DBOEMBEK 19, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



993 



on pigeon-hybrids). Cannon therefore 



concluded, on this a priori ground, that 

 such a separation of paternal and maternal 

 elements must occur in the normal matura- 

 tion-divisions, not only in the cross-bred, but 

 also in the normal forms, and that in the 

 character of these divisions must be sought 

 the basis of the law. It is interesting that 

 such a conclusion should have been reached 

 by a botanist, on account of the fact that most 

 recent botanical vcorkers in this field have 

 reached the result that transverse or reducing 

 divisions do not occur in the maturation of 

 the germ-cells in higher plants. It has, how- 

 ever, become clear that only the most exhaus- 

 tive study of the most favorable material, 

 particularly in the earliest stages of the ma- 

 turation-divisions, can positively decide this 

 question, and the importance of the most ac- 

 curate and detailed further study of the 

 phenomena is now manifest. The results I 

 have indicated are already in part in press 

 and will in due time be fully discussed by 

 their authors. Should the study of the ma- 

 turation-divisions indeed reveal the basis of 

 the Mendelian principle we shall have an- 

 other and most striking example of the inti- 

 mate connection between the study of cytology 

 and the experimental study of evolution. 



Edmund B. Wilson. 

 Zoological Laboratory of 

 Columbia University, 

 December 11, 1902. 



THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE NAPLES 



STATION. 

 The increased number of investigators who 

 make each year the pilgrimage to Naples, as 

 well as the development there of new depart- 

 ments of investigation, have made it impera- 

 tive to enlarge the present buildings of the 

 station. The plans for the new construction 

 are finished, the money generously contrib- 

 uted, and the building is about to begin. The 

 city of Naples, proud of her renowned Sta- 

 tion, has given the ground for the new part. 

 The new building will be placed near the end 

 of the larger of the two present ones. The 

 exterior of the new part is exactly like the 

 larger, which is also the older, of the present 



buildings. The capacity of the working part 

 of the Station will be doubled by this addition. 



The new building will be devoted, in the- 

 main, to physiology and to physiological chem- 

 istry, for each of which there is to be a large 

 laboratory, well equipped with the most mod- 

 ern appliances. In addition to these there 

 will be a number of smaller rooms for special 

 physiological work. A new feature will he- 

 rooms in which the water in the aquaria can 

 be kept throughout the year at any desired 

 temperature. 



In the new building there will also be a 

 large number of small rooms for zoological 

 work — the old ' tables ' in the big room op- 

 posite the present library will be given up, and 

 the room itself added to the library. Thus 

 the new plan, when carried out, will not only^ 

 give more room, but also better accommoda- 

 tions. 



With the awakening of zoological research 

 in this country during the last twenty years 

 there has been a steady increase in the num- 

 ber of those who go to Naples. The first 

 American table, that of Williams College, was 

 occupied during '83 and '84. Previous to 

 that time eight Americans had occupied 

 European tables. In '85 and '86 the Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania maintained a table; 

 and then, after an interval of five years ('86 

 to '91) during which America was not repre- 

 sented, a table was supported by Major Davis, 

 from '91 to '96. 



The Smithsonian Institution has main- 

 tained a table from '93 to '02, which has been 

 occupied by twenty-six investigators. Har- 

 vard University had a table for two years 

 ('97-'02), and Columbia University has,, 

 through the generosity of a friend, paid, for 

 five years ('96-'02), for half of ' The Univer- 

 sity Table.' Finally, the ' Association for 

 Maintaining the American Women's Table ' 

 has supported a table for four years ('98-'02). 



At present America maintains only three 

 tables, ' The Smithsonian,' ' The University,'' 

 and ' The Women's Table.' These are en- 

 tirely inadequate to allow all those who apply 

 for tables to obtain them. For instance, 

 there are five desirable candidates for ' The 

 University Table ' alone for the present year- 



