Wild Nature Won By Kindness

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                 Wild Nature

               Won by Kindness




         _WILD NATURE WON BY KINDNESS._




             _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._

  MORE ABOUT WILD NATURE. With Portrait
    of the Author and many other full-page Illustrations.
    Crown 8vo, imitation leather gilt, gilt edges, in box, 5s.

  INMATES OF MY HOUSE AND GARDEN.
    With 32 Illustrations by Theo Carreras. Uniform with
    above, 5s.

                    ALSO
  GLIMPSES INTO PLANT LIFE. Fully Illustrated.
    Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 3s. 6d.




                 WILD NATURE
               WON BY KINDNESS

                     BY
               MRS. BRIGHTWEN

 _Vice-President of the Selborne Society_
AUTHOR OF "INMATES OF MY HOUSE AND GARDEN," ETC.

               _ILLUSTRATED_

               EIGHTH EDITION

                   London
               T. FISHER UNWIN
              PATERNOSTER SQUARE
                    1898

            _All rights reserved._




To

SIR JAMES PAGET, BART., F.R.S., D.C.L., ETC., ETC.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,--

The little papers which are here reprinted would scarcely have been
written but for the encouragement of your sympathy and the stimulus of
what you have contributed to the loving study of nature. Shall you,
then, think me presumptuous if I venture to dedicate to the friend what
I could never dream of presenting to the professor, and if I ask you to
pardon the poorness of the gift in consideration of the sincerity with
which it is given.

                           Pray believe me to be
                                  Yours very sincerely,
                                         ELIZA BRIGHTWEN

 THE GROVE, GREAT STANMORE.
           _June, 1800_.




[Illustration]

    TABLE OF CONTENTS.

     INTRODUCTION.
   1. REARING BIRDS FROM THE NEST
   2. DICK THE STARLING
   3. RICHARD THE SECOND
   4. VERDANT
   5. THE WILD DUCKS
   6. THE JAY
   7. A YOUNG CUCKOO
   8. TAMING OF OUR PETS
   9. BIRDIE
  10. ZOeE THE NUTHATCH
  11. TITMICE
  12. BLANCHE THE PIGEON
  13. GERBILLES
  14. WATER SHREWS
  15. SQUIRRELS
  16. A MOLE
  17. HARVEST MICE
  18. A CALIFORNIAN MOUSE
  19. SANCHO THE TOAD
  20. ROMAN SNAILS
  21. AN EARWIG MOTHER
  22. THE SACRED BEETLE
  23. SPIDERS
  24. TAME BUTTERFLIES
  25. ANT-LIONS
  26. ROBINS I HAVE KNOWN
  27. ROBERT THE SECOND
  28. FEEDING BIRDS IN SUMMER AND WINTER
  29. RAB, MINOR
  30. A VISIT TO JAMRACH
  31. HOW TO OBSERVE NATURE




[Illustration]

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

  FLYING WILD DUCK
  SACRED BEETLE
  SWALLOW
  REARING BIRDS FROM THE NEST
  STARLINGS
  FLYING STARLINGS
  STARLING IN SEARCH OF FOOD
  WILD DUCK
  TINY, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE AND LUTHER
  JAY
  ANOTHER JAY
  A YOUNG CUCKOO
  BUTTERFLY AND CATERPILLAR
  YOUNG CUCKOO ATTACKED BY BIRDS
  ARABESQUE
  ZOeE, THE NUTHATCH
  NUTHATCH IN A COCOANUT
  TITMICE IN PURSUIT OF BEES
  TITMICE
  BLANCHE THE PIGEON
  GERBILLES
  WATER SHREW
  SQUIRREL
  MOLE
  MICE
  ROMAN SNAILS
  EARWIG
  EGYPTIAN BEETLES
  FLYING BEETLE
  TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS
  BUTTERFLY
  ANT-LION
  THE ROBIN
  YOUNG BIRDS
  CHILD AND PET BIRD
  RAB MINOR
  RAB MINOR RUNNING
  NESTLINGS
  NEST OF WASPS
  SNAKE IN CIRCLE




PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.


Two short chapters, one describing the life of an Ant-lion, and the
other the habits of a tame Toad, were added to the second edition, which
was in other respects a reproduction of the first.

The present edition has been improved by the adoption of a number of
illustrations which were designed for the German translation of this
book.



[Illustration]




INTRODUCTION.


I have often wished I could convey to others a little of the happiness I
have enjoyed all through my life in the study of Natural History. During
twenty years of variable health, the companionship of the animal world
has been my constant solace and delight. To keep my own memory fresh, in
the first instance, and afterwards with a distinct intention of
repeating my single experiences to others, I have kept notes of whatever
has seemed to me worthy of record in the life of my pets. Some of these
papers have already appeared in _The Animal World_; the majority are
now printed for the first time.

In the following chapters I shall try to have quiet talks with my
readers and tell them in a simple way about the many pleasant
friendships I have had with animals, birds, and insects. I use the word
friendships advisedly, because truly to know and enjoy the society of a
pet creature you must make it feel that you are, or wish to be, its
friend, one to whom it can always look for food, shelter, and solace; it
must be at ease and at home with you before its instincts and curious
ways will be shown. Sometimes when friends have wished me to see their
so-called "pet," some scared animal or poor fluttering bird has been
brought, for whom my deepest sympathy has been excited; and yet there
may have been perhaps the kindest desire to make the creature happy,
food provided in abundance, and a pleasant home; but these alone will
not avail.