Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs.
- John Timbs
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs. Source: Wellcome Collection.
10/404
![veyed in the present volume, which, be it added, is not intended for systematic study so much as for vivid narratives of the habits of Animals, their instincts and reasonings, which are generally welcome to the inquiring reader, who seeks information combined with entertainment. To Animals, their Characteristics and Ages are devoted two sections. “ Life in the Sea ” is intended to familiarize the reader with the wonderful order and arrangement of organic life in its depths, which has of late years received so much illustration from naturalists-. To the next Section the Insect World contributes Marvels. ISText are curious narra- tives of Serpent-life. Then, the science of Electric Fishes, In the “ Life of the Gorilla ” are focused most of what is known respecting that anthropoid ape. In the Sections devoted to the Beaver, the Camel, and the Whale, the exaggerations and foolish notions have not been spared. In the Chapters on the “ Big Bird of Hew Zealand,” and the Dodo, the question of extinct animals is familiarly ex- plained. The volume concludes with Popular Errors respect- ing Animals, anecdotically illustrated. An admirable writer has said : “Do not depreciate any pursuit which leads men to contemplate the works of the Creator. The Linnsean traveller, who, when you look over the pages of his journal, seems to you a mere botanist [or a zoologist] has in his pursuit, as you have in yours, an object that occupies his time, and fills his mind, and satisfies his heart. It is as innocent as yours, perhaps more so ; because it is not so ambitious. Hor is the pleasure which he takes in investigating the structure of a plant [or animal] less pure, or less worthy, than that you derive from perusing the noblest production of human genius.” This excellent sentiment will, it is hoped, propitiate a favourable reception for the present volume of “ Strange Stories.”](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28127420_0012.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
