834 . The American Naturalist. [Octoher, 
—TueE American table at the Zoological Station of Naples needs 
the prompt attention of American biologists. For several years 
Americans desirous of studying at Naples were dependent on the 
bounty of foreign governments, whose temporarily vacant tables we 
sum ($500) necessary for the rent of the table. Last year over half 
the amount was raised by subscription among American students and 
institutions, Major Davis making up the deficiency. As this gentle 
man is not a specialist in biology it is not to be expected that his sub- 
scription will be always forthcoming, and those most interested are 
asked to make up the entire amount this year. The American Asso- 
ciation and the Society of Naturalists have subscribed hitherto, and 
there is no reason why the Bache Fund of the National Academy 
should not contribute an important part of the amount. There should 
be no question of the ability of this nation to support one table at the 
Biological Station at Naples. 
—A RECENT article in “ Nature” states that the vertebrate fossils 
collected by Prof. Marsh for the U. S. Geological Survey are to be 
shortly exhibited in the National Museum at Washington. Similar 
communications were made to newspapers in this country about a year 
ago. As no provision exists for the exhibition of these fossils in the 
U.S. National Museum these announcements are premature. One 
side of a small room is the only Space at present occupied by the 
material in question, and it is safe to say that no other space has been 
yet provided. As the National Museum committed the error at its 
establishment of attempting an exhibit of modern human industries, 
as we pointed out at the time, the space for scientific exhibits is neces- 
sarily greatly curtailed. The necessities of this department require 
the erection of a new building, and until that is done it is safe to say 
that the vertebrate collections of the U. S. Geological Survey will not 
be exhibited. 
