Elementary Zoology, Second Edition

Vernon Lyman KelloggProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 785K words
Chapters: 79

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Elementary Zoology, Second Edition by Vernon L. KelloggAuthor: Kellogg, Vernon L. (Vernon Lyman), 1867-1937,Language: English, Class: QL: Science: Zoology, Release Date: Nov 17, 2012

Editor's review

This second edition of Elementary Zoology is a representative textbook by the early twentieth-century American zoologist Vernon Kellogg, reissued as a free ebook through Project Gutenberg; it holds documentary value for both the history of science and the history of education. The book presents the morphology, habits, and physiological features of the major animal groups within a clear classificatory framework; its plain language and concrete examples reflect the emphasis on observation and comparison characteristic of zoological teaching in that era. For today's readers its value lies not in offering the most current knowledge but in showing how zoology was narrated and where its knowledge boundaries stood before the modern textbook had fully taken shape—it can be read alongside contemporary textbooks to trace how disciplinary concepts evolved. The Gutenberg edition allows full-text searching and excerpting, making it suitable as supplementary material for the history of science, natural history, or English-language popular science reading. Readers should note the older terminology and historical differences in classification systems, and treat the book as a window onto early zoological education rather than a reference for current taxonomic information.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of science and natural history
Education researchers in need of English-language sources on the history of zoology
Upper-level secondary students with strong English reading skills
Digital readers who collect public-domain popular science ebooks

Not a good fit for

Exam candidates who need the latest animal classification and cutting-edge knowledge
General popular science readers hoping for a Chinese translation
Readers whose main purpose is to look up species identification information

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and each chapter's introduction first to grasp the overall classificatory framework, then read closely the groups that interest you.
Read alongside a contemporary zoology textbook and mark where terminology and classification have changed.
Use the search function of the Gutenberg ebook to locate passages by keywords for each taxonomic group.
Note older formulations as you read, using them as material for notes on the history of science.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is the knowledge in this book still accurate today?

The book reflects zoological understanding in the early twentieth century, and some classifications and terminology have been updated as research has advanced. It is better read as a sample of the history of science and of old textbooks than used as a basis for current species identification or exam review.

Can I understand it without a background in zoology?

The book is written in plain, largely descriptive language, and readers with basic English reading ability can work through it. But it contains many terms and older classifications, so beginners are advised to consult modern introductory zoology materials alongside it.

What are the practical features of the Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free ebook, convenient for full-text searching, excerpting, and reading across devices; it suits topic-based skimming and citing historical sources. It does not provide the diagrams and exercises of a modern textbook, so readers must supply supplementary reference materials themselves.

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About the author

Vernon Lyman Kellogg Author · American · 1867–1937

Vernon L. Kellogg (1867–1937) was an American entomologist and zoologist born in Emporia, Kansas. He served for many years as professor of entomology at Stanford University and was an authority on the classification and evolution of lice, especially Mallophaga. He took part in founding the National Research Council and served as its secretary for many years. Four of his works are held in this collection, showing considerable range: insect stories for general readers, an introductory zoology textbook, a biographical work on Herbert Hoover, and an imaginative piece, Nuova or, The New Bee. These works show that he could write both rigorous scholarship and lively popular accounts of nature, and his science writing holds a place in the early dissemination of natural science in the United States.