MUSEUMS AND RESEARCH 77 



vertebrae have increased in number from 30 or 40 to about 

 125, of which about 110 belong to the tail ; the tail tapers 

 and ends in quite a small fin, and the pectoral fins are 

 narrow, just as they are in eels. We can only interpret 

 Xiphasia as a Petroscirtes that swims, not like a blenny, but 

 like an eel, that is, by undulating movements of the long tail 

 and long median fins, and we can only believe that it has 

 evolved from a Petroscirtes in adaptation to new habits that 

 necessitate a new method of swimming. 



All the facts, as I see them, lead to the conclusion that 

 evolution has been mainly adaptive and that a change of 

 structure has followed and has not preceded a change of 

 habits. Can one really believe that the Flat-fishes originated 

 from fishes that found themselves with both eyes on one 

 side of the head and decided to make the best of it by lying 

 on one side with the eyes uppermost ? 



I am far from claiming that all systematists would agree 

 with the views I have put forward. All I wish to insist on is 

 that systematic zoology does form a groundwork for the study 

 of such problems as the origin of species and the evolution of 

 adaptations, and makes no mean contribution to the elucida- 

 tion of other problems, such as the past history of oceans 

 and of continents. 



I have tried to give you some idea of the nature, scope 

 and value of the work that may be done in a zoological 

 museum, such as the Natural History Museum at South 

 Kensington. I have attempted to show you that this work, 

 the classification of animals, is an essential part of pure 

 zoology, is the basis of economic zoology, and is, to a 

 large extent, the foundation of philosophical zoology. 

 The collections remain as a permanent record of the work 

 done, and are available for reference and for study. It is, 

 I believe, necessary for the intellectual development and the 

 material prosperity of the nation that this work should be 

 carried on. 



But are these things generally understood in this country ? 



I have often tried to find out what sort of conception of 

 the museum and its work people have. The old idea that a 



