DOMESTICATED NATURE. 



/ / 



bird. The does carry their young from 

 nineteen to twenty-one days and the 

 layette ranges from two to twelve. 



Mice are not usually particularly ner- 

 vous, so it is possible to examine the 

 young when desired without fear of the 

 doe deserting or killing them as is com- 

 mon with rabbits. 



At the age of three days the coat of 

 young mice begins to show sufficiently 

 so any undesired can be removed; these 

 will be expeditiously cared for by a 

 convenient house cat or relished by your 

 hens as would be a feast of srrasshop- 

 pers. 



At five weeks of age young should be 

 weaned and again sorted out, those not 

 giving promise of quality being elimi- 

 nated. 



Here let me digress to say not only 

 in breeding mice but in all varieties of 

 stock there is no cruelty in humanity 

 or necessary suffering associated with 

 the instant transit of the vital spark as 

 the result of a practical and unavoidable 

 means of keeping a fancy within reason- 

 able limits. I have no sympathy with 

 those who for sentimental reasons allow 

 valuable females to be ruined through 

 breeding too frequently and rearing 

 too large litters, or who "cannot destroy 

 a living creature," yet will give them 

 to thoughtless, irresponsible children to 

 suffer starvation and torture. 



Many a would-be fancier has his as- 

 pirations nipped in the bud by allowing 

 his fancy to become a burden. Far bet- 

 ter, and of greater value, are two or 

 three choice young with strong parents 

 than a dozen fair specimens and the 

 vitality of the dam overtaxed. 



Begin rightly, breed rightly, and you 

 will end rightly, your fancy a pleasure 

 and vonr stock a credit to your skill. 



SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS ON 

 FROGS. 



BY G. A. HINNEN, B. S., M. D., 

 CINCINNATI, O. 



No class of animals has received less 

 attention at the hands of man than the 

 reptiles and amphibians, and hence, no 

 class is less understood nor has_ been 

 persecuted more severely and persistent- 

 ly This being so, frogs, lizards, snakes, 

 toads, alligators, turtles, etc., have always 



proven especially interesting and have 

 become a hobby with me, and many a 

 word have I spoken in their behalf and 

 defense. Their economic value has nev- 

 er been computed, and is enormous when 

 one considers that a single poor, warty 

 toad is worth almost $20 annually to the 

 farmer, from the great and almost in- 

 conceivable number of insects he de- 

 stroys.* Instead of being the "nasty 

 slimy things" liable to "give you warts,"' 

 etc., they are very interesting and de- 

 serve far more consideration and atten- 

 tion than they get. But it is not my de- 

 sire to sing their praises nor extol their 

 virtues now ; this, some other time. I 

 merely want to record a few interesting 

 observations about frogs. 



Among many pets I have had numer- 

 ous frogs, and always enjoyed seeing 

 them snapping up their food with almost 

 lightning-like rapidity. In spring, when 

 the first flies buzz lazily along the win- 

 dows, I would take a frog on my hand 

 and move him back and forth along the 

 window, and every fly that came with- 

 in reach was quickly gobbled up. 



One time I noticed a frog in the vivar- 

 ium who ' seemed suddenly to have 

 grown very fat ; on getting a front view 

 of him the cause of his abnormal size 

 was explained promptly. He had swal- 

 lowed a crayfish as long as himself, and 

 there was not enough room for this 

 choice but tough morsel, so an inch 

 of the crustacean protruded beyond the 

 frog's mouth ; gradually the crayfish dis- 

 appeared as the anterior portions of 

 same were digested, and within four days 

 no more was visible. What makes this 

 so remarkable was the fact that the cray- 

 fish was fully four inches in length and 

 in perfect health ; he was swallowed head 

 foremost, i. e., the claws having been 

 seized first. Aside from apparent dis- 

 comfort to locomotion for three or_ four 

 days, the frog seemed to have enjoyed 

 his meal. 



TUG OF WAR 'BETWEEN SNAKE AND FROG. 



Another interesting episode occurred 

 in the same vivarium at another time. 

 There was a platform in it about six 

 inches above the water, and on this plat- 

 form rested a miniature tree with a rus- 

 tic cottage high in its branches ; this was 

 the snake's roost. The room was very 



*A. H. Kirkland, "The Habits, Food and Economic 

 periment Station, Amherst, Mass.) 



Values of the American Toad." (Bulletin 46. Hatch Ex- 



