ON THE ' INDEX GENERUM ET SPECIERUM ANIMALIUM.' 347 



Index Genenim et Specierum Animalium. — Report of a Committee, con- 

 sisting of Sir W. H. Flower (Chairman), Dr. P. L. Sclater, 

 Dr. H. Woodward, a7id Mr. W. L. Sclater (Secretary). 



The proposed 'Index Generum et Specierum Animalium' is being 

 compiled by Mr. C. Davies Sherborn, at the British Museum (Natural 

 History). 



The work on this index, which includes all animals, whether recent or 

 fossil, has proceeded steadily since June 1890. 



The manuscript now consists of 180,000 slips, representing 90,000 

 species and genera recorded in duplicate. 



One set is sorted under genera for the convenience of students and the 

 other set is kept under ' books,' so that it is possible at any moment to 

 obtain a complete list of every genus and species described in a particular 

 volume. 



As the work proceeds much valuable information as to the dates of 

 ])ooks is obtained, and this if sufficiently important is published : e.g.y 

 Sowerby, ' Genera of Shells,' see ' Annals and Mag.,' April 1894 ; Schreber, 

 ' Saugthiere,' see ' Proc. Zool. Soc.,' Jan. 1892; 'Encyclop. Methodique,' 

 see 'Proc. Zool. Soc.,' June 1893. 



The small grant of 201. made by the British Association in 1892 is 

 the only financial help yet received towards the work, and has been ex- 

 pended upon paper. The Committee therefore ask for a new grant of 50/. 

 toward a work which daily increases in importance and usefulness. 



TJte Legislative Protection of Wild Birds' E(j<js. — Report of the Com- 

 onittee, consisting of Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S. (Chairman), 

 Professor Alfred Newton, F.R.8., Eev. Canon Tristram, F.R.S. , 

 Mr. John Cordeaux, Mr. W. H. Hudson, Mr. Howard 

 Saunders, Mr. Thomas H. ThOxMas, Dr. C. T. Vachell, and Mr. 

 H. E. Dresser (Secretary). (Brawn np hy the Secretary). 



Your Committee beg leave to report that in the early portion of the pre- 

 sent Parliamentary Session a fresh Bill to amend the Wild Birds Protec- 

 tion Act, 1880, was brought into the House of Commons by Sir Herbert 

 Maxwell, Bart., M.P., and others, which Bill was on April 3 ordered by 

 the House to be printed. 



Your Committee had already been in communication with Sir Herbert 

 Maxwell on the subject, and it was arranged to hold a meeting to discuss 

 the clauses of this Bill, and a meeting was accordingly held on April 6, 

 at which Sir Herbert Maxwell attended. The present Bill diiSfers from 

 that brought in by Sir Herbert Maxwell last Session (1893), in prohibiting 

 the taking of the eggs of any specified kind within the limits of the 

 country, or part or parts thereof, or else the taking of the eggs of any 

 species within a certain stated area ; it being left in the hands of the 

 County Council to adopt either alternative. After some discussion it was 

 decided by your Committee to approve the draft Bill as prepared by Sir 

 Herbert Maxwell. This Bill has since passed through both Houses with 

 but slight opposition, and has now come into force. 



