PREFACE. 



It has been the endeavor, in the preparation of these volumes, to 

 present a popular account of Animal Life ; but while scientific techni- 

 calities have been carefully kept in the background, it is hoped that 

 scientific accuracy has not been sacrificed in the operation. To some 

 there may appear an inequality in treatment. This, in part at least, 

 has been intentional. Insects and Birds have already an enormous 

 popular literature, while the other forms have been more or less neg- 

 lected. Believing that these other animals have their points of interest 

 and claims upon our attention, they have been given a prominence 

 possibly greater than they deserve. Another feature in these pages has 

 been the collection of bits of '-unnatural history" from the pages of 

 the older writers. These have of course no place in our present science, 

 but they belong to the history of zoology, and as such, have no small 

 value, aside from their interest as scientific curiosities. 



It is hardly necessary to call attention to the fact that there is 

 another side to the animal kingdom which is fully as interesting and 

 attractive as that presented here. In the last twenty years zoology 

 has taken a new departure and a new lease of life. No longer are 

 zoologists content with watching the habits of well-known animals, and 

 imposing long Latin names on those which are new. Museums are no 

 longer necessary for the better class of work. To-day the student is 

 trying to solve deeper problems. He is finding out how all animals 

 grow from the egg to the adult condition; he is tracing resemblances, 

 rather than differences, and showing the essential unity of all life, 

 however great the apparent differences. 



