Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21973

Title

Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Mrs. R. Lee presents a captivating collection of animal anecdotes, moving beyond dry classification to reveal the hidden wonders of nature. With illustrations by Harrison Weir, this volume explores the habits and instincts of mammals, from mischievous shipboard monkeys to the tragic devotion of a mother bear, offering an elevating pursuit for young minds and city dwellers alike.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals,' Mrs. R. Lee (formerly Mrs. T. E. Bowdich) presents a rich collection of stories focusing primarily on mammals, aiming to enlighten city-dwellers and direct young minds toward observing the Creator's wisdom. The work deliberately sets aside dry scientific classification to maintain a strict narrative order while avoiding embellishment, leaving the philosophical question of where instinct ends and reason begins for the reader to ponder. The narrative begins with the Quadrumanas, or monkeys. Lee recounts her personal conversion from an initial antipathy toward these creatures to a deep fascination after befriending a shipboard monkey named Jack. Through tales of Jack's mischief, intelligence, and capacity for affection, the text contrasts wild behavior with trained tricks. Lee also describes a highly accomplished monkey in Paris trained to perform complex tasks, such as bowing, cleaning a guest's dusty gown, and managing money, further illustrating the spectrum of primate capability. The focus then shifts to bears, described as formidable yet often humorous creatures. Lee details the life of the black bear of Canada, noting its agility and complex relationship with humans. A particularly poignant section details a mother bear's desperate, loving attempts to save her wounded cubs from sailors. Despite being shot and wounded herself, she crawls to her cubs, licking their wounds and distributing her last piece of food until she dies. Another harrowing account involves a trapper named Glass, who survives a grizzly bear attack by enduring immense pain and hunger. After being left for dead, Glass miraculously survives by eating the flesh of the bear that killed him, crawling eighty miles to safety on roots and berries before reaching a fort. Throughout the anecdotes, Lee emphasizes the sagacity of animals, noting that bears are often cunning and capable of defeating human stratagems. She highlights their varied diets, their ability to climb trees, and their social behaviors, such as the polar bear's hunting techniques. The work serves as an elevating pursuit, revealing the hidden wonders of nature and the love of the Great Creator for all His creatures, inviting readers to appreciate the intricate balance between instinct and reason in the animal kingdom.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Science
• Juvenile literature