How to Tell Wild Animals

Carolyn Wells


If ever you should go by chance
To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you're dyin'
You'll know it is the Asian Lion...
Or if some time when roaming round,
A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal tiger to discern.

If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lepton you,
You‘ll know it is the Leopard.
Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He'll only lap and lep again.

If when you're walking round your yard
You meet a creature there,
Who hugs you very, very hard,
Be sure it is a Bear.
If you have any doubts, I guess
He'll give you just one more caress.
Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus.
The Crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they're Crocodiles.
The true Chameleon is small.
A lizard sort of thing;
He hasn't any ears at all, and not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
Tis the chameleon you see.

Available Answers

  1. 1.

    Fill in the blanks with the words from the poem.

    1. The Asian lion lives in ______________ in the east.
    2. The Asian lion is a huge __________ animal.
    3. The lion __________ loudly.
    4. The Bengal tiger is recognized by ___________ stripes on a yellow background.
    5. The tiger can __________ you.
    6. The leopard has spots on its ___________.
    7. The lion, the tiger and the leopard all ___________ loudly.
    8. A bear ____________ can be dangerous.
    9. A crocodile appears to be ____________.
    10. A hyena appears to be ______________.
    11. A chameleon has no_____________.
    12. It is not easy to see a ____________.
  2. 2.

    Where is the Asian lion found?

  3. 3.

    Why is the tiger called a noble, wild beast?

  4. 4.

    How does it look?

  5. 5.

    What distinguishes a leopard from a tiger?

  6. 6.

    "If you have any double, I guess,
    He'll give you just one more caress."

    1. Who stands for 'you' here?
    2. A bear is famous. Why?
    3. 'If you have any doubts'.....What is meant by this line?
    4. A caress is always loving and life giving. Do you agree?
    5. Should we avoid a best? Why?

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