MEERKATS. 169 



characters. In company with two full-grown meer- 

 kats, we brought him to England ; the trio being taken 

 on board the steamer in a large birdcage. There, how- 

 ever, owing to the truculent conduct of " the Mouse," 

 as we called the little one, it was soon found impossible 

 for all three to remain together ; and separate quarters 

 had to be provided for the two older animals. For the 

 impudent mite, hardly out of babyhood, domineered 

 over his seniors in most lordly fashion ; forbidding 

 them to take their share of the food, and dancing and 

 jumping excitedly in the dish if they ventured to 

 approach it ; while they, although they could easily 

 have made short work of the Mouse, calmly submitted ; 

 enduring his tyranny with that wonderful patience and 

 forbearance so often shown by animals to one another 

 under provocation which we human beings would 

 bitterly resent. Perhaps they were overawed by the 

 antics of the pugnacious atom, and thought he was not 

 quite canny ; or perhaps they looked leniently on his 

 conduct as on that of a spoilt child accustomed to be 

 humoured. 



