50 



WHAT IS BEING ALIVE? 



and thistle, are strik- 

 ing examples. Op- 

 portunity should be 

 given for all members 

 of the group to go, if 

 possible, to a good 

 museum where such 

 material is on dis- 

 play. 



Practical Exercise. 



List as many different 

 examples of plant and 

 animal adaptations as 

 you can. Be prepared 

 to explain them before 

 the class. If possible, 

 bring to class examples 

 or diagrams of the 

 animals or the plants 



Wright Pierce wMch ghow thege adap _ 

 Mention several ways in which this cactus is fitted to live in tations 

 the desert. 



Adaptability, a function of living things. Not only are plants 

 and animals fitted to live under certain conditions, but each part 

 of their bodies may be fitted to do certain work. I notice that as 

 I write the fingers of my right hand grasp the pen firmly and the 

 hand and arm execute some very complicated movements. This 



they are able to do 

 because of the move- 

 ment made possible 

 by the arrangement 

 of the delicate bones 

 of the arm, a complex 

 system of muscles 

 which move the 

 bones, and a direct- 

 ing nervous system 

 which plans the work. 

 Because of the pe- 

 culiar fitness in the 

 structure of the hand 

 for this work we say 

 it is adapted to its 



Wright Pierce 



How does the beak of the eagle fit it for catching and using its 

 food? 



