146 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 787 



and important group, a group which, ahove 

 all others, is of prime importance to a very 

 large number who can not, from the nature of 

 their work, occupy themselves with laborious 

 taxonomic research in a more or less alien 

 field. 



The reception accorded the circular was ex- 

 tremely gratifying, graphically demonstrating 

 the deep interest taken in nomenclatorial 

 questions not only by systematists, but by 

 zoologists and paleontologists interested in all 

 the varied phases of their subjects; to those 

 who have so kindly acceded to our request and 

 have acquainted us with their personal views 

 we beg to tender our most cordial thanks. 



Replies have been received from zoologists 

 and paleontologists resident in the following 

 countries : Algeria, Austria-Hungary, Brazil, 

 Canada, Ceylon, Denmark, Egypt, England, 

 Finland, France, Germany, Hawaii, Holland, 

 Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, New South 

 Wales, New Zealand, Norway, Philippine Is- 

 lands, Portugal, Queensland, Russia, Scot- 

 land, South Australia, Sweden, Trinidad, 

 United States, Western Australia and Vic- 

 toria. 



Of these working zoologists and paleontolo- 

 gists 80 per cent, are entirely dissatisfied with 

 the present course of procedure ; and this num- 

 ber is by no means inclusive merely of those 

 having only an indirect interest in systematic 

 work, but is made up to a surprising extent of 

 the most prominent systematists; 83 per cent, 

 are more or less dissatisfied with the methods 

 now in vogue; about 18 per cent, believe it 

 best to adhere to the code in its present form, 

 and 15 per cent are convinced that this is the 

 only logical and reasonable course. 



The individual replies will, of course, be 

 considered in the light of confidential com- 

 munications, and therefore no indication will 

 be given as to how any one has answered; 

 when the canvass is concluded a minute 

 analysis of it will be published, together with 

 the names of those who have replied, showing 

 the existing sentiment in the greatest detail 

 for each class of workers, and for workers in 

 the various groups, and a synopsis will be 

 given of all the suggestions which have been 

 sent in, with the proportionate numerical 



strength of each, each suggestion being duly 

 and specifically accredited to its author or 

 authors, who will have the opportunity of 

 finally revising it before it is sent to press. 

 It is our hope that this canvass now under 

 way will result in the formulation of an 

 amendment to, or a revision of, article 30, by 

 which zoological nomenclature may attain a 

 true stability and henceforth be freed from 

 the constant and perplexing changes now 

 abounding on every side. 



We beg that all zoologists and paleontolo- 

 gists who read this notice and who have not 

 yet sent in their decision will do so at once; 

 and that they will favor us with an expression 

 of their views in regard to the best means of 

 attaining a more stable system of zoological 

 and paleontological nomenclature than we 

 have at present. 



Owing to press of other duties, Mr. Springer 

 will not be able to continue further the work 

 which he has started; he has therefore re- 

 quested me to take it up and carry it on to its 

 conclusion, analyzing and preparing for pub- 

 lication the final results. In order that these 

 may be as expressive as possible of the true 

 sentiment of working zoologists and paleon- 

 tologists as a whole, he joins with me in 

 urging all interested in the subject of nomen- 

 clature, no matter in what branch of zoology 

 or paleontology their interest may lie, to sub- 

 mit their opinions, whether for or against the 

 present method of procedure, and to assist us 

 in the formulation of a possible means of es- 

 cape from the nomenclatorial difficulties 

 which on every side beset the path of the mod- 

 ern naturalist. Austin H. Clark 



1726 Eighteenth St., 

 Washington, D. C. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 



A College Text-hooh of Geology. By T. C. 



Chamberlin and R. D. Salisbury. 8vo, 



xvii + 978 pp., illustrated. New York, 



Henry Holt and Company. 1909. 



This book seems to be a concentrated form 



of the three-volume work on geology by the 



same authors and published by the same com-. 



pany, 1904-1906. Such a boiling down of 



one's results is usually a tedious process, and 



