Scraps in Natural History. 243 



Now this imperturbable disposition is daily manifested in the 

 rats and mice caught about our habitations, where doubtless many 

 of our victims, peering securely at puss, have seen her watching 

 the mouse-hole from which they have put out their heads, with 

 a face of saucy gravity that seemed to ask her, whether she was 

 "looking for any one in particular." Often have I seen such, in 

 open wire traps and in glass vessels, eat corn and wash them- 

 selves, with the most perfect composure, in despite of the pres- 

 ence of dog, cat or man. 



By this statement I do not of course wish to imply that there 

 is a natural dread of the cat inherent in the mouse, but only that 

 the experiment with the mouse from the coal pit is inconclusive. 

 A sense of security from feline attacks, while thus shut up, may 

 be sufficient to allay any innate fears of danger from that quarter. 

 It appears, at least, that there was nothing peculiar in the conduct 

 of the mouse from the mine. 



The Horse. — Some years ago the citizens of a neighboring 

 town (Centerville) were often amused by the conduct of a horse, 

 when, with others, he was turned into the barn-yard to be wa- 

 tered. One day, approaching the trough and finding it empty, 

 he seized the pump handle, to the surprise of the witnesses, be- 

 tween his teeth, and pumped water sufficient for himself and the 

 other horses. Having thus begun, he was allowed, when so in- 

 clined, to wait upon himself and companions afterward. But it 

 was observed, that he always drove the other horses away until 

 he quenched his own thirst, after which he pumped for the rest. 



Cow and Pig. — Riding by some cattle which were resting at 

 the roadside, I observed a cow lying down, and a stout pig with 

 his snout upon her bag. Stopping my horse to determine whether 

 the conjecture thus excited in my mind was correct, I found the 

 pig was actually engaged in drawing nourishment from the cow's 

 teats. The cow appeared to be perfectly at ease, and the pig to 

 be master of the sugescent art, though exercised under this novel 

 relationship. 



Dogs. — My father had two dogs. A bone being thrown out, 

 the larger one seized it, and while gnawing it the small dog sat 

 down near him and contemplated the scene with a wistful coun- 

 tenance, not daring to contend for the prize. He soon rose, walked 

 around the corner of the house, returned, resumed his former po- 

 sition ; and shortly after again retired around the house. Repeat- 



