i6i 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



POSTAGE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, 



On the I2th of March, an influential deputation from the 

 British Science Guild, which consisted of representatives from 

 most of the important Societies in the country, waited upon the 

 Postmaster-General for the purpose of asking for a reduction 

 in the rate of postage on the publications of Scientific and 

 Learned Societies. The deputation was introduced by Mr. 

 F. Verney. M.P., who stated that there was ' a practically 

 unanimous desire among all the learned and scientific societies 

 of Great Britain and Ireland to be allowed to have a consider- 

 able reduction in the postage rates for the various journals and 

 magazines which are very necessary to the furtherance of the 

 object which these scientific and learned societies have in view. 

 These societies exist for the advancement of science and 

 original investigation in Great Britain ; and it is, to a very large 

 extent, to their fostering care, and to the fact that they afford 

 facilities for the publication of original work, and for the free 

 discussion of such work by circulating large numbers of copies 

 of their proceedings and transactions describing such original 

 work, that the progress of science and research is promoted.' 

 The Postmaster-General, however, was not s^^mpathetic, and 

 gave no hope to the deputation. Judging from the report 

 which has been sent to us, the Postmaster-General could 

 not see the difference between the publications of scientific 

 societies and those of charitable or cyclists' societies ! 



THE DATING OF SOCIETIES' TRANSACTIONS. 



With regard to the question raised in this column for March, 

 which was replied to by Dr. Dwerryhouse, we publish this 

 month a communication from Dr. Bather on this important 

 subject. Few people have had more experience in these matters 

 than has Dr. Bather, hence any opinions of his are of excep- 

 tional weight. He has been an editor of scientific publications 

 for twenty-six years, was Secretary of the British Association 

 Com.mittee on Zoological Bibliography and Publication, is 

 Secretary of the British Association Committee for the com- 

 pilation of an Index Animalium, has been on the staff of the 

 ' Zoological Record ' for sixteen years, and is now on the 

 Record Committee. Although the question has arisen in 

 connection with a specific society's publication, it is of very 

 great importance from a general point of view, and v/e commend 



igoS May i. 



