Viii A CENTURY OF PROGRESS IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES 



demonstrated that the evidence on relationship provided by the "newer" dis- 

 ciplines corroborates in the main the earlier systematic treatments that were 

 devised by taxonomists who based their schemes primarily on comparative mor- 

 phology. Certainly due credit should be given to the many "specimen taxono- 

 mists" who have labored through the centuries, often without fair recognition 

 from other biologists and under great difficulties, in their conscientious efforts 

 to bring hitherto unknown organisms into some sort of classificatory system. 

 Without their invaluable services the general advance of biology would not 

 have been possible. 



Most of the essays in this volume attempt to review the progress made dur- 

 ing the past century in the classification of organisms. The original plan of the 

 volume included all the major groups of organisms. It was found impossible to 

 achieve this degree of completeness; but except for a few gaps the earth's organic 

 life is well represented and the committee consider it a great honor to be able to 

 present to the biological world this series of authoritative historical reviews. 



In the exploratory phase of plant and animal classification the services of 

 field workers, especially of trained naturalists, are indispensable. Much of the 

 activity of the California Academy of Sciences has been concerned with the 

 collection and preservation of specimens. It seemed appropriate, therefore, that 

 the first essay should deal with naturalists and the early days of the Academy. 

 The following chapter presents a review of the beginnings of geodesy and astron- 

 omy in California because this Academy was so closely tied in with those events; 

 and the third essay is a stimulating contribution by a philosophically minded 

 biosystematist. Then follows the series of systematic reviews, together with four 

 essays which do not treat of major groups of organisms — one on invertebrate 

 paleontology, two on biogeography, and one on wildlife conservation. In all of 

 these essays the disciplines represented are largely, but with some additions, 

 those which have come within the purview of the California Academy of Sciences. 



The committee are confident that this volume will long serve as a most valu- 

 able source book in the history of science. 



ERNEST B. BABCOCK 

 J. WYATT DURHAM 

 GEORGE S. MYERS 



