Old Farm Fairies Part 48

=Note D, p. 331.=--The belief that spiders can prognosticate the weather is widely spread, but seems to have little or no basis in fact. The author has shown the groundlessness of the opinion at least in the case of Orbweaving Spiders.

"Tenants of an Old Farm."

Leaves from the Note Book of a Naturalist.

... BY ...

HENRY C. MCCOOK, D.D., with 140 ill.u.s.trations from nature by Dan Beard and others.

460 PAGES WITH INDEX.

EIGHTH EDITION.

12mo, Cloth $1.50.

Sent postpaid on receipt of the price by the Publishers,

George W. Jacobs & Co., 103 South Fifteenth Street, PHILADELPHIA.

TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM.

PRESS NOTICES.

The following extracts from reviews of this book show with what cordiality it has been received and how highly it is ranked by the reviewers:

"His enthusiasm in behalf of his industrious friends is so great that he actually pitched his tent in the midst of the huge mounds of certain species in one of the Western States, and had to engage a small army of three men to drive off the attack of the indignant insects while he was studying the interior arrangements of their elaborately constructed houses."--From _Chambers' Journal_ (Edinburgh, Scotland).

"Dr. MCCOOK has literally lived among his pets, has studied them by day and by night in their natural state, has not scrupled to subject himself to their formidable stings, and has deemed no pains too great to make the world acquainted with insects upon which he looks with a species of respectful veneration. He is, in truth, a veritable enthusiast, and it would indeed seem as though ants, bees and wasps, all belonging to the same order of insects, possessed a fascination for the true naturalist far greater than that excited by larger animals."--_The Westminster Review_ (British).

"Full of curious information, princ.i.p.ally on the habits of ants, bees and other insects."--_Buffalo Courier._

"The reading of a few pages in this work will serve as an admirable preparation for a stroll through fields and over hills in the country during a Sunday afternoon."--_Times-Star, Cincinnati._

"Probably there is no one in America who is better fitted to guide the young in the study of his sphere of natural history, than the Rev. Dr.

HENRY C. MCCOOK, of Philadelphia."--_S. S. Times._

"Dr. MCCOOK is an authority in all that relates to ants and spiders; but the talks in this pleasant volume are not restricted to insects of these varieties, but include interesting and valuable instruction concerning many other forms of insect life."--_Portland Press, Me._

"Dr. MCCOOK is an enthusiastic naturalist, and in one particular branch of study--that of the habits of ants and spiders--stands as high as any living writer, either English or American."--_Boston Evening Transcript._

"Never read such a fascinating work of natural history."--_Messiah's Herald, Boston._

"Is set forth with a clearness, a simplicity and often with a quaint humor that make it thoroughly fascinating in the reading."--_Boston Sat.u.r.day Evening Gazette._

"The common insects take on an aspect of genuine interest in Dr. HENRY MCCOOK'S Tenants of An Old Farm. He describes the life and habits of spiders, ants, hornets and our dreaded moths, potato-bugs and canker worms in an easy conversational style."--_Springfield (Ma.s.s.) Republican._

"Contains the results of a series of carefully conducted observations on different species of insects, their dispositions and habits, all of which are detailed in such a familiar and winning style that no one can fail to be fascinated with the study."--_New York Observer._

"The author contrives moreover to convey not only information, but some measure of his own enthusiasm, and whoever reads his book is likely to be thenceforth more alert to the marvels and miracles of insect life."--_Boston Journal._

"When one possesses the power of vitalizing the bones of science as Dr.

MCCOOK does, there are few who will not yield to the charm."--_Yale Literary Magazine._

"Belongs to a cla.s.s which might with great profit take the place of much of the literature, sentimental and otherwise, which finds its way into the hands of our children through Sunday School and other libraries. It is pleasantly written and beautifully ill.u.s.trated with original drawings from nature."--_N. Y. Examiner._

"We will venture to say that the Colorado beetle, the apple-worm, moths, b.u.mble-bees, caterpillars, ants and spiders, were never before made so picturesque, never so idealized. The author likes them, humanizes them, lives among them, finds an inner meaning in their little lives, makes in every way the most of them.... Housekeepers will surely be amused and probably surprised by learning just how moths go to work, and the chapters on crickets and katy-dids are very fresh and animated; the same is true of the b.u.mble-bees and spiders; and what is not really new is put in new shape."--_Boston Literary World._

"The ill.u.s.trations, 140 in number, were prepared expressly for the work, are finely engraved, and are a great aid to a clearer understanding of the text."--_Philadelphia Evening Call._

"We wish that our farmers, who are giving their sons a Christmas present, would choose this book. It would help them to see many things to which they may now be blind."--_Presbyterian, Philadelphia._

"Heartily recommended to the attention of all who are themselves interested in natural history or are seeking some means of interesting young friends in this subject."--_Portland Press, Me._

"We have not seen any book this season more worthy to be put into the hands of an intelligent youth, or indeed of any one who is interested in the direct and face-to-face study of nature."--_Ill.u.s.trated Christian Weekly._

"Of the highest order of interest. The author has made studies and drawings of the insects which can be found on any old farm, and has made discoveries which give him a high place among entomologists."--_Chicago Advance._

"May be said to be a perpetual pa.s.sport to the minor kingdoms of nature.

It is the work of an accomplished and practical naturalist who is hand and glove (so to speak) with the populace of the leaves and fields, the woods and waters."--_N. Y. Mail and Express._

"Dr. MCCOOK has already achieved an enviable reputation by his valuable contributions to science, and in this charming book, so full of amus.e.m.e.nt and instruction, he has given us another proof of his being one of the most clear, concise and attractive writers of the day."--_Christian at Work, N. Y._

"It is well known that Dr. MCCOOK is one of the few ministers among us who have made a specialty of studies in the natural sciences, and that he has in this line built up an enviable reputation beyond our church and beyond our land."--_Presbyterian Journal, Phila._

"The ill.u.s.trations are a noteworthy feature of the book. Many of them are admirable ill.u.s.trations of their subjects, while to these have been added a number of comical adaptations from the pencil of Mr. DAN BEARD."--_Ill.u.s.trated Christian Weekly, N. Y._

"The scientific accuracy, the good ill.u.s.trations and simple descriptions make it a valuable book for amateurs and a good book of reference for advanced students in that department of natural history."--_Springfield Republican._

"The author is not a mere compiler of other men's labors; he is a close and patient observer, and his book has an original value."--_N. Y. Home Journal._

"He is rarely qualified for the task."--_Troy Daily Times._

"Scientifically, Dr. MCCOOK is authority on all these matters."--_Presbyterian, Philadelphia._