The space given to the description of the Lobster will, 

 it is hoped, incite teachers to occupy more time in teach- 

 ing some one common animal, and thus cultivating habits 

 of close observation. How much pupils learn is of little 

 importance; how they learn, everything, in the early years 

 of training. It is not the amount of knowledge gained : it 

 is the habit of persevering in seeing and thinking over and 

 over again the same things until the mind can arrange and 

 properly assimilate them, which makes a lesson in obser- 

 vation valuable. 



This pamphlet could not have been published but for the 

 assistance of Miss J. M. Arms, who prepared the text and 

 most of the drawings, and some other person unknown to 

 me, who has indulgently considered it of sufficient impor- 

 tance to teachers to be willing to defray the expenses of 

 drawing the plates. 



I also desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the 

 knowledge and critical ability of Mr. 15. II. Van Vleck, 

 Assistant in the Museum. 



The plates were drawn by .Miss [Catherine Peirson of 

 Salem, with accuracy and success, though the method of 

 printing does not do justice to the fineness of the work. 



Woodcuts, Nos. 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 36, are borrowed 

 from Messrs. D. Appleton & Co. of New York, publishers 

 of Morse's admirable little work, "First Hook in Zoology." 



Woodcuts, Xos. 20, 21, 28, 29, from George S. Bates 

 of Salem, publisher of Fmnerton's very convenient and 

 accurately illustrated work, •' Life on the Seashore." 



The adult and young of Lenea branchialis, Fig. 40, are 

 from original drawings by Mr. B. H. Van Vleck. 



The courtesy and kindness of these authors and pub- 

 lishers have enabled us to illustrate this pamphlet very 

 fully with figures of our own common animals. 



We desire also to thank Mr. E. G. Blackford of New 

 York, for the supplies of crabs, etc., furnished for this and 

 other lessons of the course. 



ALPHEUS HYATT, 



Curator. 



