CURIOSITIES 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



By FRANCIS T. BUCKLAND, M.A., OXFORD. 

 1 Vol. 12mo. Illustrated. Price, $1 25. 



From the London Edition. 



"The reader need not apprehend stereotype anecdotes ot 

 animals in this capital book, by the son of the late celebrated 

 geologist, Dr. Buckland. The work is no stale repetition, but 

 enters upon a new field. One feels as if he were rambling in 

 the company of an agreeable and well-informed friend, who is 

 ever pointing out objects of interest, even in the most unlooked- 

 for places. Whoever, for instance, has hitherto regarded a horse- 

 pond with disgust, will, after reading a few pages, take a sudden 

 interest in its contents, and look upon it even as an agreeable 

 variety of Aquarium. Then, too, the curious details respecting 

 Rats, those unfortunate animals who may be said to have no 

 friends, and yet seem to be always convivial. Snakes, also, 

 and fish and fishing come in for their share in Mr. Buckland's 

 book. Many a reader will, doubtless, here learn to his surprise 

 that certain kinds of fishes are known to make nests. Other 

 things too will he get a hint of, that will startle him out of his 

 apathy to facts is Natural History. It would puzzle many to 

 answer the question, Do bats lay eggs ? It would puzzle more 

 how best to rescue a friend from the folds of a Cobra. Of such 

 matters this volume is full. In short, it is a curiosity in itself, 

 and shows how completely a clever man, thoroughly impressed 

 with his subject, and of enlarged knowledge and varied expe- 

 rience, can dispel the feelings of aversion with which the igno- 

 rant and thoughtless have been wont to regard some of the 

 aumbler members of the animal world. 



In Natural History, as well as in other researches, it is too 

 much the practice to copy facts and observations from printed 

 books, the volume of Nature herself being left unopened. It has 

 been the aim of the author to search into this wonderful book, 

 to record facts which came under his own eyes, at the same 

 time not neglecting the numerous works and lectures of cele- 

 brated Naturalists; and the book before us is probably the most 

 complete collection of instructive and anecdotal sketches upon 

 the interesting subject of Natural History which has ever 

 appeared." 



*t* Sold by all Booksellers, and sent by mail, postage free, to any part of tha 

 United States, on receipt of the price, by 



RUDD & CARLETON, Publishers and Booksellers, 



