88 Reviews — Sherborn's Index Animalium. 



Similar works have been produced before, but no one book has 

 yet appeared attempting to supply references to all names given to 

 both fossil and recent animals, nor has any definite attempt been 

 made heretofore to fix an accurate date to each name. 



This work will, of course, supersede Agassiz and Scudder, and 

 must be absolutely indispensable to zoologists of all countries. It 

 will be to the student of animal life what the " Index Kewensis " is 

 to the botanist, and, indeed, far more, as the last-named work refers 

 only to Phanerogams, whereas the " Index Animalium " includes all 

 groups of animals, and both recent and fossil forms. The portion of 

 the work already completed and now issued from the press of the 

 University of Cambridge covers the period from 1758 to 1800, 

 consists of 61,600 entries, and fills 1,196 pages royal octavo. 



In 1897 Dr. Sclater suggested to the Committee that, in view of 

 the long time that must elapse before the completion of the whole 

 manuscript, which it was proposed should embrace the period from 

 1758 to 1900, it would be well if a portion were prepared and 

 published as a specimen of the whole. This suggestion has been 

 acted upon, and there is now offered to the consideration of zoologists 

 that part covering the years 1758 to 1800 inclusive. During the 

 progress of this earlier portion of the manuscript it became apparent 

 that a great deal of the literature required was not to be found in 

 England, and it is satisfactory to be able to say that, with a few 

 unimportant exceptions, the bulk of the 1,300 volumes required 

 have either been seen, or else seen and acquired for some one or 

 other of the libraries accessible to the public. "The search for 

 these volumes," says Mr. Sherborn, " has been not the least interesting 

 part of my labours. Such as have eluded my search are mentioned 

 in ' Libri desiderati,' where a complete enumeration of the books 

 consulted has been given in a second list, this seeming to be 

 advisable and useful ; and at the same time such notes are given 

 on them as would be of use to those who might wish to consider or 

 purchase them." 



" I would like to say that, with the exception of some fifty entries 

 kindly made for me by my friend Dr. Bather in Stockholm, and by 

 Professor Perez in Bordeaux, every entry has been recorded from 

 the original, arranged, sorted, checked, and passed for press by 

 myself. I therefore beg the indulgence of those who use this book 

 for any error of commission or omission that may be found. And 

 I may add that a note of any such error will be especially valuable 

 for inclusion in the second part of my ' Index Animalium.' " 



We heartily commend this important work to the attention of 

 all librarians, curators, and zoologists in all the world, for none can 

 work without it. It is like the " Postal Guide," " Bradshaw," or 

 " Whitaker's Almanac," a handy book of reference, containing the 

 scientific names of beasts of all kinds, and must be on the bookshelf 

 of every library embracing Natural History. 



We earnestly hope the author's valuable life may be spared to see 

 the completion of the next century of his Index through the 

 press, the manuscript for which is already far advanced. 



