Prqface. 



I have carefully avoided all technical terms as far 

 as possible, and endeavoured to tell the story of some 

 of the wonders of Animal Craftsmanship in plain and 

 simple language ; for this little book is intended for the 

 general reader, and not for the expert who has a store- 

 house of technical literature at his disposal. 



The very wealth of material from which to draw 

 has been something of an embarrassment, where limited 

 space has made it possible to give only a brief survey 

 of certain forms, making it necessary to be somewhat 

 drastic in the selection of examples. However, my 

 guiding idea in their selection has been to place before 

 the reader, as far as circumstances would permit, the 

 most striking examples, and, at the same time, those 

 which the reader can in a large number of cases see 

 for himself, either during his rambles in the country, 

 or by visiting any well-ordered natural history museum. 



If these pages should serve to awaken a new interest 

 in the marvels of Nature and the wonderful skill dis- 

 played by such varied forms of animal life, and perhaps 

 stimulate the reader to seek himself for further examples, 

 then my labours have not been in vain, and this volume 

 will have justified its existence. 



F. MARTIN DUNCAN. 



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