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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLVII. No. 1222 



ties, leads him into the open air, brings 

 him in contact with interesting and beauti- 

 ful objects, demands physical and mental 

 activity, and if he be susceptible to the at- 

 traction of such objects at all, absorbs his 

 attention, and thus relieves him from 

 worry and responsibility. 



Thus zoology has a very considerable 

 recrealtional value, but it is clear from what 

 has been said that this is to be secured in 

 greatest degree from the study of field zool- 

 ogy, or as it is usually called, nature study. 

 There is much esthetic value in the study 

 of animal-s in the laboratory and museum 

 and there is some recreational value as 

 well, biit both are realized in far greater 

 degree if animals be studied living, in their 

 natural surroundings, and displaying their 

 characteristic activities. 



Hunting is attractive to many men and 

 to some women, but opportunities for such 

 recreation are rapidly growing less and less, 

 and over the larger part of our country are 

 now secured only at a considerable sacri- 

 fice of time and money. Fishing is still 

 within the reach of a larger number, but 

 opportunities for this enjoyment are con- 

 stantly diminishing. Under these condi- 

 tions many sportsmen have taken to the 

 camera and find close at hand in the pur- 

 suit and photography of animals too small 

 to serve as game all the pleasures that they 

 formerly found in hunting or fishing. 



One feature of nature study which adds 

 greatly to its recreational value so far as 

 the great number of our people is con- 

 cerned is that it may be pursued close at 

 hand. The out-of-doors is all around us, 

 but most of lis see little of it. Let one take 

 up the pursuit of nature study and every- 

 thing about him takes on a different aspect. 

 Where before he saw only earth and sky 

 and woods and fields, now he sees a myriad 

 of beautiful and interesting forms. His 



ej'es are opened to objects and activities be- 

 fore undreamed of and not only does the 

 thicket and weed-patch, pond and stream, 

 become scenes of marvelous activity, but 

 the air is vibrant with tones before un- 

 heeded. The activities of the animals here 

 as in the case of esthetics give to animal 

 nature study a peculiar value as compared 

 with the study of plants or inanimate na- 

 ture. 



And as the study is pursued the sur- 

 roundings become pregnant with more and 

 more of interest and beauty. Every walk 

 becomes an adventure and every area to 

 which one devotes his attention a field of 

 discovery. It has been said that to secure 

 the greatest value from recreation one 

 must seek new scenes and such as afford 

 opportunities for the contemplation of the 

 beauties of nature. To the student of na- 

 ture study the most familiar scenes take on 

 a new aspect, and as his knowledge in- 

 creases he not only learns how to find new 

 and beautiful objects, but he acquires also 

 that which enables him to project himself 

 into features of his surroundings which 

 before seemed commonplace and uninterest- 

 ing. These now appear beautiful and to 

 opportunities for healthy recreation are 

 added means of esthetic enjoyment which 

 can be but slightly appreciated by those 

 who have never experienced them. Nay 

 more — as nature is infinite, and as he is 

 capable of continued development, a life- 

 time of ever-widening opportunity unfolds 

 itself as he proceeds. 



It may seem a far cry from the tumult of 

 balttle to the calm and peace of the road- 

 side, the meadow and the woods ; from the 

 broad principles for which nations are con- 

 tending to the simple facts of nature study ; 

 from a field of struggle which involves the 

 whole world to the area limited by one's 

 horizon. But a little consideration shows 



