The first edition of this book is dated 1872. The edition used is dated 1872. The publisher was Thomas Nelson and Sons, London. The number of pages is 160.

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General information

This is a fairly short book, but it certainly hits the spot, for its aim is to inform young people about the four-legged animals of our planet, and this it does very competently.

Of course there is no reason why young ladies should not read this book: I am sure they would enjoy this just as much Reid’s target readership, which was boys.

There are 24 chapters, each dealing with a kind of animal. Sometimes an animal genus is given two chapters, for instance domestic dogs, and wild dogs. One grouse: the phrase “well-known” occurs over forty times. Would the “well-known” fact be well-known to the book’s intended readership? Probably not.

There are a score of very nice illustrations, most showing numerous animals of that chapter’s genus.

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Contents

Chapter I.
Monkeys of the Old World.

Chapter II.
Monkeys of the New World.

Chapter III.
Bears.

Chapter IV.
Badgers.

Chapter V.
Weasels, Otters and Civets.

Chapter VI.
Tame Dogs.

Chapter VII.
Wild Dogs.

Chapter VIII.
Cats.

Chapter IX.
Rats and other Rodents.

Chapter X.
Beavers.

Chapter XI.
Squirrels.

Chapter XII.
Hares, Rabbits, and other Rodents.

Chapter XIII.
Elephants.

Chapter XIV.
The Hippopotamus, Rhinoceros, and Tapir.

Chapter XV.
Giraffes, Camels, and Llamas.

Chapter XVI.
Swine.

Chapter XVII.
Horses and Asses.

Chapter XVIII.
The Ox Tribe.

Chapter XIX.
Sheep.

Chapter XX.
Goats.

Chapter XXI.
Antelopes.

Chapter XXII.
Deer.

Chapter XXIII.
Quadrupeds with Pockets.

Chapter XXIV.
Ant-Eaters, Armadilloes, and other Odd Animals.

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