THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



PART I 

 THE ACTIVITIES OF ANIMALS 



CHAPTER I 



THE WEALTH OF LIFE 



1. Variety of life 2. Haunts of life 3. Wealth of form 

 4. Wealth of numbers 5. Wealth of beauty. 



THERE can be no real appreciation of animal life without 

 watching and searching, touching and testing. No book- 

 lore can take the place of personal observation, and 

 though opportunities vary greatly, some are within the 

 reach of all. Within a few hours' walk of even the 

 largest of our towns the country is open and the animals 

 are at home. Though we may not be able to see " the 

 buzzard homing herself in the sky, the snake sliding 

 through creepers and logs, the elk taking to the inner 

 passes of the woods, or the razor-billed auk sailing far 

 north to Labrador," we can watch some of the birds 

 building their " homes without hands," we can study 

 the frogs from the time that they trumpet in the early 

 spring till they or their offspring seek winter quarters in 

 the mud, we can follow the bees and detect their adroit 

 burglary of the flowers. And if we are discontented with 

 our opportunities, let us read Gilbert White's History of 

 Selborne, or how Darwin watched earthworms for half a 

 lifetime, or how Richard Jefferies saw in the fields and 



