In that field, Breyer and Hood seem to be the dark horses.

Observers say it is unlikely that the committee will select Hood, a scientist from outside the University, when three Harvard scientists are on the list. And Breyer, who was once leading candidate to be dean of the Law School, is no longer an academic.

Casper may be an interesting figure to watch in the coming weeks, especially since University of Chicago President Hanna H. Gray is a member of the committee. In addition, members of the search committee and its staff met in Chicago yesterday, according to several sources.

And a strong feeling among insiders that the University will select a scientist to take the helm means that Knowles and McElroy--two popular members of the Faculty--cannot be counted out yet.

But the three candidates that seem to have captured the attention of the search committee are Feldstein, Leder and Rudenstine.

All three are well known at Harvard, as well as in higher education circles. Feldstein is a senior member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Leder heads the Medical School's genetics laboratory and Rudenstine was once a professor in the English department.

Although Rudenstine is the newest candidate in the public spotlight, he is by no means an unknown at Harvard. After leaving the University in 1968, the Renaissance literature specialist went on to climb the academic and administrative ladder at Princeton University, his alma mater.

At Princeton, Rudenstine served as dean of students, dean of the college and finally as provost. And he continued to teach throughout his administrative career.

Indeed, the Sunday evening meeting may have been the second or even third time that Rudenstine met with committee members. It is likely that he was originally interviewed by only a few members of the committee. The four-hour meeting on Sunday may have been his first chance to meet with the entire committee.