BeIvVOir Hxtnt. 41 



like ourselves, they are the creatures of circum- 

 stances, and can easily change their habits ac- 

 cording to the manners and customs incidental to 

 the requirements of the life they have been com- 

 pelled to adopt. The offer of a hen's egg^ and 

 your friendship with " Topsy " appeared to be 

 secured for life. She would take it cautiously 

 in her mouth, and, retiring to some quiet nook, 

 carefully break a hole in the shell little bigger 

 than a shilling, scoop out the contents with 

 her tongue, until every particle had been con- 

 sumed, and appeared to relish the delicacy 

 with all the gusto of the greatest aldermanic 

 bon vivant that ever lapped turtle, whilst the 

 sly twinkle in her eye would have been enough 

 to provoke laughter in that worthy even when 

 the gout was having a look in. The games with 

 a foxhound puppy were highly amusing, and 

 occasionally ended in a squabble, in which 

 ^' Topsy " generally succeeded in holding her 

 own. But woe betide any stray hen that 

 happened to cross the lawn. In an instant, 

 whatever fun might be going on was abandoned, 

 and the hapless victim caught up, to be made 

 a meal of under the nearest bush. In the course 

 of a year, '' Topsy " had grown into a fine 

 specimen of her race, and became very 



