Vlll PREFACE 



close and unprejudiced (as far as may be) observer of 

 their life-ways. 



Unless I mistake, there is now an interest in the 

 study of animals altogether unprecedented, and I hope 

 to see appear, within the next few years, accounts of 

 researches which, in many respects, will be in advance 

 of anything yet produced. It is largely with the view 

 of stimulating such researches that I have concluded 

 to publish the principal results of my own observations 

 and thinkings up to the present time, in a form readily 

 accessible to all who may be interested in such studies. 

 As I believe the facts to be of by far the most value 

 in our present stage of progress, they will be found 

 to preponderate over theory. Laws, of course, we 

 should try to establish, but I believe that we must go 

 on as patient observers and experimenters for many 

 years yet to come, before large generalisations can 

 be safely formulated. 



There will be some possibly in high places who 

 may hold such work in light esteem, but they will 

 find that, sooner or later, their lofty seats must be 

 vacated, and that they must come down and delve. 

 Filling up books and periodicals is one thing, and 

 reaching truth another. 



The work is divisible into four parts. Part I. con- 

 sists of addresses, in which my own views of the 

 subject are set forth. Part II. of studies, largely 

 practical, of two interesting states feigning and 

 hibernation. These are on the borderland between 

 natural history and psychology, but must have 



