1 1. 1 W. C. ALLEE. 



animals expected from the habitats in the locality to be studied. 

 This is arranged so that an animal may readily be recorded from 

 all the habitats in which it may be found. So far as possible the 

 instructor attempts to teach the students in the field classification 

 down to genus. Species identification is given the student only 

 when of special interest or, in the case of the Nassas and Litto- 

 r'vnis, necessary. The instructor calls attention to interesting 

 facts in the distribution, and other points calculated to make the 

 student more familiar with the animal under consideration. Each 

 instructor is supposed to have a wide knowledge of the group on 

 which he lectures, and doubtful specimens are referred to him for 

 identification. Animals that cannot be named in the field go into 

 the " question mark " bottle for later reference. 



On returning to the laboratory a complete list of all the ani- 

 mals found by the class is posted on the board. The list in Ap- 

 pendix VIII. gives the result of one day's find on the North Fal- 

 mouth Flats in 1920. The list is entirely typical and shorter than 

 the lists frequently reported. No one team found all of these ; 

 the individual teams listed from 50 to 96 species, depending 

 on the ability of the team members, the experience of the instruc- 

 tor and the run of collecting luck. It is on record that twice teams 

 have collected and their instructor identified more than a hundred 

 species in one afternoon ; but usually there is no effort made to 

 obtain mere numbers of forms. The emphasis is rather on the 

 characteristic animals in the different habitats studied. 



While students may make collections and spend considerable 

 time over detailed classification if they desire to do so, they are 

 not urged in this direction. Neither is there any attempt to have 

 students write up accounts of the field trips ; even the keeping of 

 records of the animals found is optional. This is in keeping with 

 the general policy of instruction, that as much as possible must be 

 left to the initiative of the student. Each year there are a few 

 students with especial interest in fieM studies who devote extra 

 time to them ; but it is surprising how well the average student 

 learns to recognize and name characteristic animals with no in- 

 sistence on the part of his instructors. 



After one of the early trips all animals taken are demonstrated 



