136 THE AET OF TRAINIXG Als'IMALS* 



CHAPTER XIV. 



TAMTN^G WILD ANIMALS IIS" GENERAL — SQITIRRELS — BEARS— 



BUFFALOES— VOLTES — HYENAS— RHINOCEROSES — 



HIPPOPOTAMI— CROCODILES — ALLIGATORS. 



ALL our present domestic animals having sprung from 

 wild stock, it is not very remarkable that many other ani- 

 mals now found in a state of nature, may be rendered equally 

 gentle and obedient under proper treatment. As the taming of 

 these animals answers no purpose save the gratification of pub- 

 lic curiosity, the number is comparatively small, for as soon as a 

 tame bear or buffalo ceases to be a novelty the most profitable 

 thing for his owner to do is to chop him up into steaks. What- 

 ever may be the ferocity of an animal that has reached maturity, 

 this characteristic is almost wholly lacking in his infancy, 

 consequently most of the tamed animals have been captured 

 young, and accustomed for the principal part of their lifetime to 

 captivity. 



All wild animals when captured, after they have reached an 

 adult age, display at first a passionate resistance to confinement 

 and all efforts to soothe them. While this lasts it is usual to 

 keep them without food. The exhaustion induced by this de- 

 privation greatly aids in quelling their rage, besides teaching 

 tbem the hxtpelessness of resistance. With cubs this is scarcely 

 ever necessary ; though they sometimes display anger, they are 

 so easily overpowered or restrained from mischief, that it is 

 hardly worth while needlessly to make them suffer hunger. As 

 soon as the old ones become quiet they are fed by the tamper, 

 who thus lays the foundation of their future good will. Animals 

 in menageries are, as a rule, fed one full meal each day, with 

 the exception of Sunday, on which day they get nothing to eat. 

 This fast is intended to keep them in health, and to rest their 

 digestive organs, and is nothing to animals who can go for days 

 or even weeks without food if necessary. 



Small animals, such as squirrels, etc., may be tamed without 

 difficulty, even if captured when arrived at a considerable age. 

 Gentle treatment, the avoidance of any teasing or aggravating, 

 and a gradual increase of the tamer's familiarity with the captive, 

 will be all tliat is requisite in most cases. When tamed, the 

 animals may be taught tricks of various kinds in the same man- 

 ner that we have elsewhere described for teaching the same 

 performances to other animals. 



