The times., 1898-07-10
A Book OF NATURAL Hfstory.

and is illustrated with sketches by the
author, and photographs from nature by
W. Lyman Underwood.
The particular charm of this book is
the friendiiness which the author evi-
dently feels fer all wild things. from the
least 10 the greatest. One sees that here
is a man who has studied the psychology
as well as the feathers and fur of his
winged or four-foOted neighbors in the
fields and woods and that he can all but
talk with them. He says in the pref
ace 10 the book:
One feels just a bit OF exultant pleasure when
one sees the little wild thing approach, tlmIdly
accept a profered nut crust OF bread, ana
actually eat il within reaching distance | recall
with no small feeling Of satisfaction the time
when, idly padding my canoe beside the river
bank, i met great blue heron slowly strolIlng
along the sandy margin, and remained beside him
for fully twenty minutes, an acceptable com
panion. Nor do / forget the time when ! ap-
preached, softly whistling the while, brown
heron standing motionless on the meadow, ana
got so near him that ! could the round shape
Of his eye plainly / have drawn il here
There is a certain charm in music for the wild
animals. l have whistled by the half hour 10 the
hermit thrush and have received an appieciatlye
and cordial response; the veerg grows quite eX-
cited If l initiate his spiral song; the red squr-
rel sits transfiXed IL i play for him on an inslg-
nihcant l0-cent harmonicon. One time noticed
particularly yociferous fellow subside, his
hands his breast and listen respectfully 10 the
soothing strains Of Home, Sweet Homei'
That last sounds rather apocryphal!
All this goes to prove that the wild life Of the
woods is not unapproachable II may be diff
cult TO cultivate its friendship, but il responds.
Ii is easy matter TO pick a daisy and care
lessly throw il away; but when We have per
saaded wild bird or a squirrel 10 eat from our
hand, we never throw the memory OF that away;
Ii abdes with forever!
Some Of the chapter headings are en-
1icing. For instance, here are Early
Voices of Spring" our Ancient Enemy,
the Ophidian," and Small Folk With
Lively Feet" The first Of these three
essays treats OF frogs, the second OF
snakes, and the third Of squirrels. The
snake chapter, 10 a person not afflicted
with a special dislike for that reptile, is
particularly fascinating.
The way in which the various subjects
are handled shows the author to be both
naturalist and poet, and something OF a
musician and artist as well He is care
ful TO give here and there the written
songs Of birds and frogs, and the sketch
ing and photography which Illustrate each
essay are most delightful Thsre Is 4 ~ IN
pathetic quality in the pictures which
makes the animals seem almost human,
as in the full-page landscape, with two
bullfrogs in the foreground, and the COM
ment underneath, ''TunefuI scrapings on
a moonlight night" Instead of being
merely a part of the scenery, the frogs
have the air Of supposing the scenery TO
be made for them-just as human beings
do in like circumstances.
There are some remarkably clever
photographs Of raccoOns and foxes which
Show what the camera, can do in the
hands of an artist like Mr.. Underwood.
And here and there is a quaint sketch
nF no F1v fr,
profile, which has an interest ali its own
as a chronological study. Nothing cley-
erer or prettieT has appeared in this line
of illustration since A. b. Frost illus
trated Uncle Remus." Mr.. Frosts ami
mails. however. although they are ex-
pressive enough in their attitudes and
features, partake of the human quality.
Mr.. Mathews woodchucks and squirrels.
and foxes show truly animal character
istics. without idealizing. The woodchuck
is an interesting little beast. but il is
doubtful If he ever had his picture taken
so carefully before. And there is a draw
ing Of crow which is instinct with all
the impishness Of that indescribable bird.
Personal experience. legend, scientific
names, and vivid and not too technical
description are evenly distributed through
these pages. For instance. here is a chap
ter headed "A Semi Annual Sleeper ard a
Nightly PrOwler," (woodchUck and por-
cUpine). Mr. Mathews begins his essay
In this wise:
II one could shake q red and gray squirrel to-
Rether in a bag until they merged into one in
dlvidual with coat neither red gray, then
blow the thing up with the bellows into twice
Its former size, jam the face together trim down
the ears, enlarge the paws, chop of half the tail
and finish by knocking just half the life out Of it,
one would have a fair imitation Of the wood
chuck, or marmot tArctonIys monaN), that grave
and indefatigabe old burrower who inh2bits the
held on every farm in the country-or nearly
every farm-for his range extends from the Car
olinas TO Canada. and from the seaboard to Mis-
souTi, Iowa and MinneSCta.
In this somewhat whimsical descrip-
ton one gets fairly good idea Of the
animal and his general character. espe-
cially as il Is written around a small por-
trait Of the demure little beast, with
his chubby face, wary eye and brush Of
a tail. But there is more to follow. The
origin OF his Latin name is explained,
there are few statistics about his size
and proportions, his food and his hole
and his alternating habits; also legend
about his Yankee name which is rather
amusing, though 1t bears marks Of hay-
ing been carved out with a fret-saw
like bogus curiosities sometimes sold in
8ankeeland. Il is TO the effect that once
upon a time de creeturs," as Uncle Re
mus would call them, lived in one happy
country. with the dog as a Judge over
them. The marmOt had a burrow ad-
Joining that Of a rabbit, and the latter
one day found his children's eyes filed
with the dirt which his neighbor threw
out Of the hole. Remonstrance proving
useless the rabbit appealed TO the judge,
who sent word 10 the marmot 10 be more
caref4L The Indifferent and impolite
marmot replied that he would chuck his
dirt where he darn pleased!'' And ever
since then he has been called the wood
chuck" and the dog has been looking
for him.
Altogether, the reader, even If totally
unacQuainted with this plump turnover
viii be interested in Mr. Mathews brief
treatise on him and his habits. and the
animals best friends may Re able to
learn something new from its perusal
The rest OF the chapter is given to the
porcupine of whom the author saws that
he is like some old. suspicious-looking
tramp, who is always seen at dusk
haunting the outskirts Of the farm build
ings, and soaring people more by his
looks than by his deeds. "To look one
square in the face is to realize the fact
that nature has somehow or other made
botch Of it." says Mr.. Mathews
and then he adds a full-face portrait Of
the creature. which absolutely proves the
truth of his remark. II looks like all
sorts Of weird and nightmarish things.
Mr.. Mathews possesses the art of max
ing his animals look as If they were Just
about TO scamper off the page, or had sat
down on 1t for a long rest, according TO
their nature. The former quality is
shown in the drawings which adorn his
squirrel chapter He shows us chin