12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



workers would still be able to publish in their local Societies' Transac- 

 tions and so on, but the serious worker would only have to consider 

 a comparatively hmited output of literature — limited, that is to say, for 

 any one country but of pretty wide extent (probably 150 to 200 publi- 

 cations) for the whole world. It would be better to have separate hsts 

 for entomological and zoological (non-entomological) papers, although the 

 lists might overlap in many cases. A permanent Committee in each 

 country could consider apphcations for admission to the list of recognized 

 publications but no new publications should be admitted unless a clear 

 want for additional publication-space was proved and in any case such 

 admission should not be retrospective in effect. The hsts approved by 

 each local committee to. be scrutinized and finally passed by an 

 international committee (for example, at the International Zoological 

 and Entomological Congresses). 



I quite see that there would be difficulties in starting such a scheme 

 but, once started, I think it would work. And, unless something of this 

 sort be done, it is not easy to imagine how entomological workers will 

 get on, say a hundred years hence, if publications multiply at the present 

 rate. It would, of course, only be possible to make such a scheme pros- 

 pective from a definite date, of which due notice would be given. 



Another thing is the question of languages. It is not only the German 

 language which is concerned but the whole matter is becoming one of 

 general convenience. It is impossible for any ordinary man to be con- 

 versant, even as far as mere reading goes, with English, French, Latin, 

 German, Dutch, Eussian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese, 

 in all of which languages important papers are appearing now-a-days — 

 to say nothing of more or less occasional important papers in such langu- 

 ages as Magyar. So far no original entomological papers of any peim.a- 

 nent value have appeared in any Indian vernacular, but I know of 

 nothing under the present rules governing publication of scientific work to 

 prevent anyone publishing a paper in (say) Bengali or Malayalam and, 

 although quite unintelligible to more than ninety-nine per cent, of the 

 entomological world, such a publication would be recognized and secure 

 priority under the present rules. Indeed, I know of no rule which would 

 prevent my publishing a description of a new insect in an Indian 

 vernacular in some obscure local daily paper. 



The present state of affairs is ridiculous and requires amending, 

 not only by limiting the number of publications, but also by some limi- 

 tation of the languages in which original scientific work should be allowed 

 to appear and be recognized. I should restrict these languages to English. 

 French, and perhaps Latin. In any case German should be absolutely 

 barred in future. The local pubhcation-committee in each country- 



