THESE STORIES are true.  Although I have left the strict line of
historical truth in many places, the animals in this book were all
real characters.  They lived the lives I have depicted, and showed
the stamp of heroism and personality more strongly by far than it
has been in the power of my pen to tell. 

I believe that natural history has lost much by the vague general
treatment that is so common.  What satisfaction would be derived
from a ten-page sketch of the habits and customs of Man? How
much more profitable it would be to devote that space to the life
of some one great man.  This is the principle I have endeavored to
apply to my animals.  The real personality of the individual, and
his view of life are my theme, rather than the ways of the race in
general, as viewed by a casual and hostile human eye. 

This may sound inconsistent in view of my having pieced together
some of the characters, but that was made necessary by the
fragmentary nature of the records.  There is, however, almost no
deviation from the truth in Lobo, Bingo, and the Mustang.