Scale of Colours

IN NATURE, vol. xxi. p. 172, it is stated that at a meeting of the Zoological Society, December 2, 1879, ``A letter was read from Mr. E. L. Layard, F.L.S., advocating the desirability of a fixed scale of colour for use among naturalists in describing the plumage and pelages of birds and other animals''. Perhaps Mr. Layard is not aware that such a scale, in form of thin 8vo, was published by Patrick Syme in Edinburgh, in 1821 the tints being illustrated by carefully coloured examples. The exacttitle of the work, a copy of which is in my own library, is as follows:-``Werner's Nomenclature of Colours, with Additions, arranged so as to render it highly useful to the Arts and Sciences, particularly Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, and Morbid Anatomy. Annexed to which are Examples selected from Well known Objects in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms''. The date given above is that of the second edition) whish was ``Printed for William Blackwood, Edinburgh, and T. Cadells, Strand, London''.