Agricultural zoology

About this book

"Agricultural zoology" by J. Ritzema Bos is a scientific handbook written in the late 19th century. It surveys the animal kingdom with an emphasis on species that harm or help farming, offering clear identification, biology, and practical notes for students and working farmers. The opening of the book sets its purpose and audience in the author’s and translator’s prefaces, with Eleanor A. Ormerod’s introduction underscoring its practical value; a detailed contents list signals broad coverage from vertebrates to protozoa. It then explains zoological classification and binomial naming, followed by a concise primer on vertebrate anatomy and physiology (skeleton, muscles, nerves, digestion, circulation and respiration, reproduction including alternation of generations), and how heart structure differs across vertebrate classes. The text proceeds into applied accounts of mammals relevant to agriculture: cats, dogs, foxes, and mustelids (marten, polecat/ferret, stoat, weasel, mink, otter, badger) with balanced notes on damage versus benefits; insect-eaters (shrews, the mole, hedgehog) largely presented as allies; bats as valuable nocturnal insect hunters; and rodents (hares and rabbits, then mice and rats) with concise identification and their typical harms. This opening portion concludes mid-discussion of mouse and rat species and their agricultural impact.