3/8 THE BACCOON. 



gentle, but had little inclination to fondness. Hit 

 chain sometimes broke, and on such occasions liber- 

 ty rendered him insolent. He took possession of an 

 apartment, which he would allow none to enter ; 

 and it was with some difficulty, that he could again 

 be reconc kd to bondage. When permitted to be 

 loosed from his confinement, however, he would ex- 

 press his gratitude by a thousand caressing gambols. 

 But th'is was by no means the case when he effected 

 his own escape. He would then roam about, some- 

 times for three or four days together, upon the roofs 

 of the neighbouring houses ; descend, during the 

 night, into the court-yards ; enter the hen-roosts, 

 strangle all the poultry, and eat their heads. His 

 chain rendered him more circumspect, but by no 

 means more humane. When he was in confine- 

 ment, he employed every artifice to make the fowls 

 grow familiar with him : he permitted them to par- 

 take of his victuals; and it was only after liaving 

 inspired them with the greatest notions of security 

 that he would seize one, and tear it in pieces. Some 

 vouno; Cats met with the same fate. 



He used to open Oysters with wonderful dexterity. 

 His sense of touch was very exquisite ; for in all his 

 little operations, he seldom used cither his nose, or 

 his eye. He would pass an Oj^ster under his hind 

 paws ; then, without looking at it, search with his 

 fore-paws for the weakest part ; there sinking his 

 claws, he would separate the shells, and leave not a 

 vestige of the fish. 



He was extremely sensible of ill-treatment. — 

 A servant^ one day, gave him several lashes with 



