612 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



to assist tlie progress of the work^ and in 1810 made a 

 journey on purpose to Berlin^ having with him a single 

 copy of the first volume; but in 1811 he died; and no 

 vigorous steps were taken to publish his long-expected work 

 until 1826, when the Academy offered the first three volumes 

 (the MS. for the third volume having been received from 

 Pallas in 1810, and the printing finished in 1814) for sale in 

 St. Petersburgh without the plates. The first two volumes, 

 containing the Mammals and the Birds, were dated 1811* 

 (the printing of the text having been finished in 1809) ; but 

 at the time of the publication of Von Bacr's Report it appears 

 that only a couple of dozen copies had been issued, and no 

 steps had been taken to publish it in Germany. Conse- 

 quently, according to the Stricklandian code, Pallas's names 

 can only date from 1831. This is another proof, if proof 

 were wanting, that the attempt to carry out these rules, 

 regardless of consequences, can only result in continual 

 change of nomenclature — the most unfortunate thing that 

 can happen to any science. 



I am, &c., 



Henry Seebohm. 



News of Dr. Finsch. — Dr. Finsch^s last letter is dated from 

 Port Moresby, on the 18th of April, and informs us that he 

 had been in New Guinea three months, and had made ex- 

 tensive trips along the coast as far as Keppel Bay. It had 

 not been possible to penetrate far into the interior, it being 

 the rainy season; but he was then preparing to start for 

 Latoki-as soon as he could get carriers. His zoological col- 

 lection had been small ; but he had amassed extensive anthro- 

 pological materials. Dr. Finsch's next ornithological letter 

 will relate to Thursday Island and Cape York. 



* As many copies have new titlepages, dated 1831, it is to be presumed 

 that the publication in Germany took place at that date, soon after the 

 Report was read (3rd March, 1830). 



