362 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Dec.. 
The fourth- decimal number represents subsections, as in the following 
example :— 
594 Mollusca. 
594T Lamellibranchiata. 
594-2 Scaphopoda. 
594-3 Gastropoda. 
594-4 Pteropoda. 
594-5 Cephalopoda. 
594-6 Mollus coidea. 
594-7 Bryozoa. 
594-8 Brachiopoda. 
594-9 Tunicata. 
In many cases the subsections are further subdivided in the tables 
explaining the system. 
Geographical distribution may be indicated by adding numbers taken 
from the group 930-99 (but omitting the first 9, which indicates History). 
In this group we have 993 Australasia, 993-1 New Zealand, 994 Australia, 
994-1 Western Australia. Thus 594-3931 indicates Gastropoda of New 
Zealand. 
Another system of library classification is that of the Institut 
International de Bibliographic, a body created by an international congress 
in 1895, and developed by subsequent congresses in 1897, 1900, and 1908. 
This institute has elaborated a method of classification bv decimal numbers 
which may be applied not only to all printed matter from a sheet of music 
or a poster to an encyclopaedia, but also to manuscripts and letters ; so that 
it is claimed to be of universal application, and to be able to bring any 
document, of whatever nature, into relation with all other documents of its 
series. The complete classification and indexes are given in a manual 
published by the Institut, the permanent seat of which is in Brussels. 
Unfortunately, owing to the war, I have been unable to procure a copy of 
this manual, and I have been unable to learn of the existence of a copy in 
any New Zealand library. Such information as I can glean from a Notice 
sommaire indicates that it is based upon the Dewey system, but presumably 
it is more fully elaborated and more suitable for the classification of a 
library of science and technology, and also of a historical library. 
Neither of the above systems has been found to serve completely the 
needs of scientific bibliography, and it may be of interest to describe briefly 
two systems which have been devised to meet these needs. 
The International Catalogue of Scientific Literature consists of a series 
of printed volumes, and deals with all papers published in 1900 and succes¬ 
sive years. It is based on a relative index system, making use of both 
letters and decimals. The volumes are divided into series bearing capital 
letters as follows :— 
A 
Mathematics. 
K 
Palaeontology. 
B 
Mechanics. 
L 
Biology. 
C 
Physics. 
M 
Botanv. 
«/ 
D 
Chemistrv. 
xJ 
N 
Zoology. * 
E 
Astronomy. 
O 
Anatomy. 
F 
Meteorology. 
P 
Anthropology. 
G 
Mineralogy. 
Q 
Physiology. 
H 
Geology. 
R 
Bacteriology. 
J 
Geography. 
Within each science thus indicated there is a decimal system of classifi¬ 
cation, the schedules for which are included in each volume, and are re¬ 
capitulated in a special volume published in 1905. These schedules differ 
for each science, so that A1640 includes papers treating of the calculus of 
differences, while 01640 applies to the maturation of the ovum. In the case 
