The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
J.&J. Harper. New-York.
UNCLE PHILIP'S CONVERSATIONS
with Young Persons.
NEW YORK
J. & J. HARPER 82 CLIFF STṬ.
1833.
NATURAL HISTORY;
OR,
UNCLE PHILIP'S
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN
ABOUT
TOOLS AND TRADES
AMONG
INFERIOR ANIMALS.
WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.
NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS,
NO. 82 CLIFF-STREET.
1835.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835,
By Harper & Brothers,
In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.
ADVERTISEMENT.
We must tell our little readers something aboutthis number of their Library. It was sent to us bya very kind old uncle of ours, who, when we wereyoung, was so much from home, visiting variousplaces in the world, that we do not remember seeinghim very often at that period. At last, the old man,finding that he could not bear fatigue as he haddone when young, determined to come home; andwe had heard so much about him that we were quiteanxious to see him. He came to our house oneevening, and appeared rather odd to us; but he wasso good-natured, and told us so many curious things,that we soon forgot his odd appearance.
The old gentleman brought home with him a verylarge number of books, and a great many strangethings which he had gathered in his travels, such asstones, and dried insects, and leaves, and flowers,and stuffed birds, and animals. He did not staywith us long, but went to the village where he was[Pg 4]born, and built a small house to which he carried allhis books and curiosities, and said that he shouldspend the rest of his days there.
We sometimes pay him a visit. The last timewe were there, we found him talking to several childrenaround him. In the beginning of the bookthere is a picture of the old gentleman. After youhave looked at it, you may read the letter which hesent us, and learn how he came to write this book.
Your friends,
The Publishers.
UNCLE PHILIP'S LETTER.
My dear Nephews,
I was very much pleased to receive the numbersof your Library for Boys and Girls which you sentto me. You know I am now an old man, and havetravelled a great deal, and seen a great many strangethings in the course of my life. I am too old