From 11 to 15 July 1977 about 60 physiologists, endo crinologists, ecologists and other biologists from 14 countries convened at the University Montpellier for a symposium on Environmental Endocrinology. This meet ing was organized as a Satellite Symposium of the 27th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, Paris, 18-23 July 1977. This volume is a record of the com munications presented at the symposium. The objectives of the program were to examine the role of the endocrine system in a wide spectrum of adjustments and adaptations to changes in environmental conditions by various spe cies of animals, including man, and to promote an ex change of ideas among investigators who have approached these functions from diverse aspects. The diversity of the information and ideas communicated is great. Of necessity, they represent only an extremely modest se lection of the many facets of endocrine function in the interaction of animals with their environments. Be yond the usefulness of the communications individually, we hope that they collectively demonstrate the substan tial heuristic value of the concept of environmental endocrinology as it was perceived by the participants. We acknowledge gratefully the kindness and sympathy of Professor Jaques ROUZAUD, President of the University of Montpellier II, for his generous extension of the hospitality of the University to the Symposium. We are most grateful to Mrs. Monique VIEU who effected so well the secretarial organization of the Sympos."

The anatomical description of the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, as presented in this treatise, is by no means of definitive nature. Research in this area, in our own laboratories and elsewhere, continues at such a pace and is sufficiently in flux as to preclude the possibility of definitive morphological and functional conclu- sions at this time. Nevertheless, we do believe that there is now some genuinely heuristic value in a presentation of our neuroanatomical material. Most of this material is derived from the above-mentioned species which has received primary attention in our experimental investigations. In the course of our studies, it has become clear that the hypothalamo- hypophysial system of birds has attained morphological differentiation and spe- cialization as extensive as that of mammals. In order not to lose sight of the basic pattern of the system, comparative aspects must be brought into con- sideration. With this in mind we emphasize the fundamental contributions of Huber and Crosby, Kuhlenbeck, Benoit, Assenmacher and vVingstrand. The ana- tomical nomenclature of the avian hypothalamus has been critically examined and rationalized, to the extent possible, from a comparative view-point. In recent years this nomenclature has developed in such an independent and isolated manner that the confusion created can no longer be ignored. 'Ve dedicate our treatise to the memory of Professor Ernst Scharrer who originally stimulated our investigations.