EEPORT OF TUE SECRETARY. 13 



given year. This definite coireiation of date and volume is ofttimes a 

 matter of some imi)ortance to those not Laving access to tlie volumes 

 themselves. To this succeeds a concise index of subjects (under 94 

 heads, alphabetically arranged), citing the classified i)eriodicals simply 

 by their number in the general catalogue. 



The volume concludes with a " Library Check-List," of 54 pages, in 

 which, following the number belonging to a periodical, is given the 

 library or libraries where such i)eriodical may be found ; each of the 

 127 principal libraries of the United States and Canada being desig- 

 nated by a symbolic abbreviation. In many cases the number indicat- 

 ing a given periodical is followed by but a single reference. This di- 

 rectory to the locality, where possibly a rare journal may bo consulted, 

 is a valuable feature of the catalogue, and efforts will be made to add 

 to its fullness and accuracy in future editions. The whole work forms an 

 octavo volume of x -f 773 pages, and is one highly creditable to the 

 zeal and industry of its author ; who, though assisted by such facilities 

 and means of communication as were within the reach of- the Institu- 

 tion, devoted to its compilation his leisure for many years, without 

 any remuneration, excepting his consciousness of i)erforming a useful 

 labor. 



550. " The Scientific Writings of Joseph Uenry." This important 

 work is now entirely stereotyped-, and will be put to press as soon as 

 conveniently may be. The size of the collection (exceeding 1,000 pages) 

 has required its division into two volumes. Volume I, comprising G8 

 papers and abstracts, chronologically arranged, contains 535 pages, in- 

 cluding introductory note and index, and is illustrated by 40 wood-cut 

 figures. Volume IE, comprising 25 papers and abstracts, contains 550 

 pages, including index, and is illustrated by 48 woodcut figures. 

 In order not to separate Professor Henry's Meteorological Essays, 

 published successively through a i^eriod of five years (1855-1859), and 

 extending to 400 pages, it was judged expedient to so far interrupt the 

 chronological order otherwise maintained, as to carry the entire series 

 over to the second volume. And in like manner it became necessary, 

 in order to secure a comparative equalization in the sizes of the two 

 volumes, to transfer the conpected series of researches on sound in re- 

 lation to fog-signaling (published during the four years 1874-1877) back 

 from their natural place to the end of the first volume. Although this 

 dislocation of the natural or historical order is in some respects to be 

 regretted, it yet enables the reader to have a more connected view of 

 the longer series of i^apers, without the inconvenience of alternate refer- 

 ence to different volumes. 



It is designed to have i^rinted two editions of the work; one in royal 

 octavo size, to correspond with the " Memorial Volume " issued by order 

 of Congress; and the other in ordinary octavo size, to correspond with 

 the " Miscellaneous Collections." 



