THE MEXICAN LAPDOG. 277 
his tail ; and when walking, his trailing curls collected such an ever-increasing mass of 
leaves, dry sticks, straws, and other impediments, that he was frequently obliged to halt, 
in order to be released from his encumbrances. 
Casual passengers were constantly arrested in their walk by the singular animated 
mop that rolled along without any visible means of progression ; and I have more than 
once been witness to a warm dispute respecting the position in nature which the strange 
animal might occupy. Some thought it mdght be a Dog, while others suggested that it 
was a young lion; but the prevailing idea referred little Quiz to a position among 
the bears. 
He was a most amusing and clever little animal, readily picking up acquirements, and 
inventing new accomplishments of his own. He would sit at the piano, and sing a song 
to his own accompaniment, the manual, or rather the pedal, part of the performance being 
achieved by a dexterous patting of the keys, and the vocal efforts by a prolonged and 
modulated howl. He could also “ talk,” by uttering little yelps in rapid succession. 
Like all pet Dogs, he was jealous of disposition, and could not bear that any one, 
not excepting his mistress, should be more noticed than himself. 
When his mistress was ill, he was much aggrieved at the exclusive attention which 
was given to the invalid, and cast about in his doggish brain for some method of 
attracting the notice which he coveted. It is supposed that he must have watched the 
interview between medical man and patient, and have settled in his mind the attraction 
which exercised so powerful an influence upon the physician ; for just as the well-known 
carriage drew up to the door, Quiz got on a chair, sat up on his hind legs, and began to 
put out his tongue, and hold forth his paw, as he had seen his mistress do, and evidently 
MEXICAN LAPDOG.—Canis familiaris. 
expected to be treated in a similar manner. His purpose was certainly gained, for he 
attracted universal attention by his ruse. He had not patience to keep his tongue out of 
his mouth, but rapidly thrust it out, and as rapidly withdrew it again. 
Poor Quiz died very shortly after I made acquaintance with him, a victim to the 
cholera, which at that time was rife in Oxford. 
THE VERY tiniest of the Dog family is the Mexican Lappoc, a creature so very 
minute in its dimensions as to appear almost fabulous to those who have not seen the 
animal itself. 
