244 TEE ZOOLOOIGAL SOCIETY. 



In 1901 the " Record of Progress " was published. The fifth 

 edition of the Library Catalogue came out in the autumn of 

 1902; the titles of about 11,000 books were given, exclusive 

 of periodicals, to which a separate section was devoted. This 

 is by far the largest and best collection of zoological works in 

 this country, with the possible exception of that at the 

 Natural History Museum, and now contains upwards of 26,000 

 volumes. 



In Plate 50 there is a small and a large pile of books on the 

 table in the foreground on the right. The former represents 

 the Society's publications for the first decade (1831-40) and 

 the latter for the decade 1891-1900.* Also in 1902 were pub- 

 lished the "Index" to the Proceedings (1891-1900) and the 

 " Index Zoologicus," containing in alphabetical order the names 

 of new genera and sub-genera entered in the "Record" (1880- 

 1900). 



The late Secretary gave over the Guide entirely to the 

 Society from the date of his quitting office. A new Guide was 

 prepared by the present Secretary, and the copyright is the 

 property of the Society. Of this three editions have been 

 issued. Full profits accrued to the Society from the beginning 

 of 1904, in which year pictorial postcards were prepared and sold. 



At the end of the last decade it was decided that in 

 future the Proceedings should consist of two volumes for 

 each year, the matter being too much for inclusion in one. 

 Beyond the subjects already alluded to as having been brought 

 forward at the scientific meetings, the following papers are 

 worth mention: Dr. Andrews, on Palseontological Discoveries 

 in the Fayum ; Mr. Boulenger, on the Ichthyology of the Congo ; 

 Mr. Budgett's account of his Journey to Uganda; Dr. Goeldi, 

 on the Rediscovery of Binomys ;f Mr. Lydekker, on the Sub- 



♦ Ten large octavo volumes are needed to make this pile complete, for by an 

 oversight the " Record " was omitted. 



t This is an extremely rare South American rodent, described by Peters about 

 thirty years ago, since which period no other example had been met with till a pair 

 were sent to Dr. Goeldi, early in 1904. The story is not without a certain comic 

 element, for the collector who obtained the type-specimen, killed it with " two 

 powerful sabre strokes." Its rediscovery has shown that, so far from being 

 ferocious, this rodent, which is like a pa.ca with a tail, is good-tempered and 

 peaceful. 



