PEEFACE. 



In the following pages will be found short and 

 simple descriptions of some of the numerous objects 

 that are to be found in our fields, woods, and 

 waters. 



As this little work is not intended for scientific 

 readers, but simply as a guide to those who are de- 

 sirous of learning something of natural objects, 

 scientific language has been studiously avoided, and 

 scientific names have been only given in cases where 

 no popular name can be found. In so small a com- 

 pass but little can be done; and therefore I have 

 been content to take certain typical objects, which 

 will serve as guides, and to omit mention of those 

 which can be placed under the same head. 



Every object described by the pen is illustrated 

 by the pencil, in order to aid the reader in his re- 

 searches ; and the subjects have been so chosen that 

 no one with observant eyes can walk in the fields 

 for half-an-hour without finding very many of the 

 objects described in the book. 



