ustration]

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.
1. REARING BIRDS FROM THE NEST
2. DICK THE STARLING
3. RICHARD THE SECOND
4. VERDANT
5. THE WILD DUCKS
6. THE JAY
7. A YOUNG CUCKOO
8. TAMING OF OUR PETS
9. BIRDIE
10. ZOeE THE NUTHATCH
11. TITMICE
12. BLANCHE THE PIGEON
13. GERBILLES
14. WATER SHREWS
15. SQUIRRELS
16. A MOLE
17. HARVEST MICE
18. A CALIFORNIAN MOUSE
19. SANCHO THE TOAD
20. ROMAN SNAILS
21. AN EARWIG MOTHER
22. THE SACRED BEETLE
23. SPIDERS
24. TAME BUTTERFLIES
25. ANT-LIONS
26. ROBINS I HAVE KNOWN
27. ROBERT THE SECOND
28. FEEDING BIRDS IN SUMMER AND WINTER
29. RAB, MINOR
30. A VISIT TO JAMRACH
31. HOW TO OBSERVE NATURE

[Illustration]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FLYING WILD DUCK
SACRED BEETLE
SWALLOW
REARING BIRDS FROM THE NEST
STARLINGS
FLYING STARLINGS
STARLING IN SEARCH OF FOOD
WILD DUCK
TINY, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE AND LUTHER
JAY
ANOTHER JAY
A YOUNG CUCKOO
BUTTERFLY AND CATERPILLAR
YOUNG CUCKOO ATTACKED BY BIRDS
ARABESQUE
ZOeE, THE NUTHATCH
NUTHATCH IN A COCOANUT
TITMICE IN PURSUIT OF BEES
TITMICE
BLANCHE THE PIGEON
GERBILLES
WATER SHREW
SQUIRREL
MOLE
MICE
ROMAN SNAILS
EARWIG
EGYPTIAN BEETLES
FLYING BEETLE
TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS
BUTTERFLY
ANT-LION
THE ROBIN
YOUNG BIRDS
CHILD AND PET BIRD
RAB MINOR
RAB MINOR RUNNING
NESTLINGS
NEST OF WASPS
SNAKE IN CIRCLE

PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.

Two short chapters, one describing the life of an Ant-lion, and the
other the habits of a tame Toad, were added to the second edition, which
was in other respects a reproduction of the first.

The present edition has been improved by the adoption of a number of
illustrations which were designed for the German translation of this
book.

[Illustration]

INTRODUCTION.

I have often wished I could convey to others a little of the happiness I
have enjoyed all through my life in the study of Natural History. During
twenty years of variable health, the companionship of the animal world
has been my constant solace and delight. To keep my own memory fresh, in
the first instance, and afterwards with a distinct intention of
repeating my single experiences to others, I have kept notes of whatever
has seemed to me worthy of record in the life of my pets. Some of these
papers have already appeared i