34 ANIMAL CONGRESS. 
them a few moments, at least, alive and in 
action. 
So both her love of natural history, and her 
desire for truthfulness in art, impelled her to the 
capture of her own subjects when practicable. 
As soon as a specimen was completed it was 
placed either alone or as a member of some 
tableau in her parlor. 
This room was fitted up with its usual furni- 
ture, plus a low tree with numerous branches, 
standing upon a mossy rock-work in one corner, 
and it soon assumed the appearance of a general 
council hall, to which were gathering delegates 
from every part of the animal kingdom ! 
Birds looked down in listening attitudes into 
the music-book upon the organ ; scolded each 
other from the corners of neighboring picture- 
frames, while they occupied every conceivable 
attitude of action or repose upon the tree which 
was their special property. The smaller mammals 
of the neighborhood were represented among 
the rocks at its foot, and the whole formed a 
picture not less interesting than novel. 
At every important addition a group, composed 
of the family, and, usually, some one or more of 
the lads before alluded to, would gather around 
the collection to express admiration and discuss 
its further needs. 
One day when a fox just mounted was to be 
