NOTES AND NEWS. 



23 



An important gathering of zoologists took place at the British Museum, on the 

 2nd of July, to meet Dr. Elliot Coues, the distinguished American ornithologist, 

 and confer with him as to the desirability or otherwise of engrafting upon the 

 existing I>innean binomial system of nomenclature a trinomial system to meet 

 certain exigencies. The American ornithologists have already done this, and 

 their line of argumentation is to the effect that while the binomial nomenclature 

 in its strict application was admirably suited to the Linnean notion of what con- 

 stituted a species, our altered views on the latter point rendered it desirable to 

 adopt some method by which geographical races, or subspecies, having a range 

 adjacent to but not identical with that of what may be called the primary species, 

 may be designated so as to show at once their true affinities. Thus Tit7'dus 

 77iigratoritis propinqtms is a geographical race closely allied to T. migTatorius^ but 

 having a distinct distribution. Wei-e it called ' 7\ propinqints ' its affinities would 

 be totally obscured. On the other hand, to call it simply T. migmtorhis would be 

 to ignore its difference from the type. It will be seen from this that it is not 

 proposed to use the new system to a very large extent, and, in point of fact, its 

 American advocates deprecate its application to other than geographical sub- 

 species — subspecies whose 'variation' is 'according to conditions of physical 

 environment, using this term in its largest sense, to cover all those exterior 

 influences which exert a modifying influence upon animal organisms. ' The con- 

 ference was attended by a large number of British zoologists, including such 

 well-known men as Professor Flower (who presided). Dr. Giinther, Professor 

 F. J. Bell, Dr. P. L. Sclater, Dr. Woodward, Lord Walsingham, Mr. R. B. Sharpe, 

 Mr. Blandford, Dr. Sharp, Dr. Traquair, Mr. H. T. Wharton, Mr. Howard 

 Saunders, Mr. Seebohm, and Mr. J. E. Harting ; and. as might be expected, there 

 were some divergences of opinion. But on the whole the majority seemed dis- 

 posed to accept the adoption of the proposed system, with certain limitations. 

 Full details of the conference are given in recent numbers of the Field and 

 Nature ; and Dr. Coues' views are fully expressed in his address to the National 

 Academy of Sciences, which is contained in the July number of the Zoologist. 



>ocX 



This year's list of the 15 newly-elected Fellows of the Royal Society includes a 

 somewhat large percentage of men from the northern counties. The colleges of 

 science are represented by four professors or lecturers ; Owens College at 

 Manchester by Professor Morrison Watson, M.D., and Arthur Ransome, M.D. ; 

 the Yorkshii-e College by Professor A. W. Riicker, M.A. ; and the Newcastle 

 College by Professor A. S. Herschell, M.A., F.R.A.S. Independent scientific 

 research is represented by Mr. Wilfrid H. Hudleston, M.A., the well-known 

 Yorkshire geologist, and by Mr. Joseph Baxendell, F.R.A.S,, of Manchester. 



>ocX 



Among the honours conferred upon northern workers during the past few 

 months it is gratifying to note that the Geological Society of London have 

 shown their appreciation of the value of the researches which Mr. Martin Simpson 

 of Whitby has made among the Jurassic rocks, especially upon the classification 

 and distribution of the Ammonitidae, by awarding to him the balance of the 

 proceeds of the Murchison Geological Fund. 



>oX 



In like manner the Linnean Society have marked their recognition of the 

 sound and useful character of work done in the investigation of the Flora of the 

 English Lake District, by electing Mr. William Hodgson one of their Associates 

 (a class limited to twenty-five in number). 



>ocX 



Our bryologists will soon be able to possess the second edition of Mr. C. P. 

 Hobkirk's * Synopsis of British Mosses,' which is to be pubHshed by Lovell 

 Reeve & Co. It has been entirely revised and completely re arranged, and will 

 contain all the species (numbering 576) and varieties known a» occurring in Britain 

 up to date. 



Aug. 1884. 



