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This is the second edition of a coherent introduction to the subject of asymptotic statistics as it has developed over the past 50 years. It differs from the first edition in that it is now more 'reader friendly' and also includes a new chapter on Gaussian and Poisson experiments, reflecting their growing role in the field. Most of the subsequent chapters have been entirely rewritten and the nonparametrics of Chapter 7 have been amplified. The volume is not intended to replace monographs on specialized subjects, but will help to place them in a coherent perspective. It thus represents a link between traditional material - such as maximum likelihood, and Wald's Theory of Statistical Decision Functions -- together with comparison and distances for experiments. Much of the material has been taught in a second year graduate course at Berkeley for 30 years.