WAFFLES AND A WALK 29 



We saw a Screecli Owl in the woods yesterday, and T 

 remembered its name right off, and that it was one of 

 the good Owls that mustn't be shot." 



'' (rood girl, tluit eneourages your old uncle to tell 

 you more stories this winter about some of tin; other 

 creatures that are branches of the wonderful animal 

 tree.^' 



Nat and Kap lu'ightened up, and Oliye said she 

 could not imagine anything pleasanter for winter even- 

 ings. 



'' But we have to do our lessons in the evenings," 

 said Nat, dolefully. 



" Uncle Roy will manage it somehow," said Dod(^, 

 shaking her head confidently; '^ there is a surprise 

 somewhere, I know. I've been expecting it." At this 

 jMr. and Mrs. Blake and the Doctor smiled, but said 

 nothing. 



''Uncle Roy," persisted Dodo, after a pause, "won't 

 you do as yon did with the birds, and tell us about 

 tlie wild American animals instead of about menagerie 

 beasts, and then make us a book about them ? There 

 must be as many as fifty kinds of usual animals in 

 America, counting all those in the west country. I'm 

 so tired of menagerie beasts — 



" ' L is for Lion who roars in his rage, 

 T is for Tiger who snarls in his cage,' 



that was on my picture blocks when I was a little child. 

 I had picture books of Cockatoos and other strange 

 birds, too, but they never seemed to mean anything 

 until you told us about our American birds." 



" You are right, Dodo," said the Doctor, ^'* and you 



