t^ 



PREFACE 



The present volume, the first of a series which the Council propose 

 to issue from time to time, consists of papers containing the results 

 of investigations conducted in the Biological Laboratories of the 

 College during the past two or three years. Two papers of earlier 

 date have been included because they deal with a problem that has 

 attracted much attention of late years, and one of the latest phases 

 of which is discussed in Dr. Beard's essay on the "Branchial Sense 

 Organs of Vertebrates." 



Mr. Marshall" -Ward's paper on "An Aquatic Myxomycete," and 

 the contributions of Mr. Dendy and Mr. C. F. Marshall appear here 

 for the first time. The remaining papers are reprinted from the 

 "Transactions of Scientific Societies, or from Scientific Journals, the 

 editors of which have courteously granted permission to republish 

 them and to reproduce the plates by which they are illustrated. 



Special interest attaches to the two earlier papers of Mr. Marshall 

 Ward, and to those of Dr. Beard and Mr. Fowler, as the investiga- 

 tions the results of which they record were carried on by these 

 gentlemen during their tenure of Bishop Berkeley Research Fellow- 

 ships. To the generous encouragement afforded by the founder of 

 these fellowships is due the opportunity for the completion of these 

 researches, and to him this volume is respectfully dedicated. 



Much of the work here recorded was performed under the difficul- 

 ties of cramped accommodation and limited appliances, and it may 

 confidently be hoped that the material for future volumes will show 

 corresponding improvement when, in the immediate future, the 

 completion of the new Morphological Laboratories shall have placed 

 the College in a position of exceptional advantage for the promotion 

 of Biological research. 



Oivens College, 



March, 1886. 



