16 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



two weeks. Mr. Lewis has submitted an outline of his Avork, in which 



he says: 



My work at Naples was in contiuuatiou of lines of iuvestigation already under 

 way. It consisted mainly in the collection and preservation of material for a 

 cytological study of Rhodophycefe, with a view to gathering evidence as to the 

 extent of the remarkable alternation of generations in this group of plants. 

 Material was collected and carefully preserved of Dudresnaya coccinea, various 

 species of Callithamnion, and other forms. My comparatively short stay at 

 Naples precluded my making at the time the careful cytological investigation 

 which must precede the drawing of any conclusions as to the presence or ab- 

 sence of alternation of generations in the forms studied. This investigation is 

 now in progress and should lead to definite results of some theoretical value. 

 During my stay at Naples I also investigated the periodicity in the production 

 in the sexual cells of Dictyola dicliotoma. This subject has been investigated by 

 J. Lloyd Williams on the coasts of England and Wales, and by W. D. Hoyt on 

 our own Atlantic coast. In both cases it has been found that the production of 

 sexual cells bears a very definite relation to the changes of the tides. It was 

 thought, therefore, to be of special interest to find how Dictyola behaves in seas 

 where the tides are very slight and where tidal influences are almost negligible. 

 The results of this investigation are practically ready for publication. 



Prof. F. M. Andrews, of the University of Indiana, received the 

 appointment to the table for the months of April and May, 1908, 

 going there from a period of research work with Professor Pfeffer, 

 at the University of Leipzig. At Naples Professor Andrews was 

 engaged on a problem in plant physiology, a summary of the results 

 of which will receive mention when submitted to the Institution. 



Dr. C. A. Kofoid, associate professor of histology and embryology 

 in the University of California, and assistant director of the San 

 Diego Marine Biological Station, will occupy the table for three 

 months from January 1, 1909. While at Naples Doctor Kofoid pro- 

 poses a research on sexual reproduction among Dinoflagellata, as yet 

 unknow^n in marine forms. He will also study the Gymnodinidse, 

 which can be done only in the living condition, as they resist all 

 attempts at fixing. In addition to these investigations, he proposes 

 some experimental work on autotomy in Ceratium, with reference 

 to temperature and vertical distribution in the sea. 



The application of Dr. M. F. Guyer, professor of zoology in the 

 University of Cincinnati, has been approved for April, May, and 

 June, 1909. Doctor Guyer has contributed to various scientific publi- 

 cations articles already well known, describing his investigations, and 

 on the close of his term at Naples is expected to send a brief outline 

 of his work there to the Institution. 



To avoid the complications which may arise from the overlapping 

 of the dates of appointees to the table, a longer time is at present 

 allowed between the approval of an appointment and the time of 

 occupation than was at first found practicable. It is hoped that this 

 plan will allow a wider choice in the selection of dates, and tend to 



