THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
VoL. x1.— JAN UARY, 1877. — No. 1. 
THE SECOND DECENNARY OF THE AMERICAN NATU- 
RALIST. 
P entering upon the second decennial period of the existence 
of the American Naturalist, we may be pardoned for look- 
ing with some pride upon the success that has attended its 
establishment. If the reader will turn to the introductory words 
stating our aims in the first number, published in March, 1867, we 
think he will agree with us that the promises there given have 
been fulfilled as completely as could reasonably be expected. 
Our aim has been to popularize the best results of the study of 
natural history, and thus serve as a medium between the investi- 
gator on the one hand and the teacher and student on the other. 
Thus, while we have attempted to inform the science-teacher of 
the latest discoveries in biology and geology in their broadest 
sense, including the theories of the origin of plants and animals, 
and the history of the earth and man, we have endeavored to at- 
tract and sustain the interest of the young. We know that a 
number of young naturalists have made their début in the scien- 
tific world in our magazine, while some of the most important 
results of the investigations of our leading scientists have first 
seen the light in its pages. 
The progress in biology during the past ten years has been 
greater than is generally imagined. Text-books become super- 
annuated within a decennary. Teachers and even working natu- 
ralists need the presence and stimulus of a monthly journal reach- a 
ing beyond the limits of their specialties to keep them from nod- 
ding at their work. If we have failed to record all the new dis- _ Z : 
coveries, it has been due in great part to lack of space. 
Copyright, A. 8. PACKARD, JR. 1876. 
