The Puss. The Octo-pus. //// The Octo-pus or Cuttle-fish! // I'm sure that none of us would wish // To have him scuttle round the house, // Like Puss, when she espies a mouse: // When you secure your house-hold pet, // Be very sure you do not get // The Octo-pus, or there may be // Dom-es-tic in-felis-ity.

The Gnu. The Newt. //// The Gnu conspicuously wears // His coat of gnumerous bristling hairs, // While, as we see, the modest Newt // Of such a coat is destitute. // (I'm only telling this to you, // And it is strictly "entre gnu".) // In point of fact the Newt is nude, // And therefore he does not obtrude, // But hides in some secluded gnook, // Beneath the surface of the brook: // It's almost more than he can bear, // To slyly take his breath of air, // His need of which is absolute, // Because, you see, he is a Pneu-t.* //// * This stands for air, like aero-static, // Greek - "pneumos" - air - comp-air "pneu-matic".

The Bee. The Beet. The Beetle. //// Good Mr. Darwin once contended // That Beetles were from Bees descended; // And as my pictures show, I think, // The Beet must be the missing-link. // The Sugar-Beet and Honey-Bee // Supply the Beetle's pedigree: // The family is now complete,- // The Bee, the Beetle and the Beet.

The Pen-guin. The Sword-fish. //// We have for many years been bored // By that old saw about the sword // And pen, and now we all rejoice, // To see how Nature made her choice: // She made, regardless of offendin', // The Sword-fish mightier than the Pen-guin.

.