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Project Gutenberg's Wild Nature Won By
Kindness, by Elizabeth Brightwen
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Title: Wild Nature Won By Kindness
Author: Elizabeth Brightwen
Illustrator: Elizabeth Brightwen
Release Date: April 16, 2007 [EBook
#21111]
Language: English
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WILD NATURE WON BY KINDNESS ***
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Cover
W I L D N A T U R E
W O N B Y
K I N D N E S S .
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
More about Wild Nature. With Portrait
of the Author and many other full-page
Illustrations.

Crown 8vo, imitation leather gilt, gilt
edges, in box, 5s.
Inmates of my House and Garden.
With 32 Illustrations by Theo
Carreras. Uniform with
above, 5s.
ALSO
Glimpses into Plant Life. Fully
Illustrated.
Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 3s. 6d.
W I L D N A T U R E
W O N B Y
K I N D N E S S
BY
MRS. BRIGHTWEN
Vice-President of the Selborne Society
AUTHOR OF "INMATES OF MY HOUSE AND GARDEN," ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
EIGHTH EDITION
T . F I S H E R U N W I N
PATERNOSTER SQUARE
1898
All rights reserved.
Sir JAMES PAGET, Bart., F.R.S.,
D.C.L., Etc., Etc.
My dear Sir James,—
The little papers which are here
reprinted would scarcely have been
written but for the encouragement of your
sympathy and the stimulus of what you

have contributed to the loving study of
nature. Shall you, then, think me
presumptuous if I venture to dedicate to
the friend what I could never dream of
presenting to the professor, and if I ask
you to pardon the poorness of the gift in
consideration of the sincerity with which
it is given.
Pray believe me to
be
Yours very sincerely,
ELIZA BRIGHTWEN
The Grove, Great Stanmore.
June, 1898.
11
18
21
25
44
51
59
67
70
80
T A B L E O F
C O N T E N T S .
INTRODUCTION.
1. REARING BIRDS FROM
THE NEST.

2. DICK THE STARLING.
3. RICHARD THE SECOND.
4. VERDANT.
5. THE WILD DUCKS.
6. THE JAY.
7. A YOUNG CUCKOO.
8. THE TAMING OF OUR
PETS.
9. BIRDIE.
87
99
108
112
121
126
131
136
140
143
146
152
157
163
173
178
183
188
195
10. ZÖE, THE NUTHATCH.
11. TITMICE.

12. BLANCHE, THE PIGEON.
13. GERBILLES.
14. WATER SHREWS.
15. SQUIRRELS.
16. A MOLE.
17. HARVEST MICE.
18. THE CALIFORNIAN
MOUSE.
19. SANCHO THE TOAD.
20. ROMAN SNAILS.
21. AN EARWIG MOTHER.
22. THE SACRED BEETLE.
23. SPIDERS.
24. TAME BUTTERFLIES.
25. ANT-LIONS.
26. ROBINS I HAVE KNOWN.
27. ROBERT THE SECOND.
28. FEEDING BIRDS IN
202
207
214
SUMMER
29. RAB, MINOR.
30. A VISIT TO JAMRACH.
31. HOW TO OBSERVE
NATURE
5
7
11

18
21
25
43
51
58
59
L I S T O F
I L L U S T R A T I O N S .
FLYING WILD DUCK
SACRED BEETLE
SWALLOW
REARING BIRDS FROM THE
NEST
STARLINGS
FLYING STARLINGS
STARLING IN SEARCH OF
FOOD
WILD DUCK
TINY, SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
AND LUTHER
JAY
61
66
67
69
79
87
98
99

101
108
112
125
126
131
140
146
156
ANOTHER JAY
A YOUNG CUCKOO.
BUTTERFLY AND
CATERPILLAR
YOUNG CUCKOO
ATTACKED BY BIRDS
ARABESQUE
ZÖE, THE NUTHATCH
NUTHATCH IN A
COCOANUT
TITMICE IN PURSUIT OF
BEES
TITMICE
BLANCHE THE PIGEON
GERBILLES
WATER SHREW
SQUIRREL
MOLE
MICE
ROMAN SNAILS
EARWIG

157
162
163
173
178
183
195
201
202
206
207
214
230
EGYPTIAN BEETLES
FLYING BEETLE
TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS
BUTTERFLY
ANT-LION
THE ROBIN
YOUNG BIRDS
CHILD AND PET BIRD
RAB MINOR
RAB MINOR RUNNING
NESTLINGS
NEST OF WASPS
SNAKE IN A CIRCLE
P R E F A C E T O T H E
F I F T H
E D I T I O N .
The present edition has been improved

by the adoption of a number of
illustrations which were designed for the
German translation of this book.
WO short chapters, one
describing the life of an Ant-lion,
and the other the habits of a tame
Toad, were added to the second
edition, which was in other respects a
reproduction of the first.
I N T R O D U C T I O N .
HAVE often wished I could
convey to others a little of the
happiness I have enjoyed all
through my life in the study of Natural
History. During twenty years of variable
health, the companionship of the animal
world has been my constant solace and
delight. To keep my own memory fresh, in
the first instance, and afterwards with a
distinct intention of repeating my single
experiences to others, I have kept notes of
In the following chapters I shall try to
have quiet talks with my readers and tell
them in a simple way about the many
pleasant friendships I have had with
animals, birds, and insects. I use the word
friendships advisedly, because truly to
know and enjoy the society of a pet
creature you must make it feel that you are,

or wish to be, its friend, one to whom it
whatever has seemed to me worthy of
record in the life of my pets. Some of
these papers have already appeared in
The Animal World ; the majority are now
printed for the first time.
can always look for food, shelter, and
solace; it must be at ease and at home with
you before its instincts and curious ways
will be shown. Sometimes when friends
have wished me to see their so-called
"pet," some scared animal or poor
fluttering bird has been brought, for whom
my deepest sympathy has been excited;
and yet there may have been perhaps the
kindest desire to make the creature happy,
food provided in abundance, and a
pleasant home; but these alone will not
avail. For lack of the quiet gentle
treatment which is so requisite, the poor
little captive will possibly be miserable,