Febeuaey 13, 1903.] 



SCIENCE. 



265 



repeatedly upon agar-agar made from this 

 substance with meat extract and peptone, 

 to which 2 per cent, of grape sugar (glu- 

 cose) and .03 per cent, tartaric acid were 

 added to approximate the proportion of 

 these substances in ripe grapes. These 

 perithecia contained mature asci and asco- 

 spores, and are apparently referable to the 

 same species found heretofore in the old, 

 rotted grape berries and referred to di- 

 verse genera — Physalospora, Larstadia and 

 Guignnrdia. It seems referable to the 

 species known as Larstadia Bidwillii Viala 

 & Ravaz. 



Chahles J. Chamberlain, 



Secretary. 



THE NEW YORK ZOOLOOIOAL PARK AND 



AQUARIUM.* 



The year 1902 has been a notable one in 

 the history of the New York Zoological So- 

 ciety. The municipality of New York 

 through Park Commissioner Willcox in- 

 vited the society to take over the direction 

 of the New York Aquarium. This was a 

 mark of strong approval by the city of the 

 management of the Zoological Park by the 

 society. After some deliberation the invi- 

 tation was accepted, the necessary legisla- 

 tion at Albany was secured, and a contract 

 was made with the municipality whereby 

 the society should receive not less than 

 $45,000 per annum for the maintenance of 

 the aquarium, and should assume entire 

 control of the personnel and the right to 

 dismiss any of the existing employees, the 

 contract to be terminable on six months' 

 notice on the part either of the society 

 or of the municipality. Mr. Charles H. 

 To^vnsend, of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, was invited to become director of 

 the aquarium. For conference and advice 

 the society appointed a scientific committee 

 including Professor Charles L. Bristol, of 

 New York University, Professor Bashford 



* From the seventh annual report. 



Dean, of Colimibia, Dr. Alfred G. Mayer, 

 of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sci- 

 ences, and two other gentlemen. Fortu- 

 nately, at this time Mr. To^vnsend was sent 

 abroad by the United States government as 

 expert in connection with the Seal Fisheries 

 dispute with Russia, and this enabled the 

 society to arrange for a complete tour of 

 the aquaria of Europe. Mr. Townsend 

 brought back plans, photographs and notes 

 upon the best features of the foreign 

 aquaria. 



The director, with the aid of the advisory 

 committee, has already experimented on a 

 number of important changes in the aqua- 

 rium, including a new system of labeling 

 and illumination of the tanks. He has also 

 planned the introduction of a fish-hatching 

 exhibit which will be in operation through- 

 out the year, the arrangement for a larger 

 variety of exhibits, especially of inverte- 

 brate forms of marine life, the closer touch 

 with the public school system of New York 

 by making provision for supply of material 

 in connection with the biological courses 

 in the schools, etc. Alterations in the 

 aquarium, which will vastly improve the 

 interior, are now being considered at an 

 estimated cost of $30,000. It is probable 

 that the necessary appropriation will be 

 made, and that by next year the aquarium 

 will be thoroughly well appointed. For- 

 tunately, the design is admirable in all 

 respects except illumination and ventila- 

 tion, and both these defects can be rem- 

 edied. 



The attendance averages 5,000 persons a 

 day, and the opportunities for spreading a 

 knowledge and love of nature among the 

 people of the city are very great. 



THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



In the Zoological Park the attendance 

 this year was 731,515, an increase of 38 

 per cent, or 200,000 over the year 1902. 

 There were 127,000 visitors in the month 



