Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
TEMPER OF ANIMALS,
Tho Carnivors by No Means the Most Vim
dictive.

The Carnivors by No Means the Most VIM
dictive.
From the London Spectator.
Animal temper is naturally pacific, equable
and mild. Bad temper is the privilege of more
highly organized natures, and the mild resent
ment of the placable tiger finds its develop
ment in the apoplectic fury of the mandril and
the measured malice of mankind Horace
| suggestion that Prometheus added to the ILL
temper of man the strength of mad lion must
be taken literally. The general law of good
nature in the animal world makes the excep-
tions all the more remarkable. Quarrelsome
species appear among friendly tribe, just as
an ill-tempered individual does in a kindly
species.
The ruminants are most peaceful race, yet
deer are savage, and SO is that handsome Indian
dangerous pet. and even the beautiful roebuck
has been known to kill boy in a wild fit of
rage. But the fercest and most vindictive of all,
with the exception of the Cape buffalo, is the
South African gnu, which never loses its ill
temper when tanned, and always remains
| among the few dangerous animals which the
keepers at the Zoo have to deal with. Hardly
less ill-tempered are the zebras and the wild
asses, which suggests that human mismanage-
ment is not entirely to blame for the occasional
J.
To the ill-tempered species we may add the
camel and the two-horned black rhinoceros.
The last is really ferocious, charging down on
any creature, man beast, without provoca-
| ton, and capable Of inflicting mortal wounds
even on the lion, the elephant, or its own kind.
But among all the larger creatures of the an.
| lmal kingdom it Is difficult to find more than a
dozen species which are, a class, ill-tempered,
| unless we include all those carnivorous animals
which exhibit a certain ferOcity in the capture
| of their prey. But it will be found that apart
from this law OF their being, such animals are
not as rule. either ill-tempered or malicious.
On the contrary, their natural bias is toward
good nature, and it may be inferred that the
fierceness exhibited by them when actually
| striking their prey is rather a gradual develop
ment from a particular necessity than an es-
sential part Of their nature. The good humor
of the lions and other feline was we'll illustrated
by scene at the Zoo few weeks ago.
The young lion from Sokoto was much in
tent on breaking in the iron shutter
which separates the house it now occupies
from its former quarters next door.
Apart from the very proper wish to assert
right to its former domicile. it had the irri-
tating stimulus supplied by an ill-tempered and
decrepit old leopard which was growing on the
| other side of the shutter, and even went SO far
as to insert one of its longest teeth into the
crack between the shutter and the wall. as a
reminder to the lion of what was waiting for it
on the other side. The lion was striking con.
slant heavy blows on the door, and was SO in
tent on its occupation to disregard the C I'll
of its keeper. The keeper quietly attracted its
attention by pulling its tail and the lion at
once desisted, rubbed its face against the keep
er s hand. and lay down to be stroked, patted,
and have its name caressed. very beautiful
puma close by exhibited all the pleasure of a
friendly cat at being stroked, and the tiger
from Turkestan allowed itself to be fondled hike
a big dog.