Scientific 
[nvestigators. 
ONE of the greatest needs of American science 
at the present time is a convenient medium in which — 
brief preliminary notices of the results of investigation 
can be published. A considerable length of time of 
necessity elapses between the conclusion of any series 
of observations and their appearance in print, and it 
is of great advantage to the observer, and still more to 
his fellow-workers, to have the results made known as ; 
soon as possible, thus insuring priority of discovery to 
__ the one, and allowing the others to keep more perfectly : 
posted with what is going on in the scientific “o 
around them. = 
. A preliminary notice should be nabii at once fe! 
= to be of value, and hitherto there has been no scientific ~ 
periodical in this country, published at sufficiently brief 
_ intervals, and open to all investigators, which has 
Specially opened its columns to the publication of such = : 
_ hotices, and has undertaken to make them public ¥ "b 
a5. little delay as possible. This the NATURA! a 
proposes to do, and invites the coöperation of alt 1 
vestigators in an attempt to inaugurate a department 
for the prompt and satisfactory publication of pr 
>- notices of the results of scientific ineei 
