Ch. VII.] TRICKS OF A MOXKET. 119 



minutes. It would sometimes entangle itself round a 

 pole to which it was fastened, and then unwind the coils 

 again with the greatest discernment. Its chain allowed 

 it to swing down below the verandah, but it could not 

 reach to the ground. Sometimes, when there were 

 broods of young ducks about, it would hold out a piece 

 of bread in one hand, and, when it had tempted a duck- 

 ling within reach, seize it by the other, and kill it with 

 a bite in the breast. There was such an uproar amongst 

 the fowls on these occasions, that we soon knew what was 

 the matter, and would rush out and punish Mickey (as 

 we called him) with a switch ; so that he was ultimately 

 cured of his poultry-killing propensities. One day, when 

 whipping him, I held up the dead duckling in front of 

 him, and at each blow of the light switch told him to 

 take hold of it, and at last, much to my surprise, he did 

 so, taking it and holding it tremblingly in one hand. 

 He would draw things toAvards him with a stick, and 

 even used a swing for the same purpose. It had been 

 put up for the children, and could be reached by Mickey, 

 who now and then indulged himself in a swing on it. 

 One day, I had put down some bird-skins on a chair to 

 dry, far beyond, as I thought, Mickey's reach ; but, fer- 

 tile in expedients, he took the swing and launched it 

 towards the chair, and actually managed to knock the 

 skins off in the return of the swing, so as to bring them 

 within his reach. He also procured some jelly that was 

 set out to cool in the same way. Mickey's actions were 

 very human-like. When any one came near to fondle 

 him, he never neglected the opportunity of pocket- 

 picking. He would pull out letters, and quickly take 

 them from their envelopes. Anything eatable disap- 



