OF WILD ANIMALS 87 



Next, he poured tea into a cup, put in sugar and cream, took 

 tea from the spoon, then drank from the cup. After that he 

 took a toothpick and used it elaborately. 



Striking a match he lit a cigarette, and smoked. In 

 perfect man-fashion he took the cigarette between his fingers, 

 gave his keeper a light, smoked again, and blew puffs of smoke 

 first from one corner of his mouth and then the other. Then 

 he elaborately spat into the cuspidor. 



Next in order he went to the bureau, cleaned his teeth with 

 a tooth-brush, brushed his hair on both sides, looked into the 

 mirror and powdered his face. 



Finally he bit a coin and put it on the keeper's plate as 

 a tip. 



He pulled off his coat, took off his cuffs and vest, and 

 thus half undressed he joyously danced about, beating 

 a tambourine. Then he removed his shirt, trousers, shoes, 

 garters and socks. Lighting bis candle he walked to his bed, 

 blew out the candle and went to bed. 



Very soon he rose, put on his trousers and a pair of roller 

 skates and plas^ully pursued a young woman who ran before 

 him. His use of the roller skates was excellent. 



The stage was cleared of furniture, and a bicycle was 

 brought out. He mounted it and started off, at the first trial, 

 and swiftly rode around the stage about fifteen times. While 

 riding he took off his cap and waved it. He rode up an in- 

 clined plane and down four steps without falling off, re- 

 peating for an encore, — ^but here he became peeved about 

 something. 



Five bottles were set in a figure 8, and he rode between 

 them several times. At last he took up a bottle and drank out of 

 it. Then he drank out of a tumbler, all while riding. After 

 much flag-waving and swift riding, Peter stopped at the center 

 of the stage, dismounted, bowed, dapped his hands vigorously 

 and retired. 



Peter's performance was remarkable because of the great 



