I have the four-volume 'Nature Rambles' books by Edward Step, from the 'Come-with-me' series, written for children in a similarly conversational style! A little later than yours - 1930 - and with 16 colour plates per volume, but the same unabashed use of what we'd now consider technical terms (florets, lobes, pistils). They're wonderful, and as you say, a reminder that what we consider kids to be capable of is a reflection of our times, not of their minds.
Am envious. I have one of his books about molluscs Didn't he write a few for the Wayside and Woodland series too?
I particularly like some children's natural history books of yesteryear because they often contain advice that would make today's parents' hair stand on end e.g. I used to have a book from the 1950s (which I now regret having lent to someone) that advises young naturalists to visit their local game dealer and ask for deer heads, then tells them to allow one to rot in a bucket of water, then hang in the back yard in a muslin bag to allow maggots to clean the flesh. I knew someone who did similar with (he claimed) badger roadkill, turning the skulls into bedside lamps. Standard method amongst bona fide zoologists for skeleton preparation then but today it might sound a bit Satanic. Educational but not the kind of advice you see on SpringWatch...
Good lord. I have a large collection of skulls and other bits of animals but I’ve only tried cold water maceration once: it was one of the grimmest experiences of my life, and it was only a rat. The thought of doing it to an entire deer head, AND THEN HANGING IT UP NEAR MY HOUSE, is, well, it’s a lot. Now I bury things, mark the spot and dig them up again. Much less traumatic. That's how I have a pony vertebra for a penholder.
As I live in Shropshire this was especially interesting. I have a few Victorian books which are beautifully bound. I enjoy black and white illustrations, they can be so detailed
I have the four-volume 'Nature Rambles' books by Edward Step, from the 'Come-with-me' series, written for children in a similarly conversational style! A little later than yours - 1930 - and with 16 colour plates per volume, but the same unabashed use of what we'd now consider technical terms (florets, lobes, pistils). They're wonderful, and as you say, a reminder that what we consider kids to be capable of is a reflection of our times, not of their minds.
Am envious. I have one of his books about molluscs Didn't he write a few for the Wayside and Woodland series too?
I particularly like some children's natural history books of yesteryear because they often contain advice that would make today's parents' hair stand on end e.g. I used to have a book from the 1950s (which I now regret having lent to someone) that advises young naturalists to visit their local game dealer and ask for deer heads, then tells them to allow one to rot in a bucket of water, then hang in the back yard in a muslin bag to allow maggots to clean the flesh. I knew someone who did similar with (he claimed) badger roadkill, turning the skulls into bedside lamps. Standard method amongst bona fide zoologists for skeleton preparation then but today it might sound a bit Satanic. Educational but not the kind of advice you see on SpringWatch...
Good lord. I have a large collection of skulls and other bits of animals but I’ve only tried cold water maceration once: it was one of the grimmest experiences of my life, and it was only a rat. The thought of doing it to an entire deer head, AND THEN HANGING IT UP NEAR MY HOUSE, is, well, it’s a lot. Now I bury things, mark the spot and dig them up again. Much less traumatic. That's how I have a pony vertebra for a penholder.
As I live in Shropshire this was especially interesting. I have a few Victorian books which are beautifully bound. I enjoy black and white illustrations, they can be so detailed
I wish that had been available to me when I was a kid ... long ago