WHAT IS BIOLOGY? 5 



living in this country. A knowledge of plants and animals is a 

 constant source of satisfaction when we come in contact with 

 wild or domesticated forms and have a chance to observe their 

 structures and activities "just for fun." The more we learn 

 about life the better able we are to understand ourselves and 

 our fellow beings, and so better able to manage ourselves in 

 many situations. Finally, biology is coming to be used more 

 and more in the management of our common affairs, in town 



Fig. 2. Fossil remains of animal life 



The fish that left this record in the rocks at Twin Creek, Wyoming, lived between 

 two and three million years ago. (From photograph furnished by the American 



Museum of Natural History) 



and city and in the nation at large, in industry, and wherever 

 people have to come together for any purpose. But the greatest 

 value of biology, as of every other study, will be tested by its 

 ability to make life easier to help us get more out of life. 



4. What there is to study about living things. Almost from 

 the first, little children want to know the names of the different 

 objects that come to their attention, and about the classes to 

 which each new acquaintance belongs. One department of 

 biological study concerns itself chiefly with describing and 

 comparing all sorts of plants and animals for the purpose of 

 making complete classifications. Here the student wants to 



