36 The American Naturalist. [January, 
EDITORIAL. 
p YER attempt of our common-school teachers to better — 
their intellectual condition is to be cammended, and every a 
step honestly and advisedly taken with that end in view should l 
be encouraged by all. So, in the abstract, we have the greatest 
interest in the formation of “ reading circles” and compulsory 
teachers’ institutes among the teachers of Indiana, for the object 
here. To explain: Every teacher is compelled, under certain in- 
ducements and penalties, to attend one institute each month, and 
is obliged to come prepared to discuss and answer questions upon 
reading circles, it is readily seen that the getting of a book on the 
list means no little profit. 
It would be thought that in a matter of so much importance 
the opinions of experts would be called in to aid in selection, but 
this was apparently not the case. Both zoology and botany have. 
several good students in Indiana; but so far as heard from not 
one was consulted in the matter, as can readily be imagined when 
one learns that the books selected were Steele’s “ Zoology ” an 
Wood's “ How to Study Plants.” Certainly no two books coul i 
have been selected which were further removed from what 
books should be,—books without a single redeeming feature 
books which are conspicuous examples of how not to do it. T 
render them more useless (if that be possible), some ignoramus 
tions for the same. Were the results not so lamentable they 
would be laughable, and even as it is we hope that readers o 
