438 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
I 
on November 23, 1901, and ended on March 22, 1902. Owing to 
the small size of the laboratory, only 65 tickets were given in 
response to about 90 applications. Of these 65 tickets, 50 only 
entitled the possessors to first privilege. 
During the first two lessons, the laboratory was overcrowded, but 
for the remainder of the course, the attendance averaged about 41, 
and this is as large a number as can be completely accommodated 
under the present conditions. Thirty-two took the final exami¬ 
nation on April 12th. 
The method of work w^as to study, observe, and draw the materials 
illustrating the subject of the lesson during the first hour of each 
exercise, while during the second hour the topic was developed by 
explanations and a full discussion. The subject in general was the 
anatomy, morphology, and physiology, of the flowering plants. A 
prime object also was to teach the use of the compound microscope. 
The regular lessons were supplemented by visits to the Botanical 
Gardens at Cambridge. This feature, voluntarily contributed by Mr. 
Webster, has led to some of the teachers taking their classes from 
the schools to the Botanical Gardens. In order to do the work of 
this course in a satisfactory manner, the services of an assistant w’ere 
required and Miss J. F. Conant acted in this capacity. 
The course in zoology under Mr. Morse began on November 23 
and ended on April 12. Seventy tickets were issued to applicants. 
The attendance ranged from 32 to 54 with an average of 41. Sev¬ 
enteen took the final examination. This four years’ course as 
planned, begins with the simplest unicellular animals and traces the 
gradually increasing complexity of structure through representatives 
of the principal types, closing with the highest type, the mammals. 
This year, the second of the series, the Actinozoa and the echino- 
derms were treated. The aim of the work was to acquaint the 
pupil with the chief facts of the life and structure of the type studied 
and with the prominent features of the more common representatives. 
The method used varies widely according to circumstances but is 
intended to make the work and the results as practical as possible. 
The first two lessons were preparatory in character for the purpose 
of supplying an introduction for those who entered the class for the 
first time and for connecting the work of this year with that of the 
last. 
Miss M. E. Cherrington was employed as an assistant for this 
course. 
