222 
MCGEE. 
selection of these societies was the accessibility of their pub¬ 
lications. 
The National Academy of Sciences was chosen because it 
is the most exclusive scientific society of the country, because 
it comprises the highest scientific talent of the land, because 
its geographic relations are similar to those of the Geological 
Society of America, and because its relations to various 
specialties are much the same as the relations of the last 
named society to a more restricted group of specialties. It 
was not selected as a representative scientific society in the 
matter or manner of its publications, because its relations to 
the federal government are such that its publications are 
necessarily unique. Neither was it selected because of acces¬ 
sibility of its publications. Indeed, the publications of the 
Academy are practically inaccessible ; there is no complete 
set in any public library in Washington; and weeks of labor 
and inquiry among private libraries and officers of the 
Academy were insufficient for the preparation of a complete 
list. There is probably no scientific society in this country 
whose publications are more inaccessible than those of the 
National Academy of Sciences. 
The American Association for the Advancement of Science 
was selected partly because the Association began as a 
national geologic society, and partly because it is a repre¬ 
sentative scientific society of the migratory class. With its 
growth the original function of the society has been changed: 
from a strictly scientific organization, established for the 
direct advancement of science through investigation, it has 
become a semi-social body which promotes science by diffu¬ 
sion ; it is no longer an organization for investigation, but 
rather for popularization, and its plan of publication has 
undergone concurrent modification. 
The Philosophical Society of Washington is, despite its 
inconspicuous place in the conspectus of publications, one of 
the most active and potent among the local scientific societies 
of the country. Its small publication record is indeed mis¬ 
leading. While most of its members are actively engaged 
