Vlll FOREWORD 



The chapter on History was to have been prepared by 

 Mr. W. G. Gosling of St. John's, Newfoundland, who 

 had devoted some years, and gone to no small expense, on 

 a special study of this subject. But his results involved 

 such an extended treatise that it was thought wiser to 

 issue them under a separate cover than unduly to enlarge 

 this volume, and Mr. W. S. Wallace, of Balliol College, 

 Oxford, has prepared a brief historical introduction. 



For seventeen years I have been collecting such facts 

 as my regular work permitted. From them I have 

 selected material for certain chapters. To many friends 

 who have supplied such information I wish to acknowl- 

 edge my indebtedness. Incomplete as this book surely 

 is, it is issued from a desire to record the more interesting 

 facts, the coins of science, which might otherwise need 

 rediscovery. It is hoped that the book may be of use 

 even to those familiar with Packard's excellent work. 



