[i]

BANNERTAIL
THE STORY OF A GRAYSQUIRREL

[ii]
[iii]

BANNERTAIL
THE STORY OFA GRAYSQUIRREL

[iv]

[v]

FOREWORD

These are the ideas that I have aimed toset forth in this tale.

1st. That although an animal is muchhelped by its mother's teaching, it owes stillmore to the racial teaching, which is instinct,and can make a success of life withoutits mothers guidance, if only it can livethrough the dangerous time of infancy andearly life.

2d. Animals often are tempted into immorality—bywhich I mean, any habit orpractice that would in its final working,tend to destroy the race. Nature has rigorousways of dealing with such.

3d. Animals, like ourselves, must maintain[vi]ceaseless war against insect parasites—orperish.

4th. In the nut forests of America, practicallyevery tree was planted by the Graysquirrel,or its kin. No squirrels, no nut-trees.

These are the motive thoughts behind mywoodland novel. I hope I have presentedthem convincingly; if not, I hope at leastyou have been entertained by the romance.

[vii]

CONTENTS