96 BULLETIN OF THE 



The subject of Scientific Bibliography in general, has received 

 much attention, and we have now at our command many works, 

 some of which are of great importance. 



In Astronomy I mention the more important in order of pub- 

 lication, omitting of course in such an enumeration indices to 

 periodical literature which are published as supplements to the 

 periodicals in question, even when they are so valuable as the 

 indices to the Astronomische Nachrichteu, the Coast Survey Re- 

 ports, etc. 



Weidler, J. P.: Bihliographia Astronomica, etc. 1T55. 8vo. 



This work was undertaken at the instance of De l'Isle and is 

 dedicated to him, and it formed the basis of the Bibliography of 

 Lalande. I am not aware of the method of arrangement 

 adopted. 



ScHEiBBL, J. E.: Astronomische Bihliographie. 1st part 1784, 

 2d part 1786, 3d part with Appendices to parts 1 and 2, 1789- 

 1798. 8vo. 



I have not seen this work, which is not in the library of Con- 

 gress at present, but from the Introduction to Lalande's Biblio- 

 graphy I learn that it had 800 pages and extended only to 1650, 

 and that the notes accompanying each entry vi'^ere very full. It 

 must be quite complete to 1650, for in the year 1591, in which 

 Lalande has three entries, Scheibel has twenty. I infer it is 

 arranged chronologically. 



Lalande, J. de: Bihliographie Astronomique, etc. 1803. 4to. 



This work, in which the bibliographical part occupies above 

 €00 quarto pages, is founded on Weidler's book, already men- 

 tioned. The titles are arranged chronologically. throughout, no 

 division into subjects being attempted, except in the index, which 

 is arranged by subjects, and which could be improved. In very 

 many cases Lalande has added to the title an abstract of the 

 contents of the book. Periodicals, as the Philosophical Trans- 

 actions, for example, have the separate volumes indexed under 

 the year in which they were published. 



E-Euss, J. D. : Repertorium Commentationum, etc. Vol. V. 

 Astronomia. 1S04. 4to. 



Reuss confined his work to the indexing of the Transactions 

 of Societies, but these are catalogued from their commencement 

 to abont 1804 (for Astronomy), so that with the Royal Society's 

 Catalogue, all Transactions are indexed up to 1863. In Reuss, 

 however, the arrangement is chronological under various topics, 

 and not by authors ; and some subjects, as Nebulae for example, 

 are not given. 



