  RATAPLAN, ROGUE GEAN, THE GIRAFFE KEESA, THE KANGAROO CARA, THE Title: Rataplan Author: Ellen Velvin Edition: 10 Language: English Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading RATAPLAN, A ROGUE ELEPHANT AND OTHER STORIESBy ELLEN VELVIN, F.Z.S. Author of "Tales Told at the Zoo," With illustrations by GUSTAVE VERBEEK To TO THE AUTHOR, COMING AS A STRANGER TO THIS COUNTRY, HER HELP, ADVICE AND LOYAL FRIENDSHIP HAVE BEEN INVALUABLEPREFACEIf an excuse for this book were needed, the undying interest of young people in both wild and domesticated animals would afford it. From time immemorial they have been amused and instructed by stories of animals, and it is not hard to trace the educational and humane influence of such tales. There are heroes and tyrants, cruel and gentle natures in the animal world, as in our own, and, judged by our standards, their lives are pastorals or tragedies, even as ours are, while their histories are often even more interesting than those of men or women. Then, too, young people should know that these dwellers in forest wilds have, in part at least, the same aims, hopes and fears as ourselves. In the preparation of this book the best of authorities have been consulted, and careful study given to the habits, traits and characteristics of the animals whose intimate lives are told in these stories. In addition, I have endeavored to tell young people, as pleasantly as possible, that they often make grave blunders in caring for their pets—blunders due to ignorance as to the requirements of their living toys. ELLEN VELVIN.New York City. CONTENTS |
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