CHAPTER VI 



THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



I. NATURE STUDY AND EDUCATION WHAT IS 



NATURE STUDY? THE STORY OF THE FROG 



THE VALUE OF STUDYING ENVIRONMENT 



Nature Study and Education, — ^To those who, like 

 the writer, have studied wild animals and plants 

 for many years, it is pleasant to recognise that 

 Nature Study has now been introduced into the 

 curriculum of every school worthy of the name. 

 Hitherto — at least so it appears to me — the most 

 elementary scientific truths have been dealt with 

 in a very dry-as-dust and matter-of-fact way, and 

 I am bound to admit that even to-day much that 

 is known as " Nature Study " is more so-called 

 than real. Some teach Botany, some Chemistry; 

 some deal with various kinds of animals, such as 

 Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, 

 Insects, etc., but these, when treated alone, and 

 divorced from each other in a manner that to the 

 field naturalist is difficult to comprehend, cannot 

 accurately convey any presentable idea of the real 

 reflection that ensues as a result of holding the 

 mirror up to Nature. 



What is Nature Study ? — This leads on to the 

 6i 



