Il8 NATURE STUDY. 



well worth while to observe a single creature or plant care- 

 fully and take note of its structure and habits ; but it is 

 w^orth much more to compare one plant or animal with an- 

 other plant or animal and become familiar with the 

 differences between them ; but if we can draw a cor- 

 rect inference from the comparison, that is much the 

 best of all. If the inference is new as well as correct, we 

 may add to the sum of human knowledge ; if it has been 

 reached before, we still have all the advantages to our- 

 selves of original investigation and discovery. 



The field for the exercise of these faculties of observa- 

 tion, comparison and inference is so broad that good ex- 

 amples are sure to occur to any thoughtful parent or teach- 

 er, but a convenient illustration is afforded by a study of 

 the location of 



THE EYE. 



Where are eyes placed in the dog and cat ? Where in 

 the rabbit and sheep ? Think of all the animals you have 

 seen, as the squirrel, the cow and the horse, with special 

 reference to the position of the eyes in the head. Then 

 look at the pictures of animals which perhaps you have not 

 seen, as the lion, the tiger, the bear, the deer, the ante- 

 lope and the giraffe. 



It appears that some animals have their eyes in the front 

 of their heads. Why ? Others have their eyes on the 

 sides of their heads. Why ? 



Here are two facts gained by observation and compari- 

 son. There is a reason for every fact in nature. I^et us 

 find the reasons for the facts we have learned about eyes 

 b}^ observing and comparing different kinds of animals. 



How do cats and dogs live when wild? How do lions and 

 tigers live? Are the eyes of these and other creatures that 

 hunt, and live upon what the}^ catch and kill, in front or 

 on the sides of the head ? How do rabbits, squirrels, 



