PREFACE 



ix 



of fact, the style adopted being solely with the object of 

 trying to " sugar-coat " the facts, and thus make them more 

 presentable to young readers. 



My excuse for writing the book is that I am keenly 

 interested in the natural history of South Africa, having 

 devoted all my life, so far, to it. I shall feel well repaid if 

 I am able to stimulate the minds of some of our boys and 

 girls to take an intelligent interest in the creatures of 

 mountain, veld, forest, and stream. 



The pictures in this book, except where otherwise stated, 

 are from photographs of the animals in their natural 

 habitats. 



THE AUTHOR. 



Port Elizabeth Museum, 

 Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, 

 December 1910. 



