Nature readers

In presenting a third volume of the Nature Readers to the children of our land, and to their parents and teachers, I feel it both a duty and a delight to thank those who have so...

Now you shall hear the story of a plant’s life. The life-story I shall tell you is of a plant that lives one year. This story begins with a seed and ends with a seed.

You know when you are very warm, you feel a moisture come on your skin. That was once water in your blood. It creeps out through tiny pores over all your skin.

Why does the insect go to the flower? He does not know that he is needed to carry pollen about. He never thinks of seed making. He goes into the flower to get food. He eats poll...

There is a marigold which grows at the Cape of Good Hope, and in dry weather has its head of seeds held close, like a round button. When rain is coming, this seed-head opens out...

These wing-cases have large veins. Lift up a wing-case and pull out a lower wing. It is folded very closely, in lengthwise plaits. Where these wings join Mr. Grasshopper’s body,...

The mole cricket neither flies nor sings by day. If dug out of his burrow, he seems very stupid and helpless. At evening, he tries to comfort himself by a low, jarring song.

These caterpillars make their homes for summer. There are some which need winter homes. The caterpillar of the Viceroy butterfly is only half-grown when winter comes. He lives i...

In some birds, the wing, when spread out, is much longer than all the body. The wing folds up, something like a crab’s claw, or as you would shut a knife. In birds that are walk...

Our winter birds are those which come to us in the cold weather, do not build nests near us, but fly away when the season grows warm. While they stay near us, they take shelter...

He searches for insects and larvæ, and little can escape his big bright eyes. When he takes something to his mate, he gives a soft, low, glad chirp. He never passes the door of...

This little bird has its name from some islands on the coast of Africa, which are its native home. It is about three hundred years since these birds began to be reared and sold...

Carp will hurry to the top of the water to get food that they have learned to look for when people come near. Fish of a kind often keep together and feed together. You know in a...

When all is done Mr. Stickleback swims off to find his mate. He seems to tell her that the house is ready. She is a lazy little creature, and does nothing but frolic in the wate...