THE HABITS OF WILD ANIMALS IN 

 CAPTIVITY. 



This subject may be considered inexhaustible, but I 

 intend to confine these remarks principally to carnivora 

 or flesh-eaters, and herbivora or vegetable feeders, because 

 the greatest and most striking difference in the habits are 

 to be found in the animals forming these two groups or 

 orders. 



Taking for granted that everything has been done as 

 regards kind treatment and feeding, and that suitable 

 accommodation has been provided, the result is almost 

 universally the opposite of what might be expected. 



Take, for instance, the young of any of the carnivora— 

 lions, tigers, leopards, etc. — and pet them, they become 

 tame and fond of those who feed and caress them, but if 

 caught when adult it is extremely rare that they become 

 tame enough to be caressed with safety. 



On the other hand, take the vegetable-feeding class, 

 such as stags, antelopes, oxen, sheep, or goats ; obtain any 

 of these from their birth and rear them by hand, and in 

 all instances, with few exceptions, they become, when 

 adult, the most savage and dangerous animals in exist- 

 ence. At the same time, if these animals can be caught 

 when adult they are timid, and fly from man. The reason 

 of this appears to me very plain. In the case of pet stags 

 and other horned animals reared as pets, never having 



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