Natural History Or, Uncle Philip's Conversations with the Children about Tools and Trades among Inferior Animals

My dear Nephews,

I was very much pleased to receive the numbers of your Library for Boys and Girls which you sent to me. You know I am now an old man, and have travelled a great deal, and seen a great many strange things in the course of my life. I am too old to travel any more, and so I am quietly living in the cottage I built by the side of that pleasant and shady little stream where I played when I was a boy. I read my books, and especially that best of all of them, my Bible; and so am patiently waiting till my Heavenly Father shall call me to take my last journey; when I hope, for the sake of the blessed Saviour, to go to Him. Sometimes I walk out into the village, and meet the children and have a long talk with them. They all know me; and very often, some of them will come to my house, and ask me to tell them about things which I have seen in my travels or read of in books: and so I spend many happy hours with the little creatures; for you know how much I love children. When I had read the books you sent to me, I lent them to the children, who were delighted; and I thought that if I should sometimes write down what we here talked about, it might please the little boys and girls for whom you print your books, and perhaps they might learn something from our conversations which would be useful: and so I determined to send them to you, from time to time, to print, if you pleased.

If you think fit to print what I send, just tell your little readers who I am; an aged and quiet old man, who is very fond of little boys and girls, and wishes them to be wise and good here, and happy hereafter, and that I am your

Uncle Philip. Newtown, Feb. 1833.

P.S. If you print what I send now, please to print the Preface to Parents, which I also send; in order that they may, by reading it, see what sort of a book Uncle Philip has been making for their dear children, and may be satisfied that it will not harm them to read it.

PREFACE TO PARENTS.

The author of the following book avails himself of the opportunity afforded by its publication, to address a word to those who sustain the delightful and responsible relation of parents.

To such of that class as may honour by a perusal this humble attempt to interest and instruct their offspring, the author need not say that the subject of his book possesses for himself peculiar attractions: it will readily be perceived that he has found a charm in the pursuits of the naturalist. The votary of a favourite science would anticipate too much, should he expect every one to partake of the enthusiasm which is apt to stimulate him; it is wisely and kindly ordered that we shall not all be enthusiasts in the same direction. The author, however, still ventures to hope, that in his subject there is enough to attract, though it may fail to fascinate. He hopes, too, that it will be found not attractive merely, but profitable also to his young countrymen. There are many reasons on which to found such a hope. If to entertain reverence for our Maker, to admire and adore his wisdom and goodness in the illustrations of nature, thankfully to acknowledge and duly to improve the superiority which mind confers, be exercises in which a wise parent would desire to train a child,--the study of natural science is admirably adapted to the attainment of these objects. Again, if it be desirable to encourage habits of patient observation, accuracy of investigation, and soundness of thought; let the volume of nature be opened before the youthful mind. If to learn things be better than to learn words, it is important to place things before the growing intellects of the young. Let it not be supposed that to present matters of science intelligibly to the minds of children is a hopeless task. It requires not learning or maturity of understanding to perceive a fact; it needs only the ordinary senses which God has bestowed alike upon children and their parents. Natural science is emphatically the science of facts; built upon any other foundation it becomes conjecture merely: and he knows but little of the mind of a child who is not aware of the facility with which a fact is impressed upon it. The secret of instructing the young will be found to consist more in the mode of communication than in the nature of the subject.

As to the style of this work a word may be said; not, of course, for the purpose of disarming criticism (for truly the writer has never supposed his trifle worth the critic's labour or notice), but simply to remark, that the object has been to write for the minds of children; if the book be intelligible to them, the utmost ambition of Uncle Philip will be attained. Truth and plainness were all he sought. The first he believes he has attained; and to determine his success in attempting the last, he turns from the parents, and looks for the decision of the question to the suffrages of the children. He would rather hear the expression of satisfaction from the lips of one intelligent little reader, than receive the words of approbation from many who are elders; the first is testimony derived from experience, the last is but opinion. Children always know better than any one else does what books they understand.

In conclusion, the author owes it to himself to say to the parents of his young countrymen, and to the patrons of the "Boy's and Girl's Library," that what he has written will be found on the side of religion and morals. So far as these important points are concerned, the writer is not ashamed to avow himself a Christian; nor yet does he mean to make it the subject of boasting. In his simple view, Christianity is a very quiet and gentle thing, which eschews strife, and promotes practical goodness; and truly can he say, that he has indulged in some of his happiest and, as he trusts, his holiest musings when, in the solitary pursuit of his favourite science,--to use the language of good old Izaak Walton, that simple-hearted lover of God, and all his works,--"he has looked upon the wonders of nature with admiration, or found some harmless insect to content him, and pass away a little time, without offence to God, or injury to man."

CONTENTS.

Page CONVERSATION I. About a Fly that can work with a Saw and a Rasp, like the Carpenter 13

CONVERSATION II. About Grasshoppers and Bees that bore Holes with a Gimlet 19

CONVERSATION III. About Animals that are Tailors 27

CONVERSATION IV. About the first Paper in the World made by Wasps 41

CONVERSATION V. A Story about Tom Smith, and of Bees with Brushes and Baskets, and of a Bird with a Chisel, and a Gnat with a Lancet 53

CONVERSATION VI. About Animals that can do Mason's Work 66

CONVERSATION VII. About Animals that throw Dirt with a Spade; and about an Animal with a Hook; and about one that is a Wire-drawer 80

CONVERSATION VIII. About a Door, with a Hinge and Spring to it, made by a Spider; and the Difference between God's Work and Man's 94

CONVERSATION IX. A Story about a Philosopher and his Kite; and about Ants that have Awls, and build Cities, and Stairs, and Bridges, and many other Things 104

CONVERSATION X. More about the white Ants 120

CONVERSATION XI. About some other Ants that are very good Masons, and build Walls and Ceilings; and a Story about a very sensible Ant which seemed to think a little 129

CONVERSATION XII. About Ants that go to War, and fight Battles; and about some that are Thieves, and have Slaves 138

CONVERSATION XIII. A Voyage; and an Animal that makes itself into a Ship; and of an Insect that builds a Boat, and floats about in a Canoe; and of another that pumps Water, and wears a Mask; and of a Spider that builds a Raft, and floats upon it 151

CONVERSATION XIV. About an Insect with Tweezers, and another with Pincers; and how a Fly's Foot is made, so as to stick to the Wall 167

CONVERSATION XV. How Hats are made; and about Animals that can make Felt like the Hatter 181

CONVERSATION XVI. About Birds that are Weavers, and the Politician Bird; a Story about some Philosophers; and what may be learned from these Conversations 202

NATURAL HISTORY.