68 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Aug. -Sept. 



usually upsetting the contents, when they would draw a lump 

 into a corner, always with the same characteristic backward 

 movements. 



Grasshoppers invariably proved a great treat, and being 

 abundant, were sometimes collected in large quantities with the 

 aid of a sweeping net, but never in sufficient numbers to appease 

 the appetite of our hungry pets. It was particularly interesting 

 to watch them catch the living ones. Moving slowly forward 

 they sniffed about until one was located, when they immediately 

 pounced upon it with their fore paws, and speedily took it 

 within. Moths too were relished and were often chased round 

 the lantern and not infrequently knocked down with the feet 

 as they fluttered past. Twice the senior writer discovered a 

 prowling Lion Beetle (Calosomu. calidum) which, in spite of 

 the strong odor peculiar to this species, was greedily devoured. 

 Rabbits, when divided, were partaken of with relish, so were 

 gophers and mice, and many a tight was witnessed over them, 

 as our friends invariably desired the same portion, and in their 

 endeavors to secure it would pull, snap, squeak and whistle, 

 as well as shove with all their might, but eventually each was 

 provided with a portion and would retire to a separate locality to 

 devour it. Their hunger being thus appeased, they would curl 

 themselves up together on their bed of hay until the shades of 

 night produced renewed animation and activity. 



Repeated experiments demonstrated that insects formed 

 the most palatable food, next came meat in its various forms, 

 and after this vegetable matter such as cherries (Prunus 

 pennsylvanica and P. virginica), also carrots, raspberries, straw- 

 berries, acorns, broad beans (green), wheat heads, wild buck- 

 wheat (Polygonum), lamb's-quarters, peas, grass and various 

 other vegetable substances too numerous to mention. 



Our pets continued to flourish and grow until the end of 

 September, when they were almost fully developed. At this 

 time one became unwell with what appeared to be a sort of 

 distemper, and in spite of every care, got rapidly worse and died 

 without a struggle. A few weeks later another took sick and 

 shortly after all had died. Two of these were magnificent 

 creatures at the time of their death and but a few days previous 

 had been at the height of activity and health as well as extremely 

 fat. The senior writer had at that time held two of them up in 

 his arms while they, with a total disregard for what was going on, 

 were both ardently engaged in a battle to see which should get 

 its head in the bread and milk can first . The very next day they 

 were ill, and a few days afterwards were dead, from a cold that 

 seemed to lead to sleep and from sleep to death. We were all 

 very sorry to lose our pets, particularly our sister, who had 



