CHAPTER VI. 



EXERCISES IN DESCRIPTION. 



THE fundamental exercise in indoor nature study is 

 description. It sets the seal in a precise way to observa- 

 tion, and pupils should frequently be set tasks of this kind 

 when sufficient specimens are available. The pupils, at the 

 commencement at all events of such work, should receive 

 some suggestion as to the order in which to proceed. As 

 a rule, both with plant and animal specimens, a descrip- 

 tion should commence first with a statement of the size, 

 general form, and colour. Subsequently the various parts 

 should be taken in order and described in detail. We give 

 here a description of a fish such as has been studied alive 

 in a previous lesson. 



Illustration of a Description. 



EXAMPLE. A Carp, black variety. 



This specimen is about five and a half inches long, the 

 form somewhat spindle-shaped tapering gradually to 

 both ends, laterally compressed, thicker anteriorly, more 

 flattened in tail region. The trunk and tail are covered 

 with soft overlapping scales. Along the dorsal region of 

 the head and trunk the colour is blackish, laterally bronzed, 

 and ventrally, yellowish white. Head, trunk, and tail 

 regions are recognisable, but there is no neck. 



The head is short, deeper than broad at its widest part, 

 tapering bluntly. At no part is it so broad as the anterior 

 region of the trunk. The roof of the head is the darkest 



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