What They Say

Those creatures that chew the cud,

The "RUMINANTS" we call,

From "Rumen," or the stomach-pouch,

In which their food doth fall.



A "SPECIES" is a kind

Of animals or plants;--

Each species has a different name,

And differing traits and wants,--



And species may unite

To form a RACE we know,

For race from root is al ays drawn,

And roots must spread and grow.







That men and women are

The race most choice and fine,

We plainly see, and sometimes call,

The Human Race Divine.







The noble Horse neighs out,

"I am the race Equine,

And nearest seem, and dearest to

The 'human race, divine.'"



The Ox and Cow l-o-o, l-o-o,

"We are the race Bovine;

And we most useful are, unto

The 'human race, divine.'"







The Ass and Mule bray out,

"Our race is Assinine,

And very like us seem some of

The 'human race, divine.'"



The Dog bow-wows as race

Canine, Canine, Canine;

While Tigers, Cats and Catamounts,

G-r-o-w-l, growl, as race Feline.



The Lion, king of beasts

(Feline), roars "Leonine;"--

The Lamb that's to lie down with him,

Ba-a, ba-as for race Ovine.







Fishes in lakes or seas

or rivers Sport Piscine;

While birds in air or cages close,

Sing, "race Avine, Avine."



All bees in hives or wild,

Hum out the race Apine;

And reptiles all rejoicing crawl

In race Reptilian.





* * * * *



I've a name that's made up of three letters alone,--

That reads backwards and forwards the same;

I speak without sound,--yes, I talk without tongue.

And to beauty I lay the first claim.





* * * * *





A word of three syllables, children, now find,

That holds the whole twenty-six letters combined. [1]



The B ing m t, John put some: [2]



stand take to taking

----- ---- -- ------ [3]

I you throw my





[Footnote 1: Alphabet]



[Footnote 2: The grate being empty, John put some coal on.]



[Footnote 3: I understand you undertake to overthrow my undertaking.]