THE WORK OF THE CONCILIUM BIBLIO- 
GRAPHICUM. 
HERBERT HAVILAND FIELD. 
SINcE the foundation of the Concilium Bibliographicum in 
January, 1896, no notices concerning its work have been sent to 
the scientific journals, although statements have occasionally 
been solicited. The reason for this reticence has been the 
fact that its work has heretofore been rather of the nature of 
a vast and expensive experiment than of a publication which 
could stand before the world as an agency able to render fully 
the services for which it was called into existence. 
In this first or experimental stage all have had to bear a 
share of the burden, and we have reason to be grateful for the 
patience which our subscribers have shown under these trying 
circumstances. Liberal as were the donations to the work, 
they none the less proved insufficient, and the director of the 
institute has not merely been obliged to work or rather to over- 
work for three years without a salary, but has been forced to 
submit to serious financial loss. At present this has been 
changed, and although the work cannot become remunerative, 
yet it may now be regarded as definitely assured, thanks to the 
permanent subsidy voted to it by the Confederation, the Canton, 
and the Town. It has been placed under the supervision of a 
joint commission containing representatives of these several 
interests. 
It must not be supposed from this statement that the 
Concilium is no longer behindhand in its work. Such a change 
cannot be accomplished in a few days nor ina few weeks. As 
a fact, however, more cards are now being issued than would 
correspond to the actual rate of zoological publication, so that we 
can see our accumulated manuscript growing daily less. When 
this shall have been entirely disposed of, we shall be able to 
obtain the proper benefit from the present arrangement of the 
work. 
