INTRODUCTION 



FOR this book I have no hesitation in predicting a most 

 wholesome, widespread, and immediate influence upon 

 primary and grammar school grades of education in this 

 country. (No one has gone so far toward solving the burn- 

 ing question of nature teaching, and to every instructor 

 in these subjects this volume will be not only instructive 

 but inspiring. 



Unlike the authors of most of the many nature-study 

 manuals now current, Professor Hodge has been for some 

 years the head of a University Department, is a specialist 

 in two or more of the fields of biology, and has made original 

 contributions of value to the sum of human knowledge. 

 His mind thus moves with independence, authority, and 

 unusual command of the resources in the field here treated. 



New as his method essentially is, it is now made public 

 only after years of careful trial in the public school grades 

 in Worcester, until its success and effective working jn 

 detail is well assured. Thus it has passed the stage of 

 experiment and is so matured and approved that, with 

 slight local adjust'ments, it can be applied almost any- 

 where for children of from six or seven to thirteen or 

 fourteen years of age. 



I have also observed the growing appreciation with 

 which this matter and method have been received by the 

 representative teachers from nearly every state in the 



