The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12
Exists Only in Plans as Yet, but
Prof. Harrison Tells
What It Will BE.
zoo FOR RESEARCH WORK
Animals Habits Will Be Studied
and Experiments in Breed
ing Conducted.

New HAVEN. Conn, April 11.--With
the new million dollar Osborn Memorial
Geological and Botanical Laboratories Just
completed, Yale University 10 now TO have
a vivarium, a sort Of menagerie. In which
TO keep her live animals. Just when this
new addition will be built or where the
money Is coming from IL not announced
but according to Prof. Ross @. Harrison.
head of the department OF comparative
anatomy and In charge OF the geological
laboratories. this new vivarium Is very
much needed. I. is also proposed 10 build
two new greenhouses for the use OF the
botanical students to carry on expert
mental researches In plant physiology and
morphology and to provide these classes
months.
| In speaking to-day OF Yales need for n
vIvarium Prof Harrison said
THE purpose Of the vivarium 10 to pro-
vide quarters for animals and plants that
do not thrive well under laboratory con-
ditions and yet are necessary for class
material and for experimental work. 1t is
also TO AFFORD facilities for carrying on
experiments In breeding and on the habits
OF animals when II Is necessary to keep
I them for y long time under conditions as
nearly as possible like those to which
they are accustomed In nature.
THE vivar!um when erected will con
sist OF u building constructed chiefly OF
glass and an enclosure for open cages. II
large pool and smaller basins for the ac-
commodat!on OF organisms both terres-
trial and aquatic. The building must
have en- abundance OF sunlight. especially
in winter. and will have space for large
cement aquarium tanks, a running brook,
hn a nd ar
periments on plants and land animals re-
quiring protection from the weather. In
the large aquarium rooms there will be
tanks for both sea water and fresh water
for which a special circulatory apparatus
will be provided. Some Of these tanks
can be- so arranged that they may be OBJ
served from the side through glass from
a passage or grotto similar to those at
the Naples geological station or the New
York Aquarium. There will also be an
underground chamber for the purpose OF
studying organisms under conditions found
in caves.
at Is to be hoped that before long
facilities for the study of marine life Will
also be provided. The Sheffield Scientific
School now holds for this purpose plot
OF land at an accessible point on the Long
Island shore. but TO make this available
there are needed q small and very simple
building TO be used as a laboratory. a
stanoh motor boat. rowboats and supply
OF dredgss. nets. sc, for collecting ma
terial.
Interest In Biology Increase.
THE interest In biological studies In the
university has been growing very rapidly
within the last ten years. Aside from
those working in other biological subjects
there are now considerably over 400 stu
dents taking laboratory work III the new
geological laboratory. Naturally a large
- Nf.aA NNul. anti
pursuing the general courses. There are
l67 men from the scientific school and
Isl from the college. The more advanced
undergraduate courses such as histology.
embryology. comparative anatomy and in
vertebrate zoology each have from twenty
to thirty students from the scientific
school. the college and the graduate
school. with a few from the forest school.
THE problems under investigation by
members OF the stan and graduate stu I
dents are OF a diversified nature. Studies
are being conducted upon the growth and !
reproduction of the lowest forms OF |
animal life, in which the Individual con- |
sists OF a single cell. or the development,
of several different invertebrates and |
mammals. the finer structure Of eggs OF
hybrids, parthenogonesis In insects, the I
effect Of alcohol upon hair color and re-
productive cells in mice. OH heredity and .
variation in certain insects and mammals. I
transplantation OF tissue and organs In .
the embryo. cultivation OF tissues outside I
the body. the physiology Of the heart and .
upon the instincts and reactions OF /
organisms"
Osborn Memorial Laboratories.
The Osborn Memorial Laboratories |
which have just been opened to the Yale !
students consist of the two large build /
ings of three stories each and Easements
and attics. situated at the corner OF
Prospect and Sachem streets on the Pier
Usage Square The botanical wing ex-
tends north on Prospect street and the
geological laboratory east on Sachem
street. The two are connected by an arch
way.
The laboratories are said to be the best
equipped OF any in the country. The
geological building. for example, has many
special features. including fsh hatchery
In the basement. IA room for breeding
animals and specially constructed photo
graphic rooms
ON tho first floor are Ave laboratory
rooms for the course In general biology,
accommodating 1875 students simultan-
eously. At tho east end of this floor IL a
small museum containing n collection of
models and specimens which are required
for demonstration In the various courses
given in the building On this floor there
are also rooms for the courses in
entomology. with a large collection of in
sects, especially OF those which are In
furious or beneficial TO the forests
Located over the archway between the
two buildings. where II may no entered
conveniently from either the botanical or
the geological laboratory. is an audi.
torlum accommodating $50 students.
The second floor ~ given up to labora-
tories for advanced work and on the third
floor there are rooms for individual inves.
tigators. In the attic IL a large well
ventilated animal room, at present used
for breeding purposes. and an operating
room equipped with surgical Instruments
apparatus and sterilizers. In tho tower
Is another animal room.
In tho basement are rooms for photog-
raphy and for the study of tho reactions
OF organisms 10 light. 4 workshop, re-
frgerator plant and On anatomical
room. Two rooms of the
basement can be made absolutely dark.
by means OF artificial illumination, OF
which the quality. intensity ana direction
may he varied at will the different re-
actions OF organisms to light may be ac-
curately studied One of the rooms can
also he used for the subjection OF organ {
isms to continued darkness for the pur-
pose OF studying the effect OF darkness on
growth. structure and behavior and tho