OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 399 



investigation of internal structure being contrary to our method. 

 It is of little consequence what and how many of these selected 

 forms shall have been gone through by the conclusion of the four 

 years. The more, perhaps, the better; but the main point is that 

 whatever has been studied has been learnt thoroughly and 

 accurately. Not indeed technically, nor systematically ; but still 

 in the proper sense of the word, scientifically. The pupil is 

 therefore well prepared to prosecute a regular course of botanical 

 and zoological research with all the aid that books, instruments, 

 and lectures can afford And whether he formally continues his 

 studies or not, he can never altogether lose the advantage of the 

 training both of sense and intellect which this elementary process 

 had given him. No portion of the present common school 

 education is an adequate substitute for this ; and none, except 

 reading, writing, and arithmetic, which are retained by continual 

 and necessary exercise, has any chance of being borne in the 

 memory as an available possession of the mind. What becomes 

 of the smattering of geography, history, Euclid, and perhaps a 

 little Latin, which the diligent pupil carries away with him at 

 the end of his course ? Why, in five years' time there is hardly 

 a shred left. The training undergone in these studies is no doubt 

 still effective, but not in a lively or vigorous manner, because 

 there is little or no opportunity for the daily renewal of their 

 impressions. I have thrown these few observations together to 

 indicate a practicable mode of introducing scientific study into 

 the schools of the country, partly because there is apparently a 

 strong and increasing feeling of its desirability, accompanied by 

 a complete misunderstanding of the conditions under which it is 

 possible. Physiology, as I have said above, cannot be studied in 

 schools. It is certainly capable of being 'crammed,' but to no 

 useful purpose. The " laws of health," if the phrase be allowable, 

 may very well be learnt by heart without any knowledge of their 

 grounds, and with much permanent advantage to the learner. 

 But physiology i.e., the investigation of the origin, microscopical 

 structure, functions, and relations of the various component- 

 parts of an organised body — is a distinctly professional study, a 



