tion of the International Code. Influenced by the view that it was 
time to adopt a common code for all groups and for all countries, 
Blanchard proposed a code which was adopted by the first (1889, Paris) 
and second (1892, Moscow) International Zoological Congresses. His 
discussion of the principles involved is classical and his essays will 
remain standard works of reference. Still, the point has been raised 
that the work involved was too extensive to be properly considered in 
all detail in a large audience without previous careful study by a rep- 
resentative committee, and while many authors accepted the rules 
adopted by the two congresses of 1SS9 and 1892, other authors failed 
to follow them. 
The German Zoological Society (1891) adopted a code of its own, 
prepared by a special committee, consisting of Carus, Doderlein, and 
Mobius. and the German members of that society have followed these 
rules more or less in detail. 
When the Third International Zoological Congress met (1S95, Ley- 
den) the situation was practically as follows: 
English svstematists were following the Stricklandian Code: French 
svstematists were following the International Code; German sys- 
tematists were following the German Code: American svstematists 
were divided between the Stricklandian, the “A. O. U., r the Dali, 
and the International codes; svstematists in special groups were in 
some cases following special or even personal codes; and systematists 
of Italy, Russia, and some other countries were following either the 
International or some other code. 
F. E. Schulze proposed to the Third International Congress (1895, 
Leyden) that an international commission of five members should be 
appointed to study all of these codes and to consider their similarities 
and differences. This proposition was supported by Blanchard, and 
the following commission was appointed: Prof. R. Blanchard (Paris), 
Prof. J. V. Cams (Leipzig), Dr. F. A. Jentink (Leyden), Dr. P. L. 
Sclater (London), and Dr. Ch. Wardell Stiles (Washington). 
The commission reported progress at the Fourth International 
Congress (1898, Cambridge) and was increased to fifteen members. 
This larger commission reported to the Fifth International Congress 
(1901. Berlin), and the code proposed was adopted. A subcommittee 
consisting of Blanchard, von Maehrenthal, and Stiles was then 
instructed to edit the code in English. French, and German, and this 
duty was completed at the Sixth Congress (Berne. 1901). 
The Berne Congress reorganized the permanent commission so that 
five of its members retire every three years; as at present constituted 
it is as follows: 
To retire in 1907 : Dr. R. Horst (Leyden), Dr. F. A. Jentink (Ley- 
• den), President David Starr Jordan (Palo Alto, Cal.), Prof. F. E. 
Schulze (Berlin), Dr. L. Stejneger (Washington). 
