This book is a collection of nature essays by Charles Frances Saunders, a 19th-century American author and naturalist. Saunders spent many years exploring the California wilderness, and his essays are filled with vivid descriptions of the flora and fauna that he encountered. He also reflects on the beauty and majesty of the natural world, and on the importance of preserving it for future generations. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves nature writing or wants to learn more about the natural history of California. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.