CIRCULAR. 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., 
February 1, 1877. 
Dear Sir: 
At the Buffalo meeting of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, 1876, a report from the Committee on Zoological 
Nomenclature was presented by the Chairman, Dr. LeConte, and after 
discussion it was decided that the undersigned be appointed a committee 
of one for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion from the 
working naturalists of the United States and Canada, in regard to the 
nature of a set of rules for facilitating the decision of questions relating 
to nomenclature, and which might be adopted and recommended by the 
Association. For this purpose it was decided to issue circulars. It was 
further understood that these circulars should be prepared, distributed, 
and, upon their return, a report upon the result prepared by the under- 
signed, to be presented at the Nashville meeting in 1877 ; these proceed- 
ings to be preliminary to consideration of, and definite action on the 
subject by the Association, if action be decided to be desirable. 
In order to place some reasonable limit on the number to be distributed, 
it was decided that the circular should be sent only to those naturalists 
who have, during the last five years published descriptive zoological or 
botanical papers. 
The question under consideration being one in which every naturalist 
must be more or less concerned, it is confidently expected that the per- 
sons who maj r receive the circular, will devote to it the small amount of 
time required to fulfil its purpose, in order that a full expression of opin- 
ion may be obtained. In order that as little writing as possible shall be 
required, the questions have been so framed as in most cases to call for 
only a categorical answer. This method is also absolutely essential to 
prevent ambiguity. 
You are, therefore, requested to insert in the spaces left for the purpose 
in the accompanying circular, such answers to the questions of which it 
is composed, as are in your opinion most desirable and expedient. Having 
done this, you are further requested to sign and mail the circular to the 
undersigned as promptly as possible, in order that the preparation of the 
report may not be delayed. 
I remain very respectfully, 
Wm. II. Dall, 
Committee. 
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