2l8 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



becoming at all common in captivity : the food 

 question also is an important matter. It is true 

 that the aard vark has been kept in excellent 

 health on a mixed diet of fresh raw minced meat 

 and bread and milk, with an addition of raw 

 eggs, but a daily supply of such food obviously 

 requires considerable trouble in preparation 

 besides being somewhat expensive into the 

 bargain : the ordinary menagerie animal — monkey 

 or deer — is satisfied with a much less complex diet. 

 Although thus unsuited to the ordinary lover of 

 strange pets these ant-bears from their grotesque 

 appearance and rarity are extremely interesting ; 

 and are desirable additions to the Gardens of 

 learned Zoological Societies whose resourceful 

 care and painstaking attention will suitably main- 

 tain them. 



