17 



REPORT ON THE INSTRUCTION IN BIOLOGY. 



By Professors W. G. Farlow, Walter Faxon, and E. L. Mark. 



The course in the elements of Biology (N. H. 5), given by 

 Professors Farlow and Faxon, was attended by thirty-two stu- 

 dents, — ten members of the Senior College Class, fifteen Ju- 

 niors, one Sophomore, four students of the Lawrence Scientific 

 School, and two special students. The instruction was given by 

 lectures and laboratory work, six hours a week being devoted 

 by each student to the laboratory. For the first half-year, the 

 botanical part of the course was given by Professor Farlow. 

 During the second half-year, the principles of zoology were 

 taught by means of dissection of forms of animals typical of the 

 chief groups, and by lectures on their anatomy and development. 

 Mr. G. W. Perkins assisted in the direction of the laboratory 

 work of this course. The larger space and increased facilities 

 for work afforded by the new laboratory relieved the instructors 

 from the necessity of dividing the class into sections for work- 

 ing at different hours, as was necessary in the old laboratory. 

 The ample provision for heating the laboratory made it possible 

 to continue the microscopical work through the whole winter 

 without interruption. This has not been the case in previous 

 years, when, during severe weather, it was necessary to abandon 

 work with the microscope, and dissections, and to substitute 

 lectures in their place. The certainty that the laboratory will 

 hereafter always be comfortably warmed will enable the in- 

 structors to arrange their lectures and corresponding laboratory 

 work more methodically than heretofore. 



The course in Advanced Zoology was pursued by fifteen 

 students, — ten Seniors, four Juniors, and one member of the 

 Scientific School. The early part of the year was spent on the 

 Mollusca; but the greater part of the time was devoted to 

 the comparative anatomy of the Vertebrata. 



3 



