Tame animals among the Red Men of America. 
By the Editor. 
HE American Indian finds means to tame almost 
every wild bird and beast of his country ; so that 
these domesticated animals are ever among the 
most prominent members of his household. All who have 
travelled among the Red skins of South America have 
mentioned this fact ; and many have supposed that it 
indicates an affection in these people for animals. 
That the Indians have no affection for animals is 
shown by the fact that if the birds or animals are once 
assigned to new owners, but left for a time in charge of 
the former owner, the latter if he gets a chance, often 
neglects, or even treats them with cruelty. Indeed Indians 
are sometimes guilty of the most atrocious and wanton 
cruelty to animals. In one place, I saw two nests of 
young " mocking birds" (Cassicus persicus) brought in 
by some children. The first day, food being abundant, 
some was given to the birds ; but on the second day, 
scarcity prevailing, some of the poor little nestlings were 
given by full grown men to the puppies to worry, and 
the others were held in their nest over a hot fire. My re- 
monstrances stopped the proceedings, but I was laughed 
at. Soon after a woman lying back in her hammock 
laughingly pulled a large hawk-moth {Sphinx sp?) to 
pieces, singing to it all the time. Again, still on the 
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