PREFACE. 



presenting to a class a bird's-eye view of the animal 

 kingdom. 



In order that Natural History may be taught effi- 

 ciently, it is necessary that the pupil should have 

 some knowledge of Physiology. It will be well for 

 him, therefore, to go through my " First Book in 

 Physiology" before entering on the study of this 

 book, and better still would it be if he has also gone 

 through my " Child's Book of Nature," in the Second 

 Part of which are presented such views of Physiology 

 and Natural History together as can be readily com- 

 prehended by children of nine or ten years of age. 

 Throughout the present work I have been particular 

 to develop the intimate connection existing between 

 physiology and Zoology, knowing that a neglect of 

 this point would abate essentially from both the in- 

 terest and the usefulness of the study. 



The study of Zoology has as yet been but little 

 pursued, and I will present here some considerations 

 which will show that it ought to have quite a promi- 

 nence not only in academies, but also in our common 

 schools. 



First, this study has a practical bearing upon many 

 of the most valuable and extensive occupations of 

 man, agriculture, horticulture, etc. Many animals 

 share with man the fruits of the earth, and therefore 

 it is important for him to know how far and in what 

 ways to prevent their undue increase. Then, again, 

 some animals live on those which are destructive to 

 the fruits raised by man, and so are really serviceable 

 rather than injurious to him. How many mistakes 

 have been made for want of proper observation of the 

 habits of such animals ! Many a bird, for example, 



