l, and the alligators walk around on the grass."

"Oh!" cried Kitty, "then I don't want to go. I wouldn't meet an
alligator for anything!"

"They have their own grass plat, Kitsie," said her father. "They don't
trespass on the grass reserved for visitors."

So the Ourday was unanimously settled, and, as that sort of a trip
involved little preparation, there was nothing to do but hope for
pleasant weather.

"Though if it rains," said Marjorie, comfortably, "Father will fix up
something nice for us in the house."

But Saturday turned out to be a lovely day, and the Maynard family took
an early train for New York City, in order to make their stay at the Zoo
as long as possible.

They did not invite any other guests, as Mr. and Mrs. Maynard thought
their own four children responsibility enough.

The young people greatly enjoyed the journey in the train, and across
the ferry, and then Rosy Posy asked that they might go in what she
called the "Cellarway." She meant the Subway, and, as this was a quick
way to reach Bronx Park, Mr. Maynard consented. The children were of
enthusiastic natures, and inclined to be conversational, but the noise
of the Subway trains drowned their voices, and, for once, they were
obliged to be silent. But when they reached their destination, and
entered the beautiful park, their tongues were loosed again, and they
kept up a running fire of chatter.

Rosy Posy trotted along by her mother's side, King and Kitty walked
together, and Midget pretended to walk by her father's side, but really
danced back and forth from one to another. They visited the Botanical
Park first, and as the early November day was clear and cold, they were
not sorry to step into the warm greenhouses.

Marjorie specially liked the great jungles of Florida and other
southern vegetation. The banyan trees and giant palms reached up to the
high ceiling, and the luxuriant foliage and brilliant blossoms made
northern plants seem dwarfed beside them. It was an instructive
experience, as well as an entertaining one, for Mr. Maynard called the
children's attention to the printed names on the plants, and, though
they could not remember all of them, they learned a great many.

"It's fun to study botany this way," said Marjorie, as her father showed
her the strange Mexican cacti, and told her about the deserts where they
grow.

King nearly scared Kitty out of her wits by pretending there was a great
snake writhing among the dark-