THE MEXICAN LAPDOG. 



277 



his tail ; and when walking, his trailing curls collected such an ever-increasing mass of 

 leaves, dry sticks, straws, and other impediments, that he was frequently obliged to halt, 

 in order to be released from his encumbrances. 



Casual passengers were constantly arrested in their walk by the singular animated 

 mop that rolled along without any visible means of progression ; and I have more than 

 once been witness to a warm dispute respecting the position in nature which the strange 

 animal might occupy. Some thought it might be a Dog, while others suggested that it 

 was a young lion ; but the prevailing idea referred little Quiz to a position among the 

 bears. 



He was a most amusing and clever little animal, readily picking up acquirements, 

 and inventing new accomplishments of his own. He would sit at the piano, and sing 

 a song to his own accompaniment, the manual, or rather the pedal, part of the perform- 

 ance being achieved by a dexterous patting of the keys, and the vocal efforts by a 

 prolonged and modulated howl. He could also " talk," by uttering little yelps in rapid 

 succession. 



Like all pet Dogs, he was jealous of disposition, and could not bear that any one, 

 not excepting his mistress, should be more noticed than himself. 



MEXICAN LAPDOG. Cauls fain ii Juris. 



When his mistress was ill, he was much aggrieved at the exclusive attention which 

 was given to the invalid, and cast about in his doggish brain for some method of 

 attracting the notice which he coveted. It is supposed that he must have watched the 

 interview between medical man and patient, and have settled in his mind the attraction 

 which exercised so powerful an influence upon the physician ; for just as the well-known 

 carriage drew up to the door, Quiz got on a chair, sat up on his hind legs, and began to 

 put out his tongue, and hold forth his paw, as he had seen his mistress do, and evidently 

 expected to be treated in a similar manner. His purpose was certainly gained, for he 

 attracted universal attention by his ruse. He had not patience to keep his tongue out 

 of his mouth, but rapidly thrust it out, and as rapidly withdrew it again. 



Poor Quiz died very shortly after I made acquaintance with him, a victim to the 

 cholera, which at that time was rife in Oxford. 



THE VERY tiniest of the Dog family is the MEXICAN LAPDOG, a creature so very 

 minute in its dimensions as to appear almost fabulous to those who have not seen the 

 animal itself. 



