Preface 



This little book bears a big title The Science 

 of Life which is synonymous with Biology. Such 

 a title would be unjustifiable did not the position 

 of the book in the Victorian Era Series show that 

 it is intended simply as a historical sketch of the 

 evolution of the science, especially in Darwinian 

 and post- Darwinian days. It js an attempt to 

 illustrate the growth of Biology from an embryonic 

 state of insignificance to a position which is central 

 among the sciences, and full of influence even on 

 the art of life. By reference to particular problems, 

 and occasionally by reference to particular men, 

 I have tried to illustrate impartially what may be 

 called the modern biological attitude. 



In most of the chapters I have begun the story 

 before the Victorian Era; it did not seem possible 

 to understand the historical position without so 

 doing. 



Although I have for many years burrowed not 

 a little in the literature of Biology, even this in- 

 adequate sketch would have been impossible with- 

 out the help of various historical surveys which 

 have appeared from time to time, notably the 



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