318 PROMOTION OF ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC DISCOVERY. 



questions can advantageously be referred for report to any of the fel- 

 lows contained in the list, as regards their si^ecial subject or subjects. 

 It is divided into two parts, the first being an alpliabetical list of names 

 with the subjects respecting whicli each is an expert: and the second 

 being arranged according to countries and subjects. It will be sent to 

 many fellows of the society for suggestions and additions, and when tol- 

 erably complete, it will probably-include several hundred names. Some 

 fellows are collectors of geographical books or ma]>s. Others may have 

 a profound knowledge of particular regions, or of special departments 

 of our work, who have never i)nblished anything. The referees may 

 have papers referred to them, may become members of committees on 

 questions relating to their special subjects, and would, no doubt, be 

 ready to give information and advice to inquiries, while the council will 

 be mainly recruited from them. The existence, and eventual publication, 

 of the List of Eeferees will be of use to the general body of fellows in 

 various ways. Taking a more general interest in geographical subjects, 

 the elders will thus be informed whither to go for information on points 

 that occupy their attention, while it will be the ambition of the younger 

 members to qualify themselves for inclusion in the list. In various 

 ways I confidently hope that the plan will have the desired tendency 

 of drawing the fellows more together, and into nearer touch with the 

 council. 



Another measure, which I anticipate will have a similar effect, will 

 be to offer more inducements to stu<ly and make use of the great store 

 of geographical information in our library, by the completion of the 

 catalogues, and by giving greater convenience and more comfort to 

 readers. The present alphabetical catalogue was made in 18(ir), and 

 there have been two sui)plements in 1870 and 1880. But in 1893 it was 

 decided to recast the whole catalogue, including the three supplements 

 (for a third up to 1890 had been prepared and was ready for printing), 

 and to make one continuous alphabetical catalogue, printed in smaller 

 type than ])reviously and in double column, and brought down to 1893. 

 It is now all in print. There will be two appendices, the first contain- 

 ing an alphabetical list of all the collections of voyages and travels, 

 with an analytical table of contents to each volume, which is also in 

 type. The second appendix is devoted to anonymous and ])eriodical 

 literature arranged in geographical order. The catalogues have been 

 made under the control and superintendence of Dr. Mill. The assistant 

 in the library, Mr. Vincent Hawkins, deserves great credit for his 

 industry and diligence, and Dr. Murie has now put the series of i)eriod- 

 icalsinto perfect order, making a list of all deficiencies; but the second 

 appendix is not yet finished. The authors' catalogue will, however, 

 be in the hands of the fellows in the course of the present year. 



A subject catalogue was prepared by Mr. Godfrey Evans in 1871, and 

 was extremely useful, but it now contains less than half the books in 

 the library. In 1892 it was therefore resolved that a new and exhaustive 



