122 WITH HOUND AND TERRIER. 



him firmly by the beak and closing it gently in 

 your hand you were mistress of the situation, and 

 could lead him about where you liked. He soon 

 became used to this treatment, and seemed to like 

 to be caressed and talked to. He was very fond 

 of small fish, which he would devour greedily, and 

 when I appeared at feeding -time he would waddle 

 after me in the most comical manner. The diffi- 

 culty, however, of procuring him proper food became 

 so great that I was obliged at last to part with him. 

 I sent the quaint little fellow to the Zoological 

 Gardens, and for a long time missed him sadly. 



Another favourite that is still with me is a 

 piebald Russian pony, named Houp la. This pony 

 was born in a circus, where her dam, also a piebald, 

 was a noted performer. Houp la when very young 

 was given to a member of the circus company who 

 was anxious to set up on his own account. This 

 man, harnessing the pony to a barrel-organ, set out 

 to travel over the country with his new possessions. 

 As he was going down West Hill, near Sherborne, 

 the organ ran on to the pony's hocks, and Houp la, 

 objecting to the treatment, started off down the 

 long hill at break-neck pace, and collapsing into a 

 ditch at the bottom, smashed the organ to pieces. 

 While the disconsolate owner was regarding the 

 wreck, he was accosted by a farmer who lived near, 

 and who, after a little bargaining, became the 

 owner of the pony. He turned her out on his 

 farm, and when she was of maturer years he took 

 her up and broke her in. The farmer thought he 



