BIliLlOGRAPUIOAL NOTES. 169 



{I.e. 180), the actual date of issue may usually* be ascertained by 

 those who know where to look for it ; but both wrapper and front 

 page are usually falsely dated, and this date is the one which is 

 most likely to be quoted. Here is a list of the numbers for 1895, 

 showing the supposed and actual dates of issue : — 



In the case of the last number, not only are the new species it con- 

 tains likely to be included in any list of novelties for 1895, but it 

 actually forms part of the volume which bears this date on its title- 

 page ! Seeing the difficulties which continually arise in consequence 

 of past irregularities in dating, it is a matter for regret that Kew 

 should set so bad an example in matters of detail. 



Supposing the species not to be included in an 1895 list, 

 another danger arises. In the course of time, some one — perhaps 

 some transatlantic nomenclaturist, should the craze for innovation 

 and general disturbance then continue — will discover them in their 

 1895 volume, and, innocent of the reason for their omission from 

 the list, will insist on their dating from the ostensible year of 

 publication. All this confusion might be avoided if one of the 

 most important botanical establishments of the world could succeed 

 in keeping its publications up to date. Those who are responsible 

 for the confusion seem to hold the view tliat we should do nothing 

 in this direction for posterity, on the unassailable ground that 

 posterity has done nothing for us. 



Attention was called [Juurn. Bot. 1895, 77) to the absence of 

 any date to the parts of the Boletim de Sociedade Broteriana. The 

 two parts for 1895 show no improvement ; nowhere is any indi- 

 cation of date to be found, save "1895" on the cover of each. 

 Part i. was received at the Natural History Museum 21:th June, 

 1895; part ii. 18th Jan. 1896; but, as I have said, there is no 

 record in the pubhcation itself, Worse still, the title-page for the 

 volume, bearing the date "1895" twice repeated, is issued with the 

 first part; yet it is certain that the volume cannot be completed 

 until some time in the present year. 



The Bulletin of Miscel I anemia Infoi motion now gives an excellent 



• Not always: the number headed "June and July, 1895," and dated 

 " 6/95," was not issued until the latter month. 



