24 
REVIEWS. 
fear—-the great point is to make sure that they are clearly understood; 
and we do not know anything more attractive to 'the young than to get 
them to enter into the discussion of some structural distinction—to lead 
them to trace out its bearings, and to find a solution for themselves of 
the question to be solved. Any one who doubts if structure, as connected 
with classification, can thus become interesting, need only ask a little 
circle of boys or girls, is the bat a bird ? Bring out their knowledge and 
their notions as to its covering, its birth, its nourishment, and other 
particulars, and he will find all the faces become bright with intelligence 
as he proceeds, and the interest never slackens until the question is solved. 
Then let him stop. Give them a correct perception of the peculiarities by 
which the bird and the mammal are distinguished, and let the lesson end. 
They will carry away one idea clear and distinct; and they will long for 
the recurrence of a lesson which they like even better than they like play. 
That they do so under circumstances is a fact of which we can speak 
with certainty. Some years ago a teacher had interested his pupils in 
zoology; their parents, however, regarding it as a waste of time, wished 
him to resume his previous course of instruction. He did so ; but, to his 
surprise and gratification, the boys waited on him a few days afterwards 
to ask, “ Would he kindly meet them half an hour earlier each day, and 
then give them their lesson on zoology, without trenching on the time 
given to other studies.” It is almost needless to say that he gladly 
did so. 
We have made no reference as yet to zoology as it appears to the 
scientific naturalist: to do so would lead us beyond the subject of 11 Popu¬ 
lar Zoology.” But we may remark, that even now the man of science is 
bringing before our view the existence of typical forms in all the great 
divisions of the animal kingdom, and their special adaptations to the 
requirements of every creature. The high and abstract generalizations of 
the physiologist will, in time, be generally recognised, and, after finding 
utterance in the halls of colleges and the class-room of the anatomist, 
will pass into the category of established facts, and give to popular 
zoology a new and added charm. Such truths, when rightly interpreted, 
speak a language which discloses symmetry and order reigning throughout 
all the world of animated existence, and which declares that the revela¬ 
tions of science can never be antagonistic' to those of religion. 
We think we are justified in the conclusion that zoology, in some of its 
many phases, may be the playmate of the child, the companion of the boy, 
the friend of manhood, and the associate of age. As we pass onward 
from youth it is ever changing its aspect. At times we catch a glimpse 
