vi LIFE: OUTLINES OF GENERAL BIOLOGY 



As to each of tlit^se aims, a little more explanation may aid 

 the reader, wlu-tlur gtneral reader. felloNv-wurker, or critic from 

 cither lihle 



As to Plan, tmr l>xik begins with a discussion of the Charac- 

 teristics of Urganisnus. which wo have prou|x*d in a new chord 

 tcliap I). We thence lK-|;in our comprehensive outline-survey of 

 Bioli>^'y, startmi^ fr..in tlie life uf organisms as it is lived in Nature; 

 the stuily of habits and interrelations; in fact the old "Natural 

 Hi«.lt»r>*'. which is increasinj^ly Iwing developed into the modem 

 sub Science uf Kcology (II). A Physiological Section (III, IV, and V) 

 naturally follows. Uginning with illustrations of the everyday 

 sclf-inamtaining functions. Hence next an outline of the Species- 

 numlauung f unt tions a study of Kepnxluction and Sex. This 

 physiological outline. l«»gic;Uly ami biologically, leads to the Psychical 

 or Subjective a-s|H-cts of Life at all levels. Then follows a less 

 drtailed lulftHluction to the study of the Structure and Classifica- 

 ti<»ii •»! tirganisins- Morphology and Taxonomy (VT); their indi- 

 vulual Uevilopment Kmbr>-ology (VII); and of their History in 

 the just ~P.il.eontology (VlII). This naturally leads to a neces- 

 narily long iliscussion yet little more than outline— of the process 

 «)( ()rg.ini« Kvolution. and of the ojwrative factors, so far as these 

 arc known (IX). I hesc nine chapters form the bulk of the book. 



Thr sulmtpitnt chapters, of a somewhat different kind, dis- 

 cuvs thr Pi>silion of Biology among the Sciences, and the sub- 

 divisions of liiohigy (X): the Biology of Man (XI); the Wider 

 Asix-rts uf liiology and its applications to the Problems of Human 

 Life (XII); ending up with an outline of a Theorj' of Life (XIII) 

 Iirrc submitted ftjr the first time, save in our little liiology in the 

 Homr I'nivrrsitv Stries. Three ApjHMulices deal with "Great Events 

 in Biology ". "Saturalists at WOrk", and "The Development of a 

 Biol«»gical Outlook". Then comes a Guide to Reading. 



Thr reader will follow our nn'thod more clearly by keeping the 

 ^uUlivLsions of Biology in view, as graphically outlined on the 

 End Pajirrs" <.f the binding, in their historic treatment — mostly 

 static morr than kinetic so here more vitally arranged: — 



BIOLOGY 



|jtT1ir> 

 Dec tony 



(t) 



Orien- 

 tations 



and 

 Appli- 

 cations 

 (X-XIII) 



Thr roman numerals (in brackets above) indicate the sequence 

 • »l our rhaptrrs As to projxirtionate treatment, it will Ix* noted 

 that wr h.ivr given murh more prominence to Ecology than to 

 Pa^onomv. murh more Ut Physiology than to Morphology ; for this in 

 mir judgmrnt rxprrv«ics the emphasis at present needed to restore the 

 halanrr of the v irnrr. which has Ucn tr>«) often and long disturbed 

 by a predominantly |K*st mortem treatment of organic forms. 



