THE STUDY OF THE RABBIT. 85 



and tail, and in having its body covered with scales 

 (generally) instead of fur or feathers. 



All animals studied so far have skeleton and back- 

 bone. 



STEP 3. Comparison of rabbit and some invertebrate 

 animal. 



Select any invertebrate animal which pupils have dis- 

 covered, or can be led to discover, to be without in- 

 ternal skeleton; that is, without backbone or bones of 

 any kind, such as the caterpillar, slug or shell-less snail, 

 earthworm, or some insect. 



How like other animals studied? Only in having 

 life, and in being an animal instead of a plant, in hav- 

 ing power to move itself, and a mouth to take in food. 

 Differs from most in having no backbone or bones, and 

 in having more than four legs. 



All those with a backbone are called vertebrates. 

 The others are invertebrates. 



All vertebrates with more or less furry or hairy cov- 

 ering are called mammals. All with feathery covering 

 and wings are birds ; all with scaly covering (some- 

 times naked) and with fins are fishes. 



STEP 4. Summary and expressive work. 



Have pupils review both process and facts by having 

 them write (assign different topics to different pupils) 

 about : 



1. " What we learned from the comparison of differ- 

 ent rabbits." 



2. From the comparison of rabbit and hare. 



3. Rabbit and squirrel. 



