PREFACE. 



WHEN, in the year 1872, the system of practical instruction, which is at present 

 pursued in the Biological Laboratory of the Normal School of Science and Eoyal School of 

 Mines, was established, one of my first cares was the creation of a teaching collection 

 for the use of the students who were following that course of instruction. This 

 collection was to contain, in the first place, a series of preparations and dissections illustra- 

 tive of every important fact in the structure of the animals and plants selected for study ; 

 and, in the second place, a corresponding series of drawings of the dissections, of large size and 

 executed in such a manner as to facilitate the comprehension of the structures represented. 



The construction of such a teaching collection as this has involved the expenditure of 

 a great deal of time and skill ; and the whole burden of the work has fallen upon my former 

 demonstrator, Mr. T. J. PARKER (now Professor of Biology at Otago), and Mr. GEORGE 

 HOWES, who succeeded Mr. PARKER, and now holds the office. 



Ten years ago, assisted by Prof. MARTIN, I published "A Course of Practical Instruction 

 in Elementary Biology," which exemplifies the method of instruction pursued in the Bio- 

 logical Laboratory, and is intended to take the place of the oral instruction which we supply 

 there. The absence of illustrations, however, has greatly interfered with the usefulness of 

 this work, and I am therefore veiy glad that Mr. HOWES has undertaken to make good the 

 defect by the publication of the present Atlas, which, while starting from part of the work 

 with which he has been occupied in our Laboratory, contains so many accurate and well- 

 devised additional illustrations that it will be hardly less useful to students who are engaged 

 in the Laboratory than to those who work independently of it. 



No doubt, the direct instruction of a teacher is very valuable ; but, with the aid of this 

 Atlas, I think that an intelligent student, who is unable to obtain that advantage, will 

 find no difficulty in working through "The Course of Practical Instruction in Elemen- 

 tary Biology " by himself. 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



SOUTH KENSINGTON, 



April 24A, 1885. 



