Introduction ix
Part 1 Hazy Histories
1(44)
Chapter 1 Over 1,000 Years Ago
2(14)
A Mammoth Cave's Mystery Walker
2(4)
B Holey Molars!
6(4)
C A Curse on All Thieving Bathers
10(6)
Chapter 2 Over 100 Years Ago
16(15)
A Onesimus and the Fight against Smallpox
16(5)
B All Aboard the Railway of the Dead
21(5)
C Boilerplate: The Man, the Myth, the Machine
26(5)
Chapter 3 Over 10 Years Ago
31(14)
A Audubon the Painter Prankster
31(5)
B Cannibal Rats, Ahoy!
36(4)
C The North American Santa Accident
40(5)
Part 2 Peculiar Places
45(44)
Chapter 4 Natural
46(14)
A Magical Mankato
46(4)
B Are You Smarter Than a Bird Brain?
50(5)
C Honey: So Sweet and So ... Colorful?
55(5)
Chapter 5 Unnatural
60(13)
A Welcome to Molossia, Population: 6
60(4)
B Big Bird Goes to Church
64(4)
C Going to the Dogs... On Dog Island
68(5)
Chapter 6 Supernatural
73(16)
A Hello, Dolly!
73(5)
B Everybody Smile and Say "Fairies"
78(5)
C The Creepy Case of Highgate Cemetery
83(6)
Part 3 Perplexing People
89(43)
Chapter 7 Interesting Individuals
90(15)
A Ben Franklin's Farts
90(5)
B The Life-Saving Magic of Tilly Smith
95(5)
C My, Oh My, Magnetism!
100(5)
Chapter 8 Law and Order
105(13)
A When the Boss Says "Bark"
105(4)
B Stop, in the Name of the Tree Police!
109(4)
C A Little Decency, Please
113(5)
Chapter 9 Curious Culture
118(14)
A Please Play with Your Food!
118(5)
B Out in the Meadow, Where the Marshmallows Grow
123(4)
C Here, Hyena-Hyena-Hyena!
127(5)
Research Guide 132(5)
Answer Guide 137(9)
Bibliography 146(16)
Photograph Credits 162(3)
Index 165