An engaging introduction to the invertebrates beginning with the simple amb and concluding with the complex centipedes spiders and sixlegged insects. In between the reader encounters a number of groups of animals of increasing complexity beginning with the living sponge the traveling jellyfish and the wondrous coralbuilders then passing on to the starfish seaurchins and seacucumbers. Next come mussels and snails cuttlefish and oysters followed by creeping worms and arriving at last at the jointlegged division including crabs that live in the water as well as the aforementioned centipedes spiders and insects that breathe only in the air which comprise more than fourfifths of the living beings on our globe. All creatures are described in such a way as to arouse an abiding interest in them and their behavior. Dozens of labeled ink drawings suitable for copying into notebooks are included encouraging close attention to details.