NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES 



they are young ; they continue young in order that 

 they may play. 



In short, play is so widespread because it is the 

 young form of work. The animals who played best 

 when young, worked best, lived best, perhaps 

 loved best when they grew up, and thus through 

 the long ages the play-instinct has been fostered. 

 It is interesting, also, to notice that the animals 

 which man has succeeded in domesticating are 

 mostly playing animals. 



Play is thus a rehearsal without responsibilities, 

 a preliminary canter before the real race, a sham 

 fight before the real battle, a joyous apprenticeship 

 to the business of life: Thus our study of animals 

 playing in the summer sunshine gives a deeper 

 meaning to the familiar saying, " All work and no 

 play makes Jack a dull boy." May we not twist 

 an old precept a little, and say, " Let us play while 

 we can, so that we may work well when we will " ? 



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