Then you may be lucky enough to see a bush bazaar. But faces must be clean, hands washed, and hair combed, as every animal and bird has plumed and preened himself and herself to look their very best. But hush! the Rev. Fluffy Ears is ready to make a speech and declare the bazaar open.

He looks splendid! I’m sure he has been hours and hours brushing his ears, they look so silky. There he is perched on the branch of a tree looking down on all the bush folk, as they sit and hop around, trying to find a patch of grass or rock to rest upon. There is very little room left for even a grasshopper to squeeze in, and some grumpy old ladies like Mrs Owl and Miss Goanna, glare at the younger ones as they try to find a spare seat. The colours are wonderful. Red and orange and purple berries are clustered in huge piles over the rock. Bright green leaves and softest brown toadstools lie together. Birds’ eggs of every colour imaginable are there in dozens to be sold and right up against them are the little dead birds the butcher-birds have brought. This is the produce store and guarding it with glittering eyes is Mrs Wallaby. Woe betide any creature who tries to steal even a berry. Farther away is a wonderful collection of birds’ nests, all shapes and sizes, with a notice standing in the centre:

Guarding it with glittering eyes is Mrs Wallaby.

READY MADE HOMES SUITABLE FOR FINCHES OR MAGPIES MIXED FROM THE BEST MUD AND GRASSES DIRT CHEAP!

Then there were small piles of grit, some red, others black and brown. The notice above these read:

ANTS, TAKE YOUR CHOICE! THE VERY FINEST GRIT ON THE MARKET ALL HALF PRICE!

Under the ledge of the rock sat Miss Gertrude Spider with a very patient look on her face. But cunning, crafty eyes spoilt her appearance. Every hair on her legs was shining, and her body was polished like a door-knob. She had dozens and dozens of webs for sale, and knew very well that the fairies and goblins would be her best customers. Such folk dwell in the gullies and wait eagerly their chance of buying new webs for their clothes. Some webs were made of the finest thread (far finer than silk the silkworm spins) and were glittering with dewdrops. These were the very best and most expensive: only for fairy queens and princesses. Others were just as beautiful, though a little coarser, and had no dewdrops. But, as Gertrude said, they will “stand wear and tear”. Every now and then she pulled a web, tugging it this way and that to show how strong it really was. Curly leaves on the ground were crammed full of flies — some dead, some alive. Others held mosquitoes and sand-flies and some even held small beetles. These were labelled according to their value:

Gertrude’s cunning crafty eyes spoilt her appearance.

DEAD FLIES—QUITE FRESH, YOUNG AND PLUMP TAKE SOME HOME FOR SUPPER

Another was labelled:

FLIES ALL ALIVE! LEGS AND ALL SUITABLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS

The beetles had a special notice above them:

BEETLES IN SEASON! COLOURS NOT CHARGED FOR WINGS AND NIPPERS SOLD SEPARATELY BEETLE PIE RECIPE GIVEN FREE

Gertrude Spider had dozens of customers round her stall. But the beetles who had come to see the bazaar stood aside in small groups, whispering in undertones and glancing nervously in her direction. Farther away in a dark musty corner hidden from view by a huge web was her parlour, and she even had the boldness to suggest to small customers that they should “walk into my parlour”. Just as if no one knew what that meant!

The frogs were in charge of the swimming-pool and had a grand slippery-dip made from a rock covered with slithery moss. Their customers were mostly frog friends, but wild ducks also patronized the slippery-dip.