PREFACE. vii 



pally in the improved faculty of observing natural 

 features, in the possession and command of a 

 small vocabulary of scientific terms, in the habit 

 of classification, and in the practice of giving a 

 written summary of the knowledge acquired. 



Several circumstances concur to recommend con- 

 chology as the first branch of Natural History to 

 be studied by younger pupils. Shells are of 

 themselves interesting, from the peculiarity of 

 their forms and the variety of their colours ; their 

 characteristics are simple and present themselves 

 readily to the eye, and a variety of interesting in- 

 formation may be given respecting the animals 

 which inhabit them. Added to this the greater 

 part of the specimens may be procured at little 

 expense, may be easily preserved, and therefore 

 continually reproduced to the class, and besides 

 may, without fear of damage, be committed to 

 the careless hands of the youngest students. 



It will however, I know, be objected by staunch 

 anti-reformers in education, that improve the 

 mode of teaching Natural History as you will, you 

 but teach better that, which had better not be 

 taught at all ; for that whatever abridges the time 

 given to classical instruction, weakens the nerves 

 and sinews of the mind, and but debases the 

 Corinthian column of ancient lore by introducing 

 the barbarous ornaments of modern science. My 



