14 



ing moment. The floor is cemented, and covered by a heavy 

 oil-cloth. The centre of the large room is occupied by a sink, 

 on each side of which extend two long tables, three feet by 

 twelve. These are covered with different colored tiles, imitating 

 mud, sand, gravel, sea-weed, black and white tiles, as well as 

 red, i^ellow, blue, green, violet, to get all possible variety of 

 background. A space at each end is covered by a glass plate, 

 allowing the light to come from underneath, thus enabling the 

 observer to examine larger specimens from the under side, with- 

 out disturbing them when fully expanded. Two shorter and nar- 

 rower tables, eighteen inches by seven feet, are placed half-way 

 between these central tables and the southern face of the' 

 building. These tables are intended for larger aquaria or dishes, 

 and are covered with common marble slabs. There is a blank 

 wall on the south side, the whole of which is occupied by closets 

 and shelves for storing glass jars, reagents, bottles, dishes, and 

 so forth. A space is devoted to books. The open shelves for 

 jars and dishes are of heavy rolled glass, supported upon iron 

 brackets. The basement is used for the storage of alcoholic 

 specimens, dredges, trawls, and other similar appliances. In 

 the attic there is a large tank for salt water and another for 

 fresh : the rest of the attic space will be eventually devoted to 

 pliotographic rooms and room for an artist. The Laboratory is 

 supplied with salt water by a small steam-pump driven by a verti- 

 cal boiler of five-horse power : this is kept going the whole time 

 day and night, the overflow of the tank being carried off by a 

 large pipe. The water is taken some distance from the Labora- 

 tory, and drawn up at a horizontal distance of sixty feet from the 

 shore in a depth of some four fathoms, the end of the suction 

 pipe standing up vertically from the ground a height of five 

 feet, and terminating in an elbow to prevent its becoming 

 choked. The water is led through iron pipes coated inside with 

 enamel. From the tank, the salt water is distributed in pipes 

 extending in a double row over the central tables, over the long 

 narrow tables for aquaria, and along the whole length of the glass 

 shelves on tlie south wall. Large faucets to draw off salt water 

 are placed at each sink ; and by a proper arrangement of valves 

 it is possible to lead fresh water to a part of the pipes, in case it 

 is needed. The pipes leading over the tables and shelves are 



