G ZOOLOGY AN IMPOKTANT SCIENCE. 



Zoology treats of animals in respect to their form and 

 structure, development, habits, name, classification, and 

 their geographical distribution. It also treats of them in 

 the relations which they sustain to Man, to one another, 

 and to the vegetable kingdom. 



This science has been established and brought to its 

 present high state of perfection through the labors of such 

 masters as Aristotle, Linnaeus, Cuvier, Agassiz, and many 

 others scarcely less renowned. 



Zoology is a science of the highest importance, not only 

 on account of its relations to our material welfare, and its 

 relations to other sciences, especially to that of Geology, 

 but, above all, as an educational branch of study. 



The objects with which this science deals hold the most 

 direct relations both to our wants and to our luxuries. 



No small part of our food comes directly from the ani- 

 mals of the fields, the forests, the ocean, the lakes, and the 

 streams. And the hat on our head, the coat on our back, 

 and the boots on our feet, also come to us from the animal 

 kingdom. And from the same source come the costly 

 shawl, the rich furs, and the elegant silks, satins, and 

 velvets of a lady's wardrobe. And from this source, also, 

 come rich dyes, valuable varnishes, all of the ivory, the 

 pearls, the mother-of-pearl, and many other things which 

 contribute to the comforts and the luxuries of civilized man. 

 But while many kinds of animals yield us only benefits, 

 many others, especially of the insect tribes, do us only 

 harm, destroying our forests, shade-trees and fruit-trees, 

 the crops of the field, orchard and garden, our choice shrubs 

 and beautiful flowers, our furs, clothing and carpets, and 

 many other articles of the household. 



Zoology informs us what animals are useful to man, and 

 what ones are his natural enemies ; it informs us, therefore, 



