DEl'ELOPMENTAL MECHANICS. 1 87 



conciseness of brief expression, to the reader who is thus ena- 

 bled to see the results in a definite form, and to the future 

 investigator, who thus finds a clearly circumscribed starting- 

 point, and is in a better position to express the differences to 

 which his own observations may lead him. 



It is a matter of long experience that truth is only born in 

 the conflict of opinions. If this maxim has proved itself to be 

 correct in the descriptive sciences, how much more applicable 

 will it be to a science which treats of causes ! 



Accordingly, the better to serve truth, the Archives will 

 furnish space for the most conflicting opinions, provided they 

 be supported by a basis of observation. 



But one limitation is to be wished for in the approaching 

 struggle, and it will be the endeavor of the editor to attain it 

 in these Archives : the maintaining of a respectful tone even 

 towards those who hold very different opinions. The ascer- 

 tainment of truth, for which we are all seeking, is not furthered 

 but retarded by the expression of personal feelings. Sufficient 

 space will always be allotted to a proper treatment of differ- 

 ences and to remarks on priority. 



The more vehement the struggle waged for the truth be- 

 tween different contentions, the more rapidly, generally speak- 

 ing, shall we approach the lofty and distant goal of our ambi- 

 tion. 



The specific processes of life are bound to the form and 

 structure of its substrata. Hence develop7nental mechanics as 

 the science of the causes of these formations will sometime 

 constitute tJie common basis of all othei' biological disciplines 

 and, i7i continual symbiosis with these, play a prominent part in 

 the solutions of the problems of life. 



At present opinions on the subject of developmental 

 mechanics are much divided. While several biologists regard 

 attempts in this direction as little more than the hobby of a 

 few authors, and others are of the opinion that '* so small a 

 field" cannot pretend to maintain a publication of its own, 

 the other conviction is already gaining ground that develop- 

 mental mechanics is destined to become a science that will 

 interest all the other biological disciplines. 



