November 4, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



621 



ZOOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICA- 

 TION* 



The report presented in 1896 stated that 

 tbis Committee was issuing two circulars : 

 (I.) Questions concerning general principles 

 of Bibliography and Publication, sent to 

 experts and leading zoologists ; (II.) Sug- 

 gestions concerning various cognate matters 

 ' wholly within the control of editors and 

 publishing committees,' sent to the editors 

 of all publications connected with zoology. 



Circular I. has been sent to 115 zoologists, 

 the majority of whom have had practical 

 experience in bibliography. From 36 of 

 these, in various parts of the world, replies 

 have been received, containing, in many 

 cases, a detailed discussion and practical 

 suggestions of much value. A digest of 

 these replies is being drawn up, and the 

 Committee hopes to furnish a definite re- 

 port thereon next year. Meanwhile certain 

 of the suggestions and criticisms received 

 have greatly helped the Committee in its 

 consideration of the replies to Circular II. 



To this latter circular and its strictly 

 practical proposals the Committee thinks it 

 advisable to confine attention for the pres- 

 ent. Circular II. has been sent to the 

 editors of nearly all the publications listed 

 in the Zoological Record, viz., to some 800, 

 the exceptions being those whose addresses 

 could not be ascertained; it has also been 

 sent to the editors of various publications 

 not hitherto included in the Zoological Rec- 

 ord list, e. g., all zoological publications re- 

 cently started. 



Eeplies were not specially solicited, but 

 comments have been received from 39 edi- 

 tors or publishing bodies, to all of whom 

 the Committee desires to express its thanks. 

 Among them may be mentioned : the R. 

 Physical Society of Edinburgh, the Natural 



* Second report of the committee consisting of Sir 

 W. H. Flower, chairman; Professor W. A. Herdman, 

 Mr. W. E. Hoyle, Dr. P. L. Sclater, Mr. Adam Sedg- 

 wick, Dr. D. Sharp, Mr. C. D. Sherborn, Eev. T. R. 

 E. Stebbing, Professor W. F. R. Weldon and Mr. F. 

 A. Bather, secretary. 



History Society of Glasgow, the Cambridge 

 Philosophical Society, the Entomological So- 

 ciety of London, the Liverpool Biological 

 Society; Nature, Natural Science, The Zoologist^ 

 The Entomologist, The Journal of Malacology, 

 Journal of Physiology, Cambridge ; The E. 

 Asiatic Society, Ceylon Branch; K. Aka- 

 demie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ; K. 

 Zool. u. Anthrop.-Ethnogr. Museum zu 

 Dresden ; Zoological Station in Naples; R. 

 Soc. Scientiarum Bohemica ; Physikalisch- 

 okonomische Gesellschaft zu Konigsberg ; 

 H. Soc. Sciences in TJpsala; Societo Imperiale 

 des Naturalistes de Moscou ; Koninklijke 

 Akademie van Wetenschappeu, Amsterdam ■ 

 Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, Essex Insti- 

 tute, Cincinnati Society of Natural History, 

 Natural History Society of New Brunswick, 

 Science, Bulletin of American Palceontology , 

 Entomological News. All these replies are 

 favorable to the suggestions of the Com- 

 mittee in the main, and some even ask for 

 further advice. Exception has, however, 

 been taken by some to suggestions 1, 3 and 

 7; while comments have also been made on 

 suggestions 2, 4 and 5. It is proposed to 

 deal with these in order. 



First, the Committee wishes to state 

 clearly that it has no wish, even if it had 

 the authority, to lay down laws for zoolo- 

 gists or for publishing bodies and editors. 

 It is, however, plain that many are grateful 

 for some guidance, and the Committee hopes 

 that it may serve as a medium for convey- 

 ing to those who need it the general opinion 

 of the experienced. They are also difiiculties 

 which, though they appear to some in- 

 superable, may possibly be surmounted in 

 ways that have been communicated to the 

 Committee. 



(1) " That each part of a serial publica- 

 tion should have the date of actual publica- 

 tion, as near as may be, printed on the 

 wrapper, and, when possible, on the last 

 sheet sent to press." 



