The Teaching of Practical Biology

Abstract

IN the interesting introductory address of Prof. T. Jeffery Parker at Otago there is an omission which I am sure my friend would be the very first to wish to have rectified. In speaking of that remarkable development of the teaching of practical work in biological laboratories which will no doubt have a very considerable influence on the pursuit of this branch of science, Mr. Parker makes reference to the considerable services which have been rendered by Professors Huxley and Ray Lankester; but he forgot to say that one who, unfortunately, is no longer among us, provided for systematic teaching in practical work some time before Prof. Huxley was enabled to bring his wishes to fulfilment. The characteristics of this line of study were made known to the general zoological world in 1870, when Prof. Rolleston published his “Forms of Animal Life, being Outlines of Zoological Classification based upon Anatomical Investigation and illustrated by Descriptions of Specimens and of Figures.” Prof. Rolleston's system was well enough shown in his preface to that work, where there occurs the following sentence, which I beg leave to quote as germane to this question:—“The distinctive character of the book consists in its attempting so to combine the concrete facts of zootomy with the outlines of systematic classification as to enable the Student to put them for himself into their natural relations of foundation and superstructure.”