154 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. II, No. 2, 



passed when it is possible for the isolated individual to accom- 

 plish much of anything of value in the growth of science. vSuch 

 instances as the cobbler naturalist can not well be repeated under 

 present conditions, and biological workers must expect that some 

 part at least of their time is spent where libraries, museums and 

 scientific workers are to be found. I recall meeting some years 

 ago in an obscure little village, with a young man who was fol- 

 lowing a trade, but whose ardent love for nature had brought 

 him to take up the study of a certain group of insects, and in this 

 group he had conceived the idea of preparing a work covering the 

 geographical distribution for the world With scarcely the 

 beginning of a library, with no access to general collections, 

 apparently' with no conception of the stupendous nature of the 

 task he was so ambitiousl}' undertaking, there was perhaps little 

 danger of his discovering the hopelessness of his case. He doubt- 

 less gained much pleasure and individual profit in the quest, but 

 for the progress of science, how futile such attempts. Isolated 

 work is often necessary, often the only way in which certain data 

 can be secured, but if isolation be permanent, if it means to be 

 cut off from the records of what has already been done in one's 

 line of study, progress is painfull}' slow and results of little value. 

 Access then to the world's storehouses of knowledge, to libraries 

 and museums where one may determine the conditions of pro- 

 gress on any given problem is an imperative condition to satisfac- 

 tory research. 



Another condition almost as imperative is time for extended 

 and consecutive work. There are comparatively few places 

 where, after passing the stages of preparation, one may have the 

 opportunity to give uninterrupted time to pure research, but 

 fortunately such opportunities are increasing. 



Another factor is necessary equipment, a condition varying 

 indefinitely with the problem undertaken. vStudies of some of 

 the simpler processes of life may be successfully carried on with 

 barely any apparatus whatever, while others require the most 

 costly and complex of machinery. Deep sea investigations, for 

 example, are possible only with a suitable vessel and elaborate 

 apparatus for dredging and other operations, and such expedi- 

 tions as that of the Challenger, the Blake, the Albatross and 

 others involve such vast outlays that only the liberalit}' of nations 

 or of the very wealthy render them po.ssible. 



However, the modest student without a dollar to invest in 

 these expensive undertakings may have the opportunity to work 

 as diligentl}' and effecti\-ely as any. So, too, the costly equip- 

 ments of marine stations, of universities, of national and state 

 museums are open to every earnest worker. 



vStill another condition related to the best effort in research is 

 a satisfactory- outlet for publication. Probably no investigator 



