10 \vii.n I.IFK IN M:\\ HKALAXD. 



and " pests/' and look at and think of them as wonderful works 

 of creation, full of beauty ami interest. All nature is full of 



ity, and if one l"<>h> for this it will be found everywhere. It 

 will also In- found that the study of the 'book of nature is unending. 

 It dors not slop, like tin- story of a book, hut the more OIK- learns 

 and tin- moiv one roim-x to know tin- more one will tind fresh 

 chapters opening. If you are a naturalist, a true lover of Nature. 

 and study her for half a century, you will tind at tin- end of that 

 time that you are only l>e<_ r inniiiL r to learn a little ahout the wonder 

 ful things which occur and exist in this wonderful world in which 

 we live. 



In describing the more common animals of New Zealand I am 

 folio a the regular order in which a naturalist would 

 probably catalogue them. 



At this point a word is necessary as to the names to he used. 

 Some people profess to object very strongly to the use of technical 

 names, and say. " (live us Kn.L r lish names that we can understand." 

 n'on is absurd, ami arises from ignorance and want of 

 thought. Mow could a naturalist uive Kn<_ r lish names to th-- 

 thou- native and introduced moths, beetles, and Hies already 



known.' To lake a more special case ainoni: tin- lieetles alone. how 

 could lie distinguish amon<: the twenty-five species of native and 

 the half-do/en or more introduced ladybirds / The tiling cannot In- 

 done. On the other hand, technical names are <_ r iven on R definite 

 and simple plan, ami are really not ditlicult to master. \\'e use 

 them every day in speaking of <ja rden-plants Anemone, (~'rn/.<. 

 ( ;/<i</ "<>,! a i 'ithfinnni. Dublin, l'"nrhxin f I'tro/i/rn. and so on. 



In reL-ard to tin- aiiimaU we are to deal with in this hook we 



111 need to us- technical names, and will do so as sparingly 



ile, 



The tirvt and highest L r rou)i in the animal kingdom are tho 

 Mammalia. I ' kick honed ) anifnals whicl. 



i the females have glands whi ; -nilk for tli-.- 



nourishment of tin- youni:. These L'laii<K open to the surfai- 

 the hoily hy tefitS, 01 mammae, hence the name. Mammals are all 



i-hloode.i -iiaiix other distinctive 



l)\- whic' thll L'i'oup are characteri/eil. hoth anatomical 



and pliysio|o-_':eal. Imt here we intend to L-ive only the most dis- 

 tinctive points. 



