OPOSSUMS AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS 329 



with which to contend when we make observations. 

 When Mr. John Burroughs describes a bird it is 

 a Burroughs bird; when Mr. Seton describes a 

 wolf, it is the kind of wolf Seton would be if he 

 was transformed into one of these animals. When 

 Mr. Roosevelt describes an animal, it is a Teddy 

 animal, and Dr. Long's bird mends its broken leg 

 as the doctor thinks he himself would do if he 

 was a broken-legged bird. None of us can escape 

 our own individuality, surroundings and training. 

 It may be that it was my training which made me 

 guilty upon one occasion of 



SOME REAL NATURE FAKING. 



When the hunting season opens and the sports- 

 men flock to the woods the temperature at Wild 

 Lands becomes very cool in the daytime and chilly 

 at night. Roaring big log fires somewhat modify 

 the cold air inside the house, and the dogs eagerly 

 crowd around the hearth in front of us and our 

 guests. Then it is that we put big stones in the 

 fire and when we retire at night all of us carry 

 them with us to keep our feet warm. One night 

 when we all retired as usual and were sleeping 

 soundly we were aroused by the late arrival of 

 guests. A very charming girl who was visiting us 

 at the time and who is known to many of my read- 

 ers by her contributions to the current magazines 

 is a very great admirer of Browning; in fact, dur- 

 ing her stay at Wild Lands her time was divided 

 between 



