CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE NATURE OF ANIMAL LIFE, 



PAGE 



The characteristics of animals . . . . . . . . . . 2 



The relation of animals to food-stuffs . . . . . . . . 15 



the atmosphere .. .. .. ,.15 



j) ,) energy . . . . . . . . 16 



CHAPTER II. 



THE PROCESS OF LIFE. 



Illustration from respiration .. .. .. .. ..21 



nutrition . . . . . . . . . . 25 



The utilization of the materials incorporated . . . . 27 



The analogy of a gas-engine. Explosive metabolism . . . . 30 



CHAPTER III. 



REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT. 



Reproduction in the protozoa . . . . . . . . 37 



Fission in the metazoa . . . . . . . . . . 41 



The regeneration of lost parts . . . . . . . . 41 



Reproduction by budding . . . . . . . . . . 42 



Sexual reproduction . . . . . . . . . . 42 



Illustration of development . . . . . . . . . . 51 



Parental sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . 56 



The law of increase. . . . . . . . . . . . 58 



CHAPTER IV. 



VARIATION AND NATURAL SELECTION. 



The law of persistence . . . . . . . . . . 61 



The occurrence of variations . . . . . . . . . . 63 



Application of the law of increase . . . . . . 76 



Natural selection . . 77 



