viii PREFACE 



the figures are original. 1 For the rest, the authority is 

 cited. An effort has been made to point out those 

 structural characters which are of wide importance, 

 as distinguished from those which are peculiar to the 

 type, or its nearer allies. 



The subject-matter is not always easy, and some 

 parts of the book will not be followed without close 

 attention. There is really no reason why Natural 

 Science should be regarded in schools as a specially 

 easy subject. If Science is to be taken seriously, it 

 rather seems desirable that those who study it should 

 have to use their brains as much as in learning Euclid, 

 Algebra, or Grammar. 



If any real knowledge of the subject is to be gained, 

 practical work is essential. It is expected that the 

 teacher should have sufficient training to be able to- 

 demonstrate to his class most of the structural features 

 described in the book. We are now well supplied 

 with laboratory guides, such as the works on Practical 

 Botany by Professors Bower and Strasburger. 



If the present volume is found useful, it is proposed 

 to add a second, treating in like manner of Crypto- 

 gamic types. 



I much hope that not only pupils in schools, but 

 also private students, may derive some help from this 

 book, and that it may awaken in some readers a 

 genuine interest in the study of living things. 



D. II. SCOTT. 

 February 27, 1894. 



1 Those signed " K. S." have been drawn by Airs. D. H. Scott. 



