Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-06
irritates and arouses the combative-
ness of Mr. Burroughs:

irritates and arouses the combatiye-
ness of Mr.. Burroughs:
after many years of watching ami
mails In their native haunts, l am con-
WINGED that instinct plays much
smaller part than we have supposed;
and that an animals success or failure
in the ceaseless struggle for life de-
Ponds, not upon instinct, but upon the
kind of training the animal receives
from its mother"
And the author proceeds to indicate
the various classes of forest pupils
with the different branches taught.
from which they at length graduate
and receive their diplomas. All this,
of course, furnishes material for
Grandpa b.. for the most amusing sat
ire and ridicule.
Rev. Mr.. Long has also written an
other book Beasts of the Field" in
which. says our critic, he is "the same
false prophet"
A few citations will serve to show
the nature of Rev. Longs observations
and also the trenchant style of Mr..
Burroughs. In referring to Mr.. Long
our critic says:
What discoveries he has made.
Among others, that the red squirrel has
cheek pockets in which to carry half
dozen chestnuts at time! Has he
really never seen red squirrel, or does
he not know one from chipmunk? ?"
There is not natural history museum
in the land that would not pay a fine
sum for a red squirrel with pouches in
his cheeks.
Again: Some fisherman along the
coast told him that the fox catches
crabs by trailing his brush over the
whereupon the fox springs away and
jerks the crab to land. Mr.. Long hopes
to confirm the observation sometime!
MIR. Long tells of black fox that a
boy caught in a trap, and when found
was apparently dead and frozen stiff
He carried it home in triumph over
his shoulder. (Of course the fox had
suppressed it's animal heat alsoD He
removed the trap from the frozen leg
stroked his beautiful prize, and then
as he turned away for mement, he
had dazed vision of a flying black
animal that seemed to perch an in
slant on the log fence and vanish
among the spruces.'
MIR. Longs story of how an old fox
captures chickens roosting on tree
goes further still. The fox simply runs
around the tree, going faster and faster
jumping and clacking his teeth and
the fowls in trying to follow him with
their eyes, get dizzy and tumble Of
the roost! Mr.. Long gives this af II
It were his own observation, but doubt
less some old farmer has soaked him
with it. How the old humorist must
have chuckled in his sleeve! I have
read Of an owl in South Africa which
the natives believe can be made to
twist its head off by person walking
round it. The bird follows you with
his eyes, till, presto!-his head If off
This story goes one better than
that of our natural history Munchau-
SEN"
But alas for these nature romancers!
II remained for President Roosevelt t.
heap upon them the browning tndignity
OF an invitation to John Burroughs t.
accompany him on his trip to the Vel.
lowstone Park, thus bringing into pub.
| lie notice our critic and the partfe:
Under fire. OF course the president wa:
perfectly innocent OF I'LL malicious in
tent. He hadn't the slightest idea thai
his action would be construed as taking
sides or intended to advertise the At
lantic article. At any other time nc
one would have wondered at his desire
to be accompanied by such an expert;
but it was awkward for certain parties
that his invitation should come at thi:
particular time-just when his invited