ZOOLOGY AN IMPORTANT 'SCIENCE. 7 



what animals should be carefully protected and preserved, 

 and what ones should be destroyed. And it makes known 

 to us the habits of animals, thereby enabling us the better 

 to avail ourselves of the benefits to be derived from those 

 that are useful, and the better to meet and withstand the 

 ravages of those which are injurious. 



As intimated above, Zoology also holds direct and im- 

 portant relations to the science of Geology. The rocks in 

 many regions of our country and of other countries con- 

 tain vast numbers of plants and animals that lived many 

 thousands, and in many cases millions of years ago. And 

 these fossil plants and animals in the' rocks are among the 

 most important aids to the geologist in enabling him to 

 trace out the different rock formations, and to find the coal 

 and other materials essential to supply the wants of civil- 

 ized man ; and they are the absolutely essential aids in 

 enabling him to read and understand the past history of our 



globe. 



But the fossil animals can be understood only when 

 studied by the aid of the facts and principles of Zoology. 

 And therefore this science is one of the aids upon which 

 the geologist constantly relies, well knowing that without 

 this aid he makes little or no sure progress. 



Especially is the science of Zoology important as an 

 educational branch, securing to its true and faithful votaries 

 a spirit of earnest inquiry, habits of patient and accurate 

 observation, careful comparison, vigorous and logical 

 thought, and power of broad generalization ; and dealing, 

 as it does, with the highest expressions of matter and of 

 life, its study is eminently adapted to enlarge our ideas of 

 creation, and of the Great Author of Nature. It reveals 

 the plan which the Creator has made and carried out in, 

 the highest department of nature the Animal Kingdom. 



