Introduction 25 



all evidence I could, bearing on the gait, speed, and the climbing 

 and swimming powers of the species treated. 



The tracks of each species are drawn and one or two tracks 

 general principles pointed out. Predaceous animals com- 

 monly set the hind-foot in the same track as the front-foot 

 of that side; this correct register enables them to go more 

 silently. 



Tree-climbing animals when running on the ground, 

 bound, and commonly set the front-feet together in a line across 

 the body; ground animals trot or if they bound set the front- 

 feet in a line along the body. This corresponds with the 

 hopping of tree-birds and the walking of ground-birds. 



The dung and signs are of great importance to the student scatol- 

 as to the hunter. They offer much history of animals whose etc' 

 presence might otherwise be unsuspected, and they are here 

 recorded as far as my material made possible. 



After considering the visible animal the ground is clear to its 

 discuss the real subject, the study of the little mind that pre- ' 

 ceded and fathered the mind of man. 



The first aspect of this study is environment. 



VIROX- 



The environment is the creator of the animal, the mould ex 

 in which each species was cast. Therefore no two can have ment 

 exactly the same environment, otherwise they would be one 

 and the same species. We look for important light in determin- 

 ing exactly the environment that created each. 



The range of the animal is part of its environment, and range 

 long ago I came to the conclusion that every creature is chang- 

 ing its range. So the question becomes not "Is it changing ?" 

 but **In what direction is it changing.?" Is it winning or 

 losing territory ? In this connection it is noteworthy that the 

 species with manyextra-limital records are usually the ones that 

 are extending their ranges. It looks as though these wander- 



