OUR PETS. 53 



about cats, and plead in their behalf many powerful 

 arguments for more generous and kindly treatment 

 than they often receive, but I forbear. The generic 

 term always applied to cats in our circle was Mirza, 

 which had originated in an observation of one of our 

 family, that, like the hero of Addison's inimitable 

 " Vision," they seemed to be continually falling into " a 

 profound contemplation on the vanities of human — or 

 shall we say feline ? — life." From that day forward, 

 cats were always spoken of as Mirzas. 



Similarly the generic term of dogs was " Einnins," 

 " on the run " being a very marked characteristic of the 

 species. The chief of our cats was always " Balaam," 

 and " Slop " and " Pirate " were perpetuated and de- 

 scended from dog to dog, as Pharaoh and Csesar were 

 borne by the rulers of Egypt and Eome. 



Once we had an otter amongst our pets ; a funny, 

 active, energetic little fellow he was. The dogs and 

 he were excellent friends, and it was exceedingly in- 

 teresting and entertaining to watch them at their sham 

 battles-royal, which took place almost every day. 

 Worrying at each other's throat, locked in each other's 

 embrace, and with no small pretence of seriousness, as 

 evidenced by the fierce din and terrible exhibition of 

 teeth, they rolled over and over on the lawn, till one 

 of the combatants would lose his temper, and perhaps 

 snap rather viciously; then they would slowly and 

 decorously separate, apparently thinking they had had 

 enough of the rough sport, and it would be prudent 

 not to prolong it. Once our pet otter gave us a great 



