NATURE Bs 



SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1923. 


CONTENTS, ak 
The Zoological Record . ; : : ¢ - 625 
Hygiene of the Great War. . : r - 626 
Radiophones . - 2 ; - 628 
The ‘‘ Chemical” Sense. "By w. M. Bo “ . 629 
Our Bookshelf : f é 5 ? . - 630 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Molecular and Crystal Symmetry.—T. V. Barker 632 
Martini’s Equations for the Epidemiology of Im- 
munising Diseases.—Dr. Alfred J. Rake. 633 
The Cause of Anticyclones. ph ha A. H. R. 
Goldie; R. M. Deeley . 634 
Pat Literature on the Censtient? Dr. Robert 
Lawson . 635 
Chloroplasts and Cells _ Prof R. Rnggies Gates 635 
Nightingale in Uganda.—Dr. G. D. Hale Carpenter 636 
Photography of Balmer Series Lines of ee ff paliue 6 
—Prof. R. Whiddington ‘ 636 
Mechanism of the Cochlea.—George Wilkinson + 636 
Breeding Experiments on the Inheritance of poet 
Characters. By Dr. Paul Kammerer . 637 
The Earth’s ee and MSS iss 4 by 
Prof. W. F. G. Swann. - 640 
The Royal Academy, 1923 - . , : - 642 
Current Topics and Events. a . ; + 644 
Our Astronomical Column ; < , ; - 646 
Research Items % » 647 
The Forthcoming oe Centenary Celebrations 
at Strasbourg. 649 
Chemical Characteristics ‘of Ristealion Tiel - . 649 
Sunshine-Recording. By L.C.W.B. . ‘ - 650 
Trieste and Marine Biology . f : - 650 
Animal Nutrition . = . . + 651 
University and Educational leseitipesee : : « OBN 
Societies and Academies . : . : » 653 
Official Publications Received . " - f . 656 
Diary of Societies . : 656 
The Interior of a = al fh Prof. A. s. Edding- 
ton, F- RS. . . Supp. v 


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NO. 2793, VOL. 111] 
The Zoological Record. 
HE decision of the Zoological Society’s council to 
discontinue the publication of the “ Zoological 
Record ” on the grounds of expense suggests somewhat 
opposing thoughts. It is generally admitted, or even 
strongly urged, by most workers in every branch of 
Science that some guide to the ever-increasing flood of 
literature is a necessity. If this was true in 1865, when 
the ‘‘ Zoological Record ” was started, it is no less true 
to-day. The need, in fact, must have increased in at 
least the same direct ratio as the number of publica- 
tions. Yet in zoology, as in geology and other sciences, 
these guides, records, and indexes have had a perpetual 
and severe struggle for life, in the course of which many 
have from time to time succumbed, been revived under 
another form, and too often again collapsed. 
The “ Zoological Record ” itself was begun in 1865 
as a publication by Van Voorst, under the editorship of 
Dr. Albert Giinther, with a distinguished staff of re- 
corders. The publisher paid for the printing, but the 
manuscript, we believe, was compiled for nothing. 
Mr. Van Voorst soon found the loss too great, and, 
though he continued as publisher, an association was 
founded in 1871 to guarantee the expenses. This 
carried on till 1887, when the Record was saved from 
extinction by the Zoological Society, which generously 
shouldered the burden and bore it unaided until the 
establishment of the International Catalogue of 
Scientific Literature. The question then arose whether 
the record of zoology should merely become one part in 
that vast scheme. Fortunately the secretary of the 
Zoological Society was far-sighted enough to preserve 
the continuity and title of the Record and the control 
of the Society, by inducing his council to contribute 
largely to the expense and to maintain its Record 
Committee. Consequently, when the International 
Catalogue failed, and when the Royal Society declined 
to undertake the huge expenditure on what had 
virtually become its sole responsibility, then zoologists 
still found their Record appearing—retarded and 
weakened, but in being and ready to resume its old 
strength and value whenever they themselves would 
provide the necessary sustenance. Unfortunately, 
the increased costs of production have coincided with 
the loss of a number of subscribers owing to the effects 
of war and its sequela. The secretary of the Zoological 
Society has over and over again sought in various 
directions to supply this loss, but has not met with any 
cheering response. All these facts must be remembered 
before we venture to blame the Society for its present 
decision. 
When, now, we see the “Zoological Record ” 
threatened with the fate that has overtaken so many 
