INTRODUCTION. 



By request of Professor Ainsworth Davis, the skilled 

 translator of this "handy-book" on "Agricultural 

 Zoology," I add some words of introduction ; and I 

 have especial pleasure in so doing : not that any 

 observations of mine can add value to the work of the 

 well-known author, but because, having myself had 

 the advantage for many years of colleagueship, and 

 important help in my own work from the assistance 

 of Dr. Kitzema Bos, I am well acquainted both with 

 his extensive knowledge and also his scrupulous care 

 in observation, and I believe that this abstract of his 

 larger wor k, now given in a form in which it is avail- 

 able for general use, will meet a great need. 



We have long wanted a book, plain in wording, and 

 of moderate size, dealing with the wild animals or 

 animal infestations generally which occur in connection 

 with farm life — a manual, in fact, which, whilst suit- 

 able for the use of agricultural students and teachers, 

 should at the same time not be too technically 



