X PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



tory ; and I was obliged to content myself, for many years, 

 with what seemed the next best thing, namely, as full an 

 exposition as I could give of the characters of certain plants 

 and animals, selected as types of vegetable and animal 

 organization, by way of introduction to systematic Zoology 

 and Palaeontology. 



In 1870, my friend Professor Rolleston, of Oxford, pub- 

 lished his " Forms of Animal Life" It appears to me that 

 this exact and thorough book, in conjunction with the 

 splendid appliances of the University Museum, leaves the 

 Oxford student of the fundamental facts of Zoology little to 

 desire. But the Linacre Professor wrote for the student of 

 Animal life only, and, naturally, with an especial eye to the 

 conditions which obtain in his own University; so that 

 there was still room left for a Manual of wider scope, for 

 the use of learners less happily situated. 



In 1872 I was, for the first time, enabled to carry my 

 own notions on this subject into practice, in the excellent 

 rooms provided for biological instruction in the New 

 Buildings at South Kensington. In the short course of 

 Lectures given to Science Teachers on this occasion, I had 

 the great advantage of being aided by my friends Dr Foster, 

 F.R.S., Prof. Rutherford, F.R.S., and Prof. Lankester, F.R.S., 

 whose assistance in getting the laboratory work into prac- 

 tical shape was invaluable. 



Since that time, the biological teaching of the Royal 

 School of Mines having been transferred to South Kensing- 

 ton, I have been enabled to model my ordinary course of 

 instruction upon substantially the same plan. 



The object of the present book is to serve as a laboratory 



