Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-02
a PECULIAR PET.

Mrs John Rasar, of near New Center
vile, Tredy firm township, is the owner of
d beautiful tame polecat that appears very
much attached to her The animal was
caught by her son last spring. Soon it
commenced 10 grow very rapidly, and
showed decidedly wicked temper when
any one else than Mrs. Raser came near it,
making an effort TO bite all who attempted
to touch her. She could stroke its back,
take ii on her lap, or do whatever she
pleased with it, and in short time it
began to follow her around like a kitten.
1t was allowed to wander about the
kitchen when she was about, and did so in
as frolicsome manner as a playful kitten
of the domestic species as long as she was
alone, but the moment any enc else ap-
peared it would Kun and hide out of sight.
Mrs. Baser is the owner of two Eng jsh
beadle hounds and one large Newfoundland
dog. For the two former the little animal
from its infancy always showed decided
hatred, and soon commenced to attack
them whenever they came near, always
succeeding in clearing them out of the
house in perfect terror, by reason of the
severe bites that il was able to give them
with its sharp teeth anu tricky movements
whenever it caught them inside. They
have now got 90 far that they keep well
out Of its reach. Toward the large dog it
has always shown d different disposition,
however. Instead OF attempting to bite,
it made friends with hin, and now it cau
be seen following him in frolicsOme man
ner, attempting to catch and play with his
large, bushy tail whenever opportunity
presents itself. The other day." said
Mrs. Raser ID a reporter who visited her
home, 8" the Newfoundland dog came in
with HIS tail matted with burs that had
become tangled in its hairs. As soon as he
sat down Jumbo (meaning the polecat)
noticed the burg and set ID work to extract
them, doing go as nicely as it could have
been done with the most nimble fingers,
and the dog let it go on with its work until
they were all picked out.
The cat has now grown to its full size,
and still feels perfectly conteuted with its
new home. 1t has grown less shy of the
other members OF the family and OF
strangers, but still insists that none but
Mrs. Raser shall touch it. Il has made
its nest in a closet, and whenever Mrs
Baser is not about it will seek this and 90
to sleep. II has learned to know the hours
when the family takes las meals, and az
regularly viii put in an appearance 70 be
fed at Just such times. 1t will appear in
the dining and sit on its launches,
like a begging dog, at the side Of Mrs
Raser until she serves it with its meals. II
il chances to be shut out of the room it
will come TO the door and tap with one of
it's paws until it is heard and admitted.
Its hair is unusually long and very glossy
Immediately over its eyes there is . spot of
white hair extending squarely across its
forehead, and then, after ending abruptly
on both sides, passes backward, growing
narrower as it does so, until almost a com
plete triangle is formed, but there the
whites divide into two lines about one. half
an inch in width each and six inches long,
which curve gracefully eff in opposite
directions, terminating on each side Of the
body Just back Of the shoulders. The rest
OF the hair is glossy and perfectly black.
Altogether the animal Is a very pretty one.
and about the house is perfectly clearly in
its habits. II is not the first animal OF a
wild disposition that Mrs Raser has tanned
in similar manner, she having been
| equally as successful two or three years
ago in domesticating a ground hog, which
! last spring CHANGED to wander out on the
track of the Chester Valley Railroad, near
the house, and was killed by passing
! train. To show that the polecat has be-
come thoroughly domesticated, Mira. Raser
/ informed our reporter that 4 few nights ago
it had been left out all night, and the next
morning was found curled up on the front
doorstep. - Westchester pa Record.