724 
FANCIER S’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
President — 0. Mister Phillipston. 
Vice-Presidents — C. B. Morse, J. F. Humphrey, G. W. 
Cleveland, P. Conner, and E. J. Shaw. 
Secretary — R. W. Waterman, Athol. 
Treasurer — E. F. Lewis. 
YATES COUNTY POULTRY CLUB. 
Show to be held at Penn Yan, N. Y., January 19, 20, 
and 21, 1875. 
President — H. L. Pelton, Penn Yan. 
Vice-President — Dr. G. M. Barber, Benton. 
Secretary — Dr. S. Lott, Bellona. 
Treasure i — H. A. Hicks, Penn Yan. 
Executive Committee — S. C. Cleveland, Penn Yan ; D. S. 
York, Bellona; T. B. Miller, Penn Yan. 
Dr. S. Lott, Secretary. 
Sp^Ll PeJ De|=^F^T^E[JJ. 
IKS* All communications and contributions intended for this depart- 
ment should be addressed to HOWARD I. IRELAND, Concordville, 
Del. Co., Pa., or care of Joseph M. Wade, 39 North Ninth St., Philada. 
TO TRAIN SQUIRRELS. 
Editor of the Small Pet Department. 
Dear Sir: Can you tell me a few tricks to teach a ground 
squirrel, or “ground liackey?” I have two that are per- 
fectly tame; they love to be handled. If you will give me 
some hints about training them you will greatly oblige 
Plainfield, N. J., October 23, 1874. L. D. W. M. 
The squirrels must be young or else all attempts to train 
them will be fruitless. Judging from your description of 
their tameness that they are young, as old squirrels, and old 
ground squirrels especially, seldom become tractable, we 
will proceed to give directions for teaching them a few sim- 
ple tricks : 
First, accustom them to your whistle, and teach them to 
come immediately to you whenever you call or whistle for 
them. This can be done by reducing the quantity of their 
food, not so as to starve them, but only so as to sharpen 
their appetites. After they have been dieted for a few days 
you will notice how much spryer and brighter they have 
grown. Hold a nut kernel or a grain of corn in your hand 
and give a sharp, distinct whistle, at the same time showing 
them the food. With a leap they will come to get the food ; 
give it to the one who first reaches you. Repeat this lesson 
until they become familiar with the meaning of the whistle. 
Generally reward the quickest with a grain of corn or a 
chestnut. We will now suppose that you have the squirrels 
perfectly subjected to your will ; that they will come when 
you whistle, and obey your commands with dispatch. The 
remaining parts of their education should be taught to each 
separately. Place one upon a table, and gently force him 
into a reclining position. If he attempts to rise again 
gently force him back into his former state, crying “ Down 1” 
as you do so. He will soon learn the meaning of “ Down! ” 
and on the utterance of the word will instantly sink upon 
his belly. By a similar method he should be taught to sit 
erect upon his haunches. 
The rope trick is quite amusing when well done. To 
teach a squirrel this, fasten a rope to a ceiling so that the 
end of the rope will reach the floor. String a few chestnuts, 
show them to the squirrel, and then tie them to the rope 
(near the top). Now place bushy at the foot of the rope ; in 
a trice he will be up after the chestnuts. Repeat the lesson, 
saying, “Mount! ” as you place him at the foot of the rope. 
He v/ill soon associate the command, “Mount!” with the 
rope climbing, and on seeing the rope and hearing the word 
will rapidly ascend. Reward him with a chestnut when- 
ever he performs the feat to suit you. 
Another pleasing trick is jumping from a table to your 
shoulder. Place the squirrel on a table, and cry, “Down ! ” 
Put a nut on your shoulder, and give the signal for him to 
come to you. If he jumps on the floor and attempts to reach 
the nut by crawling up on your leg replace him, and cry 
“ Down ! ” Make a bridge from the table to your shoulder 
with your arm, and whistle for him to come to you. This 
time he will ascend to your shoulder by the way of your 
arm. Repeat the lesson, and increase the distance from the 
table, till he will jump to your shoulders from a table even 
if the distance is so far as across a small room. 
Now, he must be taught to jump upon the table. This 
can be done in the same manner as he was taught, on hear- 
ing a peculiar whistle to come to you. Without further 
hints you ought to be able to devise any number of amusing 
tricks to teach your squirrels. Bear in mind two rules, 
never overfeed your pets, or allow them to be handled by 
strangers. 
Mr. Editor : 
My little folks, during the past year, have been presented 
with four Maltese cats. The first two came to hand 
when pretty well grown. Our house was much overrun 
with rats. The cats were with us about two weeks before 
they made any attack, but once started they did not seem to 
rest until every rat was exterminated. Soon after, how- 
ever, they took sick, lay around stupid, and their bowels 
were much constipated. Frequently they appeared sick at 
the stomach, and frothed profusely at the mouth, and con- 
tinued thus till they died. 
Will not some one answer soon, and tell me what the dis- 
ease is ; also, some information as to the probable cause, and 
what would be the proper method of treatment. 
Is it a form of madness, or distemper — or may it have 
been caused by poison ? S. 
[We hope some one will answer the above at an early 
day. — E d.] 
POULTRY SHOWS FOR 1874 & 1875. 
No shows will be entered on this list until we are officially notified by 
the Secretary. 
Keystone Poultry Association. Titusville, Pa., December 
8, 9, 10, and 11, 1874. John D. McFarland, Secretary. 
Premium. List received. 
The Eastern Pennsylvania Poultry Association. Doyles- 
town, Pa., December 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1874. Theo. P. 
Harvey, Secretary, Doylestown, Pa. 
Connecticut State Poultry Society. Hartford, Conn., De- 
cember 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19,1874. J. S. Gilmore, Cor. Sec. 
Central Poultry Association of Pennsylvania. Tamaqua, 
December 15, 16, 17, and 18. Thos. D. Boone, Secretary. 
Premium List received. 
Iowa State Poultry Association. Dubuque, Iowa, Decem- 
ber 15 to 18, 1874, inclusive. C. J. Ward, Secretary. 
Premium List received. 
Meadville Poultry and Columbarian Association. Mead- 
vi lie, Dec. 22, 23, 24, and 25, 1874. A. McLaren, Sec. 
Northwestern Illinois Poultry Association. Polo, Decem- 
ber 22 to 25, inclusive. D. L. Miller, Secretary. Pre- 
mium List received. 
Monmouth County Poultry Association. Freehold, N. J. 
J. T. Roselle, Secretary. 
Chautauqua County Poultry Association. Jamestown, De- 
cember 15, 16, 17, and 18. A. G. Parker, Secretary. 
Fanciers’ Pigeon and Poultry Association. Assembly Build- 
ings, Philadelphia, December 17 to 23, inclusive. C. 0. 
Gudknecht, Secretary, 133 West Norris Street. 
