This collection of animal biographies presents the true, unvarnished lives of several remarkable wild creatures, beginning with Lobo, the giant king-wolf who ruled the Currumpaw cattle range in New Mexico. Lobo and his small, devoted pack exacted a heavy daily toll on rancher herds, defying every human device of poison, hounds, and traps until the tragic loss of his mate led to his own downfall. Other portraits follow, including Silverspot, the wise crow leader who maintained an intricate tribal system near Toronto; Raggylug, the cottontail rabbit who learned the severe lessons of swamp survival from his heroic mother; and Wully, the seemingly faithful sheep-dog hiding a dark, double life. Seton also portrays the cunning Springfield fox, Vixen, who fought desperately to save her captive cub, and the Pacing Mustang, whose untamable spirit chose death over captivity.
Finally, the story of Redruff traces the life of a magnificent copper-ruffed partridge in the Don Valley through seasons of plenty and mortal peril. Across all these narratives, the author poses a central ethical problem: humanity's failure to recognize that beasts share the same wants, feelings, and rights as men. The argument develops through meticulous field observations rather than sentimentality, showing how each animal masters the arts of the wild only to meet the inevitable tragic end. The collection gently hints at a timeless moral about kinship with nature, urging a profound respect for creatures that possess a distinct personality and view of life.
