36 [ SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1883. 



It is hardly necessary to remark that in a summary of the annual pro- 

 gress of scientific discovery so condensed as the present, the wants of 

 the specialist in any branch can be but imperfectly supplied; and very 

 many items and details of great value to him must be entirely omitted. 

 While the student iu a special field of knowledge may occasionally re- 

 ceive hints that will be found of interest, he will naturally be led to 

 consult for fuller information the original journals and special periodi- 

 cals from which these brief notices or abstracts have been compiled. 



The plan of devoting some 350 or 400 pages of the annual report to 

 such a compilation is not designed to preclude the introduction into the 

 "General Appendix," as heretofore, of special monographs or discus- 

 sious that may prove interesting to the scientific student. 



Spencer F. Baird, 



