May, 1892 . scientific gleanings.—reports of societies. 119 
Stitirtifit (Sleaninp. 
Marine Biological Station in Jamaica.— It is proposed to establish 
an observing and experimental station, to be called the “Columbus 
Marine Biological Station,” in Jamaica. This will be the first ever 
yet made within the Tropics, and the great results which have followed 
from the efforts of private enterprise in such waters (as of Professor 
Haeckel in Ceylon, and of Professor Brooks in Kingston Harbour) 
would lead us to expect a relatively enormous increase in our know¬ 
ledge of marine biology, when a public institution, properly equipped 
for the purpose enters upon the work. The scheme is intended to 
serve as a part of the commemoration of the fourth centenary of the 
discovery of America. 
The Revivescence of Rotifers.— Dr. Faggioli, of Genoa, has 
recently demonstrated the untruth of the always doubtful story that 
rotifers which had been completely dried could be revived by the 
application of water. He has shown that a rotifer, once really dried, 
cannot by any means be restored to life again. But he has also 
shown how the error of the old experimenters originated. They 
always dried the animalcules on the sand or mud at the bottom of the 
water in which they had lived ; this sand or mud contained the ova, 
which are not affected by the drying, and, on the reapplication of 
moisture, there arose a new generation from the eggs, which they 
mistook for a survival of the former one. 
Can Hydra live if turned inside out ?—The oft-quoted assertion 
of Trembley to this effect has long formed a commonplace of those 
writers on natural history who retail its marvels for an unscientific 
public. Some Japanese naturalists have now demonstrated that, 
though hydra can live for some time in this condition, it is very 
uncomfortable, and makes every effort to get right side out again. 
There is no proof that the ectoderm and the endoderm ever inter¬ 
change their functions, and thus the wonderful part of the story (viz., 
that the new cavity acted as a stomach and digested food as well as 
the old one had done) must be regarded as an exploded fable. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Microscopical Section. March 1st. Mr. J. F. Goode in 
the chair; twenty members present. Mr. C. J. Watson exhibited a 
fine series of sections of fern petioles, and read a brief but interesting 
descriptive paper dealing with their structure, and further illustrated 
his remarks with the aid of the lantern. A keen discussion followed, 
and a hearty vote of thanks terminated the meeting. —Microscopical 
Section. April 5tli. Mr. J. F. Goode (President) in the chair. Mr. 
C. Pumplirey exhibited a fine series of flowers then in full bloom in 
his garden, amongst which may be mentioned Daphne Mezereum , 
Primula viscosa, Anemone triloba, purple and white varieties, Helleborus 
fcetidm, &c., &c. Mr. T. Y. Hodgson exhibited Baker’s small portable 
microscope. Mr. W. P. Marshall then gave a demonstration on using 
the compound microscope. Mr. Marshall took the whole of the 
