
Step into a whimsical Victorian menagerie where each letter of the alphabet opens a door to a different quadruped. Presented in clear, bite‑size entries and accompanied by numerous period illustrations, the book offers a snapshot of 19th‑century natural history written for young readers.
From mischievous apes that mimic human habits to massive bears that roam icy northern lands, the text blends keen observation with the era’s colorful moral commentary. It also celebrates familiar farmyard friends—cows that supply milk and meat, faithful dogs of every size—and even the mighty elephant, whose surprising dexterity is described in vivid detail.
Listeners will enjoy the blend of factual description and quaint anecdotes, gaining a sense of how people once viewed the animal world. The alphabetical format makes it easy to dip in and out, perfect for curious minds eager to explore nature one creature at a time.
Full title
An Alphabet of Quadrupeds Comprising descriptions of their appearance and habits
Language
en
Duration
~29 minutes (28K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jason Isbell, Katie Hernandez and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-07-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Some of literature’s most enduring voices come to us without a confirmed name. “Anonymous” stands for storytellers whose identities were never recorded, were deliberately concealed, or were lost over time.
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