Anecdotes of the habits and instincts of animals

Preface

IN making a selection of Anecdotes, those have been assembled which were supplied by me to other works, and in most instances have received considerable amplification; others have been given which never before were printed— perhaps not even written; while all which have been transferred from other pages to mine have received the stamp of authenticity. Besides those whose names are already mentioned, I have to thank friends who have drawn from their private stores for my advantage, and thus enabled me to offer much that is perfectly new.

Dry details of science and classification have been laid aside, but a certain order has been kept to avoid confusion; and although endeavours have been made to throw as much interest as possible over these recorded habits and actions of the brute creation, I love the latter too well to raise a doubt by one word of embellishment, even if I did not abstain from principle.

The intentions with which this work was commenced have not been carried out, inasmuch as materials have crowded upon me beyond all calculation; and although a large portion has been rejected, the anecdotes related iv PREFACE.

go no further than the Mammalia, while almost all animals were to have been included.

With regard to the remaining orders — if the present work should meet with a favourable reception, I shall hope next year to present the public with touching and amusing proofs of the sagacity and dispositions of birds, and of 'hair-breadth 'scapes' from reptiles, etc., some of which will, like those in the present volume, be carefully selected from the works of travellers, from the resources of friends, and from my own experience.

To the pleasing task of enlightening those who, shut up in close cities, have no opportunity of observing for themselves, and to the still higher enjoyment of directing young minds to an elevating pursuit, the naturalist adds a gratification even better than all, by making known the hidden wonders of nature ; and leaving to those who delight in argument, the ever-unsolved question of where instinct ends and reason begins, he sets forth the love of the great Creator towards all His creatures, and the ways He takes to show His wisdom.

Preface To The Second Edition

THE pleasure of being so read as to require a second edition of our works, is much increased, if we authors • can in any way make that edition more worthy of the public than the first.

I flatter myself that in the present instance I have succeeded, by being able to add two or three anecdotes of much interest, bearing the same stamp of authenticity as all the rest of the collection. The history of the fire-dog is here ended, and a cat of remarkable sagacity introduced ; the history of bears is also amplified ; and as nothing but the truth has been told, I hope to receive the same kind reception as that which has accompanied the first edition.

S. L.

\* The Third Edition of the Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Birds, FisJies, and Reptiles alluded to in the Preface of the First Edition to this Work, may be had uniform with this Volume, with Illustrations by HARRISON WEIR, price 3s. 6d., or gilt edges 4s.