i 4 INTRODUCTION 



the residence of a person by naming the continent, country, 

 county, town, parish, and street, so we can definitely ascribe 

 any particular animal to its exact place in the world of 

 nature. 



Although we propose to visit only what we may term 

 the aristocracy of the animal world, we find that it will 

 necessitate our travelling into every corner of the globe. 

 In our own country we leave the city and the mart and all 

 the pageantry of artificial life, and wend our way into the 

 green fields, follow the river's flowery banks, and enter the 

 shade of the tangled wood. We cross the oceans and 

 explore the continents ; we traverse vast fertile plains and 

 parched deserts ; we plunge into primeval forests ; and we 

 climb stupendous mountains. Wherever the human foot 

 and human perseverance can force a way we shall find the 

 animal world at home, to give us varying receptions accord- 

 ing to the nature with which the creatures are endowed. 



Incidentally in our wanderings we shall learn much that 

 is perhaps outside the immediate scope of natural history, 

 for many animals touch at vital points the lives of the 

 people among whom they dwell. We shall, too, often 

 stray from the beaten tracks of civilisation, and enter into 

 immense solitudes where the explorer and the hunter have 

 only occasionally penetrated. Nevertheless, we shall never 

 be in doubt concerning our course even there the finger- 

 posts and milestones of the naturalists will unfailingly direct 

 our steps. 



If it were not for this assurance as we stand upon the 

 threshold of our task we should be weighed down by the 

 mere contemplation of the immensity and the variety of 

 the mighty creation amid which we live, and of which we, 

 ourselves, were the Creator's supreme effort. But every 

 step in our well-regulated inquiry will but increase our 

 wonder at the vista of extreme interest opened up to us ; 

 every new fact which we glean will prove but one more 

 testimony of God's power upon earth, and proof of the 

 riches and treasures of His love and goodness to all 

 mankind. 



