Part 1

Transcriber Note

Text emphasis is denoted as Italics and =Old English Text=.

Young Folks' Nature Field Book

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH ON A BIRD-HOUSE.]

=Young Folks'=

=Nature Field Book=

J. ALDEN LORING

Formerly Field Naturalist to the United States Biological Survey and the United States National Museum at Washington, D. C., Curator of Mammals at the New York Zoological Park and Field Agent for the New York Zoological Society; Member of the American Ornithologists' Union, etc.

BOSTON

=Dana Estes & Company=

PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1906

By Dana Estes & Company

All rights reserved

COLONIAL PRESS

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.

Boston, U.S.A.

Publishers' Preface

The plan of this work contemplates a short, timely nature story, or seasonable hint for every calendar day in the year, telling the reader just what time in the successive seasons to look for the different birds, beasts, flowers, etc., how to recognize and study them when taking observation walks for pleasure or instruction. Recognition of different creatures, etc., is assisted by numerous excellent illustrations, and alternate pages are left blank for reader's notes or record of things seen. A yearly report so kept, either by a single young person or a small group or club, cannot fail to be a source of continuous interest, not only while being made but after its completion. A club competing for the best and complete record so made should produce pleasure and instruction throughout the year.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my first wild pet, who was the most interesting and intelligent creature I have tamed. He chased the children into their houses by pinching their legs; he awoke the dog by pulling its tail, and he pecked the horse's feet, then jumped back and crouched low to escape being kicked. Because of his thieving instinct he kept me at war with the neighbors. His last mischievous act was to pull the corks from the red and the black ink bottles, tip them over, fly to the bed, and cover the counterpane with tracks. I found him dead in the work-room the following morning, his black beak red and red mouth black.

Preface

This little book was written for the lover of outdoor life who has neither the time nor the patience to study natural history. There are many persons who are anxious to learn the common animals and flowers, their haunts and their habits, that they may enjoy Nature when they visit her. If they will take a minute each day to read the entry for that date, or if they will carry the book with them on their strolls into the country and while resting turn its pages, it may prove the means of discovering in fur or feather or flowering bud something before unknown to them.

The subjects chosen are of common interest, and nearly all can be found by any person who hunts for them assiduously. As the seasons vary in different localities, it has been impossible to set a date for the appearance or disappearance of an animal or a flower, that will apply alike to all parts of the country for which this volume is intended. Eastern United States.

J. Alden Loring.

Oswego, N. Y.

List of Illustrations

PAGE White-breasted Nuthatch on a Bird-house Frontispiece