PREFACE 



The stories in this volume were written with the 

 definite purpose of illustrating the great primal truth 

 that wherever there is life there are problems confront- 

 ing it; and that the way of solving these problems 

 has been the way to success in the evolution of a 

 species. The writer has hoped to depict also, in some 

 measure, the dignity of life's upward struggle, however 

 humble the incarnation. 



No excuse is offered that the facts herein given were 

 not ascertained through original and personal investi- 

 gations ; the object of the volume is not to give new 

 facts, but rather to give another standpoint for viewing 

 the facts already known. Yet the reason for selecting 

 these particular stories out of a world full is that I 

 have read chapters of them with mine own eyes, and 

 have been able here and there to add something not 

 before recorded. The complete story of the Ceratina 

 was brought to me page by page from the fields by my 

 husband for my daily entertainment while I was pros- 

 trated by a tedious illness. The Little Nomad was my 

 special chum during a summer vacation. The Seine 

 Maker is a water sprite that has lured me to various 



