46 Biology in America 



him. Gray, on his part, staunchly supported Darwin in the 

 bitter attack which was launched against him after the 

 appearance of his work, although he was unable, on account 

 of his religious views, to accept it in its entirety. His opinion 

 of Darwin's work is evidenced in a letter to Hooker written 

 in 1860. "It is done in a masterly manner. It might well 

 have taken twenty years to produce it. It is crammed full 

 of most interesting matter . . . and . . . makes out a better 

 case than I had supposed possible. . . . Tell Darwin all this. 

 . . . As I have promised, he and you shall have fair play 

 here."" 



In science, as in every other field of human endeavor, it is 

 the individual who counts most in progress. Nevertheless 

 the individual works most effectively in co-operation with his 

 fellows. And so in the development of American science 

 organization has been a powerful factor. 



About 1840 there was organized the Society of American 

 Naturalists and Geologists, which in 1848 was expanded into 

 the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 which has a present membership of over 12,000, divided into 

 twelve sections and having twenty-six societies affiliated with 

 it, several of which are organized in biology. The annual con- 

 vocation of this Association and its affiliated societies during 

 Christmas week serves as a "get-together" meeting, and is 

 a splendid stimulus to scientific work. 



Fragmentary as is the foregoing account of the rise of 

 biology in America, it nevertheless shows us something of the 

 men who were pioneers in this great field, their endeavors and 

 achievements, their friendships and their petty jealousies ; 

 it gives us a glimpse of the major trends of biological research 

 and may serve perchance as a background for the later history 

 of biology, its institutions, its discoveries and theories, which 

 is to follow. 



"Darwin's "Life and Letters," p. 238. D. Appleton and Company. 



