WAFFLES AND A WALK 29 



We saw a Screech Owl in the woods j^esterday, and I 

 remembered its name right off, and that it was one of 

 the good Owls that mustn't be shot." 



" Good girl, that encourages your old uncle to tell 

 you more stories this winter about some of the other 

 creatures that are branches of the wonderful animal 

 tree." 



Nat and Rap brightened up, and Olive said she 

 could not imagine anything pleasanter for winter even- 

 ings. 



" But we have to do our lessons in the evenings," 

 said Nat, dolefully. 



" Uncle Roy will manage it somehow," said Dodo, 

 shaking her head confidently; "there is a surprise 

 somewhere, I know. I've been expecting it." At this 

 Mr. and Mrs. Blake and the Doctor smiled, but said 

 nothing. 



"Uncle Roy," persisted Dodo, after a pause, "won't 

 you do as you did with the birds, and tell us about 

 the wild American animals instead of about menagerie 

 beasts, and then make us a book about them ? There 

 must be as many as fifty kinds of usual animals in 

 America, counting all those in the west country. I'm 

 so tired of menagerie beasts — 



" ' L is for Lion who roars in his rage, 

 T is for Tiger who snarls in his cage,' 



that was on my picture blocks wlien I was a little child. 

 I had picture books of Cockatoos and other strange 

 birds, too, but they never seemed to mean anything 

 until you told us about our American birds." 



" You are right. Dodo," said the Doctor, " and you 



