x PREFACE. 



upon which most thoughtful persons amongst us find 

 it interesting to reflect. 



In this latter view, the author would hope that the 

 essays on the relations of biology to common educa- 

 tion may receive their due meed of attention from 

 both educationists and scientists. Of these efforts to 

 state the case for biology as a mighty influence in 

 modern culture, the author would only say that they 

 are the direct products of a long experience in biolo- 

 gical teaching, and the sincere expression of a strong 

 belief in the value of a knowledge of nature in pro- 

 ducing a true and liberal culture in all departments of 

 human thought. 



The great bulk of the essays deal with some of 

 the more important questions of biology and with 

 their explanation, in so far at least as the true 

 meaning of such phases of life and nature are sus- 

 ceptible of elucidation by our present knowledge. 

 The paper entitled "The Sea-Serpents of Science" 

 is an attempt to rescue an interesting subject from 

 the domain of the ludicrous, and to show that the 

 personality of the " Great Unknown " is at least 

 worthy of a reasonable amount of attention. A 

 holiday spent amongst the river lands of Oxfordshire 

 suggested the current of thought which led to the 



