WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



will swallow full-grown mice, which should be killed, and 

 held to his mouth head first. 



The earth should be changed as often as possible for 

 the sake of cleanliness. 



DASYUEE (DASYURUS). 



These animals are more strictly flesh-eating than are 

 the opossums, and although they can live upon bread- 

 and-milk for a time, they thrive better on flesh. They 

 will eat insects; and the smaller kinds of this species 

 probably almost entirely exist on insects and small 

 animals. 



OPOSSUMS (didelphys). 



These tree-climbing animals feed upon a variety of dif- 

 ferent kinds of food, fruit, and animal substances. On the 

 former they are not able to live entirely ; and of animal 

 and insect food they appear to be most fond. 



In captivity, I find that bread-and-milk, sometimes with 

 egg added, and at other times boiled rice with sugar and 

 ripe fruit, will keep them in condition. They are, however, 

 most fond of young birds, as well as mice and other small 

 animals. Raw or cooked flesh will answer from time to 

 time. 



MAGPIES. 



The young magpie can be fed on a great variety of sub- 

 stances, such as raw or cooked meat, bread-and-milk, meal 

 made stiff like dough, boiled rice, potatoes ; in fact, a little 

 of everyiihing that is used at table ; but supposing the 

 bird is kept where there is no table, then a little raw beef, 

 or cat's meat, a hard-boiled egg mixed with a little pea- 

 meal, will make the magpie a good supply of food for a 

 day or two. The more the food is varied, like that of the 

 rooks, the better. 



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