518 © ; Biological Nomenclature. [August, 
entomologists first began to handle the subject critically, the 
most practical article with which I am acquainted being that of 
W. H: Edwärds.! 
In order to establish a basis of definite action in this matter, 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science at its 
meeting in Buffalo, in 1876, appointed a committee “to obtain an 
-expression of opinion from the working naturalists of America in 
regard to the nature of a set of rules for facilitating the decision 
of questions relating to nomenclature,” etc. The committee 
consisted of Capt. Wm. H. Dall, of the U. S. Coast Survey, and 
the results of his work are now given. To my own mind the 
method pursued by Capt. Dall was excellent, and the results are 
very satisfactory as displaying a degree of unanimity among 
American naturalists so complete as to constitute their opinions, 
as embodiedgin Capt. Dall’s report, a set of rules which no one 
can safely disregard on the one hand, or hesitate to follow on the 
other. : 
Capt. Dall’s prefatory remarks are as follows: 
In accordance with the undefstanding and resolutions of the 
Section, by which this duty devolved upon him, your Reporter 
prepared a circular which was printed under the supervision of 
the permanent secretary and circulated by the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, a copy of which is appended to this report. 
The circular was sent to all who, within the last five years, 
might be included under the designation of publishing naturalists, 
and of whom the address could be obtained. This list included 
to all those who might desire to express an opini 
he responses received to date (August Spee are forty-five 
in number. While a few honored names, to whose views all 
would attribute due weight, are not on the list, yet it includes 
most of those whose contributions are familiar in the Proceedings 
of American Scientific societies, and an unquestionable majority 
of the best working naturalists of the coun try. The views of 
several of those from whom no response was received, have been 
incorporated in the appendix by means of citations from their 
The queries contained in the behat relate chiefly to certain 
points, concerning which a diversity of opinion has existed among 
- naturalists; the general principles of nomenclature not being in 
questio n. "The responses are divided into y affirmative, negative 
Canadian Entomologist, February, 1873. 
