He would n't touch his dinner , but lay down near her , with the lump between his paws , as if guarding it for her ; and there I left him patiently waiting , in spite of his hunger , till his mate could share it with him . As I took a last look at his fine old face , I named him Douglas , and walked away , humming to myself the lines of the ballad , -- Douglas , Douglas , Tender and true . As a contrast to the wild beasts , I went to see the monkeys , who lived in a fine large house all to themselves . Here was every variety , from the great ugly chimpanzee to the funny little fellows who played like boys , and cut up all sorts of capers . A mamma sat tending her baby , and looking so like a little old woman that I laughed till the gray monkey with the blue nose scolded at me . He was a cross old party , and sat huddled up in the straw , scowling at every one , like an ill-tempered old bachelor . Half-a-dozen little ones teased him capitally by dropping bits of bread , nut-shells , and straws down on him from above , as they climbed about the perches , or swung by their tails . One poor little chap had lost the curly end of his tail , -- I 'm afraid the gray one bit it off , -- and kept trying to swing like the others , forgetting that the strong , curly end was what he held on with . He would run up the bare boughs , and give a jump , expecting to catch and swing , but the lame tail would n't hold him , and down he 'd go , bounce on to the straw . At first he 'd sit and stare about him , as if much amazed to find himself there ; then he 'd scratch his little round head and begin to scold violently , which seemed to delight the other monkeys ; and , finally , he 'd examine his poor little tail , and appear to understand the misfortune which had befallen him . The funny expression of his face was irresistible , and I enjoyed seeing him very much , and gave him a bun to comfort him when I went away . The snake-house came next , and I went in , on my way to visit the rhinoceros family . I rather like snakes , since I had a tame green one , who lived under the door-step , and would come out and play with me on sunny days . These snakes I found very interesting , only they got under their blankets and would n't come out , and I was n't allowed to poke them ; so I missed seeing several of the most curious . An ugly cobra laid and blinked at me through the glass , looking quite as dangerous as he was . There were big and little snakes , -- black , brown , and speckled , lively and lazy , pretty and plain ones , -- but I liked the great boa best . When I came to his cage , I did n't see anything but the branch of a tree , such as I had seen in other cages , for the snakes to wind up and down . ` Where is he , I wonder ? I hope he has n't got out , ' I said to myself , thinking of a story I read once of a person in a menagerie , who turned suddenly and saw a great boa gliding towards him . As I stood wondering if the big worm could be under the little flat blanket before me , the branch began to move all at once , and with a start , I saw a limb swing down to stare at me with the boa 's glittering eyes .
He was so exactly the colour of the bare bough , and XXXXX so still , I had not seen him till he came to take a look at me .
blinked dropping got laid lay liked looking play read share