The course on animals for primary schools, as given in our first lesson, begins with the star-fish, and takes up in succession the following subjects: The sea-urchin; the star-fish and sea-urchin compared; the earth-worm; a bivalve shell (Cyprina); clam-shell; oyster-shell; clam-and oyster-shell compared; living snail; snail-shell; miscellaneous shells, including pearly nautilus; simple classification of shells; lobster or crayfish; crab; lobster and crab compared; habits of crabs; locust; young living dragonfly; beetle; butterfly; life-history of butterfly; moth and life history; bees and their habits; insects in general.
This course covers twenty weeks, devoting two hours a week to the subject. In a general way it may be stated, though of course there is no inflexible rule in regard to time, that the first hour is given to the observation and drawing of the specimen, the first fifteen minutes of the second hour to a review of the observations already made, the following thirty minutes to a written description of the specimen, and the last fifteen minutes to a talk about the habits of the animal. If the habits are discussed before the written work is done, the results are not as good, for the reason that it is much easier for children to describe vaguely the habits of animals than to give accurate, concisely stated observations. In almost every case (excepting, perhaps, two or three animals repugnant to many children, as, for instance, the earth-worm and spider) the teacher will obtain the most satisfactory results by taking structure first and habits afterward. In the primary course no alcoholic specimens are used, but living animals when possible and dried specimens.
The course for grammar schools begins with the horny sponge, and includes the following subjects: Silica sponge (Geodia); horny and silica sponge (Chalina); sponges compared; a simple animal (Hydra); sea-anemone; coral animal (Galaxea); sea-anemone and coral animal compared; corals (Madrepore, fan coral); star-fish and sea-urchin compared; earth-worm and saltwater worm (Nereis) compared; clam-and oyster-shell compared; snail and pearly nautilus; habits of salt-and fresh-water mollusks; lobster or crayfish; crab and barnacle; lobster; crab and barnacle compared; spiders; habits of spiders; locust and larva; dragonfly and larva; locust and dragon-fly compared; squash-bug and larva; review insects with direct or "incomplete" metamorphosis; butterfly and caterpillar; beetle and grub; fly and maggot; bees; simple classification of insects.
In this course dried, alcoholic, and living specimens are used. The course may be given in twenty weeks, or forty hours, provided the children have gone through the primary course; otherwise, it can not be given, as good comparative work can only be done after accurate observational and descriptive work.
