BROWN OR ALPINE BEARS.
Our Animal Friends
IN THEIR Native Homes
PREFACE.
This little Volume of Natural Historyhas been prepared to fill a long-felt want.As a child the author was especially interestedin the study of animals, but metwith the usual drawback—nothing couldbe found in classified form to meet the requirementsof young people, not yet oldenough to take up a college course ofstudy. Natural Histories abounded inevery form and in every language, therewere scientific works in plenty, and numerousbooks for children, from the fairytales founded on animal life to the usualdescriptive matter accompanying profuseillustrations in childish books; but nothingcould be found in which the Mammals,Birds and Fishes, were carefullyclassified and arranged in the properfamilies, and the whole in words ofeasy reading—discarding unnecessaryscientific words and phrases, and carefullyexplaining the necessary ones. Itwas not until later in school life, whena certain knowledge of Greek and Latinbecame necessary in the college-preparatorycourse that these scientificworks could be really enjoyed. Andthe author of this little volume—who wasthen preparing her first literary efforts inthe intervals of school work—resolvedthat one of her earliest books should bea carefully arranged Natural History forYoung People, in which all the desires ofher own childhood should be realized.
The immensity of the labor involved inpreparing such a work did not becomeapparent until once seriously commenced,and French, German, Greekand Latin dictionaries were called intorequisition in order that every scientificword and classification might be carefullyexplained. The best authoritiesamong ancient and modern naturalistshave been consulted; Goldsmith, Jones,Figuier and Brehm have been quoted,and other English, French and Germanworks, studied and compared. And althoughthis has been delayed, because ofthe tedious work required, and otherbooks for young people, by the same authorhave been allowed to precede it, thisis finished in time to meet the demands ofthe small son of her household, who hasreached the age so aptly described by thewell-worn phrase, “An animated interrogationpoint”—especially in the directionof Natural History. And filling asit does, the demands of one, may it meetthe desires of the many mothers of inquiringsons and daughters, and theyoung people who are eager for such awork, that is ac