Copyright 1952 by The Greystone Press, 100 Sixth Avenue, New 

 York City 13. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this 

 book or portions thereof in any form, except for the inclusion of brief 

 quotations in a review. This book was manufactured in the United 

 States of America and published simultaneously in Canada by 

 McClelland & Stewart, Ltd., 25 Hollinger Road, Toronto 16. 



U598-6M 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



The writing of this book would have been quite impossible without 

 the wholehearted interest of my husband, Melvin Shuttlesworth. His 

 excellent advice and suggestions, as well as practical helps, have been 

 invaluable. I am grateful also to Frederick Drimmer, editor of The 

 Greystone Press, for his guidance and enthusiasm all along the way. 

 My deep appreciation goes also to C. M. Goethe of Sacramento, 

 California, who through a lifetime of nature exploring has caused 

 innumerable parents and children to follow his example, and whose 

 interest in my work over many years has been a constant inspiration. 



It is impossible to express adequately my debt to the American 

 Museum of Natural History, where my work gives me the privilege of 

 discussing the various aspects of nature with brilliant scientists who 

 are devoting their lives to the study of some particular field of the 

 natural sciences. Particularly am I indebted to the following members 

 of the Scientific Staff who have read and helpfully criticized chapters 

 of this book: Dr. John T. Zimmer, Curator of Birds; T. Donald Carter, 

 Assistant Curator of Mammals; Francesca R. LaMonte, Associate Cura- 

 tor of Fishes; Bessie Matalas Hecht, Scientific Assistant, Amphibians 

 and Reptiles; John Pallister, Research Associate, Insects and Spiders; 

 Farida A. Wiley, Instructor, Department of Education; Dr. Henry K. 

 Svenson, Curator, Forestry and Botany; Robert R. Ccles, Chairman, 

 Astronomy and the Hayden Planetarium. Also my thanks to Dr. George 

 H. Childs for reading the section of seashore life, and to Dr. George G. 

 Goodwin, Associate Curator of Mammals for reading the section 

 on whales. 



I am grateful for the kind permission of Dr. Arnold Gesell and of 

 Ginn and Company to include (in Chapter One) an excerpt from 

 The Normal Child and Primary Education, by Arnold and Beatrice 

 Chandler Gesell. 



D. E. 8. 



