

VII THE STUDY OF ZOOLOGY 215 



and distribution would be deducible from the 

 laws which physiologists had established, com- 

 bined with those determining the condition of the 

 surrounding universe. 



There is not a fragment of the organism of this 

 humble animal whose study would not lead us 

 into regions of thought as large as those which I 

 have briefly opened up to you ; but what I have 

 been saying, I trust, has not only enabled you to 

 form a conception of the scope and purport of 

 zoology, but has given you an imperfect example 

 of the manner in which, in my opinion, that 

 science, or indeed any physical science, may be 

 best taught. The great matter is, to make 

 teaching real and practical, by fixing the atten- 

 tion of the student on particular facts; but at 

 the same time it should be rendered broad and 

 comprehensive, by constant reference to the 

 generalisations of which all particular facts are 

 illustrations. The lobster has served as a type 

 of the whole animal kingdom, and its anatomy 

 and physiology have illustrated for us some of 

 the greatest truths of biology. The student who 

 has once seen for himself the facts which I have 

 described, has had their relations explained to 

 him, and has clearly comprehended them, has, 

 so far, a knowledge of zoology, which is real and 

 genuine, however limited it may be, and which is 

 worth more than all the mere reading knowledge 

 of the science he could ever acquire. His zoologi- 



