16 ANIMALS OF NO IMPORTANCE. 



The result of all his efforts was simply a duck's egg I 

 mean a ping-pong ball. In vain he pecked at the ball, 

 which bounded away at each peck ; in vain he jumped 

 upon it. He was clearly losing his temper when a third 

 crow arrived on the scene, and, little knowing what was in 

 store for him, gaily tackled the egg, which the second crow 

 gave up to him in the most self-denying manner. Before 

 he had quite exhausted his energy two more crows arrived 

 and forthwith attacked the ball. The other three crows 

 remained placidly looking on from a neighbouring tree. 



After a time the two new-comers who had taken alter- 

 nate pecks at the celluloid sphere grew " shirty," and leav- 

 ing it in disgust, they joined the other three birds in the 

 tree, and the whole five cawed in unison, in a manner 

 betraying the most unspeakable disgust. The caws to which 

 they gave vent were identical in tone with those which they 

 emit when they are deceived by an eclipse of the sun. It 

 grows dark, and all the crows of the vicinity, as is their 

 wont at eventide, come to roost on the accustomed tree. 

 Just as they have comfortably settled themselves for the 

 night, and before they have enjoyed a wink of sleep, the 

 sun comes out again. This is too much for the feelings of 

 the crows. Never before has such a trick as this been 

 played upon them, so their righteous indignation is corre- 

 spondingly great. In exactly the same manner did those 

 five crows caw as they surveyed that ping-pong ball. 



Most of the crows of the neighbourhood have come to 

 know that ping-pong ball. Whether they now recognise 

 its true nature I know not, but this I do know, that they 

 have left it in a most conspicuous place ; and one or two of 

 them are usually hanging around, waiting on the chance 

 of seeing some unsophisticated crow go up to the ball and 

 try to break it. They then begin to look interested, and 

 encourage him in his futile efforts by loud caws of derision. 



