PREFACE. 



Ix our larger museums there have been formed what are 

 called "epitome collections/' a single apartment containing 

 a series of examples of the principal classes of the animal 

 kingdom, so that, before entering the museum itself, the 

 visitor may obtain some idea of the principal forms of ani- 

 mal life. 



This excellent plan has been kept in view in the prepara- 

 tion of these " First Lessons," and followed out as well as 

 circumstances would allow. 



It differs from the author's two other text-books in Zool- 

 ogy 1. In treating of still fewer examples or types, omitting 

 representatives of a number of orders and classes described 

 in his larger Zoology. 2. In using fewer technical terms 

 and names. 3. In rendering the book an elementary 

 guide to the principles of Biology, leading the student 

 from facts to the principles, without tiring him with for- 

 mal, general statements; the latter usually being printed 

 in italics. 4. The subject, as a whole, is given in 

 somewhat smaller compass. No boy or girl should leave 

 school without at least as much knowledge of the life 

 about us and of our own relations to the animal world, as 

 should be found in a book of this sort. The teacher can 

 carry a class through it in thirty days, or extend its use 

 through a term, as the case may require. But this or any 

 other book should not be used without specimens. This 

 involves the use of such fresh, living animals as can be 

 easily and cheaply obtained, and of a small school museum 



