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THE COURSE OF STUDY. 



As I have before remarked, before the student commences the study 

 of insects, he should have had a good course in free-hand drawing, 

 should have had instruction in the use of the microscope, and in pre- 

 paring microscopic specimens and slides, and if he has a ready use of 

 German and French it will be very helpful to him in his study. It is 

 also desirable that the student should have bad a good course in 

 botany. The students at our college have had three terms of botany, 

 one devoted entirely to microscopic botany, before they commence the 

 study of entomology. I consider this very valuable preparatory work. 

 Entomology is very close, precise work, and the laboratory work, if 

 carried on for a less space than three hours at a time, is not satisfac- 

 tory. But three hours of such close work is very wearying unless the 

 student has had a fitting preparation. Thus I am pleased that our 

 students have had vertebrate dissection, with human and comparative 

 anatomy and physiology, before they commence entomology. I know 

 this seems the reverse of the natural method, as nature proceeds from 

 lower to higher; but vertebrate dissection is lighter and less trying to 

 eye and brain than is the study of insect anatomy ; thus I am pleased 

 to have anatomy and physiology of vertebrates precede that of the 

 arthropoda in our course. 



In our college, the student attends a course of sixty lectures on the 

 anatomy and physiology of insects, systematic entomology, and the eco- 

 nomic bearing of the subject. 'J hese lectures are illustrated by use of 

 models, the students' collection of insects, already referred to, by micro- 

 scopic preparations, mostly prepared at the college, and elaborate charts 

 and drawings also prepared specially for our use. In connection with 

 this course there are thirty-six hours of laboratory work. Each student 

 works three hours one day each week for twelve weeks. In this time, 

 they are able to study the internal anatomy, and to examine carefull^^ 

 and accurately one insect of each order. In connection with this, sev- 

 eral insects are traced to the genus by such keys as Leconte & Horn, 

 Cresson, Williston, etc. 



Besides the above, each student makes a collection of from ten to 

 twenty -five insects of each order, all neatly put up, with date and locality 

 label,each order by itself, and all labeled as far as time will permit. 

 Many students succeed in naming a large number of their specimens. 

 Each student is also required to mount insects in all the approved 

 ways. Small insects are mounted on triangular pieces of card-board, on 

 rectangles of cork, with silver wires, while thelarvte are put up in vials 

 of alcohol with rubber corks, and also prepared by eviscerating, and 

 drying while distended with air, in a heated oven. 



The students are also encouraged to prepare biological collections in 

 which they preserve the eggs, larvte after each molt, pupa, cocoon, 

 and imago of both sexes, and of various sizes, and the several varia- 



