PREFACE 



While most people find young animals " interesting," 

 few perhaps realise how much more so they become when 

 we ask the Why and the Wherefore of their several peculi- 

 arities of form and colour, and of the degrees of activity 

 which they display on their entry into the world. 



The purpose of this book is to stimulate a wider interest 

 in this theme, which contains food for thought not only for 

 the Evolutionist, but also for the students of Sociology and 

 of child-life in particular, and for that large and growing 

 body who work under the banner of " Nature Study." 



In the space of a single small volume it was impossible 

 to do more than make a selection from the vast array of 

 animals whose young clamoured, so to speak, for atten- 

 tion ; and it was often difficult to decide which of a dozen 

 claimants best served my purpose. I trust that my critics 

 will bear my difficulty in mind when tempted to take me 

 to task for my sins of omission. 



But for the aid of the artist, and the photographer, my 

 task would have been yet harder. And in this matter of 

 illustrations I desire particularly to thank my friends 

 Miss Helen Wilson, Mr. J. G. Millais, Mr. Rowland Ward, 

 and Mr. A. H. Bishop, for their most kindly help. I have 

 also to acknowledge the courtesy of Messrs. Longmans 



