The course in general biology is ordinarily taken first and occupies 1 year, there being two lectures weekly, with daily laboratory exercises occupying from 10 to 15 hours per week. A course is given in systematic zoology, consisting of five lectures weekly through the year, the time being equally divided between vertebrates and invertebrates. A course consisting mainly of laboratory work is also given in the systematic study of vertebrates, and another of a similar character is devoted to the invertebrates. These courses are largely individual, there being but few lectures. In addition to these, more advanced courses are offered, the first being a study of the structure and development of animal types not included in the general biology course. This runs through the year, and consists of one lecture weekly, with daily laboratory work. A course in mammalian anatomy and another in comparative vertebrate anatomy may be chosen during the first half-year, each consisting of two weekly lectures with daily laboratory work, and following these in the second half-year is a course in vertebrate and comparative embryology, occupying the same time. Those who are prepared may also elect original work in animal morphology, devoting to it as much time as they desire.

The introductory course in botany is devoted to the study of the structure and development of typical plants. This consists of one lecture weekly with daily laboratory work through the year. A course is also given in vegetable histology and physiology consisting mainly of laboratory work running through the year. Cryptogamic botany is also offered, the course consisting of laboratory work with occasional lectures through the year. During the latter part of this course special attention is paid to those fungi which cause diseases in cultivated plants. Those who have completed this work may take a more advanced course, devoted to original work both in the study of cryptogams and phanerogams. Special facilities are given to those wishing to do advanced work in the study of fungi and vegetable physiology. A course in animal physiology is given consisting of three lectures and one laboratory exercise weekly.

Separate laboratories are provided for botany, animal morphology, and physiology. The first named is equipped with thirty-five compound microscopes, and contains in addition all the necessary reagents and supplies for microscopic work, as well as a considerable amount of physiological apparatus. The morphological laboratory is also well equipped with microscopes, and the necessary imbedding and cutting apparatus, as well as incubators, aquaria, etc. The physiological laboratory is thoroughly equipped, and offers every facility for elementary work and original research. One large room is devoted to class instruction, and in addition there are an apparatus room, a dark chamber for optical experiments, an incubation closet, and a workshop. The instrumental equipment of the laboratory is unusually complete, containing most of the apparatus needed in general physiological research.

The zoological collections include about 110,000 specimens. There is a full series illustrating the fauna of Michigan and other northern and western States. The animals of the Pacific coast are well represented, and large additions from foreign countries have also been made. Included in this is the Beal-Steere collection, consisting of 25,000 insects, 1,500 shells, 8,000 birds, and numerous representatives of other groups, about 60,000 specimens in all.

The botanical collections include principally flowering plants and fungi, with a small collection illustrating the subject of economic botany. The flowering plants include the entire flora of Michigan, so far as described, as well as several notable collections of flowering plants made in various parts of the world, and presented to the university. The fungi number about 3,000 specimens, including dried and alcoholic material, and there is also a large number of specimens of woods, including most of those found in the United States. The botanical museum includes in all about 70,000 specimens.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

Students applying for the freshman class in any of the courses must pass examinations in elementary physiology and physics. Those coming from certain of the Minneapolis schools and about fourteen high schools through the State are admitted without examination on presenting certificates from the institutions in question.

In the classical section botany is the only work required, this course occupying the third term of the freshman year, and consisting of four weekly exercises, devoted to the leading characteristics of the algae, fungi, mosses, and ferns, and to plant physiology. In the junior and senior classes most of the scientific work is elective. Physiology and histology and physiological botany may be chosen in the junior year Each course occupies 4 hours weekly, devoted to lectures and laboratory work. A special course in mycology is also given during one term of the junior year. During the senior year a course in animal morphology is open to those who have had the preliminary training afforded by the courses already mentioned.

In the scientific course the student may choose between vegetable and animal biology in the third term of the freshman year. In vegetable biology the work begins with a study of plant cells, and proceeds through the fungi and higher cryptogams to the anatomy, physiology, and systematic relations of flowering plants, the course continuing through the sophomore year. The course in animal biology begins with a thorough drill in the use of the microscope, camera, micrometer, etc., and during the remainder of the term the student is occupied with a general study of the properties of living matter, passing then to the protozoa. As a test of his knowledge each student is required to make

a clay model of an infusorian, showing the details of internal structure. During the sophomore year there are two lectures and three laboratory periods of 2 hours each. This time is spent in a general survey of the animal kingdom, closing with a course in embryology, devoted especially to the development of the chick, frog, and snail. During the year each student is required to make several permanent anatomical preparations illustrating special points, and also several models showing the development of certain organs. Some work in systematic zoology is also required of each student, the insects, fishes, or birds usually being made the basis of this work. In the junior and senior years the same choice is offered as in the classical course. The student electing botany devotes his attention to the plant cell, its protoplasm, nucleus, etc., and then proceeds to the physiology of nutrition, metabolism, and growth. The course in physiology and histology consists of two lectures and 6 hours' laboratory work weekly, devoted to a general study of the various organs in the living body, their gross and minute structure, and their mode of action. The course in animal morphology, elective in the senior year, is not fixed, but consists of laboratory work and reading in any direction that the student, properly qualified by his previous training, may desire.

