PREFACE, 



There are few things more gratifying to the 

 lover of Nature than those momentary ghmpses of 

 wild life which he obtains while passing through the 

 field or forest. Wild animals do not confine them- 

 selves exclusively to the wilderness ; quite frequently 

 they venture upon the highway, and we are apt to 

 regard the meeting with one of them there as a rare 

 and fortunate occurrence. 



The daisy and the wild rose appear in their ap- 

 pointed places on the return of summer, and the song 

 sparrow sings in the same tree he frequented the year 

 before ; but the woodchuck, the raccoon, and the deer 

 are not so often found exactly where we think they 

 belone. To seek an interview with such wild folk is 

 Uke taking a chance in a lottery : there are numerous 

 blanks and but few prizes. 



But because wild life is not in constant evidence, 

 like the wild flower, is no proof that it is uncommon. 

 To those who keep in touch with Nature it becomes 



