10 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
The whole of the hourly and other observations made at the 
Observatory and at Fort William are now through the press, but 
the Eeport accompanying the observations is not yet completed. It 
is anticipated that the Eeport will be finished and through the press 
by the end of January next. 
In the department of Biology there is also a large amount of 
scientific activity, which is of hopeful augury as to the furnishing 
of papers for our meetings. 
There are a great many young scientists now occupied with the 
study of Microbiology — a study most important not merely as 
regards its scientific interest, but from its practical bearing on 
pathology and public health. Its dealings with pathological ques- 
tions will most properly be brought under the notice of the strictly 
professional societies ; but it is needless to say that, in reference to 
hygiene, it is of high practical interest to everybody, and any results 
which may be obtained may appropriately find their way to the 
public through our Proceedings. 
The Society does not need to be informed as to the work which 
for four years has been carried on at the Scottish Marine Station, 
both at Granton on the east and at Millport on the west coast, an 
interesting account of which has been given by Mr Hoyle in Ho. II. 
of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association. 
At the Marine Station, Granton, the chemico-biological work has 
been steadily carried on on the same lines as during last year. The 
investigations as to the secretion of carbonate of lime by animals, 
and the solubility of lime (in its different molecular states) in sea- 
water, have yielded results of considerable interest and importance 
as bearing upon the formation of coral and shell deposits, and on 
their rescue from destruction in the ocean. Experiments have been 
made as to the actual composition of sea- water ; such results as 
indicate any advance in this direction will, it is hoped, be brought 
before the Society during the Session. 
Hot less interesting and important are the investigations which 
have been made, and are still going on, at the instance of the 
Fishery Board, as bearing upon the enormously important industry 
of the sea. 
The scientific work in connection with the fisheries of Scotland 
may be said to have taken rise with the establishment of the 
