Georgia McNally

“ With a snort, old Rhino makes off with the speed of a race horse, with loud puffs and deep, laboured grunts he covers ground like a locomotive; and woe betide the intruder if the old warrior catches him.
The strength of the Rhino is phenomenal. He breaks down thickets and small trees in his travels like straws. Rocks don't bother him in the least, and he travels splendidly over rough ground. ”

“ When mother gives the signal to "lie still" a kitten must not move, even if the life is scared half out of him. He must learn what food is good for him and what is not. A prickly porcupine is to be let alone, but sometimes a growing youngster's appetite gets the better of his judgment and his mouth waters for a taste of juicy Porky. Later he wishes he had listened to reason, when he gets a whack from old Porky's tail across the nose. His face is driven full of those deadly quills, and he jumps around like a crazy creature, tearing madly at his face with his big paws. ”

“ She chattered and scolded him and it was evident by his manner that she told him it wasn't good for him.
The Orang baby is big-headed, innocent-eyed and gentle in manner. They crave affection and suffer without it. The more attention and petting they receive, the better they thrive. Love is the eternal supply needed to level all their sorrows as well as ours. Orangs like human beings. They cling to those they love and are morose and melancholy when away from the object of their affections. ”

“ THERE is something pathetic about a Porcupine. He asks so little of the world in which he lives, taking the plain necessities without even a glance at the luxuries; and he is such a delightful back-woods old codger. I always feel a thrill of sympathy when I look into his dear old face for all the world like a little, old man's, who is half stupid, half sorrowful and altogether wistful. ”

“ He is a fat, woolly little baby, full of fun and pranks, and expressing keen enjoyment in the bleak Arctic climate. He's a square built, thick set, sturdy fellow, with a practical mind from the very beginning. He soon learns to dig under the deep snow for lichens and Arctic mosses. He is a weather prophet too, and makes preparations against blizzards with a fore-sight uncommon in one so young. We wonder if that psychical sense is inborn or if it develops by communication from the older animals. ”

“ The fox is an omnivorous feeder. Anything from a fat goose to a cluster of sweet grapes or berries makes a strong appeal to his sensitive palate. The wild wood mice, rabbits, partridges, wild ducks, with an occasional taste of wild honey— (when he can steal it without getting too badly stung) make up his favourite diet. When stung by angry bees, he makes for the brook and plasters his wounds with mud and clay to draw out the poison. In times of stress he has been known to tackle the formidable porcupine and dispatch it without injury from the terrible quills of that much dreaded little beast. ”

“ Could a human mother do more? She's a tender and patient teacher, this wild mother; her little ones must be taught self-protection, a knowledge of wood craft and forest lore, who are enemies and who are friends.
The hunted creatures develop a marvellous sagacity for detecting signs and scents and prove in many ways that experience and careful training stands them in better stead than instinct. Animals are gifted with natural endowments the same as human beings are—no two animals are mentally equal. ”

“ A blind Lynx is worse than no Lynx at all.
By autumn our babies are getting to be quite respectable looking young Lynxes. Smart black tassels are beginning to sprout at the tips of their ears, giving their round faces a piquant expression. A thick whisker under the chin gives character and dignity to their appearance. Their paws are big and broad and are well adapted to walking on the snow. Their hind quarters are big and powerful and their heads are round and very cat-like in aspect. ”

“ Mother Kangy drops him in the warm nest when he is so tiny he is scarcely an inch long, and no thicker than a lead pencil. He is hairless and blind and has no features to speak of—in fact he is no larger than a baby mouse. ”

“ The neck is so short and legs so long, that the little fellow has to kneel to put his nose on the ground. Altogether, baby moose is a cunning little fellow, blest with a head full of sound sense.
He learns to mind his own business during the first year of his existence, and not to meddle with any one's while his sprouting horns are but knobs an inch long. If his antlers are injured at this tender age, they would never be normal and he would have to go handicapped through life. ”

“ FROM Australia, the Land of Topsy-Turvy, comes the Duck-billed Platypus. In appearance, our duck-billed friend is a contradiction of all a self-respecting animal should be. He is about the size of a prairie dog with soft, dark brown fur similar to an otter's, but instead of having a perfectly proper mouth and feet, as should be expected of him, he contradicts our expectations and shocks us by having a bill like a duck, webbed feet, and lays eggs like a bird, leaving us mystified and wondering which he is—bird or beast? ”

“ Wallowing in the soft black mud during the hot days, rising with father and mother at dawn and breakfasting on twigs, shrubs and sweet green grass is delightful and when the sun gets too hot, to wander through the dark cool forest and get acquainted with the wonderful sights and sounds of that leafy, mystical world. ”

“ They are so interested in the many things that impress themselves upon their consciousness. The wind moaning through the pines fills them with fear and trembling and they anxiously seek the shelter of their mother's warm comforting presence and mew questioningly while she soothes their fears with kisses and caresses. ”

“ Caliph’s great delight was to take his master on his broad back and plunge into the swimming pool.
Our critical friends say that a Hippopotamus is not intelligent enough to be trained; that they are vicious, are not to be trusted, and have no memory. I give you these facts to disprove their theory and to give the Hippo a square deal. I feel that he is a much maligned beast. Many of them are loving, gentle and faithful, if handled by those who love and want to understand them. ”

“ They are born blind as little kittens are. As they mature, the face grows pointed, the tail develops into a handsome brush, the legs lengthen and the little fat body takes on a longer and more graceful outline.
The mother fox is very devoted to her babies. With great caution she keeps them safely hidden in the burrow whenever there is the slightest danger of their presence being discovered. When convinced that there are no prowlers lurking about, she leads them out of their murky, dark burrow up into the green world. ”

