vi PREFACE 



Because I always desire to know the opinions of men who 

 are writing upon their own observations, I have felt free to 

 express my own conclusions regarding the many phases of 

 animal intelligence as their manifestation has impressed me 

 in close-up observations. 



I have purposely avoided all temptations to discuss the 

 minds and manners of domestic animals, partly because that 

 is by itself a large subject, and partly because their minds 

 have been so greatly influenced by long and close association 

 with man. The domestic mammals and birds deserve inde- 

 pendent treatment. 



A great many stories of occurrences have been written into 

 this volume, for the purpose of giving the reader all the facts 

 in order that he may form his own opinions of the animal 

 mentality displayed. 



Most sincerely do I wish that the boys and girls of America, 

 and of the whole world, may be induced to believe that the 

 most interesting thing about a wild animal is its mind and its 

 reasoning, and that a dead animal is only a poor decaying 

 thing. If the feet of the young men would run more to seeing 

 and studying the wild creatures and less to the killing of them, 

 some of the world's valuable species might escape being swept 

 away tomorrow, or the day after. 



The author gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to 

 Munsey's Magazine, McClure's Magazine and the Sunday 

 Magazine Syndicate for permission to copy herein various 

 portions of his chapters from those publications. 



W. T. H. 



The Anchorage, 

 Stamford, Conn. 

 December 19, 192 1. 



