* Whereas biologists can now use with impunity the title of ‘International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme’ on the understanding that only a ‘trait d'union’ (hyphen) is employed in it between Geosphere and Biosphere – which is now our regular practice in this Journal when referring to this important Programme – such mention as a ‘geosphere-biosphere linkage’ suggests some continuation of the alternative use of Biosphere as the totality or ‘network’ of living matter, which to us does not make scientific (or at least not biological) sense.—Ed.

† See also the account on pp. 355–6 of this issue, by Dr F.W.G. Baker, Executive Secretary of the parent body. ICSU.—Ed.