558 Notices of Memoirs — S/icrborn's Index Animalium. 



been referred to by those in need of information at the British 

 Museum and elsewhere. 



The following is a reprint of the original set of rules : — 



(1) The earliest reference is to date from the twelfth edition of 

 Linnaeus, 1766. 



(2) The last reference to close with December 31, 1899. 



(3) The names of genera and species to be given in one alpha- 

 betical sequence, and accompanied by a reference to the original 

 source. 



(4) The names of species of each genus to be also quoted in 

 alphabetical order under that genus. 



(5) No attempt at synonymy to be given ; but, to assist reference, 

 the various genera in which a species has from time to time been 

 placed to be indicated under that species. 



(6) Pre-Linnamn names to be quoted as founded hy the author 

 first using them after 1766 : e.g. Ecliinocorys, Leske, 1778 {ex 

 Klein, 1734). Should a pre-Linnaaan species or genus have been 

 renamed after 1766, before the post-Linnaaan use of that pre- 

 Linnaean name, the new name is to stand. [Eeferences will be 

 given to Artedi, Brisson, and Scopoli, in accordance with British 

 Association rules.] 



As soon as the work commenced it was found advisable to adopt 

 the tenth edition of the "Systema" as a starting-point, instead of 

 the twelfth. The reasons for this adoption need not be discussed here; 

 the use of the tenth edition is fast becoming universal. This 

 alteration caused a slight modification of several of the proposed 

 rules. At the same time a reference is also given to the twelfth 

 edition of the " Systema," as it will be convenient to many people 

 and will not increase the number of slips in any appreciable degree. 



Each genus-name and each species-name is recorded on a separate 

 slip, the original reference being quoted ; and every time a sj)ecies- 

 name is transferred to a new genus a separate slip is used, the 

 quotation including a reference back to the original genus in which 

 the species was first placed. 



Each slip is made out in duplicate — one set being sorted up in 

 alphabetical order of genera; and a second set being kept tied up as 

 an index of the contents of the pai-ticular book quoted. 



Eeferences are taken from one book at a time — i.e. a book is gone 

 through from cover to cover — every genus and species, and every 

 change of genus, being systematically recorded ; thus completely 

 disposing of that particular book, and ensuring the almost absolute 

 certainty of every reference being taken. This system proves far 

 more exact than the recording of any special group of animals at 

 one time. It further permits of the printing from type of a reference 

 to that particular book on each slip, and thus ensures the absolute 

 accuracy of the reference with the sole exception of the page. The 

 entries are made in black-lead pencil and black or blue carbon paper 

 — both methods having proved to be quite indelible. 



A particular paper has been chosen, known as " white rope," 

 which presents the requisite stiffness for an edge-on arrangement 



