The aim of this Series is to record as completely as is possibleand desirable the existing state of knowledge in certain fieldsof the descriptive and structural chemistry of natural products.The emphasis is placed on the analytic and synthetic investigations which have helped to elucidate
some,
of the classicalproblems of the chemistry of polycyclic substances which occurin the
vegetable
kingdom. Such special topics have been
selected
as are of the greatest intrinsic interest, an interest perhaps mostreliably indicated by the number and length of memoirs concerned with their study. The availability of an author who hasworked intensively on some aspect of the subject and the association of the present writer with some one of its facets have alsobeen factors in the choice. As far as possible the original literature has been consulted, and it is hoped that these books will beof interest to students and afford both stimulus and help to thoseengaged in further research