750 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
[Dec., 
authors, one was returned to the author, one was transferred to the 
Entomological Section, and two await action. A communication 
from F. Rynchowski, of Lemberg, embodying his researches on the 
“ Electroid (Eteroid) ” was, with the author’s consent, referred 
to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 
The first year of the new century sees the completion of the 
fifty-third volume of the Proceedings and the eleventh volume of 
the quarto or second series of the Journal . The first series in 
octavo, in eight volumes, extended from 1817 to 1842. The 
Academy’s entire serial contributions to science, therefore, now 
consists of seventy-two volumes. The earlier issues, especially, 
formed almost the only means by which the working naturalists of 
America could communicate with those of kindred interests else¬ 
where, and much of the results of the original investigations of 
Say, Ord, LeSeuer, Nuttall, Maclure, Horner, Mitchell, Rafin- 
esque, Lea, Hentz, Troost, Vanuxem, De Schweinitz and many 
others of the leading naturalists of America are to be found in 
these volumes. An index to this collection of scientific papers is 
manifestly desirable, and would probably be regarded by students 
as a valuable aid in their work. The present time is especially ap¬ 
propriate for its publication, because it would not only form a 
guide to all that the Academy has given to the world during the 
last century, but it would be continued without break or repetition 
by the proposed index to scientific lilerature which is about to be 
prepared under the auspices of the Royal Society of London, as 
the result of international cooperation. The compilation is recom¬ 
mended of an index that will be a complete and reliable guide to 
the contents of the Academy’s serial publications, consisting of 
perhaps three sections devoted to author, subject and species 
entries. It does not seem desirable in the course of the work to 
attempt the decision of questions of priority or the determination of 
synonymy. 
Fourteen members and five correspondents have been elected. 
The deaths of five members and six correspondents have been 
announced and the following members have resigned: Edw. H. 
Coates, Robert S Davis, Edw. Gideon, William DeCou, Vickers 
Oberholzer, A. H. Stewart, W. E. Barrows and Thomas Stew- 
ardson. 
A severe loss was sustained in the death, November 19, of Mr. 
