212 CHILDHOOD OF ANIMALS 



when they are older, they will romp in the wildest way, strike quite 

 hard blows with the paws, and submit to very rough handling 

 without unsheathing their claws. It is only when they are being 

 teased, especially over food, or when they are in a temper and 

 are lying on their backs refusing to be picked up, that there is 

 any danger of their striking with unsheathed weapons. It is safer, 

 however, to keep the points cut ; this is quite necessary when they 

 are babies, and if they have been accustomed to the process then, 

 they will allow it to be done when they are nearly grown up. Each 

 claw should be pressed out of its sheath in turn, and the end nipped 

 off with very sharp scissors or nail-clippers. The instrument must 

 be both strong and sharp, as the nails split rather easily. The 

 instinctive movements of young carnivores are fitted to retain 

 hold of a living, struggling prey, and the most certain way to be 

 bitten or clawed is to stretch out the hand timidly and try to draw 

 it back. The creatures must be seized firmly and at the first move- 

 ment, and if they put out their claws or close their teeth, do not 

 try to pull the hand away. They will do no further damage and 

 after holding on for a few minutes they will let go. Those who 

 handle young carnivores, however, must expect to be bitten or 

 scratched sometimes, either in temper or in p'ay, and disinfectants 

 should always be at hand and be applied at once. I do not think 

 that the little wounds from the teeth are often dangerous, but 

 the claws are always rather dirty and may easily convey disease 

 germs. 



Carnivores have excellent memories and recognise their friends 

 even after years of absence. Mr. Carl Hagenbeck, of Hamburg, 

 who has probably handled and trained more young lions than any 

 other person, and as an important part of his business for many years 

 has been supplying performing animals to travelling menageries 

 and circus troupes, has told me that adult lions which he had not 

 seen for many years have welcomed him with every appearance 

 of pleasure. He is a man of iron nerve, with a great love of animals 

 and most unusual knowledge of their ways, and I have seen adult 

 lions that had been bred and reared in his establishment, but which 

 had not been specially trained, as friendly with him as if they had 

 been still young cubs. There is no doubt that such animals which 

 have been tamed and handled when they are young retain much 

 of their friendliness and docility. Animals that come to the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens as young and tame cubs generally remain much 

 more easy to deal with, and again and again, long after they had 



