The laws of ampliation (5), differentiation (6), and reduction (7), may be summarized in one as follows: While increasing in size the similar parts of an ontogeny become internally dissimilar and the dissimilarity increases as the transition forms of the dissimilar parts vanish. Hence only the extreme forms remain. * * * * * It may also interest the reader to know that Naegeli was the first to propose the general theory of cell formation as accepted at the present day. BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE WORK OF THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY If one asked for a brief description of the work of the Open Court Company, one would probably get the answer that the Company publishes books and articles on Science, Religion, and Philosophy. That is not quite exact; for that describes the ideal to which the Open Court Company is continually striving rather than the actual work it is doing. The ideal is Religion on a firm basis of Science, a Science of Philosophy, and a Philosophy of Science: the only path which can lead to this great ideal synthesis is the detailed and careful study of sciences, religions, and philosophies. It was this ideal that prompted the late Mr. Edward Carl Hegeler of La Salle, Illinois, in the United States of America, to found a Company to publish books with the object of establishing ethics and religion upon a scientific basis. Such ideals are as old as philosophy itself. Among modern philosophies, that founded by Comte tried, probably in the most explicit fashion of all, to found a religion on the basis of positive science; and at one time it appeared likely to have a lasting success. But it is now quite plain that no philosophy which hopes to be permanent can neglect history or put itself into uncritical opposition to the systems that have for centuries expressed some of the dearest and highest aspirations of mankind. It is unprejudiced and fearless historical and critical investigation--non-sectarian in the widest sense--in both religion, science, and philosophy, that must go before any satisfactory synthesis. This is a great part of the work of the Open Court Company.