1891 OXPOED LIFE 271 



assistance thereto, if the Hebdomadal Council were 

 satisfied as to the desirability of the project from a 

 scientific point of view. It is on this account that we 

 have ventured to address you upon the subject. The 

 appended memorial is being sent, together with this 

 circular letter, to all the other leading biologists in 

 this country ; and if you could see your way to signing 

 the former, you would render additional weight to the 

 body of authoritative opinion which it will eventually 

 convey to the University. 



One of the experiments ]Mr. Romanes tried in the 

 summers of 1891-93 was as to whether animals 

 completely isolated would reproduce the real sounds 

 natural to their Mnd. In other words, whether these 

 vocal sounds were due to imitation. Through the 

 kindness of Mr. Arthur Balfour, Mr. Eomanes got the 

 permission of the Trinity Brethren to try these experi- 

 ments on lighthouses situated on lonely islands or 

 rocks ; he selected puppies, chickens, &c., but the 

 results were not decisive. The puppies barked and 

 the young cocks crowed, but Mr. Eomanes was not able 

 entirely to estabhsh to his own satisfaction that the 

 isolation had been complete. 



Experiments were also carried on bearing on 

 Heliotropism and on Seed Germination. Of these 

 mention wiU be made later. 



In the spring of 1891, he paid a visit to Paris and 

 saw M. Pasteur and his lalDoratory, and also M. Brown- 

 Sequard, in whose work he was specially interested. 



And, apart from his work, Oxford and Oxford life 

 were great sources of enjoyment. He made many 

 new Mends, and keenly enjoyed the institution, so 

 characteristic of Oxford, of ' walks.' 



Intimacies seemed to grow up quickly, and he 



