PREFACE 



THE stories that follow are the author's 

 personal experiences with the creatures 

 described. Every illustration is from an orig- 

 inal photograph made by the author. Sev- 

 eral years of time and almost unlimited pa- 

 tience have been necessary to secure them. 



Several of the photographs have already 

 appeared in various magazines, including such 

 well-known publications as Outing, Country 

 Life in America, Forest and Stream, and 

 Guide to Nature. Some of the stories also 

 have been published in Outing, and the 

 readers of that magazine may recognize the 

 "Chicken Thief," "The Neighborly Screech 

 Owls," and the Red-tail family. A few of the 

 pictures have also been published in the 

 author's book, Productive Beekeeping. 



This book is given to the public with the 

 hope that these intimate stories of life in the 

 big out-of-doors may lead to a better under- 

 standing of the difficulties and dangers that 

 beset the wild creatures, and a more sym- 

 pathetic relationship with them. 



FRANK C. PELLETT. 



Tamakoche, Atlantic, Iowa, July 31, 1917. 

 IS 



