592 Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



At the close of the second year, the Concilium had published almost no 

 anatomical and physiological titles, and the zoological references were sadly 

 incomplete. Indeed, for the two years, not half of the requisite number of titles 

 had been put through press. Since the establishment of the Concilium's print- 

 ing office, this has been changed; in 1898, many of the back references were 

 issued, and the present year will probably bring the work nearly up to date. 

 The task of the year 1900 will then be to secure the greatest possible promptness. 



The question now arises as to how far the Concilium can fulfill the task 

 of affording investigators answers to definite bibliographical questions that 

 they may wish to submit to it. This it is now certainly in a position to do. For 

 the past two years it has received subscriptions to any division of its catalogue. A 

 person subscribing for references to works on the fauna of the District of Colum- 

 bia would evidently not receive many cards in a year, but the subscription 

 would be opened whenever desired and such cards as might appear would be 

 sent to him precisely as if he had taken the complete set of cards.* From a 

 financial standpoint this may be unwise, but it was felt that the disinterested 

 character of the work demanded the sacrifice. 



In closing, a word may be said in regard to the support that zoologists and 

 microscopists can give us. It is to be remembered that the work is not a com- 

 mercial enterprise, but one of self-sacrifice of the severest kind. Thus far, there 

 has always been a deficit beyond that covered by the subsidies received. 

 According to the regulations, no profit will be allowed in the future. Should 

 such a change in the finances come, the price will be reduced or the reserve 

 used for improving the service. The enterprise certainly needs more subscribers, 

 but above all, it wishes to maintain cooperative relations with the scientific 

 world, so that it shall be the constant preoccupation of all those publishing 

 zoological contributions to ensure their reaching the central recording agency. 

 Were this custon to become general, it might become the natural corollary of 

 publication, so that no one would think of describing a new species without 

 recording the description in the Concilium. When that should have arrived, 

 the priority difficulties would all be cleared away. It is unfortunately true that 

 the publications of numerous American societies do not reach Zurich. We wish 

 we could induce all to feel that the Concilium Bibliographicum is their work, to 

 which they owe allegiance. The trifling sacrifice to each society would be indeed 

 small compared with what others have done and are doing for the work. 

 Ziirich. Herbert Haviland Field. 



At a conference of delegates from American and European scientific societies, 

 held at Wiesbaden October 10th and 11th, plans were made to found an inter- 

 national union of the principal scientific and literary bodies of the world. The 

 object of the new society will be to initiate and promote scientific enterprises of 

 general interest, and to facilitate scientific intercourse between different countries. 

 It is to be known as the International Association of Academies. The first 

 general meeting will be held at Paris next year. 



*The prices are reckoned by the number of cards sent, and vary according to the size of the 

 order, from one-fifth of a cent to one cent a card. 



