WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO? BY CAROLYN WELLS. A is for the Antelope, A beast that I have never met; They say he jumps the skipping-rope And makes a charming household pet. Well, as to that I cannot say; But A is for him, anyway. B stands for Bajjerkeit; maybe You've never chanced this beast to see; So I'll describe him to you. Well, There isn't very much to tell. One day I idly chanced to look Within a Natural History book, And there I saw his funny name, And thought I'd hand him down to fame. C is for Codfish. He must be The saltest fish that swims the sea. And, oh! He has a secret woe! You see, he thinks it's all his fault The ocean is so very salt! And so, In hopeless grief and woe, The Codfish has, for many years, Shed quarts of salty, briny tears! And, oh! His tears still flow-- So great his grief and woe! D stands for Dodo. He's a bird That isn't known to many; And this the reason, I have heard-- Because there aren't any! The Dodo, who once blithely blinked, Is now exceedingly extinct, And doesn't it seem rather nice To think that D stands for him twice? [Illustration: MARY MARY! QUITE CONTRARY.] E is for Elephant. I know He isn't natty, trim, or trig; His eyes are rather small, and, oh, I fear his ears are far too big! But there's a well-attested rumor That he has quite a sense of humor; So crack a joke whene'er you meet An Elephant upon the street. F is Flamingo. All please note His wondrous height and girth; He has the longest legs and throat Of anything on earth. Such throats are trying, are they not? In case one catches cold; Ah, yes! but just think what a lot His Christmas stockings hold! G stands for Gnu. Of course that's right, but then, It seems as if it _should_ begin with N. I could select some other beast as well-- Say, Goose or Grampus, Gadfly or Gazelle; But seems to me the Gnu is more attractive, He is so merry, frivolous, and active. H is for Hippopotamus. If you desire a pet, He is, it really seems to us, The best that you can get. Train him to follow at your heels Whene'er you walk abroad, And note with what delighted squeals The lookers-on applaud! I is for Ibex. This fine creature Is favored well in form and feature. And I is for Ichneumon, too-- But what is that to me or you? But Ibex answers just as well, And isn't near so hard to spell.