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iiCIENGE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIII. No. 860 



rary appointments even after the salary is in- 

 creased; and the promotion from an instruc- 

 torship to an assistant professorship, while it 

 carries with it encouragement and expecta- 

 tion of later permanence, does not immedi- 

 ately commit the university to a guarantee of 

 permanent tenure. This is reasonable, for, 

 if the instructor for any reason does not fit 

 the particular position, after a trial of a few 

 years, no one interested in the welfare either 

 of the university or of the instructor him- 

 self would desire that he be promoted to a 

 professorial position. Similarly if, after a 

 few years, the assistant professor fails to ful- 

 fil the expectations which accompanied his 

 promotion or appointment or if he apparently 

 has reached the liinit of his growth in the 

 environment of the particular institution, no 

 one can fairly object to his being advised, or 

 urged if necessary, to seek elsewhere to es- 

 tablish his permanent professional position, 

 provided, of course, that he is given ample 

 time and friendly assistance to make the 

 change. 



At Brown, those teachers, whether pro- 

 fessors, associate professors or assistant pro- 

 fessors who, as distinguished from these 

 younger men, have served the university many 

 years and have been encouraged to believe or 

 allowed to suppose that their services have 

 been satisfactory until the time is past for a 

 reasonably fair chance of readjustment in 

 other positions, are insured by the univer- 

 sity's policy of tenure against being " cajoled, 

 crowded or thrust out of the Brown faculty." 

 Contrary to the inference which would nat- 

 urally be drawn from Mr. Gunn's paragraph, 

 such service at Brown University " is re- 

 garded as establishing a claim that prevents 

 removal on the ground of natural unfitness." 

 The administration recognizes its responsibil- 

 ity in case it fails to diagnose natural unfit- 

 ness in the course of the years of probational 

 service. 



In view of this recognized policy there is 

 in the university a feeling of security of 

 tenure and there is also an academic freedom 

 of opinion, utterance and action which is ideal 



and is highly valued and appreciated by the 

 faculty. A. D. Mead 



Beown University 



correspondence with the international com- 

 mission on zoological nomenclature 



The secretary of the International Com- 

 mission on Zoological Nomenclature feels 

 constrained to invite the attention of the 

 members of the zoological profession to an 

 important point in connection with the sub- 

 ject of correspondence. 



The commission is composed of fifteen 

 members, elected by the International Con- 

 gress of Zoology. The duties involve a con- 

 siderable amount of tedious labor. All of the 

 members give their time willingly to this 

 work from a pure sense of duty to science and 

 to their profession. They do not ask nor do 

 they receive one cent of remuneration for 

 the many hours of time and work they sacri- 

 fice in order to endeavor to carry out the 

 duties imposed upon them. 



At the urgent request of colleagues, addi- 

 tional labors have been undertaken that were 

 not contemplated when the commission was 

 originally formed in 1895. 



With the increase of duties, the correspond- 

 ence has naturally grown to not inconsid- 

 erable proportions, and this additional corre- 

 spondence brings with it increased labor and 

 increased sacrifice of time. 



It is a pleasure to acknowledge the fact 

 that many of the members of the profession 

 seek to aid the commission by valuable sug- 

 gestions and it seems needless to state that 

 this friendly cooperation is heartily wel- 

 comed and appreciated. 



Some zoologists, however, appear to over- 

 look the history, duties and purposes of the 

 commission, and appear to assume that one 

 of its objects and duties is to receive and read 

 communications couched in language which 

 is hardly within the bounds of diplomatic 

 usage. 



As the executive ofiicer of the commission, 

 and assuming full personal responsibility for 

 this action, taken without consulting the 

 other members, the secretary desires to give 

 public notice that he insists that the same 



