NT OF THE SEED 52

VII. THE FERTILIZATION OF THE FLOWER 87

VIII. WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE LIFE OF THE FISH 107

IX. AMPHIBIOUS LIFE 127

X. THE BIRD 137

XI. THE MAMMAL 154

XII. VIGILANCE 169

XIII. THE TRANSFORMATION 178

LIST OF BOOKS HELPFUL IN STUDYING PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE 193

_The Renewal of Life_

_How and When to Tell The Story to the Young_

I

THE RENEWAL OF LIFE

Every human being must sooner or later know the facts concerning the
origin of his life on the earth. One of the most puzzling questions is
how and when such information should be given to the young.

There is nothing the parent more desires than that his child should have
a high ideal in regard to the sex-life and that he should live in
accordance with that ideal, yet nowhere is careful and systematic
education so lacking as here.

What parent would allow his child to go untaught in the particulars
concerning truth-telling, honesty, cleanliness, and behavior, trusting
that in some way the child would discover the facts necessary to the
practice of these virtues and live accordingly? And yet with apparent
inconsistency one of the prime virtues is neglected; one of the most
vital needs of every human being--the understanding of his
sex-nature--is too often left entirely to chance. Not only is the youth
uninstructed, but no proper way of learning the truth is within his
reach. It is as though he were set blindfold in the midst of dangerous
pitfalls, with the admonition not to fall into any of them. Those who
ought to tell the facts will not, consequently the facts must be
gathered from chance sources which are too often bad, poisoning mind and
heart. Even the physiologies, with the exception of those large, and to
the average reader inaccessible, volumes used in medical schools,
scarcely ever touch upon the subject. Of course these larger books give
only the physiological facts couched in scientific terms. How and where,
then, can the youth learn what he needs to know?

It is true there is a noble effort being made for young men, and to a
less extent for young wome