THE USE OF BOOKS. 313 



parrot-work is rendered impossible. The chief advan- 

 tage of begiaaing with this course of study, however, 

 is that it is now- generally made a preliminary to all 

 teaching in Zoology, besides being insisted upon as a 

 preliminary subject in many examinations, so that in 

 much that is now written on subjects connected with 

 Zoology, a knowledge of the facts included under 

 the heading of elementary biology is usually presup- 

 posed. But students who cannot find opportunity 

 for thoroughly mastering this course of study, must 

 not allow themselves to be disheartened. " All roads 

 lead to Rome," and any branch of Zoology will do to 

 to begin upon, provided only that it is carefully 

 studied : a comparison of mammalian skulls, or of 

 moUuscan shells, will make just as good a beginning 

 of knowledge as a course of "biology," if the com- 

 parison is not forgotten in mere collecting. A mind 

 possessed of any originality will be independent of any 

 given course of study; nevertheless, for the reasons 

 above given, the student should try to master as much 

 as possible of the lessons included in the books named 

 above. 



With regard to microscope work, it may be sug- 

 gested that local dealers in microscopes and other 

 scientific instruments are often acquainted with some 

 one in the same district, who is able to help, advise, 

 or teach the beginner ; while the various correspon- 

 dence classes now established give instrnotion for 

 examination purposes, in Zoology or in the coarse of 

 study indicated by the two works just named, which 



