An Introduction to the Study of Fossils:

This little volume has grown out of a need experienced by the author during fifteen years of teaching paleontolog} He has found that students come to the subject either with very little previous training in biology, or at best with a training which has not been along the lines that would definitely aid them in understanding fossils. Too often fossils are looked upon merely as bits of stone, differing only in form from the rocks in which they are embedded. Hence to awaken interest in them as once living animals and plants, connected by the wonderful chain of evolution with the animals and plants now living, has been the chief aim of the authors lectures and laboratory work upon introductory paleontology which he here presents. To this end certain living forms have first been discussed as types of their phyla or classes with especial reference to those features which will help the student to understand the related fossil forms considered later. The response which these living forms make to their environment is considered, where they live, how their life is maintained and how they perpetuate their kind. The relation of the soft body to the hard skeleton or shell is especially emphasized, since it is largely through this very intimate relationship that our interpretation of extinct life is made possible. The student may thus reconstruct from the hard parts preserved in the rocks the appearance of the once living animal. The discussion has been kept as free as possible from unnecessary technical terms.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention h