WHAT ARE ADAPTATIONS? 



then in a museum. At first sight you might wonder how 

 in the world he uses his spiny covering. But if you had 

 been out hunting and had your dog come in whining with 

 his nose full of quills, you would not have to ask this 

 question. Evidently the spiny covering gives protection 

 to the otherwise defenseless animal. Or perhaps you 

 have wondered how it was that some plants could stand 

 severe drying while others wilted at once if they became 

 dry. When you examined the leaves of the first plants, 

 you probably found them either covered with tiny hairs 

 or having thickened waterproof surfaces, which prevented 

 rapid evaporation of water, while the plants that wilted 

 quickly might have large, thin leaves with much surface 

 from which to evaporate water. You may have wondered 

 what the elephant did with its long trunk until you saw 

 it use it for getting food or water. When we find in plants 

 and animals structures which are fitted for some definite, 

 useful purpose, we 

 call that structure an 

 adaptation and say it 

 helps to fit or adapt 

 the living thing to do 

 some particular work. 

 But plants and 

 animals do not stop 

 there. Often we find, 

 in order to adjust 

 themselves better to 

 their surroundings, 



they do certain 



things. Some plants 



may twist or twine 



around objects, thus 



rising above other plants and so place their leaves in the 



light where they can make food. Animals hide in the 



American Museum of Natural History 

 When the porcupine becomes angry or fright- 

 ened the quills stand out so that no enemy can 

 touch him without getting hurt. 



