MUNGO. 43 



coloured nose is ever on the work sniffing out 

 the varied movements of the household. 



As summer comes on we naturally let the fire 

 die out ; and Mungo strongly disapproves of this 

 custom, for he dearly loves to bask on a little wool 

 mat before a hot fire. Now, however, he adopts 

 another plan when he finds the fire is out he 

 quietly climbs over the wire-guard, goes under 

 the grate and there lies down amongst the warm 

 ashes. He has even done this whilst there remained 

 some fire in the grate, and I much fear he may 

 make an auto-da-fe of himself some day by setting 

 his long hair alight, which would be a terrible fate 

 indeed for our cherished pet. 



Mungo's love of warmth leads to another un- 

 desirable habit. He will steal into the bedrooms 

 and hide himself under the duvets, and low be it 

 spoken ! he has been found cosily rolled up in a 

 nightdress ! 



It may naturally be asked, " Why is he not 

 kept in a suitable wired-in place where he can do 

 no harm?" Simply because he makes himselt 

 perfectly miserable in confinement ; he tears at 

 the wirework till his paws are bleeding, and 



