8x9.75" hardcover with 110 pages. Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1885. First edition with high quality, stiff glossy pages feature numerous bw illustrations by noted painter Beard, famous for his allegorical animal paintings "Bear Dance" and "Bulls And Bears In Wall Street." Book tells individual stories about animals with accompanying Beard illustrations. Very well done and includes illustrations of the dodo and several of Beard's favorite subject, the bear. Last story in book deals with tortoise that George Washington (who is pictured) carves his initials and 1776 date on its shell being found by a young boy years later and then again in old age. .75" tear to page with some tears/staining at binding but all pages remain intact. Edge/corner tip wear to cover. VF/Exc. with Exc. pages overall.