WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
times they are found either black, white, or reddish-brown. 
This variation of colour, in most or all of our domestic 
breeds, is a strong contrast with the uniform colours of 
most wild animals. Many years since attempts have been 
made to introduce and domesticate various species of 
wild animals. Up to the present time these attempts 
have ended in failures. Without further argument, let us 
suppose that we obtain the young of any wild species 
which are easily reared by hand, and become perfectl}^ 
tame as pets, we find they invariably are liable, if of a 
timid nature, to become alarmed and wild ; on the other 
hand, if of a savage nature, they become dangerous and 
unmanageable. It appears impossible to so overcome their 
natural habits as to introduce them as associates of man 
with domestic animals. This is particularly noticeable in all 
the deer and antelope species, and other vegetable feeders. 
It is still more unlikely to succeed with fiesh-eating 
animals. However tame they may be reared, at any 
moment their natural habit, as they attain maturity, 
would render them unsafe to be associated with man or 
other animals ; they would become the terror of all living 
creatures, the danger of their savage nature being developed 
at any moment. In the foregoing list the elephant, the 
camel, and the ferret have not been included, as they 
appear on the borders, as it were, of domestic animals in 
this country; these maybe regarded as semi-domesticated. 
It is true the ferret has been regarded for many genera- 
tions as a domestic animal, at the same time it has always 
been found unsafe to allow this blood-thirsty little beast to 
have its liberty. Numerous instances of its savage nature 
are well known ; the cry of an infant is sufficient to excite 
its thirst for blood. A very striking instance of this is well 
recorded in Bell’s British Quadrupeds, page IG3. 
The foregoing remarks are confined to mammals ; and a 
24 
