6 The Scottish Naturalist. 



displeasure, having discovered — how, who can say — it vexes 

 her, and puts her out ! My birds he had resolved he would 

 have, because she was resolved he should not. He fretted and 

 pined and grew thin over the delay to the fulfilment of this 

 darling scheme, until one fine day, following her stealthily up, to 

 be only beaten ignominiously down again to his own regions, he 

 awaited her in the kitchen, and flew in a fury to scratch 

 and bite her ; he, who never had been known except as the 

 most docile, affectionate, and best tempered of cats ! 

 Puss sulked for a considerable while after, refusing to be 

 be comforted or mollified, or friends at all on the subject, and 

 never once forgetting nor foregoing every conceivable opportunity 

 of making occasion to renew his attacks on the forbidden fruit, 

 relying on his guinea pig incident, and others doubtless, for 

 success in the end to crown his patience and perseverance." 



IV. — " Some servants were given a picnic by their master and 

 mistress, and for the occasion provisions were permitted them 

 from the house, enough for the party. But the evening before the 

 picnic day, friends unexpectedly dropped into the kitchen, and stay- 

 ing supper, the beef prepared for the meal out of doors the next 

 morning fell short, being consumed, in fact, by the visitors. 

 The cook was at a loss how to repair the damage, without incur- 

 ring her lady's wrath, and it crossed her mind that if she dressed 

 some bacon, as additional fare in place of the demolished 

 viands previously provided, the breach would be spanned, and 

 nobody a bit the wiser, since its absence would never be even 

 noticed, and the surreptitious festivities of over-night in the ser- 

 vants' hall remain without remark. There was, however, a 

 witness of her proceedings, who must first be hoodwinked, or it 

 might turn traitor in the camp, and betray all of this ad- 

 mirable private management, — Poll, the Parrot, in short, — 

 a favoured guest, at dessert only allowed to put in its appearance 

 upstairs, and at other times maintained at free quarters down 

 below. The bird, accordingly, was snugly covered, the frying-pan 

 put over the fire; and soon resounded the sonorous and odorous 

 frizzling and crackle of the culinary operations in question. 

 The gap supplied, the hours revolved, dinner came round, 

 and with it, in due course, Polly's hejira in state to the higher 

 regions for its habitual caresses and attentions there. Behold 

 our charming conversationalist, then, installed in high honour, 

 and respectfully causing silence on the part of the assembled 

 company, on the look out for the favourite to distinguish itself 



