216 THE STUDY OF ZOOLOGY vii 



cal information is, so far, knowledge and not mere 

 hearsay. 



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 pol}^e or a Cyancea, a fi:esh-water 

 mussel, a lobster, a fowl, as tj^es 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 men- 

 tioned. 



That would, speaking generally, be my plan. 

 But I have undertaken to explain to you the best 

 mode of acquiring and communicating a know- 

 ledge 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 

 aU kinds of training in physical science is that 



