12 BEPOKT OF THE SECEETAEY. 



Avork of collocting in Florida the materials for the study of the em- 

 bryology of the alligator, and in subsequent investigations, Mr. 

 W. A, Bentley, of Jericho, Vt., has from time to time made numer- 

 ous i^hotographs of snow crystals and has recently turned over to the 

 Institution 500 glass positives of his best and most interesting photo- 

 graphs, together with a descriptive paper relating to them. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



The Smithsonian seat in the Naples Zoological Station has been 

 continuously occupied for the greater part of the present year and,^ 

 as heretofore, the reports submitted at the close of api)ointments 

 mention the exceptional opportunities for special researcli afforded 

 at Naples. 



To avoid the confusion and inconvenience likely to result from the 

 duplication of appointments. Doctor Dohrn has recently made a 

 request that two students should not be assigned to Naples at the same 

 period without previous consultation with the management of the 

 station. In order, therefore, to meet the wishes of the always 

 courteous and accommodating director, it is desirable that those wish- 

 ing to occupy the Smithsonian seat should enter their applications 

 as long a time as jDossible in advance of the period decided on. This 

 Avill permit the necessary correspondence in regard to each appoint- 

 ment, Avhen, as is not infrequently the case, there are more applicants 

 than can be readil}^ proA^ded for, and 'will perhaps also at times 

 afford the opportunity for the extra occupation of an unassigned seat. 



It may be added that appointments covering twelve months of the 

 year — June 30, 1905, to June 30, 1906 — have already been approved, 

 but as tAvo students are to be received during the same period for one 

 limited appointment, it may be possible to approA'e additional brief 

 sessions during the year. As before announced, applications for the 

 ensuing year may be taken up for consideration at any time Avithin 

 six months of the period desired. 



The appointment of Prof. J. B. Johnston, of the UniA^ersity of 

 West Virginia, terminated March 1, 1905. AYhile at Naples Doctor 

 Johnston obtained and prepared a large amount of material for 

 future experiment and study. Being an experienced teacher, he 

 hopes to embody the results so far secured in a more complete and 

 exact account of the brain, Avhich Avill be incorporated in a text-book 

 on The Nervous System of Vertebrates, now in course of preparation. 



In April Doctor Johnston was succeeded at the station by Dr. 

 SteAvart Paton, a former member of the teaching staff of Johns Hop- 

 kins University, on Avhose behalf a second appointment of six months 

 from November 1, 1905, has since been approved. A previous inves- 

 tigation to determine the time Avhen the first spontaneous moA^ements 

 and definite reactions to external stimulation occur in the embryo 



