THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



ANIMAL LIFE 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTORY PROBLEMS 



BY J. ARTHUR THOMSON, M.A., 

 Professor of Natural History , University of Aberdeen. 



THE NATURALIST'S FOUR CHIEF QUESTIONS. It may be useful 

 to teachers to point out that the naturalist asks four chief questions 

 the answers to which, all very imperfect, are unified into a 

 science of lifelore or biology. 



The first question is What is this ? an inquiry into form 

 and structure. What is this living creature in itself and in its 

 parts ? What is it as we see it with our own lenses only, and as 

 we see it when we put other lenses in front of ours ? What is it 

 as a thing by itself, and when compared with its fellows and 

 kindred ? 



The second question is How does this act ? an inquiry into 

 habits and functions. How does this living creature behave as it 

 does ? What is its business ? How does it keep agoing and set 

 other creatures like itself agoing ? How does it get on ? What 

 is the " particular go " of it ? 



The third question is Whence is this ? an inquiry into 

 development and history. Where did this living creature come 

 from ? How did it begin ? What was it like when it was young ? 

 What are the chapters in its growth, and the crises in its life- 

 history ? What is known of the history of its race ? 



The fourth question is How has this come to be as it is ? 

 an inquiry into causes. What factors have led to this living 



VOL. I I 



