14 



FANCY MICE. 



TEACHING TRICKS. 



This is a question of time, and no royal road to the art exists. ITie 

 first thing to be overcome is /ear, both in the animal and teacher, 

 and until this is achieved no success worth mentioning can be at- 

 tained. 



Constant acquaintance is required for this first step, handling 

 carefully but firmly, and, above all things, feeding the subjects im- 

 mediately after they have received their lesson, which latter should 

 not be too prolonged. After tameness is obtained, these lessons 

 should be commenced, and as all of them partaiie of the same nature, 

 we will only describe one, and that is bringing down a flag from the 

 top of a pole. For this purpose a round stick, about eighteen inches 

 long and half an inch (or less) in diameter, is required, and a small 

 paper flag or two — the stick made of a match, and the flag about 

 half an inch square, or it may be triangular, as best suits the taste. 

 The pole should be roughened with some coarse glass paper, and the 

 handle of the flag should be scented with a small drop of oil of ani- 

 seed and then placed on the top of the pole. The mouse should be 

 allowed to smell the flag before placing it in position, and in nine 

 cases out of ten it will at once ascend to the flag and bring it down. 

 If it does not do so the same process should be gone through, and if 

 not effective, a flag that has tallow on the stick should be substituted ; 

 and should this not prove attractive, the lesson should cease for the 

 day. Each time the flag is brought down a grain or two of canary 

 seed should be given to the animal ; and if these lessons are persisted 

 in for a week or two, that trick will be most effectually learned, and 

 another can be taken in hand. Always give lessons before feeding, 

 and every time the mouse is successful give a reward. Never give 

 sugar in any form, as it causes a disease of the liver. 



bhort daily lessons are far preferable to long intermittent ones, as 

 they are not then forgotten. 



White, lavender, and fawn mice are the easiest to train, then 

 piebalds, and, lastly, black, but these latter are very dull in learning. 



CONCLUSION. 



Criticisms and EemarTis on Crossing, &c., by Dr. Carter Blalce. 



We hope the foregoing will be found of use to mice fanciers, being 

 the results of our own practice, and we were very successful. The 

 smallness and beauty of the animals render them very nice pets, and 

 the cost of food is very small, amounting to a mere trifle for a 

 large collection, whilst for quietness and agility they are not to be 



