D.A.V.E. is intended for use in an introductory course in descriptive embryology. It can be used as a stand-alone instructional tool or as a supplement to a more traditional, microscope-oriented approach. One of the advantages of using D.A.V.E. is the ease of moving between sections, various planes of dissection, and stages of development. D.A.V.E. also makes it possible for students and teachers to view structures simultaneously, rather than trading looks through a microscope. D.A.V.E. includes whole mount, serial sagittal sections, serial frontal sections, and serial cross sections for various stages of development of frog, chick, and pig embryos. Unlike other embryology atlases, the serial sections in D.A.V.E. are not limited to representative sections, but include every section from the series. This makes it possible for the student to trace through successive sections observing the three dimensional nature of structures, rather than being limited to "snapshots" of the embryo. Directions for locating key embryological features accompany the images, and students are encouraged to follow these guidelines as they explore the fascinating world of development. I think you will find that the combination of verbal descriptions and digital images will make this an enjoyable and fruitful endeavor. I dream of a world where a chicken can cross a road... ...without having his motives questioned.