The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-18
FASHIONS IN PETS.
Japanese Pugs Growing in
Favor.
FISH WITH Bullying OPTICS.
Parrots Whose Deep-Sea VernacuIar
Units Them for Life Among
the Four Hundred.

It is only necessary to give a passing
glance at the stores where birds and AMI
mails are for sale in order to realize what a
deep interest the general public take in
pets There is always little crowd COL
lected outside these stores, and Mongolians
vie with Caucasans In talking to the par
rots, teasing the monkeys and trying to
caress the dogs and cats through the bars of
their cages.
'The demand for pets is always pretty
brisk" the proprietor of one of these stores
observed to a CALL reporter yesterday
and 1t was as much as he could do to make
himself heard, for all the parrots were
talking at once and the monkeys were
bowling defiance a. everybody in general
THE fashion in pets does not vary
much" he went on, Except in dogs. A
few years ago English pugs were all the
rage; now there is scarcely any demand
for them. Japanese pugs are beginning to
take their place in the affections of the
public.
Japanese pugs cost from $40 to $40, and
should be lOng-lived and hardy. Many peo-
Pile, however, XIII them with kindness.
They shut them up in the house, wherea s
the pugs are all the better for fresh air. and
they give them so many baths that they fire.
quently die of Inflammation of the lungs"
Next to dogs birds seem to be the most
popular pets. particularly seed-eating birds
that are inexpensive and not much trouble
to take care Of. Canaries particularly are
in great demand. I'VE ourselves handled
5000 last year." observed the proprietor.
Parrots of every description were scream
ing and talking, from gaudy red and green
macawS TO tiny paroQnetS from South
America. 1t is wonderful what large sum
a highly educated parrot that Is good lin
gust will bring
"San Francisco has some very accom-
plshed BIRDS" the proprietor of the store
observed. AT least five in Chinatown can
talk English and Chinese with equal fluency,
but one OF the most gifted parrots ever
known was the property Of Scalchi, the
singer. 1t could not only converse in four
languages - German. French. Italian and
Englsh-but was also a vocalist. Scalchi
vaiued the bird at 5000"
The parrots possessing the finest singing
voices, it appears, are not the most gifted
cOnversationally. A variety known as the
Mexican double yellow head" exees par
tcularly in vocalZation and whstling.
whereas the best takers are the African
gray parrots and the Panama golden nsckS.
People DESTROYS of purchasing talking
parrots ana who do not wish TO blush for
the birds yulgarity should make point OF
buying those that have travelled here by
steamer. In quick voyages there Is scarcely
time for the birds morals to have become
corrupted; whereas, on sailing trip the
mariners often while away the monotony
of the long voyage by instruct!ng their par
ro.s in expressions and language that to-
tally unfit them for polite society.
A new variety of fish that is becoming
very popular. both here and in the East, is
tie telescope fish" 1t comes from Japan
and is a near relative Of the Goldfish, though
to casual observer it might be mistaken
for brother 10 the ordinary goldfish. Its
PECULIARLY consists In its eyes, which stand
out like beacon lights and enable the fish to
regard all the four points Of the compass at
once.
1t has not yet been decided whether its
great range of vision is owing 10 some NAL
formation Of the optics or TO great pres
sure of water to which its race may at some
time have been subjected. This popularity,
however. causes it to be in great demand
among fish fanciers. and in the East these
telescope fish fetch as much al SO pair.
San francisco, being the haven at which
they are landed on their way from Japan.
can obtain them al much lower rate.
1T is wonderful how fond the Chinese
are of animals" observed a lady in another
store. She had gon there to buy monkey
and was caresslng a little creature from
Java that lay curled up In her arms like
fluffy ball. She had never spoken 90 the
animal De1ore, Dut ne ciuug 10 ner with the
utmost affection, and she explained this by
declaring that animals know by instinct who
mas an affection for them.
Il have noticed" she went on, that
dogs, the most aristocratic and exclusive
dogs = that scoTn the advances of most
people-will frequently fawu upon China
man and treat hun like an old friend"
The next store visited had been invaded
by band of children, who were stirring up
a good-slZed monkey TO fierce wrath. All
the birds mad joined IN the dispute and the
| screaming ana bowling was deafeniug.
The proprietor explained that the perse-
cuted animal, though mischievous, had by
no means an evil disposition, in proof of
which assertion he opened the cage and the
| monkey sprang into his arms and nestled
there. while the children, seeing their vic
tim al large, fed In terror.