32 FOUE-FOOTED AMERICANS 



this winter, just as you saw the Fox to-night. I 

 have the skins of others packed away in chests ; and 

 some you must learn to know b}^ pictures, until you 

 have a chance to see them in the Zoo or in a Museum. 



" No more questions to-night. You will hear more 

 about the surprise to-morrow. Now I must tr}^ to 

 tell you how to climb the animal tree, so that you maj 

 step easily from branch to branch and have a general 

 understanding of its groups and families." 



" This Avill be harder than learning about bones 

 and feathers that built the bird." 



" Yes and no ! When you began to learn the 

 geograph}' of our country, what Avas the first map 

 you saw, Nat ? A map of one state, with all the 

 mountains, rivers, cities, and towns, large and small ? " 



'' Ah, no, uncle ; a plain, easy map of the whole of 

 North America, with only the very big chief moun- 

 tains, rivers, and land divisions put doAvn. It took 

 us a long time only to learn the names of the states 

 and how they Avere bounded ; then by and by we 

 took them in groups, until at this school Ave are hav- 

 ing each state by itself." 



" Precisely. Now, in draAving this animal tree, I 

 will not put doAvn all small branches and twigs, but 

 merely the chief branches, so that you may have what 

 is called a \general idea' of the AAdiole. Then from 

 time to time you can study by itself any branch that 

 particularly interests you. 



" NoAV Avatch," said the Doctor, drawing rapidly on 

 a large sheet of cardboard. "Your old uncle is no 

 draughtsman, but this Avill do for a beginning, and I 

 Avill copy it neatly by and by, so that Ave can hang 



