The heirloom nativity set I had as a child — with figures large enough to be held safely by tiny fingers — was passed on to my firstborn when her own family began.

As a replacement I ordered a small set which, it turns out, was made in China. All white, it sits prominently on a table during the holidays. I have found it particularly beautiful though I doubt if it cost me more than a couple of dollars. It’s simply exactly what I need for where it goes.

I always get a special joy out of finding the box and unwrapping each of the 10 pieces early in December. I’d be a liar if I said I spent much time meditating on the scene but I am certainly aware of its presence and that brings joy to me.

That said, it wasn’t until well into the season that the question occurred: Where are the other animals?

My set has the obligatory sheep though, if one wanted to think about it, one might wonder why the shepherds couldn’t have left the sheep behind. If one (or more) shepherd wants to scurry into town, does it necessarily follow that the sheep have to tag along, too?

Then there are the camels. My single one is identified by a benign face and two lumps. We’re told the Wise Men came from the East (not the south) though I suppose camels might be possible. From a practical standpoint, wouldn’t those magnificent stallions have been a better choice? (Has anyone ever placed a horse at the birth of Christ? Well, why not? It’s often referred to as a stable.)

The familiar carol tells us the “cattle were lowing” and it does seem sensible that cattle would belong in a stable, too. I do have one, larger than the sheep with pointier ears though all three animals are huddled down. (It might be as simple as the manufacturer fitting the figures in a smaller box.) I’m not at all sure my first set didn’t include a head and upper body leaning in to eat at the trough. I’m guessing the back half of the animal didn’t exist outside the building. I’m sure I looked at the time. (I’m assured now that the animals in this are goats, not sheep. Really?)

Is it unrealistic to expect more?

I check first a set carved by Kuolt which features 21 pieces. Their stable has room for a donkey (reasonable) and an ox, the former peering over Mary’s shoulder to get a better look at the infant. Three shepherds each carry a sheep while the fourth (definitely identified as a shepherd) plays his bagpipe. Well, that should liven things up.

Bernard has four extra pieces. One of the shepherds carries a goose while three others clutch their lambs. Again, a donkey and an ox get into the stable while, for some reason, a hefty elephant has been added to the scene. Have to say I’m not sure the goose is much of an improvement over those bagpipes.

Carvings by Ferrandiz grow even more elaborate and fanciful. Ox — yes. Donkey — indeed. In fact, a spare waits outside kicking up a back leg. Scattered sheep all over the place (the shepherds seem quite unconcerned). He also seems to really go in for birds, featured in many of the figures including one (“Helping Hands”) where they surround a rabbit standing on a cat. Another carving has three or four birds, described as chirping, sitting on what could be a flute with mice — yes! at the tooter’s feet. Well, I’m hardly surprised. Would you be?

In another of his sets, he seems caught up in placing rabbits everywhere. (More dogs might have helped.)

Hummel has a couple of angels (why not?) and two sheep, a donkey and a calf. The “people” are all pictured as children. All right for a church pageant but, sooner or later, Mary must mature a bit.

About this time my eye caught the picture in the New Yorker of a very ornate Nativity scene featured in the Metropolitan Museum’s Medieval Sculpture Hall. Seventy-one elaborate creche figures were made in 18th-century Naples. (I wished for close-ups, did ask for but never received a reply.) This set stood out for including Roman ruins (I didn’t ask) and a poodle.

Yes! Absolutely a poodle.

Dog-lover that I am, I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see a dog (or, I imagine, many) at the scene.

Bernardi includes a walking figure with a stick, titled “He will always be by my side” and speaking, as I get it, not to God but to what appears to be a dog.

Time for me to act! A golden retriever ornament still carrying his newspaper, a nodding horse and a strange wild little red bird have joined my group. It seems more complete.

Next year I may add more.

Susan Crossett has lived outside Cassadaga for more than 20 years. A lifetime of writing led to these columns as well as two novels. “Her Reason for Being” was published in 2008 with “Love in Three Acts” following in 2014. Information on all the Musings, her books and the author may be found at Susancrossett.com.