The Burgess Animal Book for Children

The Burgess Animal Book for
Children
Thornton W. Burgess

TO THE CAUSE OF WILD LIFE IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY THE
MAMMALS MANY OF WHICH ARE SERIOUSLY THREATENED
WITH EXTINCTION, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED.

PREFACE
The cordial reception given the Burgess Bird Book for Children,
together with numerous letters to the author asking for information on
the habits and characteristics of many of the mammals of America, led
to the preparation of this volume. It is offered merely as an introduction
to the four-footed friends, little and big, which form so important a part
of the wild life of the United States and Canada.
There has been no attempt to describe or classify sub-species. That is
for the scientist and student with specific interests. The purpose of this
book is to acquaint the reader with the larger groups--orders, families,
and divisions of the latter, so that typical representatives may be
recognized and their habits understood.
Instead of the word mammal, the word animal has been used
throughout as having a better defined meaning to the average child. A
conscientious effort to avoid technical terms and descriptions has been
made that there may be nothing to confuse the young mind. Clarity and
simplicity have been the objects kept constantly in view.

At the same time the utmost care to be accurate in the smallest details
has been exercised. To this end the works of leading authorities on
American mammals have been carefully consulted and compared. No
statements which are not confirmed by two or more naturalists of
recognized standing have been made.
In this research work the writings of Audubon and Bachman, Dr. E.W.
Neson, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Dr. W.T. Hornaday, Ernest Thompson
Seton and others, together with the bulletins of the Biological Survey of
the Department of Agriculture at Washington, have been of the greatest
value. I herewith acknowledge my debt to these.
Whatever the text may lack in clearness of description will be amply
compensated for by the wonderful drawings in color and
black-an-white by Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, the artist-naturalist,
whoese hearty cooperation has been a source of great help to me. These
drawings were made especially for this book and add in no small
degree to such value as it may possess.
If the reading of these pages shall lead even a few to an active interest
in our wild animals, stimulating a desire to preserve and protect a
priceless heritage from the past which a heedless present threatens
through wanton and reckless waste to deny the future, the labor will
have been well worth while.
Only through intimate acquaintance may understanding of the animals
in their relations to each other and to man be attained. To serve as a
medium for this purpose this book has been written. As such I offer it
to the children of America, conscious of its shortcomings yet hopeful
that it will prove of some value in acquainting them with their friends
and mine--the animals of field and wood, of mountain and desert, in the
truest sense the first citizens of America. THORNTON W. BURGESS

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I

JENNY WREN GIVES PETER RABBIT AN IDEA Peter arranges to
go to school to Old Mother Nature.
II PETER AND JUMPER GO TO SCHOOL The Cottontail Rabbit,
Northern Hare and Marsh Rabbit.
III MORE OF PETER'S LONG-LEGGED COUSINS The Swamp
Hare, Arctic Hare, Prairie Hare, Antelope Jack and common Jack
Rabbit.
IV CHATTERER AND HAPPY JACK JOIN The Squirrel family and
order of Rodents.
V THE SQUIRRELS OF THE TREES The Red, Gray, Fox, Kaibab
and Abert Squirrels.
VI STRIPED CHIPMUNK AND HIS COUSINS The Chipmunk,
Spermophiles, and Flying Squirrel.
VII JOHNNY CHUCK JOINS THE CLASS The Woodchuck and his
ways.
VIII WHISTLER AND YAP YAP The Whistling or Hoary Marmot
and Prairie Dogs.
IX TWO QUEER LITTLE HAYMAKERS The Pika or Cony and the
Mountain Beaver or Sewellel.
X PRICKLY PORKY AND GRUBBY GOPHER Introducing the
Porcupine and Pocket Gopher.
XI A FELLOW WITH A THOUSAND SPEARS More about the
Porcupine.
XII A LUMBERMAN AND ENGINEER The Beaver and his works.
XIII A WORKER AND A ROBBER The Muskrat and the Brown or
Norway Rat.

XIV A TRADER AND A HANDSOME FELLOW The Cotton Rat,
Wood or Pack Rat and the Kangaroo Rat.
XV TWO UNLIKE LITTLE COUSINS Whitefoot the Wood or Deer
Mouse and Danny Meadow Mouse, also called Field Mouse.
XVI DANNY'S NORTHERN COUSINS, AND NIMBLEHEELS The
Banded and Brown Lemmings and the Jumping Mouse.
XVII THREE LITTLE REDCOATS AND SOME OTHERS The Pine
Mouse, Red-backed Mouse, Rufous Tree Mouse, Rock Mouse and
Beach Mouse.
XVIII MICE WITH POCKETS, AND OTHERS The Silky and Spiny
Pocket Mice, Grasshopper Mouse, Harvest Mouse and House Mouse.
XIX TEENY WEENY AND HIS COUSIN The Common or
Long-tailed Shrew or Shrew Mouse, Short-tailed Shrew or