Wild Animals I Have Known · Chapter
Note to the Reader explained
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.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Individuality and Personality
The author emphasizes the real personality of each animal and his view of life, rather than generalizing about the species.
Kinship Between Humans and Animals
The author states that we and the beasts are kin, and that animals have wants and feelings differing only in degree from our own, thus deserving rights.
Tragic End of Wild Life
The author notes that the stories are true and therefore all are tragic, as the life of a wild animal always has a tragic end.
Characters to notice
- Lobo
Lobo lived from 1889 to 1894 in the Currumpaw region and died on January 31, 1894, as related in the story.
- Bingo
Bingo was the author's dog from 1882 to 1888, with interruptions due to visits to New York.
- The Pacing Mustang
The Mustang lived near Lobo in the early 1890s; there is a dispute about his death, with some saying he broke his neck in a corral and others claiming he leaped into a canyon with his rider.
- Wully
Wully is a compound of two dogs, both mongrels with collie blood, raised as sheepdogs; the first part of his story is true, the second part belongs to another similar dog.
- Redruff
Redruff lived in the Don Valley north of Toronto and was killed in 1889 between the Sugar Loaf and Castle Frank.
- Silverspot
Silverspot is founded on a real character, though his biography includes adventures of more than one crow.
Key passages
“The real personality of the individual, and his view of life are my theme, rather than the ways of the race in general, as viewed by a casual and hostile human eye.”
The author focuses on each animal's unique character and perspective, not on typical species behavior seen from a detached human viewpoint.
This underscores the theme of individuality and personality.
“The fact that these stories are true is the reason why all are tragic. The life of a wild animal always has a tragic end.”
Because these accounts are factual, they inevitably end in tragedy, as wild animals always meet a fatal conclusion.
Highlights the tragic end of wild life theme.
“we and the beasts are kin. Man has nothing that the animals have not at least a vestige of, the animals have nothing that man does not in some degree share.”
Humans and animals are fundamentally related; every human trait has an animal counterpart, and vice versa.
Emphasizes the kinship between humans and animals.