V 

 BIOLOGY 



TO take stock of the present position of 

 the Biological Sciences and to discuss their 

 mutual relationships is a task from which 

 the boldest might well shrink, but one which it 

 seems very desirable to attempt at the present time, 

 even though it be possible to carry it out only in 

 the most imperfect manner. Scientific knowledge 

 of all kinds has been accumulating during the past 

 century at an altogether unprecedented rate, and 

 if we are not to be completely overwhelmed and 

 smothered by the products of our own mental 

 activities it is before all things necessary that the 

 monstrous heap should be organised in some rational 

 manner. 



Biology the science of all the innumerable 

 phenomena manifested by living things has much 

 in -common with Chemistry and Physics. Indeed, 

 in so far as living organisms carry on their func- 

 tions and work out their destinies by chemical and 

 physical means, Biology may be looked upon as 

 a sort of super-chemistry and super-physics, and 

 obviously presupposes an adequate acquaintance 



with both these departments of learning. The 



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