HOW ANIMALS ADAPT THEMSELVES 13 



The reader may have noticed that there are 

 some unfortunate people who have no eyes for 

 these things ; from childhood upwards they have 

 been so absorbed in money-making or in reading 

 books the one case is as bad as the other that 

 they have never learnt to observe the facts of 

 nature. Some cannot even recognise the differ- 

 ent kinds of plants that they see in the hedges, 

 or in a country walk. Such natures are intel- 

 lectually defective; they are much to be pitied, 

 and require a special training to remedy their 

 stupidity. I mention this, because the occurrence 

 of this form of stupidity is one of the dangers 

 resulting from town life and bookish education, 

 which we have to guard against at the present 

 time. 



But for all healthy people accustomed to the 

 outdoor world, the study of animal life has always 

 possessed an interest. Its interest has, however, 

 been increased a hundred fold by the progress of 

 modern discovery, which has taught us to see in 

 the animal kingdom one large family, working its 

 way upwards from humble beginnings, to more 

 perfect structure of body, and more complete in 

 telligence of mind. 



CHAPTER II 



HOW ANIMALS ADAPT THEMSELVES TO 

 CIRCUMSTANCES 



WE all know what it is to adapt ourselves to 

 circumstances. Suppose two lads, fresh from 

 school, go out into the world to earn their living; 



