94 LAY SERMONS, ESSAYS, AND REVIEWS. [vi. 



facts ; but at the same time it should be rendered broad and 

 comprehensive, by constant reference to the generalizations of 

 which all particular facts are illustrations. The lobster has 

 served as a type of the whole animal kingdom, and its anatomy 

 and physiology have illustrated for us some of the greatest 

 truths of biology. The student who has once seen for himself 

 the facts which I have described, has had their relations ex 

 plained to him, and has clearly comprehended them, has, so far, 

 a knowledge of zoology, which is real and genuine, however 

 limited it may be, and which is worth more than all the mere 

 reading knowledge of the science he could ever acquire. 

 His zoological information is, so far, knowledge and not mere 

 hear-say. 



And if it were my business to fit you for the certificate in 

 zoological science granted by this department, I should pursue a 

 course precisely similar in principle to that which I have taken 

 to-night. I should select a fresh-water sponge, a fresh-water 

 polype or a Cyancea, a fresh-water mussel, a lobster, a fowl, as 

 types of the five primary divisions of the animal kingdom. I 

 should explain their structure very fully, and show how each 

 illustrated the great principles of zoology. Having gone very 

 carefully and fully over this ground, I should feel that you had 

 a safe foundation, and I should then take you in the same way, 

 but less minutely, over similarly selected illustrative types of 

 the classes; and then I should direct your attention to the 

 special forms enumerated under the head of types, in this 

 syllabus, and to the other facts there mentioned. 



That would, speaking generally, be my plan. But I have 

 undertaken to explain to you the best mode of acquiring and 

 communicating a knowledge of zoology, and you may therefore 

 fairly ask me for a more detailed and precise account of the 

 manner in which I should propose to furnish you with the 

 information I refer to. 



My own impression is, that the best model for all kinds of 

 training in physical science is that afforded by the method of 

 teaching anatomy, in use in the medical schools. This method 



