154 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN, 



member of tlie family, and make their appearance at the 

 proper time. 



Among the less generally tamed animals^ however, the 

 natural habits are observable, and sometimes are curious 

 and unaccountable. A coatimondi we had for many years 

 had an extraordinary predilection for rubbing any strong 

 perfume on its tail ; if a bunch of tansy or fever-few were 

 given to him, he would seize it eagerly in his forepaws, 

 and, seatino; himself so as to bring his tail into a convenient 



JO ~ 



position, he would then crush and rub the plant all over 

 his tail, sniffing and sneezing with evident relish all the 

 time. Lavender water, or any perfume poured on a piece 

 of paper, was instantly applied in the same way ; and one 

 of the few occasions on which he was known to bite, was 

 when a lady, whose reticule he had snatched from her hand, 

 and out of which he had torn her scented handkerchief 

 for this ludicrous purpose, attempted to take it from him, 

 an interference with his toilet which he resented accordingly. 

 There was one other thing also which irritated him : if any 

 one made a chirping noise, he instantly darted at the per- 

 son, snapping and biting ; as gentle and fond of being 

 caressed as a dog, this sound invariably provoked him, and 

 strangers had to be warned on going near him, not to use 

 this method of attracting his attention. His "passive 

 resistance" was worthy of a quaker; on all occasions of 

 leading him off to the stable, after having been indulged 

 with a visit to the house, or a seat at the fireside, when he 

 felt the pull at the chain fastened to his collar, he first 

 resisted, then laid hold of the chain with his forepaws, but 



