The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-25
Attachment Of Wild Animals to Men.

My first acquaintance with wild ami
mails dates from the, winter of 1869,
when Van Aken's Menagerie had their
winter quarters in Tubingen, Germany.
A fine leopard used to enjoy his siesta in
the afternoon, and slept quietly in his
cage like the other carnivora. Being
daily guest, one day Iventured to stroke
quietly and cautiously the back of the
leopard, who was lying against the bars.
This caused him to turn around to look
at the person who had dared to inter-
rupt his slumbers. My friendly advance
ment, with few pacifying words,
seemed to please him, for he lowered his
head against the bars and rubbed it and
the rest of his body against them, which
| interpreted as an encouragement to pat
him again. Then | began to scratch
his head, the leopard pushing himself
forward in order that my hand could
also offer the same caress to the neck and
back. When | reached the tail he let it
glide through my hand, approaching
again with his head and repeating the
sport. In this way our friendship was
sealed, and henceforth the leopard
watched the entrance door, becoming
restless as soon as l appeared, showing
his Joy by hurrying to and fro in his
cage, and by friendly snifiles calling for
my caresses. However, he had been
tanned for long time, and Mr. Van
AIKEN sometimes set him at liberty in
the evening when no visitors were pres
ent. One evening when l entered the
menagerie, the animal, being at that
moment free and responding to the pet
ting of Mr.. Van AIKEN, rushed with a
few bounds toward me, and jumping up
at me, rested his forepaws on my chest,
his hot breath mingling with mine, if
that had not come to a stop at the I'M
expected sight. Mr.. Van AIKEN, running
to my assistance, helped me to regain
composure, and l stroked the head and
back of the splendid animal, which now,
cat-like, wound himself between my legs,
| meanwhile explaining to the aston
ished owner about our intimacy.
Since the Geological Garden has been
opened here | have witnessed similar ex-
amples. One time | tickled the head
and neck Of a spotted hyena with my
cane, and he placed himself against the
bars of the cage with peculiar, smiling
look, encouraging me to extend the
scratching to the sides of his body. The
hyena grew friendlier the harder /
rubbed, and when took away my cane
he turned himself around in order to
offer the other side. Later, after further
acquaintance, | used my hand instead of
the cane, when | could pull the animal
by a leg or by the tail toward the bars,
and the oftener / bothered him, rubbing
and pulling, the friendlier the expression
about his mouth grew, and the oftener
he.bit himself in his fore leg as if he
wanted to say: g Look here; it does not
hurt, even if l should get your hand be-
tween my teeth Playfully he ran about
in the cage, rolling himself then crying
and laughing with pleasure; now offer
ing the head or ears, now the snout or
foot, so that could seize it. One of my
acquaintances slapped me on my back
one day when playing with the hyena as
| would with my dog, and Immediately
the behavior of the animal changed; his
eyes glowed, the hairs of the back stood
up, and leap at the bars plainly showed
that the supposed attack on me would
have been dangerous form1 friend with
out the protection rods. His departure
appeased the beast immediately, and he
was as agreeable as possible. Cin.
ciHasaH Commercial.