A FOUR-FOOTED DANCE 407 



day, and if we begin up top, we shall never get down 

 again before dark. Who lives on the very top floor, 

 Uncle Roy?" 



" Some of the Wise Men are there ! " 



'' The Wise Men that count teeth and claws and say 

 whetlier the little fur beasts that are white in winter 

 moult all over or only change the color of their hair?" 

 asked Raj). 



" The very same." 



'' Don't let's go there, then," whispered Dodo to Nat, 

 " because if they are so wise, they would be sure to know 

 that it is time for another of my teeth to be shed, and 

 they might want it pulled out now ! AVhat is next to 

 the top?" she asked the Doctor hastily. 



"Rones and stones and shells, but after you have been 

 introduced to the Four-footed Americans in Mammal 

 Hall, I will take you where you can meet all the home 

 birds of the farm, the marshes, and the shore, beside 

 many others that live within lifty miles hereabouts. 

 For you see these Wise Men, in addition to studying 

 dry bones, understand the needs of llesh-and-blood 

 children, and know wliat will interest them the most in 

 their winged and four-footed brothers, and so they have 

 arranged them in a way that they ma}^ be easily found." 



" Oh ! oh I " exclaimed Dodo as they wandered into 

 the hall where the Mammals live, " here are Wood- 

 chucks tliat look as if they had just come from our 

 rocky pasture and brought a piece of it with them ! " 



" See this ! " said Rap, liopping toward tlie bit of 

 mossy woods that sheltered a Moose family. 



"Here are the Two Kings I " cried Nat, running 

 toward the stretch of ])rairie where a magnificent Bison 



