988 Fditors’ Table. [ December, 
anatomy (including histology), or in other words, analysis of 
structure. A rational résumé of anatomy is taxonomy, or sys- 
tematic zodlogy and botany. For the great department of physi- 
ology, knowledge of both physics and chemistry is necessary ; 
and here the biological and physical sciences have their natural 
inosculation. 
The student who is desirous of making a life-work of biologi- 
cal science, will often be at a loss to decide as to the best line of 
research for him to undertake. Circumstances of an incidental 
character generally determine his course for him, Such circum- 
stance is the influence of a scientific friend; or the brilliant work 
of some able man who renders a department attractive. Fashion, 
which is seen in scientific as in other fields, wil sometimes give 
the direction; but the most usual determining agent is the mate- 
rial for study which may lie most conveniently near the students 
hand. Every department has its attractions, and nature presents 
to the appreciative intellect an emdarras des richesses, in whatever 
direction it turns its view. ; 
The science of physiology is the most difficult of prosecution, 
and has, on this account, made less progress than some of the 
gently, he must have a preliminary idea of the character . ae 
animal or plant he investigates. This is first determined by : 
consideration of the external anatomy of large numbers of .<“ 
cies, which is the work of the systematic biologist. Of wae S 
the full expression of the relationships, as shown by the resen® 
blances and differences of species, cannot be had until the ~ : 
anatomy is known. The first work of the taxonomist is pee ra 
necessarily imperfect, and partly on this account it is the fas he 
_in some quarters to speak lightly of his labors. It is, howe rire 
_ true that taxonomy cannot be done without ;' also, that when ins 
anatomy, as in the higher animals, develops a great many ter aie 
whose relations are to be properly expressed, it requires no ™ ee 
_ order of intellect to solve the problem thus presented we er 
_1Linneeus says (Philososophia Botanica, p. 202): “ Botanicus tyro novit classe 
cand omnia, era; magister plurimas species. Quo plures ‘nis solida eru- 
Species, €o etiam pr-e-tantior est. Co gnitione specierum innititur oma’ aS: 
-ditio physica, ceconumi::, metica; immo omnis vera cognitio humana.— eee 
