1895.] Scientific News. 93 
The essential points of his plan are these: First a single international 
bureau, situated at some great library centrein Europe, which shall re- 
ceive all zoological papers. It shall make such arrangements as are 
necessary with governments, publishers and directors of zoological 
institutions for obtaining all zoological publications, and it shall have 
agents in every country or province to see that the literature of that 
region is sent to the bureau. 
This bureau will obtain synopses of the contents of all papers and 
books, through authors, publishers and paid agents. The central 
bureau will, moreover, superintend the printing and distribution of its 
publications. 
This bureau will also naturally acquire, in time, an invaluable collec- 
tion of the entire zoological literature from the time of its foundation. 
Second, publications in two forms: Ist, a pamphlet of titles and 
books with short synopses, resembling, but somewhat more extended 
than the various more or less incomplete bibliographical lists now pub- 
lished in different periodicals. This pamphlet to be issued at brief in- 
tervals. 2nd., the same titles including synopsis printed either on one 
side of a narrow sheet or on separate cards of standard size. The 
synopses to give a clue to the contents of the papers and to serve as a 
basis for the arrangement of the cards according to subjects. At suit- 
able intervals a subject index to the literature, based on these synopses 
to be published. 
Field had the intention of submitting his plan to the American 
Society of Naturalists at their New Haven meeting, last year, in order 
that they might be the first to appoint a committees to confer with 
similar foreign committees in the further elaboration and the inaugura- 
tion of the undertaking. He believed that, owing to the friendly rela- 
tions existing between this country and all European nations, America 
could best take the initiative in this work. Owing to an unfortunate 
delay in the mails, however, Field’s paper, presenting the subject, came 
too late for presentation to the American Society. 
Since that time Field has submitted his plan to the zoological Socie- 
ties of Germany, France, and Russia and these have appointed com- 
mittees to act together in considering the details of the plan and 
methods of supporting it. Besides the recognition by societies, numer- 
ous individual zoologists of Germany, France, Russia and England— 
among them y. Bardeleben, Bouvier, Dohrn, Hoyer, Paul Mayer, Min- 
chin, Mitrophanow, and Schimkewitsch—have signified their interest in 
the plan and many of these their willingness to codperate.| 
