appearance.
These little pets are very careful in keeping themselves and their
offspring neat and tidy, and may be frequently seen smoothing and
dressing their fur, somewhat in the manner of a cat. After having
smoothed and dressed each other's fur, both turn their attention to
their young, from whose coats they remove the smallest speck of dirt, at
the same time trying to keep their hair smooth and unruffled. The
Guinea-pig feeds on bread, grain, fruit, vegetables, tea leaves, and
especially garden parsley, to which it is very partial. It generally
gives birth to seven and eight young at a time, and they very soon are
able to take care of themselves.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: FAITHFUL FRIENDS.]

[Illustration]

J--THE JAY.

_Methinks the Jay's a noisy bird,
Yet now with crimson breast,
Silent and fond, she watches o'er
The treasures of her nest._

[Illustration]

K--THE KANGAROO.

_The timid Kangaroo frequents
The wild Australian brakes;
With long hind-legs and fore-legs short
Tremendous leaps he takes._

[Illustration]

L--THE LION.

_With tawny hide and flowing mane,
And loud-resounding roar,
Of animals the Lion's king,
And all bow down before._

WAITING.

Waiting for master to come down the stair,
Are "Noble" and "Floss," and his favorite mare--
"Brenda" the gentle, with skin soft and gray,
Waiting the signal, "Now off and away."

Noble stands holding the whip and the rein,
His gaze fixed on Brenda, who tosses her mane;
While dear little Floss sits quietly by,
Winking and blinking her liquid brown eye.

Master's so kind to them--nothing to fear
Have horse or dogs when his footsteps they hear;
Look how they're waiting with eagerness there,
Ready to go with him everywhere.

And what a pleasure it is when these three
There on the staircase their kind master see;
Now he is mounted, the waiting is o'er--
Floss, Brenda, and Noble race off from the door.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE BABOON.

THE ORANG-OUTAN.

THE BARBARY APE.

THE MARIMONDA.]

[Illustration: THE FOUR-HORNED RAM.

THE CHAMOIS.

THE ETHIOPIAN HOG.

THE OTTER.]

THE ARGUS.

The Argus is a bird with magnificent plumage; it inhabits the forests of
Java and Sumatra, and takes its place beside the pheasant, from which it
only differs in being unprovided with spurs, and by the extraordinary
development of the secondary feathers of the wings in the male.