and the heron that chummed little fish by a 

 bait, and the fox that played possum when 

 caught in a coop, and the kingfishers that 

 stocked a pool with minnows for their little 

 ones to catch, and the toad that learned to sit 

 on a cow's hoof and wait for the flies at milking 

 time. All these and a score more of incred- 

 ible things, seen by different observers in 

 different places, would seem to indicate that 

 intelligence is more widely spread among the 

 Wood Folk than we had supposed ; and that, 

 when we have opened our eyes wider and cast 

 aside our prejudices, we shall learn that Nature 

 is generous, even to the little folk, with her 

 gifts and graces. 



As for the interpretation of the facts, upon 

 which I have occasionally ventured, that is 

 wholly my own and is of small consequence 

 beside the other. Its value is a purely per- 

 sonal one, and I record it rather to set the 

 reader thinking for himself than to answer 

 his questions. In the heart of every man 

 will be found the measure of his w^orld, 

 whether it be small or great. He will judge 

 heat, not by mathematical computation of 



