1010 The American Naturalist. [Decemper, 
the Standard Natural History which should be in every school 
library as a work of reference. 
Much can be done in arousing the student's interest by 
means of field excursions and outside reading. "These excur- 
. sions should be taken as frequently as they conveniently can 
be, and be under the personal supervision of the instructor. 
Inland schools should plan, if possible, at least one trip to the 
seaside, choosing a time when the tide will be out during the 
visit, where crabs, sponges, starfishes; sea-urchins and ane- 
mones may be studied as well as sea-lettuce, rock-weeds and 
many other forms of plant and animal life. 
The amount of collateral reading that may be done will 
vary with the conditions of the school and the interests of the 
individual student. Biology opens to one an enormous field 
of literature of fascinating interest in which the teacher should 
always be browsing; and if wise he will lead his flocks to the 
feet of the master-minds who have ever found joy and inspira- 
tion in the green pastures and beside the still waters, where 
dear old Mother Nature is always ready to receive our worship 
and breathe a benediction upon our holiest aspirations. 
New Hampshire College, September, 1894. 
