ZOOLOGT. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Definition of Zoology. — The study of nature comprisea 

 the examination both of minerals and of living beings, i.e., 

 plants and animals. Every natural object in this world 

 which is lifeless belongs to the mineral kingdom: such are 

 rocks, soils, water, air, and gas. Since plants and animals 

 live and grow and have organs, or distinct jjarts which per- 

 form acts called functions, as the eye which sees, the hand 

 which grasps, etc., all living beings are said to he organic, 

 and all mineral bodies are said to be inorganic. It is cus- 

 tomary to speak of the Mineral Kingdom, the Vegetable 

 Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdom; but it is better to 

 speak of the inorganic and the organic worlds, since all liv- 

 ing beings or organisins have much in common which 

 distinguishes them from mineral substances. 



The study of plants is called Botany, and the study of 

 animals Zoology; while the study of living beings in gen- 

 eral, whether plants or anJmals, is termed Biology, which 

 means the science of living beings. 



Method of Study. — We study an animal, if it be a Jog, 

 for example, by observing its form, noticing its head, trunk, 

 its four legs, etc. After a long and patient examination of 

 the outer body we dissect it, examining the heart, stomach, 

 brain and nerves, etc., and the skeleton. After a thorough 

 study of a single specimen we should then comjjare it witli 

 a cat, and thus make our studies comparative. After such 



