46 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
that recommended by the B. A. Rules and already adopted by a majority of natural- 
ists. 
It may seem superfluous to object to works of the third category. But beside sev- 
eral MSS. preserved in Museum libraries and sometimes quoted, though never printed, 
there are a few works which have been printed but never published. This is the case 
with a Museum Catalogue prepared by Link about 1806. 
It was printed and contained a host of new names. But whether the author w r as 
ashamed of his work, or the authorities of the University declined to be sponsors tor 
the innovations, the work was never offered lor sale, distributed, or advertised by the 
author. 
Only one copy is definitely known to have escaped from the University cellars, and 
it has been stated that the remainder, or most of them, were destroyed by fire. Yet in 
1851, the solitary copy having been discovered, one or two authors called attention to 
it and demanded that these names should take precedence of those of Lamarck and 
others, which had been in use for nearly half a century. A few writers have adopted 
this suggestion, and in one branch of science at least, deplorable confusion has resulted. 
The auctioneer’s catalogue of Bolten’s collection printed in 1798, but fortunately 
containing no diagnoses, and of which only one or two copies are known, falls nearly 
in the same category. A reprint was made in 1819 but is also one of the rarest of books. 
§ LXIII. To avoid increasing the difficulties encountered in dealing 
with the already enormous mass of scientific names, authors are earnestly 
recommended to take the following precautions in publication. 
1. To publish matter containing descriptions of new groups or species 
in the regularly appearing proceedings of some well established scientific 
society, or in some scientific serial of acknowledged standing and perma- 
nence. 
2. If a separate publication or independent work be issued by any 
author, copies should at once be sent to the principal learned societies, 
scientific libraries and especially to those persons or associations known 
to be engaged in the publication of bibliographical records or annual 
reviews of scientific progress. 2 
The work should also be placed at the disposition of the scientific world 
by an advertisement of copies placed in the hands of some firm, society 
or individual, for sale or distribution. 
8. To avoid most carefully the publication of new names or changes of 
nomenclature in newspapers; serials not of a scientific nature or of lim- 
ited circulation ; in the occasional pamphlets issued by weak, torpid or 
obscure associations which are distributed only to members or not at all; 
and in brief lists, catalogues or pamphlets independently issued, insuffi- 
ciently distributed or not to be found on sale. 
The question of the restriction of the nature of the channels through which addi- 
tions to, or changes in nomenclature may be made, so as to exclude from considera- 
tion in synonymy such publications as do' not conform to the proposed restrictions, 
has frequently been mooted. It was touched on in your Reporter’s circular (XXV, 
XXVI) but the replies were almost unanimously to the effect that however desirable 
it may be, the plan is impracticable; a judgment in which the Reporter, with some re- 
luctance feels obliged to concur. 
It is clearly, however, the duty of every publishing author to concur as far as pos- 
2 This can at present easily be done with hardly any expense, in thig country, 
through the Smithsoqian Institution apd its agenfs. 
