Part 2

MAN, being essentially a creature of habit, has come to look upon what he is pleased to consider as the inferior creation from one point of view only, and that in most cases the narrow and selfish one of his own interests; thus his views are frequently lamentably prejudiced and erroneous. The natural result has been that, while we condone the failings of those creatures we make useful to us, we ignore the virtues of other and much more estimable ones. Thus, we admire the Bee because we benefit by his labours, while we have not a good word to say for the Wasp, who is, in point alike of industry and intelligence, the Bee’s superior.

An attempt has been here made to view some of the animal creation from a broader point of view, and to endeavour to do justice to those whose good points have been hitherto persistently ignored, and to take down others from the pedestal upon which they have been placed, as it would seem, unfairly and unreasonably. If some of the conclusions at which we have arrived are not in accordance with those propounded by men of science, we can only say that we are sorry for the men of science.

It has only to be added that some of these essays were first presented to the world in the columns of the Evening Standard.

G. A. H.

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CONTENTS.

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PAGE

THE ELEPHANT 1

THE CROCODILE 7

THE CAMEL 13

THE DONKEY 19

THE DRAGON 25

THE TORTOISE AND TURTLE 30

THE SHARK 36

THE SNAKE 41

FROGS 47

DADDY LONG-LEGS 54

THE APHIS 59

GEESE 65

SLUGS 72

THE PIG 78

CATERPILLARS 84

THE DOMESTIC FOWL 90

THE SPARROW 96

FLIES 101

THE PARROT 107

THE COCKROACH 113