A Book of Natural History

Huxley, Darwin, Wallace, Burroughs and Maeterlinck, writing for young readers — thirty-odd essays by the great naturalists on everything from the man-like apes to what worms do.

The Bath of the Birds

3 pages in this part of A Book of Natural History.

The Bath of the Birds

NE morning Sir Bevis went down to the brook. Standing on the brink, he said: "Brook, Brook! what are you singing?

The Bath of the Birds: Bevis

And the brook, having now finished that part of his song, said: "Bevis, dear; sit down in the shadow of the willow, for it is very hot…

The Bath of the Birds: Sometimes

Sometimes I sing about the sun, who loves me dearly, and tries all day to get at me through the leaves and the green flags that hide me; he…

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of A Book of Natural History (1902) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.