ELEMENTS OF ZOOLOGY. 



CHAPTER I. 

 WHAT ZOOLOGY IS 



AND 



A GENERAL IDEA OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



IN entering upon the study of any science or department 

 of learning, it is important to understand, at the outset, 

 what the science is, in general terms, anil what is the nature 

 of the subject or subjects of which it treats or with which 

 it deals. 



Zoology is the department of Natural History which 

 treats of Animals. It is the scientific history of the Ani- 

 mal Kingdom as a whole, and of all the various forms of 

 which it is composed. 



Natural History, in its broadest sense, is tlie science which treats of 

 the earth and of all natural objects upon its surface and within its 

 crust. The term, however, is too often used in a restricted sense as 

 meaning the same as Zoology. In addition to Zoology, Natural History 

 also includes Botany, Geology, and Mineralogy. 



The word Zoology comes from two Greek words, zoun, 

 an animal, and logos, a discourse. 



As Zoology treats of all animals, the lowest as well as 

 the highest, it is important, as already stated, to know at 



