MEERKATS. 169 



characters. In company with two full-grown mecr- 

 kats, we brought hhn to England ; the trio being taken 

 on board the steamer in a large birdcage. There, how- 

 ever, owing to the truculent conduct of " the Mouse," 

 as we called the little one, it was soon found impossible 

 for all three to remain together ; and separate quarters 

 had to be provided for the two older animals. For the 

 impudent mite, hardly out of babyhood, domineered 

 over his seniors in most lordly fashion ; forbidding 

 them to take their share of the food, and dancing and 

 jumping excitedly in the dish if they ventured to 

 approach it ; while they, although they could easily 

 have made short work of the Mouse, calmly submitted ; 

 enduring his tyranny with that wonderful patience and 

 forbearance so often shown by animals to one another 

 under provocation which we human beings would 

 bitterly resent. Perhaps they were- overawed by the 

 antics of the pugnacious atom, and thought he was not 

 quite canny ; or perhaps they looked leniently on his 

 conduct as on that of a spoilt child accustomed to be 

 humoured. 



