NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS. 107 



BOOK NOTICES. 



The Common Toad, by Dr. C. F. Hodge. Oliver B. Wood, 



Worcester, Mass. 



"Biology is denned as 'the science of living things in the widest sense/ 

 Thus the biology of any animal is a knowledge of its whole life story, its 

 activities, all its relation to food supply, to enemies that feed upon it, its re- 

 lation to mankind and to human interests. It is not zoology, not botany, 

 not anatomy, not physiology. It includes and is greater than all these, and 

 when this science is complete for any animal, it will tell us just what part 

 it plays in the economy of nature, the whole work which the species does in 

 the world. 



We need this word, biology, in elementary school work, and there should 

 be associated with it no suggestion of the introduction of a new study into 

 the curriculum. It is simply an easy word to designate the 'nature study' of 

 living things, and it is the writer's opinion that this wider study should largely 

 supplant the more technical and special science in our schools. This larger 

 view must inspire life-long interests. These should be developed at the 

 earliest practicable moment, and will thus form the well-spring of interest and 

 energy for more special work later on in the child's course." 



The above is a portion of a very pertinent introduction to Dr. Hodge's 

 valuable pamphlet upon the biology of the common toad, in which the author 

 lays special stress upon teaching children to observe the life history of animals. 

 The common toad is given as an easily accessible example. 



The paper opens with a synopsis of the species of most of our northern 

 frogs and toads, and then proceeds to give a general account of the habits of 

 the common toad, beginning with the laying of the eggs, and ending with an 

 account of the toad in its adult state. 



Methods of keeping and hatching the eggs, of rearing tadpols, and of 

 keeping the young and adult toads are given. 



This truly and thoroughly practical paper, which is written in a simple 

 manner for the use of those who have had no scientific training, we should 

 like to see in the hands of every teacher in the country. 



W r e also desire to call attention to the prizes which Dr. Hodge offers for 

 the best articles upon original observations made by school children upon the 

 habits of toads. 



Those desiring to secure a copy of Dr. Hodge's pamphlet can do so by 

 sending five cts. to the publisher, Oliver B. W T ood, 50 Foster st. Worcester, 

 Mass. 



