1886.] 311 [Annual Meeting. 



applications and also tickets according to the plan of which details 

 were given in a former report. The Superintendent of Public 

 Schools in this city has also kindly assisted us by attending to 

 similar technical details in Boston. 



During the past winter the Curator gave fourteen lessons upon 

 the structure and habits of Worms, Insects and Vertebrates, begin- 

 ning Nov. 7, 1885, and ending March 13, 1886. 



The work was in part directed to the subjects prescribed in the 

 " Observation Lessons " of the Primary, and the " Elementary 

 Science Lessons" of the Grammar Schools of Boston. 



The manner in which the types of Worms and Vertebrates had 

 been prepared made it possible to explain their general anatomy 

 from the objects, in place of the diagrams commonly used. The 

 soft bodies of the types mentioned were tanned in many cases so 

 that the exterior resembled in aspect, color and odor, a kid glove 

 recently cleaned with naphtha. Notwithstanding these changes, 

 which rendered the specimens agreeable for use, all the organs, 

 and even most of their minute structural characteristics, are well 

 preserved, and some of their most important peculiarities could be 

 more readily seen than in fresh dissections. The discovery of this 

 mode of making anatomical preparations has rendered the instruc- 

 tion of large classes possible even in the anatomy of the vertebrata, 

 and they will, it is hoped, be eventually used by teachers in deal- 

 ing with such subjects whenever fresh specimens are impractica- 

 ble or unobtainable. 



The lessons on insects were enlarged in scope and doubled in 

 number in order to meet the demands of the teachers, who, as a 

 general thing, find this type of animals more available for use in 

 the class room than any other. Thus in place of ten lessons, as 

 first advertised, fourteen were eventually given, each one being 

 considerably over one hour in length. 



The interest of the audience was such that at the end of the 

 hour, though a pause was purposely made, only one or two would 

 leave, and often not one would go until the end of the lesson which 

 frequently occupied an hour and a half. 



Without the energetic assistance of Mr. Henshaw the course 

 would not have been practicable and it is very doubtful whether 

 another of a similar kind, at least on so large a scale, will ever 

 again be considered justifiable. 



The lessons were highly appreciated by the best class of teachers 



