lb* REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



In view of the short time, practically about three weeks, during 

 which the climatic conditions rendered it possible to prosecute this 

 research, its results as reported by Mr. Fergusson may be considered 

 satisfactory. 



MECHANICS OF THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. 



There was published by the Institution several years ago a volume, 

 entitled " Mechanics of the Earth's Atmosphere," which consisted 

 of translations of articles by various eminent meteorologists. Ar- 

 rangements have been made with Prof. Cleveland Abbe, editor of the 

 first volume, for the preparation of a second volume on the same topic. 



THE ORGANS OF FLIGHT. 



An additional grant has been approved this year on behalf of Dr. 

 R. von Lendenfeld, of the University of Prague, for an investigation 

 of the organs of flight of the best representative flyers of the insect 

 orders — Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. A detailed ac- 

 count of this research will be submitted on its conclusion for publica- 

 tion by the Institution if desired. 



Previous researches of Doctor von Lendenfeld have been described 

 in articles prepared under his supervision by Drs. Leo Walter and 

 Bruno Miiller. Doctor Walter's article, already published, was 

 referred to in the previous report. The paper by Doctor Miiller 

 on the air sacs of the pigeon is now in course of publication. 



SMITHSONIAN TABLE AT NAPLES ZOOLOGICAL STATION. 



In July, 1906, the renewal of the lease of the Smithsonian table 

 in the Naples Zoological Station for a term of three years from Janu- 

 ary 1, 1907, was decided on, and the director so informed. Doctor 

 Dorhn, with his usual ready courtesy, at once notified the Institution 

 of his willingness to arrange for a double occupancy by extending 

 the time of an appointee then conducting an important research at 

 Naples, although the seat had already been assigned for the period 

 in question to another investigator. 



It is the intention of the Institution to interfere in no way with 

 the regular assignment of the table, and the desire of the Director 

 to maintain the international character of the station by encouraging 

 the action of the various countries in supporting individual tables 

 is fully appreciated. Nations widely separated, at least geographic- 

 ally, meet there on the common ground of interest in science, and 

 thus, as an appointee of the Smithsonian seat expressed in his report 

 to the Institution, an international peace congress, the importance of 

 which can not be overestimated, is always in session at the Naples 

 Zoological Station. 



Several appointments to the Smithsonian table at Naples were 

 ratified for the period between June 30, 1906, and June 30, 1907, the 



