Obscure Publications

[christian thompson]

Gary:

I am sorry but you are WRONG about this particular point.=20

Remember the Wells & Wellington case? I was on the Commission at that time =
and was unable to obtain a copy of the publications in question. AND I =
wasn't the only one who was refused copies (or was  it because it was OUT =
OF PRINT instantly!). However, I suggested to my fellow commissioners that =
we follow your argumentation, etc., in the sense "when first issued, free =
of charge or by purchase" means to ALL. The majority of the Commission =
would not accept that interpretation, instead believed it meant "at least =
... to some"  That is, if some were able to obtain copies, then the =
publication is available.  Note that our code doesn't specify the NUMBER =
of copies beyond "numerous."  And I can tell you the Commission has agrued =
about what that means: It means more than TWO but less than INNUMERABLE, =
but the Commission has never defined "numerous" formally.

In the case of the journals I mentioned, I do know that some got copies. =
And I have gotten reprints of some of the articles in the journals. BUT an =
online search by our librarians shows no libraries as holding the journals =
in question (that is, it is impossible to get a loan, xerox, etc., from =
the library system).

Oh, well ...


F. Christian Thompson
Systematic Entomology Lab., USDA
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D. C. 20560
(202) 382-1800 voice
(202) 786-9422 FAX
cthompso at sel.barc.usda.gov

>>> Gary Rosenberg <rosenberg at ACNATSCI.ORG> 03/16/99 09:51AM >>>
>In one case I have found myself listed as on the Editorial Board but the
>editor has been unable to either supply me with copies of the journal nor
>willing to sell copies to the Smithsonian Institution! Needless to say
>these journals are not indexed by Zoological Record. Unfortunately, under
>our code the nomenclatural actions therein published are available (?I
>think botanists would say *effectively published*).

Such a publication does not satisfy ICZN Article 8(a)(2) "must be
obtainable, when first issued, free of charge or by purchase" and it is =
not
available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                     rosenberg at acnatsci.org=20
Malacology & Invertebrate Paleontology    gopher://erato.acnatsci.org
Academy of Natural Sciences               http://www.acnatsci.org=20
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway            Phone 215-299-1033
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195 USA           Fax   215-299-1170