war in Europe, but it is a matter of congratulation that the preparation and publication has been continued with comparatively little change. As was pointed out in the last report the finances of the catalogue had been seriously affected on account of the inability to collect the subscriptions from Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, and Poland.

Before the beginning of the war the receipts and expenditures of the London Central Bureau approximately balanced and therefore as the delinquent remittances from the five subscribing countries above mentioned amounted to almost $6,000 a year it was necessary to obtain this sum in order to continue the publication.

The Royal Society of London very generously offered to make good this loss of income and made a grant of £1,100 to enable the thirteenth annual issue to be published. The Royal Society has subsequently granted additional sums aggregating £3,750 to enable the Central Bureau to continue the publication of the catalogue without interruption.

A request having been made for assistance from the United States the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution became so interested in the subject that he was enabled to obtain a grant of $6,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the purpose of aiding American students by making it possible for the Central Bureau to publish the fourteenth annual issue of the catalogue.

The value and service to science of the work done by the catalogue is so universally recognized that any lapse in its regular publication would be a serious calamity.

The great need for a Catalogue of Scientific Literature was felt as far back as 1855 when Prof. Joseph Henry brought the subject to the attention of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The idea resulted in the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers which will, when completed, be a catalogue of periodical scientific literature from 1800 to 1900.

Though this catalogue is simply a list of titles by authors' names, including only periodical literature, it soon became evident that its production was too great a task for one society or even one nation to continue; therefore in 1893 a council of the Royal Society was held and a committee was appointed to consider the question. It was agreed that international cooperation should be obtained for the production of a complete subject and author catalogue of science beginning with 1901.

The value of such a catalogue as then proposed may be estimated when it is considered that some of the most eminent scientific men of the day were members of the committee. Among the members were Lord Kelvin, Lord Rayleigh, Sir Michael Foster, Sir Joseph Lister, and Dr. Ludwig Mond. At the first meeting Prof. Armstrong

was elected chairman and he has ever since been prominently identified with the affairs of the catalogue.

To obtain international cooperation the committee caused over 200 letters to be sent to institutions and societies throughout the world and in 1895 a special meeting was called to confer with Prof. Alexander Agassiz, who advised that an international conference be called in 1896.

In the report of the committee it was stated "that in no single case was any doubt expressed as to the extreme value of the work contemplated," and "that the matter had been taken up in a most cordial manner by the Smithsonian Institution, the secretary of which, in his reply, refers to the desirability of a catalogue of the kind suggested as being so obvious that the work commends itself at once."

Three international conferences were held in London (1896, 1898, and 1900), and as a result the publication of the catalogue was undertaken.

It may be noted that among the prominent delegates attending these conferences (not including those before mentioned as members of the Committee of the Royal Society) were Sir Norman Lockyer, Prof. H. Poincaré, Prof. Simon Newcomb, Dr. John S. Billings, Right Hon. Sir. John E. Gorst, and Prof. Van't Hoff. On the advice of these and other prominent men the catalogue was begun.

The value of the catalogue is shown by the following resolution adopted 10 years after the publication was begun by the representatives of the countries participating in the work:

That in view of the success already achieved by the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature and the great importance of the objects promoted by it, it is imperative to continue the publication of the catalogue at least during the period 1911-15 and on recommendation of the International Council during the subsequent five years 1916-20. (The International Council of the catalogue has subsequently voted to extend the work during the period 1916–20.)

This convention was presided over by Sir Archibald Geikie, then president of the Royal Society, and had among its members representatives from all of the principal countries of the world.

These men were thoroughly familiar with the service of the catalogue to the scientific men in their respective countries and voted unanimously to continue the work on account of the value and success achieved by it.

Respectfully submitted.

Dr. CHARLES D. WALCOTT,

LEONARD C. GUNNELL,
Assistant in Charge.

Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

APPENDIX 8.

