Životinjstvo i nauka o čovjeku

Animals and the Science of Man is a joint work of two prominent Croatian zoologists: Dr. Krunoslav Babić (1885–1953), long-time head of the Zoological Institute and Museum in Zagreb, and Dr. Nikola Fink (1901–1975), his associate and later successor at the department. The book was published in Zagreb by the Publishing Department of the Croatian State Printing House, with the first edition in 1941, and it has also seen later editions (e.g. 1943 and 1944).

It is intended for lower grades of secondary schools (gymnasiums and similar schools) as a natural science textbook. It consists of two main parts:

• Animals (Zoology) – a systematic overview of the animal kingdom according to the then-current systematics (from simpler invertebrates to mammals).
• The science of man (anthropology and basic physiology) – a description of the structure, functions and development of the human body.

The book is extremely richly illustrated: it contains a large number of black and white drawings, photographs and several color plates. The illustrations were one of its main advantages – clear, pedagogically adapted and helped students understand the morphology and systematics of animals.

The work represents one of the first originally Croatian zoology textbooks for secondary schools in the modern sense. It is written in a clear, professional, but accessible language for students. It reflects the scientific level of Croatian zoology in the first half of the 20th century, with an emphasis on morphology, systematics and basic physiology. The section on man covers the basics of anatomy and physiology, with elements of comparative anatomy (connecting man with the rest of the animal world).

Today, this textbook is sought after among antiquarian book collectors and historians of science and education. It represents an important document on the teaching of natural sciences in Croatia during World War II and the NDH period, and on the continuity of Croatian scientific terminology in biology. Although some systematic divisions and theories are now outdated, the book retains its value as a quality pedagogical material of its time and a testimony to the work of the Department of Zoology, University of Zagreb.