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ENTOMOLOGICAL INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL 
Ross A. Arnett, Jr., has recently (1970) published a book 
under the title above (available from Bio-Rand Foundation, 1330 
Dillon Heights Ave, Baltimore MD 21228, for $7.95), which 
summarizes the processes and procedures an entomologist (read 
systematist, equally validly) must go through in order to keep up 
with current literature. The volume is designed as a text book, 
and includes throughout assignments, bibliographic tasks, and 
problems meant to push a student into trying out the techniques 
described. At the same time, it should prove fairly valuable 
reading to others, providing they skim over material and state¬ 
ments obviously provided for a beginner (e.g., "in order to com¬ 
plete the assignments utilizing automatic data processing and 
computer programming access to such equipment is necessary."). 
There is not too much in this book concerned directly with 
computer storage and retrieval, and MUDPIE readers should not 
expect to find it too useful in that direction. The program pre¬ 
sented by D. L. Jameson in Bioscience, 19, 1969, pp. 232-233, is 
revised and included for those who need a retrieval algorithm 
(pp. 120-122) , and a test run on a literature search using three 
code words is included. Almost all of Arnett's suggestions, 
coding, and directions are tied to the 80 column IBM card. This 
may or may not be good, depending upon facilities available. It 
may still be true that most computer users are still forced to 
input information in an 80 column format, but the ease with which 
the same job is done on a time-shared computer should perhaps have 
been mentioned in a book of this sort. 
Arnett discusses in some detail (pp. 56-60) his plan called 
"Data Documents for Systematic Entomology," which has since been 
implemented by the journal Entomological News. This concept de¬ 
serves wider attention, and will be handled more completely in 
a later issue in MUDPIE.--JAP. 
GEOLOGICAL DATA HANDLING 
A project on the s 
the Sedgwick Museum, De 
reached the end of its 
ject users* requirement 
have been examined and 
and processing of data, 
oped for these tasks ha 
and indexes, and will b 
IBM 370/165. A final r 
torage and retrieval of geological data at 
pt. of Geology, Cambridge University, has 
first phase. During the course of the pro- 
s for a geological data-handling system 
a system designed for the input, storage 
The package of computer programs devel- 
s been used to produce sample catalogues 
e adapted for use on the University's new 
eport of the project will soon be avail¬ 
able. 
Continuation of the work will be possible under a grant from 
the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, London. The 
