I address myself to parents and teachers; and I say to them, Do you wish to inculcate a love of science, and yet put into the hands of your children or pupils books which differ as widely from the book of nature as human brotherhood--(a fiction!)--differs from universal gravitation? Instead of familiarising us at first with the animals and plants within our everyday reach, you collect, under the same irrevocable iron "form," genera and species never intended to meet in any one particular zone, and many of which are so rare that few persons will ever be fortunate enough to see them except in collections and engravings. And, curious to state, the rarest species nearly always obtain your preferences; judging, at least, from the minute descriptions which you consecrate to them. Monstrous absurdity! You seek at a distance that which lies close to your hands, as if the Everyday Objects above, beneath, and around, were unworthy of the science you profess. But here we must pause. Upon the principles thus laid down by M. Hoefer, have been founded the two unpretending companion volumes, of which the second is now submitted to the lenient judgment of the public. W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS. [Illustration] CONTENTS. BOOK I.--WINTER. CHAP. PAGE I. WHAT MAY BE SEEN IN THE HEAVENS:-- The Number of the Stars, 4 The Great Bear and the Little Bear, 8 Orion, 13 Diurnal Movement, 15 Determination of the Cardinal Points, 17 II. WHAT MAY BE SEEN UPON THE EARTH:-- The Snow, 32 Red Snow, 39 The Eternal Snow, 44 The Inhabitants of the Eternal Snows, 48 The _Arvicola Leucurus_, 49 The Marmot, 53 The Chamois, 56 The Eagle and the Wren, 57 The Snow Bunting, 66 The Red-billed Crow, 68 Reptiles, 70 Inferior Animals, 71 Herbaceous Plants which best endure the Cold of Winter, 75 The Dog Mercury, 77 The Garden Nightshade, 82 The Dog's-tooth Grass, 88 * * * * * BOOK II.--SPRING. CHAP.