iv PREFACE. 



That the promise then made has been well kept, no one will ques- 

 tion, who will familiarize himself with the contents of the twenty 

 volumes now completed. The best efforts of the foremost thinkers and 

 scientific workers have been given a place in its pages, and nowhere else 

 can there be found such a complete record of the intellectual progress 

 of the past decade. The conception of evolution as a universal pro- 

 cess throughout all nature, to be discerned alike in the unfolding 

 order of plant and animal life, and in the growth and progress of 

 human society, has been presented from many points of view, and by 

 many writers. But it is chiefly in its bearings upon human life and 

 social development that it has found exposition in the " Monthly," 

 and the discussion, as there presented, is of the greatest value. 



The bearing of science -upon education has formed the theme of 

 many of the editorials as well as of contributed articles, while its 

 relation to social development has received the elucidation which 

 only the masterly pen of Mr. Spencer can give it. 



Science, as presented in the pages of the " Monthly," is very far 

 from being that dry mass of details which so many people imagine 

 it to be. It comprehends the best thought of our time in all de- 

 partments of inquiry, and has a permanent interest and value to all 

 thinking men. 



The index has been made simply a title one, as this seemed 

 sufficient to answer all requirements. In some cases, where the title 

 did not sufficiently indicate the subject-matter of the article, a clearer 

 one has been substituted, the actual title being then placed in quota- 

 tion-marks. Where the article is a contributed one, the name of the 

 author follows it, and in their proj^er order there is given a complete 

 list of all the authors who have appeared in the pages of the " Month- 

 ly." The departments are in all cases indicated by the appropriate 

 abbreviation, and for convenience of reference the book notices are 

 placed by themselves. 



