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NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
INDEX ANIMALIUM. 
Sherborn, Charles Davies, ‘ Index Animalium sive index 
nominum quae ab A.D. MDCCLVXII. generibus et speciebus 
animalium impositae sunt. Sectio secunda a Kalendis Januariis 
MDCCCL. usque ad finem Decembris MDCCCL. Part I. 
Introduction, Bibliography and Index A — Aff., pp. i.-cxxxi., 
1-128, 1801-1850/ London : Printed by order of the 
Trustees of the British Museum, 1922, 8vo., price 20/-. The 
work, of which this is a second instalment, is nothing less 
than a heroic attempt to compile a list of the generic and 
specific names given to animals since the publication of the 
tenth edition of the ‘ Systema Naturae ’ of Linnaeus (1758). 
When it is remembered that Mr. Sherborn’s method of compiling 
his index is not to rely upon the work of his predecessors in this 
field but to start de novo, and go through the whole of zoological 
literature page by page, listing the names of genera and species 
as he comes across them, it will be seen that the adjective 
‘heroic’ we have applied to the enterprise is fully justified. 
More than thirty years ago the work was begun, and in 1902 
the first section, comprising the names given from 1758 to 1800, 
was published by the Cambridge University Press. Financial 
aid has been received from the British Association, the Royal 
and Zoological Societies and from the British Museum Trustees, 
who have now assumed all responsibility for its continuance. 
We are, however, shocked to find that the stipend paid to Mr. 
Sherborn for this exacting and laborious work amounts to less 
than the wages of the Lavatory Attendant ! 
A VALUABLE WORK. 
The first section, published twenty years ago, occupied 
1254 pages, but it is estimated that several volumes will be 
required for the completion of the second. After a brief intro- 
duction and a short list of Libri desiderati, to which we invite 
the kind attention of all librarians, upwards of one hundred 
pages are occupied by a closely printed list of the works which 
have been consulted. Endless pains have been given to the 
accurate determination of the actual dates of publication of 
these, especially of serials and works issued in irregular parts. 
Chronological details are given in all difficult and important 
cases. Any one who has been unfortunate enough to take 
part in discussions on priority in nomenclature will fully 
appreciate the value of this information. To many entries, 
Mr. Sherborn has thoughtfully appended the letters * No n.spp,’ 
which, like a board bearing the words ‘ no road,’ will save 
others from wasting their energy in a fruitless search. Of the 
index itself, only 128 pages are given in the present fascicule, 
which extend from ‘A’ to ‘ Affmis/ containing about 7000 
1922 May 
K 
