PREFACE 
Tus book has been written to stimulate Nature 
interest in young people, and to encourage the 
really practical pursuit of Natural History. I am 
satisfied that such a pursuit “‘pays’”’ in the best 
sense of the term. Your naturalist is a sober, peace- 
loving individual; he takes pleasure in simple 
things, and his mind is too well occupied to admit 
of him drifting into evil ways. He may not gather 
much worldly gear, but his moral and intellectual 
wealth is great. I counsel parents and guardians 
to throw no obstacle in the way of youngsters who 
wish to become naturalists, but to give them all the 
assistance they can. 
It is not improbable that many not young in 
years, but young in the study of Nature, may find 
much to interest them in the following pages. I 
trust such may be the case. 
IT am an out-and-out advocate of work in the field. 
I do not highly value arm-chair Natural History. 
It would be a clever book indeed that could teach 
as Nature herself can teach. But books are useful 
Vv 
