﻿WEST COAST NEWS NOTES 137 



Code des Couleurs, a I'usage des Xaturalistes, Artistes, Commerqants, et 

 Industriels. 720 Echantillons de Couleurs Classes d'apres la methode Chevrenl 

 simplifiee. par Paul Klincksieck et Th. \'alette. Paris : Paul Klincksieck, 

 Editeur, 3 rue Corneille, 1908. 



This is a book of 32 pages of text, and 50 plates, on heavy paper, contain- 

 ing- 720 blocked colors ; a table of 10 principal colors in 18 languages, and a 

 tai)le of contents. The whole making a neat and portable volume. 



The publication of this book is a great boon to systematic naturalists 

 everywhere, as Ridgway's Noiiieiiclutiirc of Colors has long been out of print, 

 and it has been practically impossible to obtain a copy of it. 



This book was planned in 1906, through a real need felt in the study and 

 description of the "Champignons"; thus it was planned, in part, by a naturalist 

 for naturalists. The hope is expressed that this color code may recommend 

 itself to the whole world, and there is vertainly great need of a uniforn.i 

 nomenclature of colors accepted and used by naturalists everywhere. As the 

 recognition of geographic isolation as one nt the chief factors in evolution, 

 comes to be better known and studied, it is imperative that tones of color, 

 where color is of use, should be very accurately stated, instead of in general 

 comparative ways as is usuall}' done. 



The fundamental colors are six, those of the solar spectrum, and the 

 tones are indicated by a number, the method invented by Chevreul : which is 

 decidedly better than "Se fatiguer pour trouver dans les trois Regnes on ailleurs 

 le nom d'un equivalent qui lui ressemble plus on moins vaguemont." and "qui 

 ne signifient rien de precis." There are over 14.000 tones in Chevreul's sys- 

 tem, but some of these. Chevreul himself, could hardly distinguish. 720 tones 

 were thought to be enough for the use of naturalists. Part II. of the te.xt, is 

 hv Th. \'alette and considers the following subjects: 



1. Des couleurs an point de vue ijhysiquc. 



2. Sources de lumiere colorees. 



3. Des couleurs materielles on pigments colores. 



4. Classification des couleurs. 



5. Code des couleurs a I'usage des naturalistes. 



6. Confection du Code des Couleurs. 



7. Examen des couleurs complementaires contrastes. 



The book ought to he in use by every systematic naturalist, dealing with 

 groups which exhibit color differences, thus helping to make a uniform nomen- 

 clature, instead of indicating colors by some vague term, \\hich leaves an idea 

 of uncertainty. Stability in terminology ought to be as important as the 

 other rules of nomenclature, — priority, etc.. and should be taken up by com- 

 mittees on nomenclature. The book can be had from the firm of G. E. Stechert 

 & Co.. 129-133 West 20th St.. X. Y. 



