1T6 



THE ART OF TRAIiaNG AKIMALS. 



Curious and wonderful as this peaceable living together of 

 animals of such diverse natures appears^ there is really very little 

 mystery in it. Many persons, noticing the sleepy and listless 

 appearance of most of the animals, have quite naturally come to 

 the conclusion that they were under the influence of some drug, 

 which stupefied them and rendered them harmless. We believe 

 that in no case is this the fact, because it is not necessary. The 

 main secret is to feed the animals to satiety 5 never allowing them 

 to feel the pangs of hunger, the great incentive for preying upon 

 other animals is taken away. Animals, unlike men, will never 

 eat unless they are really hungry. We have frequently 

 observed boa constrictors at public exhibitions, in whose cages 

 rabbits or pigeons had been placed to gratify the public with 



THE *' HAPPY family" AT BARNUM'S OLD MUSEUM. 



the sight of the huge snake swallowing his food alive. Unlesss 

 the snake is hungry the miserable little victims remain for days 

 cooped up with the hideous monsters without the latter taking 

 the slightest notice of them. It is a well known fact that cats 

 which are fed plentifully cease to be good mousers, however ex- 

 cellent in that respect they have previously been, and will permit 

 a house to be overrun with these pests without molesting them. 

 Besides the plentiful feeding there is one other thing requisite 

 to make the animals live together peaceably. Many animals 

 have an instinctive desire to worry or kill others which are ' 

 smaller or weaker than themselves. Between many particular 

 animals a kind of natural antipathy exists. So natural does it 

 seem that a dog should torment a cat that " a cat and dog life " 



