PREFACE. vii 



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 Kuther- 

 ford and Prof Lankester, F.E..S., whose assistance in getting 

 the laboratory work into practical 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 

 guide to those who are inclined to follow upon the same road. 

 A number of common and readily obtainable plants and ani- 

 mals have been selected in such a manner as to exemplify 

 the leading modifications of structure which are met with in 

 the vegetable and animal worlds. A brief description of 

 each is given ; and the description is followed by such detailed 

 instructions as, it is hoped, will enable the student to know, 

 of his OAvn knowledge, the chief facts mentioned in the ac- 

 count of the animal or plant. The terms used in Biology 

 will thus be represented by clear and definite images of the 

 things to which they apply; a comprehensive, and yet not 

 vague, conception of the phenomena of Life will be obtained; 

 and a firm foundation upon which to build up special know- 

 ledge will be laid. 



The chief labour in drawing up these instructions has 



