196 NATURAL HISTORY. 



end of the tube should be put to the eye. No instruction 

 was given in dissecting or examining plants, further than 

 by pulling them to pieces with the fingers, and examining 

 them with a pocket-lens.' In the department of natural 

 history, things were very much the same. Jameson, the 

 then professor of natural history, able man as he was, 

 nevertheless was more of a mineralogist and geologist 

 than a zoologist The anatomical side of natural history 

 was almost wholly neglected by him ; and the university 

 museum was almost entirely without morphological speci- 

 mens of any kind, such as skeletons, dissections of animals, 

 or even models of minute structures. No Invertebrates 

 were to be seen in the museum, with the exception of 

 examples of such groups as the insects, shellfish, or corals. 

 It would appear also that Jameson was essentially a 

 student himself, rather than a teacher. 



Forbes began his systematic studies in zoology, however, 

 at a specially favourable time. The microscope had been 

 up till that time ' an instrument understood and handled 

 by few, and by such was regarded with much the same 

 feelings as an enthusiastic musician regards his Cremona 

 violin.' Now, however, great improvements had been 

 effected in its mechanical construction ; and not only had 

 the instrument thus gained greatly in efficiency and sim- 

 plicity, but it could be produced at a price so much reduced 

 as to render it possible for any one to purchase one. The 

 microscope became, therefore, at this time the inseparable 

 companion of all naturalists, the weapon of precision for 

 all new assaults on biological problems. ' Histology,' or 

 the science which deals with minute structures and tissues, 

 sprung suddenly into full existence. The smaller forms of 



