The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-17
STRANGE PETS.
A New Craze Among Followers OF
Fashion.
Curious and Interesting Creatures In De-
mand for Household Playthings
Reptiles Have Succeeded
Wild Animals.

Reptiles Have Succeeded
Wild Animals. ..
The popular craze to own something
that is odd or out of the common order
of things has extended itself to house
hold pets, says the New York Sun. A
number of departures in this direction
have been made in recent years that are
strikingly novel. Much time and mon
ey have been spent to get some of the
curious and interesting specimens that
one occasionally hears of as household
pets.
The popular craze now seems to be
to keep tame and harmless reptiles;
wildcats and jaguars have gone out of
fashion. The reptile family is a large
one to choose from. Many of the vari:
cites are perfectly harmless and so
rare that few persons have ever seen a
specimen, and but little is known of
their habits.
There are several kinds that are ex-
ceedingly pretty, and to learn the pc
culiar habits of these very tinid Great
ures is oftentimes both instructive and
amusing, especially to young people or
children.
The smaller kinds of harmless rep
tiles are, as a matter of course, the only
ones from which desirable pets may be
selected. They can be kept with little,
if any, trouble, and no expense.
The only outlay is the buying of a
case in which to keep the pets and even
this may be avoided by making one. A
good-sized box with glass side might
easily be utilized for den. A lining
OF bark both adds to the effect and
makes it pleasanter for the inmates of
the case. A sandy, gravelly floor, with
q few stones, a piece of rugged wood
and good-sized pan of water, are all
that will be required for the most
fastidious reptile. Those intending to
keep these curious pets can buy or fit
up as handsome a den as the length of
their pockets and fancy may dictate.
OF the many wonderful creatures that
will thrive in limited space and readily
adapt themselves to circumstances, the
green tree-toad is probably the prettiest
and most entertaining. 1t is found in
large numbers in Southern Europe
and Northern Africa. It lives almost
entirely on insects, which it gath
ers from trees, The formation of
the tree toad is indeed peculiar. and is a
striking example of the provision made
by nature for her children. On each of
its toes the tree toad has small sucker
by which it is enabled to travel over
smooth perpendicular surfaces. A tree
toad can climb up and remain clinging
to pane of glass without any apparent
effort. 1t is SO extremely light as to be
able to walk over and among leaves
without weighing them down or causing
the slightest tremor.
In clear, fine, sunshiny weather the
color of the reptile is bright emerald
green. If the weather is dull and cloudy
the color of the tree toad quickly
changes to q muddy, dull green. For
food it will take any small insect, and
is very fond of flies.
Another pretty and amusing little
reptile that is very easily tanned is the
common lizard. Its quick movements
and the way in which it forages for
itself makes it very interesting pet.
The lizards are pretty, and some rare
specimens have been brought from the
West Indies that are very handsomely
marked, They may be kept in the
same case with tree toads and thrive on
the same kind of food.
There are few reptiles that are de-
spised by the average countryman
more thoroughly than the common
newt, which may be found in almost
all ponds, bitches or small pools. They
are perfectly harmless and frequently
very beautiful. Some of the varieties
are beautifully spotted with bright yell
low on a black surface. They are as
much at home in the water and as
quick of motion as fish. They are
constantly on the move and swim
gracefully to and fro, searching for tad
poles, worms and any small water-in-
scots that may come in their way, all
of which they devour with avidity.
The newt might also be kept in the
den with the tree toads and lizards,
providing the water supply is large
enough to allow the newt space In
which to swim, Like frogs, nevis do
not gain their perfect form for six weeks
after they are hatched or come out of
the egg, which really matches itself.
They are constantly changing their
skins, and often look quite ragged, as if
in want of a new coat.