160 Anniversary Adch-ess by Sir A. Geikie. [Nov. 30, 



beginning to the end of the nineteenth century. Of this great work twelve 

 volumes have been published, bringing it down to the year 1883. The 

 materials for the remaining seventeen years are now in course of com- 

 pilation, but so great lias been the increase of scientific serials during the 

 latter portion of last century that the number of entries for these years 

 will probably equal, if it does not exceed, that for the whole period from 

 1800 to 1883. While the laborious task of preparing this Authors' catalogue 

 is in progress, under the able direction of Dr. McLeod, the preparation of an 

 Index of Subjects is being simultaneously carried on. One volume of this 

 Index, devoted to Pure Mathematics, has been issued. A second volume, 

 dealing with Mechanics, will soon be ready for publication, while those for 

 Physics and Chemistry are far advanced. The whole Index, when completed, 

 will consist of seventeen volumes, grouped according to the scheme of the 

 ' International Catalogue of Scientific Literature.' The supreme importance 

 of such a Catalogue of Scientific Papers and Index of Subjects for all engaged 

 in active scientific life has everywhere been recognised. r>ut the cost of 

 producing such works has been a severe burden on the resources of the 

 Koyal Society, and, indeed, could hardly "have been continued, but for the 

 generous aid afforded by our colleague. Dr. Ludwig Mond, who has taken so 

 keen an interest in the progress of the compilation. The task of carrying 

 on the Catalogue from the beginning of the present century was felt to be 

 beyond the power of this Society alone. IJut the project has not been 

 allowed to lapse, for it has now become an international undertaking to 

 which the Governments of various countries contribute. The central office 

 remains in London, while the Poyal Society has had to continue its financial 

 responsibility for the printing contracts. 



lUit over and above the preparation and issue of what are more ])roperly 

 its own serials, the Society from time t'o time undertakes the charge of other 

 extraneous publications. Such, for instance, at tlie present time, are the 

 volumes embodying the physical results of the National Antarctic Expedition 

 in the "Discovery" during the years 1901 — 1904, of which four volumes 

 have been issued, and the last, dealing with the Meteorology, is now in pre- 

 paration. Valual)le lieports drawn up l)y Fellows in past years liave in this 

 way been puljlished by the Society, of which the volumes on Krakatoa, 

 Funafuti, the Ceyh)n Pearl Fisheries, and tlie Magnetic Survey of South 

 Africa may be cited as exani])h!s. 



From what I have now said it will be ol)vious that had the ifoyal Society 

 no other duties to discharge save those in connection with the preparation of 

 its publications, it would, like other scientilie societies, have W(jrk enougli 

 on hand fully to occupy its time and abs(»rl) its resources. IWit tiie jieri'orm- 



