The Burgess Animal Book for Children

d ask. He had learned so many surprising things about his own family that he shrewdly suspected many equally surprising thin

Forest when he was hailed by a sharp voice. "Hello, Peter Rabbit!" said this sharp voice. "Where are

ck the Gray Squirrel. Happy Jack was seated on the top of an old stump, eat

ol!" exclaimed Happy Jack. "Pray tell me to

s, and so has my cousin, Jumper the Hare. We've learned a lot about our own family and now w

out my own family, and I guess there isn't much wo

don't believe you even know all your own cousins

e, a sharp scolding voice, and Chatterer the Red Squirre

ut our own family," snapped Happy Jack indignantly. "He is on his way to sch

know as much about the Squirrel family as you do, may I never find another nut as long as I live. But at that, I'm not sure I

d at his cousin, Happy Jack, and followed Peter, only of course, Chatterer kept in the trees while Peter was on th

Jack and Chatterer appeared with Peter Rabbit

e fact is, in the presence of Old Mother Nature they felt bashful. Peter replied for them. "They've decided to come to scho

ther Nature softly and her eyes twinkled with am

t say it in a very positive way. Peter chuckled to himself, for he

manded Old Mothe

my the Flying Squirrel, and Stri

x Squirrel," shouted Chatter

stfallen and gave Cha

re. "Rusty is a very important member of the Sq

tammered Chatterer. "I d

ack and Chatterer. "They don't know any more about their family than we

d half of them. You are not wholly to blame for that, for some of them you never have seen, but there is one member

for each was jealous of the other. But though they scratched and scratched their heads, they couldn't think who that other cousin could be. Old Mother Nat

ok of surprise on their faces was funny to see. For that matter, the lo

member of the Squirrel family. He belongs to the Marmot branch,

Squirrel," said Chatterer, je

you two." She looked first at Chatterer, than at Happy Jack. "It is high time you came to school to me for a while. You've

e face of each was such a funny, puzzled expression that Old Mother Nature almost laughed right out. Finally

ups are divided into smaller groups, and these in turn into still smaller groups. Happy Jack and Chatterer belong to a group called the Squirrel family, and Peter and Jumper to

was so excited. "Then Jumper and I must be re

related. All of you are Rodents. So are all the members of the Rat and Mouse family, the Beaver

e I've ever heard of some of those families," said he. "My, what a lot we have to learn! Is it beca

ting, front teeth. Animals without such teeth cannot gnaw. Now, as you and Jumper have learned about your family, it is the turn of Happy Jack and Chatterer to learn about their family. Theirs is rather a large family, and it is divided into three

d Chipmunk come in

ls are divided into the Tree Squirrels, Rock Squirrels, and Ground

," interrupted Peter, looking as if he fel

the plains of the West and is often called Gopher Squirrel, is the true Ground Squirrel. Now I can't spend any more time with you little folks this morning, because I've too much to do. To-morrow

headed straight for the far corner of the Old Orchard where he was sure he would find Johnny Chuck. He couldn't get there fast e