INTRODUCTION. 



This work is designed to aid the student in getting a 

 clear idea of the animal kingdom, as*a whole, by the care- 

 ful study of a few typical animals. 



Most of the animals selected are abundant in the interior 

 States, and are easily collected. 



These guides to the study of animals have been used 

 several years, and put into the hands of each pupil, together 

 with the specimens themselves. 



The general plan of study is as follows : — 



1. Directions are given for collecting and preserving the 

 specimens. 



2. The live animal is studied. 



3. The external features are noted. 



4. The animal is dissected. 



5. The development of a few forms is traced. 



6. After studying each animal, its relations to other animals 

 are considered (classification). 



The aim is, not to describe for the student, thus robbing 

 him of the opportunity to develop his own powers of 

 description, but to name the parts, telling merely enough 

 to enable him to recognize and apply the names to them. 

 This makes a real connection between words and things. 



It is thought best for the student to make many of the 

 definitions for himself. A definition, thought out by the 



