PREFACE 



THIS volume of papers is published with a twofold object: 

 that the distinguished scientific guests of the University 

 should receive an appropriate remembrance of their sojourn 

 amongst us during the celebration of the five hundredth anni- 

 versary of Saint Andrews University was the first considera- 

 tion ; the second was that the present happy occasion affords a 

 favourable opportunity for making a record, in some measure 

 typical, of the kind and quality of the scientific research that 

 is being pursued at this time by her children. The editors 

 have been more concerned with the delineation of the picture, 

 which they hope is presented within these covers, of the real 

 unadorned intellectual work that is being performed by the 

 members of the University than with the introduction of 

 highly technical or elaborate studies. They are well aware 

 that many of her distinguished graduates have given, and are 

 giving, to the world scientific literature of the highest standard ; 

 and they are equally aware of the limitations imposed by time 

 and space upon the selection that they have made for this 

 volume. They feel that careful study of the authors' names 

 will convince the candid reader that an attempt has been 

 made to give a catholic representation of the present scientific 

 life at Saint Andrews and at Dundee. 



They have included work from professors, from assistants, 

 and from graduates, some of whom have but recently emerged 



