750 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [DeC. , 



authors, one was returned to the author, one was transferred to the 

 Entomological Section, and two await action. A communication 

 from F. Rynchowski, of Lemberg, embodying his researches on the 

 " Electroid (Eceroid) " was, with the author's consent, referred 

 to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The first year of the new century sees the completion of the 

 fifty-third volume of the Proceedings and the eleventh volume of 

 the quarto or second series of the Journal. The first series in 

 octavo, in eight volumes, extended from 1817 to 1842. The 

 Academy's entire serial contributions to science, therefore, now 

 consists of seventy-two volumes. The earlier issues, especially, 

 formed almost tbe only means by which the working naturalists of 

 America could communicate with those of kindred interests else- 

 where, and much of the results of the original investigations of 

 Say, Ord, LeSeuer, Nuttall, Maclure, Horner, Mitchell, Rafiu- 

 esque. Lea, Hentz, Troost, Vanuxem, De Schweinitz and many 

 others of the leading naturalists of America are to be found in 

 these volumes. An index to this collection of scientific papers is 

 manifestly desirable, and would j^robably be regarded by students 

 as a valuable aid in their work. The present time is especially ap- 

 propriate for its publication, because it would not only form a 

 guide to all that the Academy has given to the world during the 

 last century, but it would be continued without break or repetition 

 by the proposed index to scientific literature which is about to be 

 prepared under the auspices of the Royal Society of London, as 

 the result of international cooperation. The compilation is recom- 

 mended of an index that will be a complete and reliable guide to 

 the contents of the Academy's serial publications, consisting of 

 perhaps three sections devoted to author, subject and species 

 entries. It does not seem desirable in the course of the work to 

 attempt the decision of questions of priority or the determination of 

 synonymy. 



Fourteen members and five correspondents have been elected. 

 The deaths of five members and six correspondents have been 

 announced and the following members have resigned: Edw. H. 

 Coates, Robert S Davis, Edw, Gideon, William DeCou, Vickers 

 Oberholzer, A. H. Stewart, W. E. Barrows and Thomas Stesv- 

 ardson. 



A severe loss was sustained in the death, November 19, of Mr. 



