64 THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



Sociology, the science presenting to us the chief 

 problems of the human race. 



Of course, from these, other sub-sciences branch 

 off, dealing with certain aspects or sections of 

 the more general sciences in fuller detail, but a 

 series of Primers, planned on the lines briefly 

 enumerated above, should serve a useful mission, 

 and prove especially invaluable to teachers of 

 Nature Study and Higher Grade students. 



Even now, we have not directly answered the 

 vital question of what Nature Study, properly 

 stated, really is. We speak glibly of it, but few, 

 I am afraid, accurately realise its meaning. Surely 

 it is not the mere plucking of a few flowers, and 

 pulling them to pieces, counting the number of 

 stamens and pistils, petals and sepals ? Does 

 Nature Study consist of the classification of various 

 rocks, or of animals, or plants, or the imprison- 

 ment of an unfortunate Newt, the capture of a 

 Butterfly, the robbing of a bird's nest, or the 

 collection of isolated facts ? 



Does not real Nature Study rather consist of the 

 close observation and application of " Nature's 

 infinite variety " in its proper setting and environ- 

 ment? Should we not rather carefully consider 

 how the Primrose fights for existence, how the 

 great battle that is being continually waged in the 

 world of plant-life is fought, how each becomes 

 fertilised, and bv whom; how,' and where, and 



