A FOUR-FOOTED DANCE 411 



then we can go in swimming." Tlien they all flopped 

 off; and yon would have expected them to leave great 

 wavy marks in the dust on tlie floor, but they did not. 



At twelve o'clock the procession came downstairs 

 again and ended by an elaborate breakdown, danced by 

 tlie Polar, Barren Ground, Black, and Grizzly Bears; 

 tliis was followed by a grand chain, hands all round. 

 Tlien the animals were allowed to amuse themselves 

 until the signal ''back to cases" should be given. 



'' It does not seem much like spring,'' said the Moose 

 to the Caribou. " I'm wearing my old horns yet, and 

 I do not see a single green leaf." 



" Hush ! " said the Dream Fox. " The Wise Men say 

 it is spring." 



Meanwhile, the Foxes and the Civet Cats were roam- 

 ing around the bird rooms trying to coax the fat Ducks 

 and Grouse to come for a walk. But the birds seemed 

 neither to see nor hear them, while the Weasels and 

 Minks licked their lips, longingly but vainly, as they 

 gazed at the trays of eggs. 



The Bats tried to hang themselves up in dark cor- 

 ners, but found the ceiling too smooth; and the Wood- 

 chucks and Beavers who essayed to burrow holes in the 

 floor were equally unsuccessful. The Possums and 

 Coons went down to the wood room and tried to reach 

 some fine tree-trunks in search of likely holes for homes; 

 while the ^lountain Goat and Bighorn practised mountain 

 climbing by running up and sliding down the bannisters ; 

 and the Rats and Mice dulled their teeth in trying to 

 gnaw holes in the iron doors. 



During this time, the Walrus, Sea Lion, and Seal, 

 who had flopped easily enough dow)ist^irs, were mak- 



