Ja.vuart 31, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



103 



every reason for cordial recognition of the 

 ■work being done in other fields than one's own 

 specialty. Moreover, so dependent is one 

 branch for its fullest development on the 

 progress of related or supporting branches 

 that any other attitude is to be deplored. 



In a general way and for the purpose of my 

 discussion we may separate zoological activi- 

 ties into two broad classes (1st) investigation, 

 research or the accumulation of new knowl- 

 edge and (2d) instruction or the distribution 

 of this knowledge to the public at large. 



In many ways the aims and methods of the 

 two may differ and yet there is imperative 

 need of the closest and most sympathetic 

 contact between the two and among the work- 

 ers in the different spheres. In many cases — 

 and I believe most fortunately — the two func- 

 tions are combined, but often such separation 

 exists as to result in loss of effort or even 

 conflict of action. 



ZOOLOGIC AC ' RESEARCH 



It should go without saying that research 

 must precede instruction at least as applied to 

 any particular object although it would seem 

 that this order is at times reversed. 



We may sometimes discover quite munificent 

 provision for education in a too narrow sense 

 with little apparent recognition that the sub- 

 jects covered are still little kno^^^a or 

 crudely assembled. E.xtended and careful in- 

 vestigation should be the first effort in order 

 that accurate and useful knowledge may be 

 available for instruction. Here too will arise 

 the question as to the kind of research that 

 should lie given first and most insistent at- 

 tention. ' , , 



The point of view may be determined 

 largely by the concept or ideal as to the 

 ultimate goal of zoological effort. Have we a 

 definite object or are we still, as in the early 

 stages of our sc'ence, simply following at- 

 tractive leads or uhe easiest trails to see 

 whither they may carry us? Is it our great- 

 est ambition to produce a zoological structure 

 complete and perfect in itself as a scientific 

 ideal or to give earliest and most effective 

 service possible to all the agencies operating 



for human progress and human welfare? 

 Shall our immediate efforts be given to ques- 

 tions of most remote concern to present prob- 

 lems of life or shall we concentrate effort on 

 those phases which by their relation to medi- 

 cine or to industry have vital bearing on 

 immediate himian needs? Such questions 

 must have come to many of us when search- 

 ing our innermost thoughts for evidence as 

 to what we could do to help " win the war." 

 Such questions may well concern us in the 

 history-making pieriod that must now follow 

 in the establishment of order and a new 

 alignment of human relationships and activi- 

 ties and which must necessarily be of world- 

 wide scope. 



Perhaps we may reflect that these questions 

 will be largely settled by the tastes and choice 

 of the many individuals concerned and that 

 the outcome will be a fairly well-balanced 

 combination. Nevertheless it is evident that 

 the question will come as an urgent one to 

 many individuals and will affect their attitude 

 both in research and instruction so that some 

 sort of decision as to the direction of greatest 

 emphasis will need to be made. 



Admitting, however, that the final goal is 

 economic advantage, the development of ap- 

 plied science for the betterment of human 

 society, we may still inquire as to the route 

 to the main objective. I would certainly be 

 one of the first to accord a high place to all 

 phases of science that have made and are 

 making for human advancement. Human so- 

 ciety is not only our greatest achievement so 

 far but it offers the only basis we know for 

 evolution and progress in conditions of world 

 affairs that should make this earth the fittest 

 place possible for human life. 



But we must guard against a too narrow 

 view of the values in scientific knowledge. 

 That which is of the most inxmediate concern 

 may be but temporary in its application and 

 some of the most vital and enduring things 

 may be less apparent. 



It is fortunate therefore that along with 

 the many agencies that are attacking the im- 

 mediate problems of applied science we have 

 numerous agencies interested in the explora- 



