The Scottish Naturalist. 273 



to the reprinting of tracts and pamphlets as a principal part of 

 its business, or when it does, such in great measure refer to 

 botanical subjects. Therefore there is room for a a Society which 

 would consider the publication of such smaller tracts, pamphlets, 

 &c, as a principal part of its business. 



5. Ornithology and mammalilogy are excluded apparently from 

 the subjects chosen by the Ray Society — at least there is little 

 appearance of the study of these sciences amongst the members, 

 judging from the publications. These sciences { have many 

 votaries at the present day, and many of these it may be 

 believed would gladly avail themselves of a Society such as I 

 propose, to procure in a cheap form good literature on their 

 favourite studies. 



The above are some of the reasons why a new Society need 

 not interfere with the work of the Ray Society. 



Taking the outline of the plan for the foundation of the Ray 

 Society and the prospectus of the American Naturalists' Agency 

 jointly, for a model, I would then propose as follows : — 



1. That a Society, to be called the Society for the purpose of 

 publishing original papers on Natural History, principally on 

 Mammalia and Aves, and for reprinting in facsimile rare 

 and useful tracts, pamphlets, &c, on the like subjects, be 

 formed. 



2. The subscription to be (say) £1 per annum. 



3. The number of the subscribers to be unlimited. 



4. Each subscriber to receive annually a copy of all the 

 publications of the Society published during the year, which are 

 also to be sold at a reasonable price to the public. 



5. The Society not to accumulate capital, but to publish 

 annually a greater or less amount of matter according to the 

 state of the funds. 



6. The Society to act as an agency for the procuring of rare 

 pamphlets and tracts already published elsewhere, and for that 

 purpose to enter into correspondence with similar societies, 

 agencies, booksellers, &c. at home and abroad, charging those 

 employing them a small commission. 



7. The Society to print for authors, or to undertake the 

 employment of printers for authors. (This item, however, for 

 further consideration). 



Further, I would propose that the Ornithological and 

 Mammalilogical portions of the publications be kept separate, 

 as far as possible, the better to satisfy the demands of individuals. 



