Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature (Cambridge Library Collection - Religion)

Nature's Teachings, first published in 1877, was one of many books on natural history by J. G. Wood, a Victorian clergyman who was hugely influential in popularising the subject, as well as being the editor of The Boy's Own Magazine. Here he examines the close parallels between nature and human inventions in areas including seafaring (the raft, paddle and oar), war and hunting (barbs, poisons and projectiles), architecture, tools, optics and acoustics, as well as 'useful arts' including sewage disposal. His text contains over 750 figures and illustrations, and he argues that future great discoveries could be made as a result of careful observations of nature. Although a contemporary of Darwin, Wood largely ignored the evolution debates and focused on communicating his enthusiasm for the natural world to a non-scientific audience. His successful publications still make fascinating reading for those interested in Victorian culture and the history of education. PREFACE. 11 CONTENTS. 13 NAUTICAL. 28 CHAPTER I. THE RAFT 28 CHAPTER II. THE OAR, THE PADDLE, AND THE SCREW. 39 CHAPTER III. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—PART I. 50 CHAPTER IV. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—PART II. 61 CHAPTER V. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES 71 WAR AND HUNTING. 77 CHAPTER I. THE PITFALL, THE CLUB, THE SWORD, THE SPEAR AND DAGGER. 77 CHAPTER II. THE OAR, THE PADDLE, AND THE SCREW. 89 CHAPTER III. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—PART I. 101 CHAPTER IV. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—PART II. 112 CHAPTER V. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES. 129 CHAPTER VI. THE HOOK.—DEFENSIVE ARMOUE.—THE FORT 142 CHAPTER VII. SCALING INSTRUMENTS.—DEFENCE OF FORT.—IMITATION. —THE FALL-TEAP 159 CHAPTER VIIL CONCEALMENT.—DISGUISE.—THE TRENCH—POWER OF GRAVITY.—MISCELLANEA 171 ARCHITECTURE 186 CHAPTER I. THE HUT, TROPIC AND POLAR 186 CHAPTER II. WALLS, DOUBLE AND SINGLE 204 CHAPTER III. THE WINDOW. 217 CHAPTER IV. LIGHTHOUSES 234 TOOLS. 249 CHAPTER I. THE DIGGING-STICK 249 CHAPTER II. THE SAW AND ITS VARIETIES 266 CHAPTER III. BORING TOOLS 276 CHAPTER IV. POLISHING TOOLS 290 OPTICS. 303 CHAPTER I. THE MISSIONS OF HISTORY 303 CHAPTER II. THE WATER-TELESCOPE 318 USEFUL ARTS. 335 CHAPTER I. PRIMITIVE MAN AND HIS NEEDS 335 CHAPTER II. CRUSHING INSTRUMENTS. 347 CHAPTER III. CLOTH-DRESSING 366 CHAPTER IY. THE STOPPER, OR CORK.—THE FILTER 377 CHAPTER V. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SPRING 387 CHAPTEK VI. SPIRAL AND RINGED TISSUES 402 CHAPTER VII. FOOD AND COMFORT 417 CHAPTER VIII. DOMESTIC COMFORT 427 CHAPTER IX. ARTIFICIAL WARMTH 439 CHAPTER X. WATER, AND MEANS OF PROCURING IT. 449 CHAPTER XI AEROSTATICS 463 CHAPTER XII. The Cassava Press and its Structure 474 CHAPTER XIII. TELESCOPIC TUBES. 487 CHAPTER XIV. Paper and its many Use 499 CHAPTER XV. Electricity, Magnetism, and Galvanism mutually Convertible 509 CHAPTER XVI. TILLAGE. 519 CHAPTER XVII. OSCILLATION 531 ACOUSTICS. 540 CHAPTER I. PERCUSSION 540 INDEX. 554 9781108000710 Cambridge University Press The Victorian clergyman J. G. Wood was a prolific author who was hugely influential in popularising natural history. In this entertaining book, first published in 1877, he examines the parallels between nature and human inventions in areas as diverse as boating, electricity, war and sewage disposal.