The aim in bringing out this book is to provide a training to the students of microbiology in handling and understanding microorganisms and also bringing them closer to the physiology of living cells. Beginning with characteristic differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes the book depicts the various methods employed to characterise and cultivate bacteria. Several staining procedures have been compiled at one- place. The subject matter for various biochemical tests and their results are illustrated by color plates and line diagrams.