Xli METHOD 01' TEACHING. 



animal kingdom, but specimens of the vegetable kingdom are 

 particularly useful, and very easy to obtain. 



As regards the lessons, the best plan is to follow the manual 

 step by step, for it is in reality the detailed explanation of the 

 names and objects on the diagrams to which it refers through- 

 out ; and by thus following it, repetitions and omissions 

 will be avoided. But the teacher will often have to add his 

 own observations to what is said, and to enlarge upon the parts 

 which ar most interesting in his neighbourhood. 



Besides regular lessons, accidental circumstances will fre- 

 quently give opportunities for a lesson, which should be taken 

 advantage of. The return of the swallows for instance will give 

 a good opportunity for a lesson on the migration of these birds, 

 and the service which they render us, like nearly all birds 

 which feed on insects in the spring. The children should be 

 forbidden to molest birds or take their nests, and be taught to 

 appreciate the mischief which their destruction causes at this 

 season of the year in particular, &c., &c. 



In order to follow the lessons in their regular and proper 

 order, it would be necessary to begin by giving the pupils a 

 general idea of the value of instruction in the natural sciences ; 

 but we must remember that the practical part of this instruction 

 will appear in a much more striking light to the pupils after they 

 have gone through the course; and it will therefore be better 

 not to speak of this till afterwards. In fact it is manifest that 

 it is extremely useful to know our organisation, and to know 

 by what mechanism our movements follow the directions of our 

 thoughts ; how we breathe, see, and feel. It is not less useful 

 to know those animals which are real aids to agriculture, and 

 without which our crops would be injured, and our ruin 

 imminent. Alas, most of these true friends who do us nothing 

 but good, are generally as pitilessly destroyed as our real 

 enemies. 



What absurd fables have been related about the poor lat, 

 which has nothing formidable about it but its reputation, and 



