212 



RECREATION. 



should lose so much of life through lack 

 of acquaintance with 300 important and 

 well chosen species of animals. 



"In these days of struggle and stress for 

 place and power, and in these nights of 

 insomnia and nerves, there are few side 

 issues more restful or more pleasantly di- 

 verting to a tired brain than an active in- 

 terest in some branch of natural history. 

 A hunt for the life history of a fine ani- 

 mal species is next in restfulness to a real 

 hunt, over the fields and far away, with 

 all cares and worries left behind. 



"There is no royal road to a real ac- 

 quaintance with living animals. Entertain- 

 ing and truthful story books about quad- 

 rupeds and birds are excellent in their 

 way, but they do not, and can not, go down 

 to bedrock, and lay foundations on which 

 the pupil can build for aye. It has been 

 decreed by Nature that he who will not 

 work shall not know her. There is no 

 process by which the secrets of Nature can 

 be placed automatically in a giddy mind. 



"The author maintains in this volume, 

 and out of it, that system is the only mas- 

 ter-key by which the doors of animate 

 nature can be unlocked. Even with boys 

 and girls 15 years of age, the foundations 

 of natural history classification must not be 

 ignored ! Let them but begin right, and the 

 structure is bound to rise ; but beware of 

 all chaotic jumbles of unrelated facts ! 



"This volume is intended as builder's 

 filling in the chasm that now exists be- 

 tween the technical zoology of the college 

 and nature study lessons of the com- 

 mon schools. I am certain that many na- 

 ture study teachers dislike their work solely 

 because they lack suitable sources of infor- 

 mation. Surely it is unnecessary to suggest 

 to any intelligent and sincere teacher that it 

 is possible to utilize only a portion of this 

 book, by selecting the subjects best adapted 



to each particular class, and passing over the 

 others. 



"Anatomy is necessary to the advanced 

 student; but in a book for schools and the 

 general reader, it is easily carried too far. 

 As with human beings, the first thing to 

 be learned about an animal is its place in 

 Nature, and after that, its personality. It 

 is only the scientific specialist who wishes 

 to know first about its mandibular symphy- 

 sis, the geography of its sutures, and the 

 size of its auditory bullae. 



"I have striven to accomplish two ends : 

 (1) to make clear each animal's place in 

 the great system of Nature, and (2) to in- 

 troduce the animal in such a manner as 

 to enable the reader to become personally 

 acquainted with it. The subjects chosen 

 for introduction are not confined to any one 

 section of our country, but represent all 

 North America, and even lands beyond. 

 For the purpose of avoiding wide gaps, sev- 

 eral important foreign animals have been 

 included." 



It now only remains for the men and 

 women of this country to read and to study 

 this book carefullv- It remains for boards 

 of education and for universities and col- 

 leges, to place the book in every school 

 room. It remains for the great army of 

 teachers to study it carefully and to see 

 that their pupils do likewise. 



After this, there will be no further ex- 

 cuse for the man, or the woman, or the 

 youth, who may still be ignorant as to at 

 least the leading characteristics of all the 

 birds, quadrupeds, fishes and reptiles of the 

 continent of North America. 



The American Natural History, by W. 

 T. Hornaday, Director of the New York 

 Zoological Park, author of "Taxidermy and 

 Zoological Collecting," "Two Years in the 

 Jungle," etc., Charles Scribner's Sons, New 

 York. Price, $3.50 net. 



THE SONG OF THE 'POSSUM. 



F. H. MEL00N, JR. 



It's ho, when the autumn winds are sharp 



And the night comes clear and cool ! 

 The trees respond like an icy harp 



To the breeze by the frozen pool. 

 It's ho, I say, for the woodland way 



And the frost that falls like a goad I 

 Strike, dogs, and fail on my misty trail 



Where I follow the tree trunk road ! 



It's ho, when the leaves are crisp and brown ! 



And the corn is stacked on high, 

 And the tiny mounds of the musquash town 



Are firm to the foot, and dry. 

 It's ho, I say, for the far-off day 



And the fields where the farmers mowed i 

 Strike, dogs, and fail on my faint traced 

 trail 



Where it leads to the tree trunk road ! 



It's ho, for gold of the squandered squash 



And brown of the fallen vines ! 

 It's ho, for the mountain waters' wash 



And the reek of the platted pines ! 

 It's ho, I say, for the far off day 



When I turn to my bare abode ! 

 Strike, dogs, and fail on my wavery trail 



Where it trips to the tree trunk road ! 



