132 
NATURE NOTES. 
consideration of several sites the Committee ultimately decided 
upon Port Erin, and a new Biological Station was forthwith 
erected on the beach immediately below the Bellevue Hotel. 
Port Erin, as the readers of Nature Notes are doubtless 
aware, is a small fishing village situated at the head of a deep 
circular bay facing the Irish coast, almost opposite Greenore, 
which is distant about forty miles. There are several hotels, for 
the village has a large holiday population in the season. A 
steep cliff rises to the level of the main shore-road from the 
sandy and shingly beach. At the foot of the cliff beneath the 
Bellevue Hotel, a small cove, protected on three sides bj^ over- 
hanging rocks, and communicating with the roadway above by a 
steep zigzag path and flights of concrete steps, was chosen as 
the site of the new station. A platform of concrete and stone, 
fifteen feet above high water-mark, was first constructed, and 
on this a substantial slated stone house was built. The main 
door opens from the stairway into a short corridor, from which 
there opens oft on one side the secretary’s office, and on the 
other a small private laboratory for the use of the director and 
members of the Committee. The main laboratory is 22 feet long 
by 20 feet wide, and lighted by five windows, three facing 
the sea, two facing the cliff. Ample accommodation is thus 
provided for at least six students. A doorway communicates 
with a small courtyard, convenient for the storage of dredging 
tackle. In the courtyard and under an overhanging rock a 
large concrete cistern has been made, into which fresh water 
from a natural spring in the cliff continually falls. The water is 
conducted by piping to a sink at the gable end of the laboratory, 
so that a continual supply of fresh water is obtainable. Salt 
water is of course close at hand, and a long stout table running 
down the centre of the room is provided for marine aquaria. 
The walls are lined with shelving, book cases, and glazed cup- 
boards for microscopes and microscopic apparatus. There are 
two fire-places, one at either gable, and it is hoped that by this 
means it will be possible to work comfortably at the Station 
even in the depth of winter. A plentiful supply of boats is 
available, and the Committee anticipate at an early date having 
a boat specially adapted to the necessities of the naturalist 
permanently at the service of the Station. 
On Saturday, June 4th, a large company of naturalists from 
Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and elsewhere, assembled at Port 
Erin to receive the Lieutenant-Governor, the Bishop, and mem- 
bers of the House of Keys, and Council of the Isle of Man, who 
had been invited to be present at the formal opening of the Station 
by his E.xcellency the Governor. The town wase« jHe with bunt- 
ing, and the inhabitants turned out in force to welcome the in- 
vading biologists. The Liverpool Salvage Association lent their 
steamer, the “ jMallard,” for the occasion, under the command 
of Captain Batchelor. A luncheon was provided by the Bellevue 
Hotel, whose proprietor, Mr. Clague, had exerted himself to the 
