THE POINT OF VIEW 



5 



essence of the process when we substitute the demon- 

 strational method of the " school animal " or the zoological 

 garden for the primitive, normal, natural relation of com- 

 panionship between the living animal and the child. The 

 pet animal is thus for the child, as it was for the race, 

 the key to the door into knowledge and dominion over 

 all animal life. Domestication of animals in its widest 



Fig. 2. Herd of Elk, Blue Mountain Forest 

 (Photograph by Charles Irving Rice) 



sense (and possibly we should add certain phases of 

 hunting and fishing) is elementary zoology. Its funda- 

 mental character and value for education are evinced in 

 the passion of children for pets ; and as in the race, so 

 in the life of the child, it should be made the most of as 

 a step toward civilization. This subject will be more 

 completely developed in a chapter by itself, and will also 

 form the key to the animal nature study advocated 



