The Pet Book Preface 
his interests are world-wide. The parrot should 
make him anxious to read of Africa and Australia 
or Brazil. The Guinea-pig, of Peru; and the 
love-birds of Madagascar. 
In this book a brief outline is given, first, of the 
creature, or its ancestors, in native surroundings, 
and how life is carried on there. This is for the 
purpose of making the child more intelligent in his 
treatment of the pet. 
It has not been within the scope of so small a 
book to discuss extensively breeds and varieties. 
If a child is to make a specialty of dogs, cats, guinea- 
pigs, or canaries, or any other creatures, he should 
have the books devoted to this one subject. A 
carefully selected bibliography is added to each 
subject, that gives the names of special books , 
dealing with these animals. Nor is it within the 
scope of this book to deal, except in the most casual 
way, with the diseases of animals. Plenty of sug- 
gestions for hygiene are given in each case, and if the 
pet falls sick, a physician or a veterinarian should be 
consulted. 
The mocking bird is not included because of the 
recent law, which prohibits the use of this bird as a 
caged pet. Undoubtedly there are many creatures 
used as pets which are not mentioned, since only 
the more common ones could be treated in so small a 
volume. 
The special value of this volume, in the opinion 
of the author, is the help it gives in telling children 
how to take care of the little wild creatures they 
bring home as treasures captured during their 
woodland walks and which usually die because of 
ignorance of their needs on the part of their captors. 
This was the most difficult part of the book to write 
IV 
