*'An Arabian horse, a true bred Ara- 

 bian, would certainly be a match in swift- 

 ness for the Dziggetai," objected John. 

 "I thought an Arab horse could overtake 

 anything without wings." 



"This fleetest of animals bids defiance 

 to the boasted Arabian horse, provided 

 the chase is confined to its usual haunts 

 on hilly or rocky ground." 



"What noble game it must be," said 

 John. "Dear me ! I'm so afraid I'll never 

 see half the wonderful things there are in 

 the world, not even if I go to all the 

 shows and travel as much as I expect to 

 do." 



"We can hear about some of them any 

 way, if you will only keep still, John, and 

 let Auntie go on," said Howard, impa- 

 tiently. 



"You are familiar with the Elk, Ele- 

 phant, Ermine and other animals under 

 *E' ; but the Eland may be mentioned as 

 being quite different from the swift ani- 

 mal we have been considering. It is so 

 slow that hunters simply drive it up to 

 their encampment to be killed. Its flesh 

 has the peculiarity of being tender 

 enough for immediate use. The creature 

 is remarkable for the length of time it 

 can exist without drinking; it is said for 

 several months even, when its food is 

 dry." 



"How kind God was to make the desert 

 animals not to care for water," said little 

 Madge. 



Aunt Jane smiled approval of Madge's 

 reflection and replied: "His tender care 

 is over all his works. You may never 

 have heard of the Fennec," she continued. 

 "It is a native of Africa, a pretty little 

 fawn-colored creature, remarkable for 

 such a look of gravity as to make it really 

 comic to the beholder. Although it is 

 carnivorous, it is very fond of dates, and 

 can climb the lofty, branchless trunk of 

 the date palm to secure for itself the lux- 

 urious fruit which grows in clusters at 

 the very top." 



"Is it not unusual for that kind of an 

 animal to climb trees ?" Edith inquired. 



"Indeed it is. I selected the Fennec to 

 stand for 'F' on that account," was the 

 reply. "As you all saw a Gnu at the 

 Zoological Gardens, I need not describe 

 this curious 'wilde-beest,' as the Dutch 



call it. The Gerboa is chiefly remark- 

 able for the long distances it can jump, 

 balancing itself while shooting through 

 the air with its long tail. I wonder if 

 you are acquainted with the Glutton?" 



"Yes," shouted the girls. "There he 

 is, and his name is John !" 



"I don't eat any more than the rest of 

 you," protested the accused, "except in 

 the case of strawberries and ice-cream." 



"The Glutton is a cunning creature. It 

 is said that it will throw moss in the way 

 of a deer, and when it stops to eat, it will 

 spring upon the deer and devour it. It 

 is fortunate for the other animals that 

 the Glutton moves very slowly ; if it 

 were active many would be destroyed. It 

 eats a long time, and consumes a large 

 quantity of food. The Kamtschadales say 

 that the angels wear garments made of 

 the glossy fur of this animal. Hooker 

 complains that it damages the fur trade 

 by eating the -meat which baits the traps 

 set for the Martens, but he says nothing 

 of its fur." 



"Tell us about the Hedge-hog next," 

 said Howard. "Do you think Nature has 

 provided it with such curious quills as a 

 protection against attacks from ene- 

 mies?" 



"No doubt its thorn-spiked armor is a 

 great defense, but it also protects the 

 Hedge-hog when it falls or throws itself 

 from a great height. As it descends it 

 curls up into a ball, and as the quills are 

 elastic, it jumps up unhurt, after falling 

 twelve or fourteen feet." 



"I envy the Hedge-hog such a coat," 

 exclaimed John. 



"Now, wouldn't you look pretty in 

 quills?" cried the girls. 



"Before I order such a coat I'll arrange 

 with Mother Nature so that it can be re- 

 moved at pleasure," John laughingly re- 

 plied. 



As John ceased speaking, the clock 

 slowly struck nine. 



"What, bedtime already!" exclaimed 

 Edith, "We are not nearly through our 

 alphabet." 



"Tomorrow will soon be here and we 

 can then complete our list," consolingly 

 replied Aunt Jane, as the children 

 reluctantly bade her good night. 



Belle Paxson Drury. 



175 



