Animals on the Loose

These verses are animal verses because where else but in the animal kingdom can one find words like rhinoceros and elephant which rhyme so nicely with . . . with . . . ? I searched all over for such words as these for years, and then discovered that zoologists had already appropriated the most interesting ones. What right have they to words like platypus and zebra? Fortunately not all men have stood for this monopoly and many will use zoological terms to suit themselves. “Get off my foot, you elephant,” or “look at that old goat trying to make a hit,” are expressions showing forth this wonderfully independent spirit. Lest there be any uncertainty over the meaning of terms in these pages, however, let me say here that when, for example, I say “gnu” or “hummingbird” I mean it zoologically. This may be good gnus for some of you.

J. E.

JE

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Johannes Eff

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These verses are animal verses because where else but in the animal kingdom can one find words like rhinoceros and elephant which rhyme so nicely with . . . with . . . ? I searched all over for such words as these for years, and then discovered that zoologists had already appropriated the most interesting ones. What right have they to words like platypus and zebra? Fortunately not all men have stood for this monopoly and many will use zoological terms to suit themselves. “Get off my foot, you elephant,” or “look at that old goat trying to make a hit,” are expressions showing forth this wonderfully independent spirit. Lest there be any uncertainty over the meaning of terms in these pages, however, let me say here that when, for example, I say “gnu” or “hummingbird” I mean it zoologically. This may be good gnus for some of you.

J. E.