THE BIOCOSMOS. 



PRELIMINARY. 



We now enter the sphere of the Science of 

 Life whose appropriate designation is known 

 as Biology. But the ordinary usage of this 

 term, which is indeed somewhat variable in 

 meaning, does not fit the conception which we 

 seek to formulate. So we adopt a cognate 

 word which also has the merit, for us at least, 

 of suggesting through its termination its con- 

 nection with the two correlative stages of 

 Nature which have preceded it. 



If we should translate the word, taken from 

 the Greek, which is employed as the title of 

 this book, we would call it Life's Cosmos, or 

 Order. The subject is, therefore, the ordered 

 Life on this planet, since we are cognizant of 

 none other. Now this ordered Life must em- 

 brace not merely the activity of Nature but 

 (54) 



