Wild Animals I Have Known · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to Beulah.
Chapter 2
Note to the Reader
The author explains that the stories in the book are true, based on real animals he observed or knew, though some characters are composites due to fragmentary records. He emphasizes the individuality and personality of each animal, the tragic nature of wild life, and the kinship between humans and animals, asserting that animals have rights and feelings akin to our own.
Chapter 3
Wild Animals I Have Known
This introductory chapter sets the stage for a collection of true stories about wild animals, emphasizing that each animal is a unique individual with a distinct personality. The author argues that while the names of animals and places have been changed for privacy, the events are based on his personal observations and experiences. He introduces the central theme that wild creatures are not mere automatons driven by instinct, but sentient beings with their own lives, emotions, and intelligence, deserving of understanding and respect.
Chapter 4
Lobo
The chapter details the relentless efforts to capture Lobo, the cunning wolf king of the Currumpaw, who outwits traps, poisons, and hunters through superior intelligence. His downfall comes when his mate Blanca is caught and killed, leading to Lobo's sorrowful search and eventual capture.
Chapter 5
Silverspot
The chapter introduces Silverspot, a wise old crow distinguished by a silvery white spot, who leads a band of about two hundred crows near Toronto, Canada. It explores crow intelligence, social organization, and communication, detailing Silverspot's leadership, his band's daily routines, and the training of young crows. The narrative highlights Silverspot's cleverness, such as retrieving bread from a sewer tunnel, and his ability to command his troop with specific calls for danger, hawks, and other threats. The chapter also describes the crows' mating season and pairing off in April.
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