In the agricultural course, the same electives are offered as above, with an additional course in entomology occupying 4 hours per week during the third term of the junior year. In this course the general characters of insects are presented with special reference to injurious families, and a detailed study is made of numerous individual forms, the destructiveness of which renders them specially conspicuous.

The laboratory is situated in Pillsbury Hall, a large building donated by ex-Governor John S. Pillsbury. It affords accommodations for forty students, containing microscopes in sufficient number for their individual use, and in addition all the apparatus needed for dissecting and embryological work. It also contains physiological apparatus in sufficient quantity to illustrate the general course, but no special provisions have been made for advanced research.

The museum contains numerous zoölogical specimens, alcoholic prepations of invertebrates from the Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Naples, as well as many of the birds and mammals illustrating the local fauna. In addition to this there are numerous skeletons, and models in wax and papier-maché, illustrating special points in the anatomy of both vertebrates and invertebrates.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI.

UNIVERSITY, MISS.

The biological work of this institution is limited to the freshman year, the time being equally divided between zoölogy and botany, and 5 hours weekly being devoted to each.

Zoology is studied by means of text-book exercises with practical work accompanying. Each student is also required to make a collection of representatives of some common group of animals and specially study the life history of a selected form.

The course in botany is so conducted as to give the student a knowledge of the parts of flowers and their relations and considerable practice in plant analysis. Vegetable physiology is also briefly taught.

The laboratory equipment consists of a few compound microscopes, together with the necessary reagents for staining and mounting. There is also a small collection of specimens available.

The course in biology is required of scientific students, but elective to others, no scientific preparation being required for entrance.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

LINCOLN, NEBr.

Applicants for admission to the freshman class of the classical course are not subject to examination in any scientific branches. Those applying for the scientific, literary, engineering, or agricultural courses are relieved from Greek, and in its stead are examined in chemistry, physics, and botany. In connection with all of these, practical work must have been performed; and under the latter head a herbarium, containing 100 specimens, must be presented. The necessary instruction is furnished by many of the high schools of the State, there being twelve such schools from which students are admitted on presentation of their diplomas.

In the academic course no work in science is prescribed, but the student may, without restriction, elect any of the subjects prescribed for the scientific courses. In the general scientific course zoölogy and botany are placed in the junior year, 4 hours weekly being devoted to the former, and 2 to the latter, subject, with 5 hours additional for laboratory work. In the course in zoölogy the invertebrates are first studied practically, after which the vertebrates are considered. A course is then given in comparative zoology, with an introduction to systematic zoology and field work, each of these courses occupying one term. In botany attention is first given to vegetable anatomy, then to vegetable physiology, following which is a course in the special anatomy and physiology of cryptogams.

Several scientific courses of a special character are offered, one devoting attention to botany, another to zoölogy, and a third to agricultural biology.

In the botanical course the work above mentioned in botany is done in the freshman year. In the sophomore year the work in zoölogy above mentioned is done, and in addition there is a special course in the anatomy and physiology of the phanerogams, consisting of two lectures and 5 hours' laboratory work weekly. The work of the junior

and senior years is of a more special nature, including a study of the structure and physiology of some one plant, the comparative anatomy of special tissues or organs, and the study of some selected group of plants with the preparation of a catalogue. In the senior year the preparation of a thesis, based on the work of the student, is required.

In the zoological course the work of the freshman year is the same as in the botanical course, and in the sophomore year the work is the same, except that physiology is substituted for botany, human and comparative physiology being treated for 2 hours weekly during the year. The zoological work of the junior year consists of a course in the general structure and development of insects, occupying 3 hours weekly during two terms; a course in the comparative histology of vertebrates, occupying the same time; a course in general conchology, occupying 3 hours weekly during one term, and a course of the same length on the structural and systematic relations of fishes and reptiles. In the senior year the zoological work consists of advanced comparative anatomy and histology, together with the systematic study of any selected group of animals. In connection with this a thesis is prepared.

In the course in agricultural biology the work of the freshman and sophomore years is the same as in the course in zoölogy. In the junior year the study of insects is pursued as in that course, and there is a further course in comparative embryology occupying 2 hours weekly. In the senior year there is a course in general comparative anatomy and physiology, to which 5 hours weekly are devoted.

In addition to the above specified courses, facilities are offered for more advanced post-graduate work in all the departments of biology. No definite lines of work are followed, but special work is laid out according to the desires of the student, and every facility is given him for bringing his work to a successful issue.

Five separate rooms are devoted to laboratory uses. One of these is fitted with the usual apparatus, microscopes, micrometers, injecting apparatus, etc., needed in general zoological work, while another room is similarly arranged for the study of vegetable morphology. The morphological laboratory is equipped for investigation in the lines of anatomy, physiology, histology, and embryology. The supply of apparatus is abundant, there being in all about fifty compound microscopes, besides camera lucidas, microtomes, and all the ordinary apparatus. There is also considerable apparatus for physiological work, including recording cylinders, chronographs, tambours, electrical apparatus, etc. Two rooms, one devoted to entomology and the other to pathology, have been fitted up for the special work of the experiment station, but are open to all students who are properly qualified.

The museum contains numerous representatives of the different animal groups, among which may be mentioned alcoholic collections of lower marine invertebrates and mollusks, mounted specimens of native birds and mammals, as well as local fish and reptiles. There are also