Collection of Yale University have provided 

 material for a detailed anatomical study. It is possible now to state definitely 

 that they exhibit no positive characters which would justify retention as a 

 sub-order of the Octopoda. Although similar to that of Octopoda, the 



