I 



Introductory 



jHAT we know so little, as a 

 people, of our birds, trees, 

 rocks and flowers, is not due, 

 I think, so much to any in- 

 born lack of appreciation of the beautiful 

 or interesting, as to the fact that we have 

 been obliged to concentrate our energies 

 in those directions which seemed to lead 

 to some immediate material advantage, 

 leaving us little time to expend upon the 

 study of such objects as promised to yield 

 no tangible remuneration. Then, too, 

 our struggle for existence has taken place 

 largely in towns where there is almost 

 nothing to awaken any dormant love of 

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