Laboratory manual to accompany Smallwood, Reveley, and Bailey's Biology for high schools

Front matter

Class_

Book

Copyright N?

Preface

This manual is intended to bring to the pupil's attention the adaptations of plants and animals to the place they hold in the organic world. We do not intend to substitute laboratory work for class room work, but to reenforce the work of the class room with a study of the actual forms in the laboratory or in the field.

Whatever may be the ideal method of teaching biology from a theoretical point of view, practical school men know that biology must be fitted into a crowded curriculum and that often certain adjustments must be made that are not in keeping with the most approved methods. This book has been written with the realization that pupils have other classes to attend and that in many schools consecutive laboratory periods are not practical.

To equip a modern biology laboratory with all the desirable biologic aids called for in any text-book is beyond the means of the average high school. So we have endeavored to make use of those aids most easily and economically available.

For schools which have not enough compound microscopes to accommodate each pupil we have directed attention, as a substitute, to lantern slides made from actual photographs of the subject. Where these slides are not obtainable the laboratory study of accurate charts is recommended.

The use of the microscope is a highly technical problem. Too often the pupil's time is consumed in looking for the thing rather than in looking at it. The use of slides and charts enables the teacher to call attention to the important vi PREFACE

We have aimed to cover all the work required by the average syllabus of biology and yet to keep away from what seems too technical without omitting important and significant topics.

Adaptation has been the dominant word in the minds of the authors, and structure has been treated to show adaptation. Without trying to convey the idea that there is a reason for everything or that if the human mind were penetrating enough it could find a use for everything, we have tried to direct the pupil to inquire how structures are adapted so as to enable the animal to survive in the pitiless struggle

for existence.

G. A. B.

R. A. G.

February, 1922

Contents

PAGE

Introduction 1

The Grasshopper ......... 3