ODDITIES 243 



common pets in his native land. He is amus- 

 ing and affectionate, readily adopts our bill 

 of fare, and especially delights in eggs. He 

 makes himself useful as a destroyer of rats 

 and mice and cockroaches. This little creat- 

 ure is not nocturnal, and should not be kept 

 in a cage, but have the run of the house. He 

 is not mischievous. 



Another South or Central American is the 

 armadillo, the small variety called ball -ar- 

 madillo. He is entertaining and droll, and if 

 allowed the run of a yard in summer he will 

 find his own food, as ants and small insects 

 form his menu. In winter he must, of course, 

 be fed. 



Other foreigners whom we see occasionally 

 in our Northern homes, and who are very 

 common as pets in their native country, are 

 ocelots and jaguars. Both are intelligent and 

 winning. In fact, the young of any beast may 

 be tamed and domesticated ; they may be taken 

 very early and brought up on the bottle, 

 which is the safest way with those mentioned, 

 as well as with bears, wolves, lions, or tigers. 

 They are very satisfactory while young and 

 playful, but as it is not always safe to keep 



