10 LESSON I. 



derived from mollis, the Latin for soft ; if you 

 call to mind the animals enclosed in these cases, 

 you will not fail to observe how applicable this 

 term is to them. Give me some example to 

 prove that this name is well chosen. 



Child. The snail has a very soft fleshy body. 



Teacher. Yes, and the mollusca in this respect 

 are all alike. I have brought you some to exa- 

 mine; look at them well, and try and discover 

 the characteristics which distinguish them from 

 other animals. Here are a snail, an oyster, a 

 muscle, a slug. 



Child. I am sure that we shall not be able to 

 say much about such animals as these, they are 

 so shapeless and uninteresting in their appear- 

 ance. 



Teacher. Do not form so hasty a judgment. 

 I hope soon to convince you that it is your igno- 

 rance alone which causes you to view them with 

 indifference. There is not, indeed, any part of 

 the creation which you can study, that will not 

 repay you for your labour ; and when you be- 

 come better acquainted with the different king- 

 doms of nature, you will experience an increased 

 pleasure in your walks ; and objects that you have 

 hitherto passed heedlessly by, will rivet your 

 attention by the wonders they unfold to you ; 

 but my great desire is, that you should trace in 

 all these things, the hand of an almighty and 

 beneficent Creator. When you are struck with 

 the beautiful arrangement in a plant, with the 

 means of defence possessed by one animal, and 

 the sagacity displayed by another, consider 



