ii University of California Publications. [ ZooLocy 
1.—The Idea of a Marine Biological Survey. 
Volume II of the University of California Publiations, 
Zoology, is now either published or in the Editor’s hands, waiting 
to be put into type. It is composed exclusively of ‘‘ Results 
from the Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association of San 
Diego.’’ 
The investigations on the coast of Southern California now 
having been in progress for several years, and their continuance 
being assured for a few years more at least, it seems fitting that 
this first volume of results should be introduced by some state- 
ment of the general ideas animating the undertaking, and of the 
efforts being made, and means available to realize these ideas. 
Investigations in marine biology, intensive rather than extensive 
in character (to borrow a useful agricultural phrase) is the key 
note of the idea. An immediate consequence of the adoption of 
such an idea as a rule of action, has been the necessity of making 
a clear distinction between marine biology, and general biology 
prosecuted by researches on marine organisms. I have elsewhere 
written as follows of this distinction : 
‘The former has for its aim, in the large, the getting of as 
comprehensive an understanding as possible of the life of the sea. 
It, of course, presents itself under a great variety of secondary 
questions; but the sum total of the phenomena of marine plants 
and animals will never be lost sight of as its real aim. The latter 
makes use of animals and plants that live in the sea in general 
biological researches. That these organisms happen to be marine 
is an incident merely. The investigator turns away from them 
without hesitation when others, from whatever source, come to 
hand that suit his purpose better. Further, the user of marine 
organisms in such investigations is quite indifferent to every- 
thing concerning them that does not bear upon his particular 
problem. He puts aside the marine animal after it has served 
his purpose without having even noticed, perhaps, the major part 
of its traits and qualities and the questions concerning it.’’ 
For this particular undertaking, I believe the ideal, broad 
and general as it is, is eminently useful: It is useful because it 
gives definiteness and codrdination to action, and furnishes a 
commanding point of view and stimulus. It is justifiable to hold 