REPORT ON THE PUBLICATIONS.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report on the publications of the Smithsonian Institution and its branches during the year ending June 30, 1916:

The Institution proper published during the year 22 papers in the series of Miscellaneous Collections, 2 annual reports, pamphlet copies of 54 papers from the general appendices of these reports, and 8 special publications. The Bureau of American Ethnology published 2 annual reports, separates of 4 accompanying papers in these reports, and 2 bulletins. The United States National Museum issued 1 annual report, 2 volumes of the proceedings, and 52 separate papers forming parts of these and other volumes, and 4 bulletins.

The total number of copies of publications distributed by the Institution and its branches was 153,262, which includes 249 volumes and separate memoirs of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, 32,397 volumes and separate pamphlets of Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 25,718 volumes and separate pamphlets of Smithsonian Annual Reports, 73,798 volumes and separates of National Museum publications, 12,420 publications of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 7,696 special publications, 47 volumes of the Annals of Astrophysical Observatory, 83 reports of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, and 647 reports of the American Historical Association.

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE.

QUARTO.

The title-page, table of contents, and cover for volume 27 were issued, and there was in press at the close of the year a memoir by Dr. J. S. Foote, of Creighton Medical College, on "The comparative histology of the femur," the result of extended original research.

SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS.

OCTAVO.

Of the Miscellaneous Collections, volume 62, 2 papers were published; of volume 63, 1 paper; of volume 64, 3 papers; of volume 65, 8 papers and title-page and table of contents; of volume 66, 8 papers; in all, 22 papers, as follows:

Volume 62.

No. 4. Reports on wind tunnel experiments in aerodynamics. By J. C. Hunsaker, E. Buckingham, H. E. Rossell, D. W. Douglas, C. L. Brand, and E. B. Wilson. Hodgkins Fund. January 15, 1916. 92 pp., 5 pls. (Publ.

2368.)

No. 5. Dynamical stability of aeroplanes. By Jerome C. Hunsaker, assisted by T. H. Huff, D. W. Douglas, H. K. Chow, and V. E. Clark. Hodgkins Fund. June 30, 1916. 78 pp., 3 pls. (Publ. 2414.)

Volume 63.

No. 6. Smithsonian Physical Tables. Reprint of sixth revised edition. By F. E. Fowle. February 18, 1916. xxxvi+355 pp.

Volume 64.

No. 3. Cambrian Geology and Paleontology. III, No. 3.

Charles D. Walcott. January 14, 1916.

(Publ. 2370.)

(Publ. 2269.)

Cambrian trilobites. By
Pp. 157-258, pls. 24-38.

No. 4. Cambrian Geology and Paleontology. III, No. 4. Relations between the Cambrian and pre-Cambrian formations in the vicinity of Helena, Montana. By Charles D. Walcott. June 24, 1916. Pp. 259-301, pls. 39-44. (Publ. 2416.)

No. 5. Cambrian Geology and Paleontology. III, No. 5. Cambrian trilobites. By Charles D. Walcott. In press.

Volume 65.

No. 3. A study of the radiation of the atmosphere. Based upon observations of the nocturnal radiation during expeditions to Algeria and to California. By Anders Ångström. Hodgkins Fund. August 27, 1915. 159 pp. (Publ. 2354.)

No. 6. Explorations and field work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1914. July 1, 1915. 95 pp., pl. (Publ. 2363.)

No. 9. Arequipa pyrheliometry. By C. G. Abbot. Hodgkins Fund. March 1, 1916. 24 pp. (Publ. 2367.)

No. 10. A phylogenetic study of the recent crinoids, with special reference to the question of specialization through the partial or complete suppression of structural characters. By Austin H. Clark. August 19, 1915. 67 pp. (Publ. 2369.)

No. 11. A magneton theory of the structure of the atom. By A. L. Parson. November 29, 1915. 80 pp., 2 pls. (Publ. 2371.)

1

No. 12. The jaw of the Piltdown Man. By Gerrit S. Miller, jr. November 24, 1915. 31 pp., 5 pls. (Publ. 2376.)