“ They are frolicsome fellows, full of fun and alert every minute they are awake. When mother brings home a delicacy, they purr their delight and lick her face with their red, rough tongues in dumb appreciation ”

“ There is no better fighter than old Rhino. Even the young will charge when danger threatens. The only way to capture a baby is to kill the mother first; but the baby often surprises the slayer by charging like an infuriated demon. Baby Rhino is no coward. He is ready to avenge his mother without hesitation. His courage is splendid and we must respect him.
The Rhinoceros is a relic of another age. There are five species of Rhinoceros—three are Indian and two are African. ”

“ Moose, hearing the call, rushes in the direction of the sound. The poor fellow is often shot, thus lured into close proximity with his enemies.
The moose loves the water and is a fine swimmer. He enjoys wading, and spends much of the summer time in the water, swimming and browsing water plants. So baby moose spends his first summer, enjoying nature, finding out what is good to eat and what is to be left alone, growing like the proverbial weed, and getting acquainted with life. ”

“ They are gentle and docile creatures. When pursued they seek safety in flight, but when cornered these huge, awkward fellows can let go a shower of kicks from their nimble heels that will beat back even the foolhardiest pursuers. They travel in small herds of from five to thirty animals. Their hearing is very acute and their eyes of a beautiful brightness, are wide set and command a very wide angle of vision. The small head, planted on the long, towering, slim neck, which acts as an observatory, makes it very difficult to approach them.
The giraffe is the tallest of quadrupeds. ”

“ Only the skill of his keeper saves him at these dangerous periods. The keeper jumps into his den and rubs the offending lump down his throat into his stomach. Dick is fifteen months old now, and really knows better. I fear for his life if the keeper should be a few minutes late some time.
This leopard loves to roll balls. He has several in his cage, and can roll them all at one time. He is really quite a juggler. This feat excites the little lions who can roll only one ball at a time. They don't realise that Dick is twice their age, much nimbler, and more certain. ”

“ Deer, sheep and elk sometimes jump to their deaths when attacked, but not so with Mr. Mountain Goat. He plans his campaign like the general he is, and woe unto the dogs that fall victims to his cyclonic charges and the vicious stabs from his razor-like horns. ”

“ The porcupine is a denizen of the woods. He rarely leaves his woodland home for the fields unless there be some choice tid-bit in the way of tender lily pads in a nearby pond or a tasty morsel that will lure him from his leafy retreat. ”

“ It is their nature in the wild state to hunt living prey and they have to kill in order to live. We are too prone to forget how many millions of animals are hunted and slaughtered both by land and sea to provide food for human beings; and it is as reasonable to accuse mankind of cruelty on this score, as it is to accuse the carnivores.
"Carnivores love their young just as we do, and can also be affectionate and faithful. ”

“ I know a little lion who has been raised on a nursing bottle. He lets me hold him in my arms and takes his bottle just like a baby does. He's a greedy little scamp and always is hungry. He can't be tempted to a nice drink of water or a bowl of soup unless it is put in the bottle. This little lion is five months old and has a bulldog for a room-mate. They love each other dearly and play games most of the time. Rough-house is their favourite game and wrestling is very popular with them. The bulldog is such a good-natured old chap. And what maulings he takes from that lion! ”

“ A BABY Camel is such a droll looking little creature! His humps are clearly defined from the very beginning of his earthly career. His eyes are expressive and soft, and he has the patience of Job written all over his countenance. It has been my good fortune to know three baby camels. One was a Bactrian, or two-humped species, the remaining two were dromedaries or single humps. They are weak and helpless during the first few days of their lives, but gradually grow strong and run about quite actively at two weeks of age. ”

“ Wild animals have always seemed intensely human to me. I am in sympathy with their struggles for existence, their fears, their sorrows and their loves. Little baby animals are intensely human and appealing. ”

“ The little Hippo had a red skin like a young baby. He was fat as a butter ball and somewhat resembled a pig. His master took him home, fed him on a diet of bread and milk, and made him a little pen with a pool of water in it.
Caliph became very much attached to his master. He soon learned to follow him about like a dog. Sometimes the little fellow would grieve for his mother and wistfully think of the rides he took on her broad, safe back, because he was too small to keep up with her when he swam beside her. ”

“ The Musk Oxen are the most exclusively Arctic of all the ruminants. Living, as they do, in the extreme north where vegetation is scanty, and the ground buried under a heavy coverlet of snow the greater part of the year, great strength, endurance and perseverance are the elements that must be possessed by this animal to take him through the bitter cold and long darkness of an Arctic winter. Nature has provided this noble creature with a heavy coat of wool beneath his long thick hair for protection from the inclement Arctic weather. ”

“ The porcupine is probably the safest from starvation of any of our woodland friends. He can eat anything from green leaves and tender plants to the little twigs and bark of our evergreen trees. Summer or winter, his larder is full. The lynx, wolves, carabou and moose may suffer during the long frozen winter; but the little Porky has only to climb the nearest tree and get busy with the eternal bark supply.
His teeth in themselves are an institution, two chisels in the lower and two in the upper jaw. ”

“ Porcupine is very proud of her big baby. She is very careful of him and takes great care lest some of the ferocious forest neighbours see him.
After his quills are well grown she gives him more freedom for she knows he is well able to take care of himself. The baby grows rapidly. After a short time long hairs tipped with yellow push up through the thick fur and later the quills begin to make themselves known. His orange coloured teeth lengthen and we realise that he is fast becoming a very formidable little beastie. ”