xii Preface 



the revered name of Francis Galton, or under the 

 high sponsorship of Karl Pearson. I yield to no one 

 in admiration of the genius of these men. Never 

 can we sufficiently regret that those great intellects 

 were not trained in the profession of the naturalist. 



Mr Galton suggested that the new scientific firm 

 should have a mathematician and a biologist as 

 partners, and soundest advice a logician retained 

 as consultant*. Biologist surely must one partner be, 

 but it will never do to have him sleeping. In many 

 well-regulated occupations there are persons known 

 as " knockers-up," whose thankless task it is to rouse 

 others from their slumber, and tell them work-time is 

 come round again. That part I am venturing to play 

 this morning, and if I have knocked a trifle loud, it is 

 because there is need. 



March, 1902. 



* Biometrika, i. Pt. T. p. 5. 



