Doctor Dolittle's Garden

viii, 327 pp. 8vo. Color frontispiece with captioned tissue guard, black & white drawings by author. The seventh book (though chronologically the third) in the popular series featuring Doctor John Dolittle, who can speak to animals. The series eventually included 12 novels, from Dolittle's perspective, one from an animal's perspective, and a day book with illustrations and excerpts from previous books. Original editions of some of Lofting's works are textually different than modern editions, which have removed some racist terminology. "Tommy Stubbins, Dolittle's assistant, reports on Professor Quetch, curator of the Dog Museum. Meanwhile, the doctor has learned insect languages and hears ancient tales of a giant race of insects. Fascinated, the doctor plans a voyage to find them - but before he does so, one arrives in his garden."