1893.] Editorials. 979 
EDITORIALS. 
—Ir has always been recognized that scientific research is greatly 
furthered by the exchange of the various objects with which that 
research is concerned. For the transmission of objects of Natural His- 
tory from one country to another, the mails have offered a cheap, 
speedy and reliable means. Heretofore, through the laxity with which 
the regulations on the subject have been enforced, it has been possible : 
to enter such objects in the mails of the Universal Postal Union as 
samples of merchandise and under the rates of postagetherefor. From 
. official information lately received from the Post Office Department of 
the United States it appears that such a rating is entirely unauthorized 
by existing provisions, and that objects of Natural History may be 
mailed to countries of the Union only at the rates required for letters. 
The United States Post Office Department also states that it had 
recently submitted a proposition to the countries composing the Postal 
Union, to modify the regulations so that such specimens might be 
received into the mails at the same rates as samples of merchandise; 
but that a sufficient number of those countries had voted against the 
proposition to defeatit. The countries which voted negatively are Aus- 
tria, Bolivia, British India, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Guate- 
mala, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, 
Tunis, Uruguay, Venezuela. 
he Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has therefore 
resolved to address the various scientific bodies,- with which it is in 
communication, in those countries whose Governments have voted 
against the proposition, and to request those scientific bodies to memo- 
rialize their respective Governments in favor of thesame. The follow- 
ing circular has been prepare 
The Government of having voted in the negative, this 
Academy respectfully requests the favorable consideration of this 
question by your Society, and begs that it take such steps as it deems 
advisible to inform the Postal authorities of of the mani- 
fest advantages to scientific research which would result from the adop- 
tion of the proposed modification, and to request those authorities to 
take such steps as may result in the adoption of the same. The letter 
rate for postage (Universal Postal Union) is ten times that required 
for samples of merchandise; such a rate for specimens of Natural His- 
tory is virtually prohibitive. This Academy would respectfully urge 
upon your honorable Society prompt action on this matter if it meets 
with that approval which we so strongly desire. 
President, Recording Secretary. 
