THE MODERN STUDY OF ZOOLOGY 3 



Our process of stock-taking consists in defining 

 the boundary line between the crust and the atmo- 

 sphere, between earth and air ; such a process 

 becomes periodically necessary because the contour 

 of the surface is constantly changing ; particles are 

 continually being added to the crust, while those 

 whose places are already determined are liable by 

 reason of these additions to have their relative 

 positions and importance altered. Thus what was 

 at one time a lofty peak, a startling though estab- 

 lished generalisation, may become overshadowed 

 by the formation of a far loftier one by its side, of 

 which the original peak becomes but an insignifi- 

 cant shoulder whose original importance is soon 

 forgotten. 



I propose, then, in the present paper to take 

 stock of our zoological knowledge, to attempt to 

 define the actual position and aims of zoological 

 thought, the steps by which this position has been 

 attained, and the methods by which it is hoped to 

 achieve these ends. 



Such a process is of special and peculiar interest 

 as applied to zoology, firstly, by reason of the great 

 and rapid accumulation of facts that has occurred 

 of late years ; secondly, because of the far-reaching 

 and fiercely contested theories to which these facts 

 have given birth ; and, thirdly, because the study 

 of zoology includes the study of man, so that 

 generalisations concerning the rest of the animal 

 kingdom must apply also to man himself. For 

 these reasons, and more especially for the third one, 

 the theories and generalisations of zoology are 



