The illustration shows the laboratory for all undergraduate students in the department of Biology, save those taking elementary courses. With large windows on three sides, it is one of the best lighted biological laboratories in the country. There are three other large laboratories in the wing, besides two small rooms, one occupied by graduate and advanced students and the other used as a private laboratory. The department is well equipped with every requisite for good work, including microscopes, microtomes, reagents, abundant material for illustration and dissection, and not the least important, a choice and rapidly growing special library.

In the early Museum days, when students were less numerous than now, the basement room in the main building, at present occupied by the Geological Department, afforded ample laboratory accommodations. Then as now, lectures were given in the lecture room on the ground floor. Later, some of the laboratory work was done in the lecture room, but this was unsatisfactory on account of bad lighting and inadequate space. At this time also, the small collection of books comprising the department library was kept in this room.

With the growth of the College and of the Department, came the building of the wing. At first the basement and first floor laboratories were sufficiently commodious, but in 1904 there was demand for a larger laboratory, and the large upper room was opened for elementary students. At present the basement room is used for a private laboratory. Instruction in biology is given both by lecture and by laboratory work, the object being to impart the scientific method of work and thought rather than to cram the student with a large number of unimportant facts.

M. I. L.