New-York tribune., 1902-05-17
BIRDS AND BEASTS
.xrrDOTES, FACTS AND THEORIES
CONCERNING THEM.

Finest Ingerson Illustrated from Photographs.
i9mo PIP. 347. Harper Bros.
FOREST NEIGHBoRs, Life Stories of Wild Ami
mails By William Davenport Hubert. Svo, PIP.
2S6 Mcclure, Phillips & Co.
,voNz THE NIGHT PEOPLE. BY Clara Drling-
ham Pierson. illustrated by F. c. Gordon. limo.
Do. %. z. P Dutton & Co.
NATURE STUDY AND LIFE. BY Clifton F.
Hodge Phi. d. 16mo, PIP. 5l4. CHM & Co.
,7pDs AND MAN BY w H. Hudson, F T. s
Crown Svo. pp. 81. Longmans Green Co
vrRDs OF LAKESIDE AND PRAIRIE. BY Ed
ward B. Clark. 16mo, PIP. 80. A. w Mumford.
SFsTLINGs OF FOREST AND MARSH. By Irene
Grosvenor Wheelock. 16mo, pp 257. A. c.
McClurg d Co.
AFR. Ernest Ingersolrs pleasant book deals
with the birds of our ow., land and with such
small deer as squirrels, ruskrats, wild mice.
-sbiprnunks, minks and the like Even snails
and snakes have place in the current of these
interesting comments and "reminiscences. Dis
co,,rsing on the eager inquisitiVeness of animals
ha notes some facts that seem to contradict the
belief that all wild animals have an intuitive
dread OF natural enemies.' He assures us
that man can make friends with young ami
mails as easily as not If he behaves gently, and
he remembers that he picked up and
brought 10 camp elk calf so large he could
hardly lift it, without its showing the slightest
resistance or apprehension. In illustration of
the courage of small animals he recalls the
story Of the mother mink. met in the woods with
her four small kittens about her One of the
kittens the naturalist knocked the head, de-
string its skin for his collection. The instant
I stopped to pick up the dead Kitten he says
"the mother rushed at my hand and / had to
draw back quickly TO escape her She stopped
st nv feet and sat up her launches, her
hacl hnr gle arl1iOQ and
hair on end, whining and daring to come
on. I stood perfectly still, and in a minute she
dropped down on all fours and, always keeping
her eve upon me-a giant to her apprehensive
view-cooly began to collect her babies, and
carry them of, one by one. in her mouth. TO q
place of safety under a rock. where, perhaps,
was their home. A hon could not have shown
more clean courage and indifference to danger
than that small mink mother"
In answer TO the question which is often asked
concerning the shelter found by birds at night
and in stormy weather. Mr.. Ingersoll tells US
that il is sought in close set evergreens, in
brarnble thickets in hollow trees and in the min
iature caves under tree roots on steep banks
Birds better used TO man make a warm little
burrowed dwelling in the haymow, roost in a
barn or find a chink next chimney. sudden
cold change in the spring often works havoc with
the brave little creatures. in spite of their warm
coats and their devices in the way of roofs. 1t has
often been said. that our more beautiful and mu-
sical native birds in process of extermination
but this our author denies, and, 1t would SEEM
with reason. He believes that our singing birds
finding in the progress of civilization more food
better opportunities for rearing their young, and
fewer enemies, have largely increased. He be-
neves also-Oh. comfortable doctrine!-that in
making their lives Tess laborious. apprehensive
and solitary" man has enabled them TO perfect
and develop their singing art.
The shy life Of the woodland steals upofi US
from the charming pages Of Mr.. Hulbert's book.
The looks and ways, the modes and manners