is action, and said that the animal should be kept at
public expense as long as it lived. Many people have shown particular
marks of regard in burying animals which they have cherished and been
fond of. The graves of Cimon's mares, with which he thrice conquered at
the Olympic games, are still to be seen near his own tomb. Xanthippus,
whose dog swam by the side of his galley to Salamis, when the Athenians
were forced to abandon their city, afterward buried it with great pomp
upon a promontory, which to this day is called the _Dog's Grave_. In
Pliny, we have an amusing account of a superb funeral ceremony, which
took place during the reign of Claudius; in which the illustrious
departed was no other than a crow, so celebrated for its talents and
address, that it was looked upon as a sort of public property. Its death
was felt as a national loss; the man who killed it was condemned to
expiate the crime with his own life; and nothing less than a public
funeral could, as it was thought, do justice to its memory. The remains
of the bird were laid on a bier, which was borne by two slaves;
musicians went before it, playing mournful airs; and a great crowd of
people of all ages and conditions, brought up the rear of the melancholy
procession.

[Illustration]

LV

MONKEY VERSUS SNAKE

The monkeys in India, knowing by instinct how dangerous snakes are, are
most vigilant in their destruction. They seize them by the neck, when
asleep, and running to the nearest flat stone, grind down their heads by
a strong friction on the surface, often looking at them, and grinning at
their progress. When sure that the poisonous fangs are destroyed, they
toss the reptiles to their young ones to play with, and seem to be
greatly pleased at the death of their enemies.

[Illustration]

LVI

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

A dog, between the breed of a mastiff and a bulldog, belonging to a
chimney sweeper, lay, according to his master's orders, on a soot bag,
which he had placed, carelessly, almost in the middle of a narrow back
street, in a town in the south of England. A loaded cart passing by, the
driver told the dog to move out of the way. When he refused to move, he
was scolded, then beaten, first gently, and afterward pretty hard with
the cart whip. But it was all to no purpose; the dog still lay quietly
on the bag. The driver, with an oath, threatened to drive over the
dog--he did so, and the faithful animal, in trying to stop t