Chatterbox Stories of Natural History | Page 7

need When
snowdrifts block the traveler's way, And blinding storms mislead.
Brave "Barry," once, far down the track That crossed a glacier steep,
Found buried deep beneath the snow A poor boy, fast asleep.

He licked the cold, numb hands and face To warmth and life once more,
And bore him safely on his back Up to the Hospice door.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: COME TO ME!]

G--THE GIRAFFE.
Full seventeen feet the Giraffe tall Measures "from top to toe," And
with his neck outstretched can reach The branch that bendeth low.
[Illustration]
H--THE HYENA.
In Asia and in Africa The fierce Hyenas prowl, And oft at night the
traveler starts To hear their savage howl.
[Illustration]
I--THE ICHNEUMON.
A foe to birds and rats and mice, See the Ichneumon glide! Oft, too, on
reptiles or their eggs Its hungry teeth are tried.

MOTHER-DEER AND BABY.
Something has startled them, as they fed securely enough, one would
think, on the grass at the foot of the rocks; and if we could only get a
little nearer, this is what we should hear the mother-deer saying to her
baby: "My child, I am sure there is danger about; look out and tell me if
you see the slightest movement on the hill yonder, or if I see it first, I
will give you the signal, and you must follow me, and run for your very
life." And the baby, with cocked ears and glistening eyes, promises to
do as it is told. But after all it will probably prove a false alarm, for this

is not the time of year for deerstalking; and I dare say the noise they
heard was made by a party of people coming up the valley below to see
the waterfall, which is famous in the neighborhood.
[Illustration]

WHOOPING CRANE.
The Whooping Crane is much larger than the common crane, which it
otherwise much resembles except in color; its plumage, in its adult state,
is pure white, the tips of the wings black. He spends the winter in the
southern parts of North America, and in summer migrates far
northwards. The crane feeds on roots, seeds, etc., as well as on reptiles,
worms, insects, and on some of the smaller quadrupeds. They journey
in flocks from fifty to a hundred, and rise to an immense height in the
air, uttering their loud harsh cries, and occasionally alighting to seek
food in fields or marshes; and when they descend on a field they do sad
havoc to the crops, several doing sentinel duty while the majority are
feeding. In general it is a very peaceful bird, both in its own society and
those of the forest.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE RAVEN.
THE RING-DOVE.
THE HOOPOE.
THE COCK.]
[Illustration: THE IBEX, OR ROCK GOAT.
DEER.
THE SYRIAN GOAT.

THE ROE.]

THE ELK.
This is the largest existing species of the deer family, and is a native of
the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It grows to be six feet
high and twelve hundred pounds in weight. They are very rare in
Europe and this country, but at one time they extended as far south as
the Ohio River. They love the woods and marshy places, and live off of
the branches of trees, being unable to eat grass unless they get upon
their knees. They are very timid, and not easily approached by the
hunter, but should a dog come in the way, one stroke from an elk's foot
will kill it. Many of the parents of our little friends in Maine and
Canada are, no doubt, familiar with the elk and its habits.
[Illustration]

TOYS FOR ANIMALS.
The "Daily News" says: "Our readers have often doubtless observed
appeals in the papers for toys for sick children. We hear that a naturalist
who feels much for animals is struck with the cruelty of leaving the
creatures at the 'Zoo' without anything to play with. This gentleman had
in his possession a young otter, for whom he made a wooden ball, to
the extreme delight of his pet, who used to divert his simple instinct
with it for whole hours at a stretch. Following up the idea, the same
gentleman presented the elephants and rhinoceroses in the Zoological
Gardens with globes for diversion suited to their sizes, but it seems the
elephants took to playing ball so furiously, that 'there was danger of
their houses being swept down altogether; so they were forbidden to
use them indoors.' The polar bear was given a toy which, we are told,
'amuses him immensely.'"
[Illustration]

THE SUCKING-PIG.
The other day our children came home delighted at having seen a little
pig drinking out of a bottle, just like a baby. I went to see it, and I was
introduced to its owner,