230 



Little needs to be said about the book itself — it is frankly- 

 autobiographical. Most boys will read it with avidity, and 

 quite unknown to themselves, with prdfit. So much juvenile 

 reading is full of nonsense about animals and plants that a book 

 by a trained naturalist that parents can rely upon is sure to 

 find a field of usefulness. 



In the preface the author says that the idea of the book came 

 to him during a short illness when he was confined to his room, 

 and where quiet reflection carried him back to the days of which 

 he has so entertainingly written. Robert Louis Stevenson who 

 knew something about illness, and boys, once wrote that they 

 are naturally cruel and this book may well prove it. It is quite 

 conceivable that once a bo}' got it in his mind that the book 

 was produced during illness he might, even so, think to himself 

 "I hope the author gets it again!" 



N. T. 



