PREFACE 



IN the fifty-two short essays of this volume I 

 have presented familiar objects from unusual 

 points of view. Bird's-eye glances and insect 's- 

 eye glances, at the nature of our woods and fields, 

 will reveal beauties which are wholly invisible 

 from the usual human view-point, five feet or 

 more above the ground. 



Who follows the lines must expect to find 

 moods as varying as the seasons; to face storm 

 and night and cold, and all other delights of what 

 wildness still remains to us upon the earth. 



Emphasis has been laid upon the weak points 

 in our knowledge of things about us, and the 

 principal desire of the author is to inspire enthu- 

 siasm in those whose eyes are just opening to 

 the wild beauties of God's out-of-doors, to gather 

 up and follow to the end some of these frayed- 

 out threads of mystery. 



Portions of the text have been published at 

 various times in the pages of "Outing," "Rec- 

 reation," "The Golden Age," "The New York 

 Evening Post," and "The New York Tribune." 



C. W. B. 



rii 



