13 



coming over from Burmah, killed and devoured a large fowl put 

 into her cage. I do not doubt the killing for at that time " Ethel" 

 had not been long caught, and was a little demon in temper, but 

 I suspect that while attention was taken off, some knowing lascar 

 secured the body of the chicken and gave her credit for having 

 swallowed it. There were however certainly some feathers and 

 other remains of fowl in the cage. 



Since the above was written, I have heard of poor Ada's death ; 

 her last illness, more than ever proved her good qualities, for she 

 was, I am assured, up to the end as gentle as it was possible for 

 animal to be. She will be a great loss to the Madras People's 

 Park, to the young visitors especially ; for she was in every way 

 one of the most engaging pets I have ever known. I fancy that 

 these smooth-haired bears climb even more readily than do our 

 shaggy Indian breed. "Ada's" greatest delight was in getting up 

 small trees, and the only offence I ever knew her guilty of, was a 

 propensity to get on the roof of my out-houses at Rangoon, once 

 there, she damaged the tiles ; rare and valuable articles in Burmah, 

 in the most ruthless manner. Even when she was a chubby infant, 

 I could, by merely striking the bark, or a branch some feet above 

 her head, cause her to scramble up almost any tree. At this 

 time poor Ada, a Burman otter, and a large white poodle were, 

 like many human beings of different tastes or pursuits, very fast 

 friends. 



The alliance was however an excellent illustration of mind and 

 training over matter ; for the old dog although toothless from years 

 and the weakest of the trio, was much respected by the others who 

 obeyed him most dutifully whenever he thought fit to exercise 

 authority. Jealousy was, I fear, his worst point : when he was 

 excelled in any way by his companions he lost temper sadly. If 

 " Ada" after a game, scrambled into a tree out of his reach, he 

 waited with patient gravity for her to come down again, when he 

 forthwith assaulted her most savagely ; in the same way when he 

 and the otter were swimming together, as they often did in a pond 

 near my house, and the latter by diving, or speed got away from 

 him, the old dog would at once swim to the bank, where he watch- 

 ed until the otter, as it always did, came to shore, and lay sprawl- 



