TAMING SMALL ANIMALS. 137 



A squirrel, if captured when moderately young, can be tamed 

 in a couple of days by merely carrying him in your pocliet. 

 The warmth of the pocket will be pleasant to him, and by giv- 

 ing him a nut occasionally you will convince him that you 

 mean well toward him, and so gain his confidence. At first, 

 €are must be taken to prevent his escape, but by-and-by he may 

 be allowed to come out and go in at his pleasure, and he will 

 run about your lap with the greatest familiarity. With flying 

 squirrels this method of training is particularly successful. 



Squirrels and many of the small wild animals can be made 

 tame by any boy who is willing to devote sufficient time and 

 patience to the object. In some cases it is not necessary to cap- 

 ture the animal. We have known instances of animals, partic- 

 ularly squirrels, being made so tame that they would of their 

 own accord come to the tamer on hearing his Toice. There was 

 no great mystery in their docility j food had been at first placed 

 in places frequented by them, the person so placing it retiring 

 to a distance. By-and-by the aniihal would <;ome and eat the 

 food, perhaps glancing suspiciously at the distant figure, but if 

 the pei*son made no motion to startle him, he would continue 

 his meal. 



This placing of food would require long continuance, the per- 

 son each time remaining a little nearer than before, until, in 

 time, the animal would have no fear even in his immediate 

 vicinity. Then bits of food may be gently ^Iropped down for 

 him, and if the tamer stands quietly they will probably be pick- 

 ed up. Then the tamer may step backward and again drop a 

 morsel ; the animal will advance to get it, and at last he may 

 even become so familiar as to eat from the hand. A squirrel 

 who has been so far tamed may then easily be taught to climb 

 over the tamei-'s person by enticing him forward with some 

 dainty. We have seen a squirrel induced to go through quite a 

 variety of little performances, standing erect, leaping, and climb- 

 ing wherever desired, lured on by a kernel of com at the end of 

 a piece of string. 



Of the larger animals, bears have always been favorite sub- 

 jects wdth trainers. Considerable difficulty and danger is 

 encountered in securing the cubs, owing to the ferocity and 

 eonrage with which the mother bear defends her young. The 

 old bear is in most cases killed before the capture of the young 

 ones can be accomplished. During the infancy of the cubs the 

 old he -bear ungallantly deserts the partner of his bosom, and 

 takes up his quarters at a distance, to avoid annoyance by the 

 cries of his progeny ; so the hunter often escapes trouble with 

 the head of the family. Bears are born blind, like puppies, and 



