January 24, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



159 



tories to carry on the important investigations 

 of the various bureaus and fireproof space for 

 the library was recognized as paramount. The 

 greater part of the indoor work of the depart- 

 ment is conducted in laboratories, hence the 

 absolute necessity for structures that would 

 be well lighted, well ventilated, fireproof, and 

 otherwise well adapted for the purpose. To 

 accomplish these several objects and at the 

 same time to secure opportunities for con- 

 tinued enlargement, the building has been ar- 

 ranged so that extensions could be made in 

 segments as the work required. When the 

 act authorizing the building was passed we 

 could not foresee the rapid growth, by con- 

 gressional action, of the department. On 

 February 3, 1903, when the work was author- 

 ized, there were in Washington 1,100 persons 

 employed in the Department of Agriculture. 

 At the present time there are over 2,100 — al- 

 most double the number on the date when the 

 appropriation was made. While the original 

 appropriation was so expended as to secure the 

 greatest possible amount of floor space, this 

 floor space is now totally inadequate to cave 

 for the increase of almost 100 per cent, in the 

 number of employees. Full arrangements 

 have been worked out for the occupancy of the 

 present segments and the relinquishment of 

 the several buildings for which rent is now 

 being paid. The work will be completed 

 within the appropriation made by Congress." 

 Professor J. A. Allen makes the following 

 note in a recent Bulletin of the American 

 Museum of Natural History on the revision 

 of the nomenclature code by the Interna- 

 tional Zoological Congi'ess : " As time goes 

 on, the importance of strict adherence to 

 authoritative rules of nomenclature becomes 

 more and more apparent. Hence the world- 

 wide welcome accorded the work of the Nomen- 

 clature Commission of the International 

 Zoological Congress, and the increasing 

 cordiality with which its Code of Nomencla- 

 ture is received. The time is doubtless now 

 ripe for the acceptance on the part of zool- 

 ogists at large of an International Arbitration 

 Commission on Nomenclature which shall not 

 only provide a code of official rules, but be 

 willing to act as arbiter in difficult and com- 



plicated cases where experts may reach dif- 

 ferent conclusions. To most systematists 

 questions of nomenclature are distasteful, and 

 they would gladly accept the decisions of a 

 properly authorized International Commission 

 rather than fritter away valuable time in at- 

 tempting to solve nomenclatural riddles. Suc- 

 cess in this thankless line of work requires 

 natural aptness for such investigations, 

 coupled with long experience and interest in 

 such work. Nine tenths, if not ninety-nine 

 one hundredths, of those who have occasion to 

 use the technical names of animals, have not 

 the time, the inclination, nor the proper train- 

 ing to deal successfully with such problems. 

 Yet their correct solution is of importance to 

 all. The adoption of uniform rules of nomen- 

 clature is essential to stability in nomencla- 

 ture, but if they contravene well-established 

 principles that have become the basis of 

 modern usage they are not likely to meet with 

 general acceptance. Happily the funda- 

 mental rules of nomenclature are few, and for 

 many years have been embodied in all modern 

 codes of nomenclature. Matters of detail are 

 of less importance than unanimity of agree- 

 ment, which may be easily reached by com- 

 pi-omise and the waiving here and there of 

 personal preference on minor points." 



VyiVERSITY AND EDVCATIONAL NEWS 

 From a source not yet announced, the Har- 

 vard Dental School has received promise of 

 the funds necessary for the erection of a new 

 building. The site which has been chosen is 

 the lot at the corner of Long-wood Avenue and 

 Wigglesworth Street, Brookline, adjoining the 

 property on which the buildings of the Medi- 

 cal School stand. 



A NEW agricultural building is to be erected 

 for the University of Maine, at a cost of about 

 $35,000. 



President Edmund J. James, of the Uni- 

 versity of Illinois, has issued a call for a 

 national conference to meet at Urbana, 111., 

 on February 4 and 5, to discuss the relations 

 of graduate schools of American universities 

 to the prepaxation of teachers for high schools, 

 colleges and universities. 



