“I’m not so very big around and not great as to length,
But one thing Peccaries have learned—­in numbers there is strength. 
Now, if you do not bother me I will not bother you,
But all my friends and family will help me if you do.”

who is this boy in clothes so neat? 
Young Spring-bok, Africa’s athlete. 
He lives up in the mountains tall,
And as a jumper beats them all.

The Long-Eared Bat and the Flying Fox and the Flying Squirrel, too,
Decided to give an aero-meet just to show what they could do. 
So they formed a club and went around and invited everyone,
Then up they flew and did their stunts, and had a lot of fun.

She is dainty as snowdrops that fall from the skies,
Is this dear little Kitten with bright, shiny eyes
And velvety ears and pretty pink nose
And lovely white suit of soft, furry clothes.

Baby raccoon takes all his food and goes straight to the pool,
He eats not one small bite of it until it’s wet and cool. 
Now, although you may think this strange and stop to wonder why,
He, no doubt, thinks it just as queer for you to like yours dry.

The greatest of travelers that one can meet
Is the little Deer-mouse with the pretty white feet;
North, south, east or west she will go at her will,
And never, no never, is known to keep still.

The baby zebra ne’er should roam
So very far away from home,
Lest someone, thinking her striped gown
Was candy-stick, might eat her down.

“I’m stopping for a moment just to say ‘How-do-you-do?’
I’ve just been decorated with this ribbon of deep blue
Because of all the gracefulness with which I trot and prance—­
No wonder that you give Sir Horse your most admiring glance!”

This tale is not so very new,
And, no doubt, has been told to you,
But Donkey went to school to play,
And now he sits dressed up this way.

Here is the only baby who never makes a noise
(Which must be very puzzling to little girls and boys). 
Yet the Giraffe is happy ’though he cannot shout or sing,
For with that great long neck of his he can reach anything.

The tapir feeds on leaves and fruit
He’s very, very hard to suit,
For boys who don’t like bread and meat
Have to find other things to eat.

He has climbed to the top of a rocky throne
To look down on a land once so proudly his own,
His people are scattered, he has no place to go,
He is weary and sad, poor King Buffalo.

“Lemonade, lemonade,” the bold monkey cried,
“It’s only five cents, and it’s cooling beside.” 
Miss Camel just sniffed and tossed high her head,—­
“I drink only every nine days, sir,” she said.

Milk or meat or leather for shoes,—­
Almost anything that we choose,—­
We’ll find the good Cow gives with joy
To every nice little girl and boy.

I wonder where the names come from (I’m sure that you do, too). 
For instance, there’s the animal that has been called the Gnu. 
His race is just as strange, too, for no one seems to know
Just what he is—­an antelope, horse, bull or buffalo.