While giving prominence to the facts that inform, we have not been unmindful of the fancy that stimulates. The steady flow of description is frequently interrupted by the ripple of story and verse. While we have made no effort to secure the favor of Mr. Gradgrind by looking at facts only on their lower side, we trust that our effort may prove of some service in the anxious work of parent and teacher. [Illustration: Decoration] CONTENTS. LESSON PAGE I. How Fowls Look. 11 II. What Fowls Do. 15 III. Chickens' Ways. 18 IV. Stories about Chickens. 20 V. How Ducks Look and Live. 25 VI. Stories about Ducks. 27 VII. How Geese Look and Live. 30 VIII. How Geese Behave. 32 IX. What Geese can Do. 35 X. About Turkeys. 37 XI. About Swans. 39 XII. Doves and Pigeons. 42 Three Little Doves. 45 XIII. The Little Wren. 47 XIV. The Singing Thrush. 49 XV. Robin-Redbreast. 51 XVI. The Blackbird and the Cat. 54 XVII. How Canaries Live and Sing. 56 XVIII. A Song of Summer. 58 XIX. How Parrots Look and Talk. 60 XX. Stories about Parrots. 63 XXI. Birds of Prey. 67 XXII. Long Legs with Feathers. 70 XXIII. Bo-peep and the Rook. 72 XXIV. The Mouse and its Ways. 74 XXV. Stories about Mice. 76 XXVI. White-paw Starts to see the World. 78 XXVII. What the Mice Saw in the Farm-Yard. 80 XXVIII. What White-paw Saw in the Kitchen. 83 XXIX. White-paw's Account of the Great World. 85 XXX. The Death of Poor Puss. 87 XXXI. Field-Mice. 89 XXXII. How the Rat Looks and Lives. 91 XXXIII. Stories about the Rat. 93 XXXIV. About Rabbits. 96 XXXV. More about Rabbits. 98 XXXVI. How the Hare Lives. 101 Alice's Bunny. 103 XXXVII. Something about Squirrels. 104 XXXVIII. More about Squirrels. 106 XXXIX. The Flying Squirrel. 109 The Owl. 111 XL. Bo-peep and the Squirrel. 112 XLI. How the Mole Looks. 114 XLII. How the Mole Works and Lives. 116 XLIII. About the Porcupine. 118