[Philip]

It's pretty tough being a lion, what with the bravery, aggression and killer instinct you have to display all the time. Our friend here wasn't quite up to that regime, which is why he's being looked after in the Zoo of Tranquillity. Still, he has to display a bit of lionness now and again, but as he is a very poor pupil of languages (he is a lion, after all) he can never get it quite right.

From "Spooner's Moving Animals" by Paul Spooner. I enjoyed this one. Getting the tail mechanism right was tricky as you can't see what you'e doing and it has to be managed by feel alone. Phew!