TO THE STUDENT 



1 . If you are using this book only in preparation for a preliminary 

 medical or some similar examination, you should begin by reading 

 in the first chapter at least the paragraph at the bottom of p. 20, 

 pp. 1-7, and pp. 17 and 18 ; then read the large print of those 

 chapters which deal with the animals specified in the schedule 

 of your examination, and section A of the Appendix ; then look 

 up in the Index and read the passages on : life, living and lifeless 

 things, protoplasm and formed material, the cell, tissues, organs, the 

 organism, differentiation, physiological division of labour, metabolism, 

 animals and plants, reproduction (pp. 7 -I0 )> tne body-layers, coelom 

 and haemocoele, segmentation, homology and analogy, and similar 

 general topics which come within the scope of the examination. Some 

 of these you will already have read. At a later stage in your medical 

 studies you will probably make use of those pages which deal with 

 parasites of man. 



2. If you propose afterwards to take a wider course in Zoology, read 

 the chapters on general topics, as well as those which deal with the 

 animals you are at present studying. 



3. If you are taking a general course in Zoology, read straight 

 through the book. 



4. In any case (a) read at least twice, once to get a general view of 

 the subject, and a second time to learn its details ; [i) do not omit 

 to look up the references given from one page to another ; (c ) make 

 full use of the figures, identifying each detail they contain as you come 

 to it in the text, and afterwards studying each figure by itself with the 

 aid of the explanation attached to it. Note that some of the figures 

 needed for certain chapters are placed with the corresponding para- 

 graphs of the Appendix. 



You will find the Index of use not only in searching for particular 

 pieces of information, but also in getting a connected view of all that 

 you have read on any subject. 



