FOREWORD xiii 



lowing pebbles to make themselves heavy for the 

 purpose. 



In physical shape, form and colour, the feathered 

 folk have no such narrow limitations as has man. 

 The largest was the elephant-bird (now extinct) 

 which was five times the size of the African ostrich ; 

 the smallest is a tiny purple humming-bird no 

 larger than a little brown bee. Birds inhabit all 

 places: mountains, oceans, the ground, the trees, 

 caves, the Arctic regions, the tropics, the air. In 

 each place, they have worked out a marvellously 

 well-ordered existence. The Arctic goose has even 

 developed a special sac in which she can hatch her 

 eggs in the extreme cold of her home. 



The birds have a distinct social life. They build 

 the most artistic and best equipped homes of all 

 non-human beings. They entertain extensively 

 and have many convivial gatherings. Their family 

 life is exceptionally moral, though there are a few 

 polygamists among them. Divorce is rare, but 

 6uicide is often the natural outcome of deep dis- 

 grace. 



There are birds of as many shades of character 

 and disposition as there are types of people. There 

 are the gay, the sad ; the sociable, the reserved ; the 

 trustful, the shy; the frank, the deceitful; the hon- 

 est, the dishonest ; the gentle, the violent ; the peace- 