No. 13. Descriptions of seven new subspecies and one new species of African birds (Plantain-Eater, Courser, and Rail). By Edgar A. Mearns. November 26, 1915. 9 pp. (Publ. 2378.)

No. 14. The sense organs on the mouth parts of the honey bee. By N. E. McIndoo. January 12, 1916. 55

Title-page and table of contents.

No. 1. Descriptions of a new

pp.

(Publ. 2381.)

June 17, 1916. v pp. (Publ. 2419.)

Volume 66.

genus and eight new species and subspecies of African mammals. By N. Hollister. February 10, 1916. 8 pp. (Publ. 2416.)

No. 2. A list of the birds observed in Alaska and Northeastern Siberia during the summer of 1914. By F. Seymour Hersey. March 31, 1916. 33 pp. (Publ. 2408.)

No. 3. Explorations and field work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1915. May 27, 1916. 119 pp. (Publ. 2407.)

No. 4. The Ordaz and Dortal expeditions in search of El Dorado, as described on sixteenth century maps. By Rudolf Schuller. April 27, 1916. 15 pp., 2 maps. (Publ. 2411.)

No. 5. On the distribution of radiation over the sun's disk and new evidences of the solar variability. By C. G. Abbot, F. E. Fowle, and L. B. Aldrich. Hodgkins Fund. May 23, 1916. 24 pp., 1 pl. (Publ. 2412.)

No. 6. Phonetic transcription of Indian languages. In press.

No. 7. The Pyranometer-an instrument for measuring sky radiation. By C. G. Abbot and L. B. Aldrich. Hodgkins Fund. May 23, 1916. 9 pp. (Publ. 2417.)

No. 8. Three new African shrews of the genus Crocidura. By N. Hollister. May 23, 1916. 3 pp. (Publ. 2418.)

SMITHSONIAN ANNUAL REPORTS.

Report for 1914.

The completed volume of the Annual Report of the Board of Regents for 1914 was received from the Public Printer in August, 1915.

Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution showing operations, expenditures, and condition of the Institution for the year ending June 30, 1914. xi+729 pp., 155 pls. (Publ. 2321.)

The general appendix contained the following papers, small editions of which were printed in pamphlet form:

The radiation of the sun. By C. G. Abbot. 16 pp., 4 pls. (Publ. 2322.)
Modern theories of the sun. By Jean Bosler. 8 pp., 2 pls. (Publ. 2323.)
The form and constitution of the earth. By Louis B. Stewart. 14 pp. (Publ.
2324.)

Some remarks on logarithms apropos to their tercentenary. By M. d'Ocagne. 7 pp., 2 pls. (Publ. 2325.)

Modern views on the constitution of the atom. By A. S. Eve. 9 pp. (Publ. 2326.)

Gyrostats and gyrostatic action. By Andrew Gray. 16 pp., 10 pls. (Publ. 2327.)

Stability of aeroplanes. By Orville Wright. 8 pp. (Publ. 2328.)

The first man-carrying aeroplane capable of sustained free flight-Langley's success as a pioneer in aviation. By A. F. Zahm. 6 pp., 8 pls. (Publ. 2329.) Some aspects of industrial chemistry. By L. H. Baekeland. 25 pp. (Publ. 2330.)

Explosives. By Edward P. O'Hern. 27 pp., 7 pls. (Publ. 2331.)
Climates of geologic time. By Charles Schuchert. 35 pp.
Pleochroic haloes. By J. Joly. 15 pp., 3 pls. (Publ. 2333.)

(Publ. 2332.)

The geology of the bottom of the seas. By L. de Launay. 24 pp. (Publ. 2334.)

Recent oceanographic researches. By Ch. Gravier. 10 pp. (Publ. 2335.) The Klondike and Yukon goldfield in 1913. By H. M. Cadell. 20 pp., 6 pls. (Publ. 2336.)