"And in the lion or the frog— In all the life of moor or fen— In ass and peacock, stork and dog, He read similitudes of men." More and more science is being taught in a new way. More and more men are beginning to discard the lumber of the brain's workshop to get at real facts, real conclusions. Laboratories, experiments, tables, classifications are all very vital and all very necessary but sometimes their net result is only to befog and confuse. Occasionally it becomes important for us to cast a

"She was a gordian shape of dazzling line, Vermilion-spotted, golden, green and blue; Striped like a zebra, freckled like a pard, Eyed like a peacock, and all crimson barr'd, And full of silver moons, that, as she breathed, Dissolved, or brighter shone, or interwreathed Their lustres with the glorious tapestries...." — Keats ( on Lamia, the snake ). The art of concealment or camouflage is one of the newest and most highly developed techniques of modern warfare. But the animals have been masters

"Nay, what is Nature's self, But an endless strife towards Music, euphony, rhyme?" — Watson . The great thinkers of the age believe that the world is one marvellous blending of innumerable and varied voices. This unison of sound forms the great music of the spheres, which the poets and philosophers have written so much about. Even from a purely scientific point of view, there is no denying that this music exists. Aviators tell us that when they listen from a distance to the myriads of noises and

"... About them frisking, played All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase In wood or wilderness, forest or den; Sporting the lion romped, and in his paw Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambled before them; the unwieldy elephant, To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed His light proboscis." —Paradise Lost . That "one touch of Nature makes the whole world kin" is shown in no clearer way than by the games and play of animals. Recreation is as common among th

"The spectacle of Nature is always new, for she is always renewing the spectators. Life is her most exquisite invention; and death is her expert contrivance to get plenty of life." — Goethe's Aphorisms (trans. by Huxley ). Civilised nations throughout the world at different times in their country's history have protected their soldiers and warriors with coats of armour or mail. This practice prevailed extensively during the Middle Ages; but it has almost entirely disappeared. The German breastpl

" When the cold winter comes and the water plants die, And the little brooks yield no further supply, Down in his burrow he cosily creeps, And quietly through the long winter sleeps ." —(The Water Rat.) There are many ground-dwellers in the animal world, and foremost among them is the mole. This remarkable little creature is not only gifted as a digger of canals and tunnels, but plans and makes the most extraordinary subterranean homes. Sometimes he unites with his fellow creatures and establish

"But what a thoughtless animal is man,— How very active in his own trepan!" — Prior . Among the special senses of animals none seems more human than their knowledge of mathematics. A recognition of this quality in animals is encouraging because the new scientists are earnestly trying to build up a true knowledge of animal behaviour by studying them in the light of the new psychology. This will fill the place of the vast amount of misinformation which those skilled only in book-knowledge, without

"Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbours prosecute, Bring action for assault and battery Or friends beguile with lies and flattery?" The fact that all animals possess ideas, no matter how small those ideas may be, implies reason. That these ideas are transmitted from one animal to another, no one can doubt in the light of our present scientific knowledge. "Be not startled," says the distinguished animal authority, Dr. William T. Hornaday, "by the discovery that apes and monkeys have

"Never stoops the soaring vulture On his quarry in the desert, On the sick or wounded bison, But another vulture, watching From his high aerial look-out, Sees the downward plunge and follows, And a third pursues the second, Coming from the invisible ether, First a speck and then a vulture Till the air is dark with pinions." Many animals show a surprising knowledge of medical and sanitary laws, but these laws vary in the different species as much as they do among humans. Animals are divided into

" In the days of yore, when the world was young, Sages of asses spoke, and poets sung; In God's own book we find their humble name, Some enrolled upon the scroll of fame. " There is no phase of animal life which is more interesting than that through which Nature governs and protects her children. Each and every species of animal possesses the method of self-defence and protection best adapted to it. Most of the larger animals are of themselves so powerful that they need no protection other than

" The heart is hard that is not pleased With sight of animals enjoying life, Nor feels their happiness augment his own. " The most popular and perhaps the most interesting department of natural-history study is that which treats of the manner in which animals utilise the various materials of the universe for purposes of protection, for war and defence, for raiment, food, and even the luxuries of life. Man, by his superior power of adaptation, excels the lower animals in providing for the comfort

" He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast. He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all. " — Coleridge. It can almost be said that there is no industry or profession of the human world that is not carried on with equal skill in the animal world. This is especially true of merchandising and store-keeping; animals, however, have different methods of merchandising than men, although these methods are none

" Every night we must look, lest the down slope Between us and the woods turn suddenly To a grey onrush full of small green candles, The charging pack with eyes flaming for flesh. And well for us then if there's no more mist Than the white panting of the wolfish hunger. " The desire to travel and see the great world is by no means peculiar to the human race. It is found among animals to such a degree that groups of them will often leave their homes in one country and journey to another. These st

" A warning from these pages take, And know this truth sublime— Each creature is a criminal When he commits a crime. " No more remarkable creatures exist in the animal world than those that play the rôle of Nature's scavengers and criminals. They are as numerous and varied in their methods of working as they are interesting. The only things they have in common are their profession and their appetites. As individuals they are ugly, unattractive and apparently void of personality and charm. Nevert

"Who, after this, will dare gainsay That beasts have sense as well as they? For me—could I the ruler be— They should have just as much as we, In youth, at least. In early years, Who thinks, reflects, or even fears? Or if we do—unmeaning elves— 'Tis scarcely known e'en to ourselves. Thus by example clear and plain, We for these poor creatures claim Sure sense to think, reflect, and plan, And in this action rival man: Their guide—not instinct blind alone, But reason, somewhat like our own!" The wo

"Ah, poor companion! when thou followedst last Thy master's parting footsteps to the gate Which closed forever on him, thou didst lose Thy best friend, and none was left to plead For the old age of brute fidelity. But fare thee well. Mine is no narrowed creed; And He who gave thee being did not frame The mystery of Life to be the sport Of merciless man. There is another world For all that live and move—a better one! Where the proud bipeds, who would fain confine Of their own charity, may envy th

To the readers of this book who furnish name and address (a postal card will do), we will gladly send, free of charge, announcements of our new publications. Our illustrated holiday pamphlets with colored picture covers are unusually attractive. Books may then be ordered through your local bookshop. We employ no agents or canvassers FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 447-448 Fourth Avenue, New York, N. Y....