TO THE MEMORY OF 



MY FATHER, JULIUS VICTOR GORDON, 



WHO INSTILLED IN ME AN APPRECIATION 



FOR THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND THE UNIVERSE; 



AND TO 



MY MOTHER, MOLLIE MELTZER GORDON, 



WHOSE NEVER CEASING OPTIMISM 



AND LOVE OF LEARNING 



ARE BEACONS ALONG THE HIGH ROADS AND BY ROADS 



OF MY LIFE 



Quis, nisi vidisset, pisces sub undas nature crederet. 



— Linnaeus 



