CHAPTER VII 

 ANIMAL STUDY 



Primitive, savage man subsisted chiefly upon game and 

 fish. The old hunting instinct is not dead yet, but is latent 

 in nearly every boy and man to-day. The pastoral stage, 

 when man succeeded in domesticating and herding sheep and 

 cattle, was of great importance in raising him in civilization. 

 His existence no longer depended solely upon chance and 

 skill in the chase. He became more provident, and also 

 more settled nomadic, instead of ranging far and wide for 

 game. A still greater progress was made when he succeeded 

 in domesticating the horse, and used it and the ox as beasts of 

 burden. Now he was able to use greater forces than his own, 

 and he made great strides in commerce and in agriculture. 

 The races that never domesticated beasts of burden remained 

 in a backward state. The American Indians had not learned 

 to use any strong, serviceable animal for carrying or dragging 

 loads. Along with food and work animals, primitive man 

 domesticated a few other animals, such as the cat and the 

 dog, more for pleasure than for service. 



Thus we see that man has in the past had a very great and 

 practical interest in the animals. The horse, the cow, sheep, 

 poultry, and pets are just as necessary to us as they were to 

 our ancestors. Therefore animal study is very proper for 

 the schools. 



71 



