176 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



impulsively threw himself on T 's generosity, and 



flew straight to his hand ; looking up confidingly 

 in his face, and at once winning the pardon he sought. 

 His loving ways made us forgive many of his ini- 

 quities. 



He liked to be " around " during meals ; experiment- 

 ing on the different articles of food, and occasionally 

 dipping his bill into a cup of tea, or what pleased him 

 still more, a glass of wine. But, unfortunately, he did 

 not confine his attentions to the provisions, and was 

 constantly attempting to carry off the spoons and forks : 

 we narrowly escaped losing several of them, and he 

 succeeded in getting away with one knife, which we 



never saw again. He also flew off with one of T 's 



razors, and, when just above the middle of the dam, 

 dropped it into the water. 



At last his thieving propensities obliged us to forbid 

 him the house, and Toto learned to chase him out the 

 instant he appeared inside the door ; the noisy hunt 

 often ending in Bobby's being caught, and gently but 

 firmly held down under the paws of Toto, who would 

 lie wagging his tail contentedly, while Bobby, hurt 

 nowhere but in his pride, vented Iiis rage in discordant 

 croaks. He became very jealous of Toto and the other 

 pets which, less mischievous than himself, were allowed 

 indoors ; and he delighted especially in teasing the little 

 meerkat, no less constant an attendant than himself 

 among the small train of -animal friends which followed 

 us outside. Bobby would come up noiselessly behind, 

 and, catching the tip of the meerkat 's tail in his bill, 



