2 6 ELEMENTARY ZOOLOGY. 



but should have some knowledge of the mental steps he 

 himself is taking in the various exercises, and should 

 learn to enlarge his own ability to take the steps neces- 

 sary to reach accurate conclusions. The schools have 

 no place in which this may be done to better advantage 

 than in a properly conducted biological laboratory. 



A Laboratory Exercise. Forms of Matter. 



37. Observation. Take a series of objects, such as 

 fine sand, pebbles, crystals of several kinds, shells of 

 several kinds, plants, and animals. Examine each of 

 these objects carefully, and write down in an orderly way 

 every observed characteristic which you can discover. 

 See that no complex idea, which is reasoned out, is used. 

 Take nothing from books; just record your individual 

 observations. For example, you may want to say that 

 sand is not living or that animals are living. Are these 

 real observations? Can you observe life? 



a. Sand. Use some fine mixed sand. Examine it 

 under the microscope, as well as with the natural eye. 

 After studying numerous grains, enumerate the various 

 qualities that are true of the grains collectively. Put 

 only one characteristic in each statement, and be sure 

 that your language expresses exactly what you want 

 to say. 



Can you observe the sand itself? Or do you merely 

 observe qualities of the sand? Reasons for your answer? 



How do you observe? In how many different w r ays? 

 By what means have you actually observed each of the 

 qualities you have enumerated? 



Compare the various qualities of sand which you have 

 mentioned. Are they all of equal importance? Which 



