EDITOR'S PREFACE 



THIS English edition of Dr. Schmeil's text-book is translated from the 

 second German edition, the issue of which, following close upon that of 

 the first edition, proved that the book was very favourably received in 

 Germany. I have little doubt that in England, also, the merits of the 

 work will be appreciated. I have not undertaken to verify all the 

 author's descriptions, nor have I made any alterations of a general 

 character in the substance or the treatment. I have merely compared 

 Mr. Kosenstock's excellent translation with the original text, and 

 corrected the proofs, making here and there emendations in detail 

 where a statement seemed to me open to doubt, or where differences 

 between the fauna of Britain and Germany had to be indicated. 



The book is far superior in many respects to any other elementary 

 text-book of the subject known to me. It includes, so far as its aims 

 and limits permit, the most recent advances which have been made, 

 both in fact and principle. It provides sound scientific training by giving 

 verifiable descriptions of empirical details, so that the pupil is taught to 

 observe, to think, to compare, to generalize, not merely to remember 

 statements. It treats animals always as living organisms, forming an 

 excellent guide to that serious and accurate study of natural history, 

 bionomics, or biology in a special sense, which is now recognised as one 

 of the most important branches of zoology. Zoology, from this point of 

 view, attracts children almost without exception, while for them the 

 subject has little interest from any other point of view ; the importance, 

 therefore, of developing this natural interest into scientific study is 

 evident. 



The central idea of Dr. Schmeil's book is structural adaptation, and 

 by the systematic review of the details of structure corresponding to 

 varied physical conditions, the author produces a vivid impression of the 



