22 Introduction % 



zoology is an essential background subject. Work in these areas can- 

 not be pursued without a knowledge of animals, their relationships, their 

 structures, and their functioning. 



Many aspects of zoology are themselves of practical importance. 

 These include, among others, the field of genetics which has been es- 

 sential for animal breeding; ecology which has furnished the necessary 

 background for sound conservation programs ; taxonomy which has 

 made possible the correct identification of economically important pests ; 

 parasitology which has enabled man to control dangerous animal para- 

 sites ; and physiology which explains the functioning of the body. 



In addition to these "practical" values, zoology itself is a subject 

 of great interest and aesthetic appeal. To many the variability of ani- 

 mal form and habit is a source of unending interest. Perhaps most 

 important of all is the understanding that zoology gives of man's place 

 in the world of nature. 



