Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-10-20
A COMMON HOUSE RAT.
is QUICK TO LEARN AND is AN
AMUSING PET.
Flying Squirrels, Mice. Ailig ltors, Cham
eleons, 1urtIes and Horned Lizards
Can BE Tanned and Trained to DO
Tricks--Pets In Families.

fellows whose teeth are so trouble
some and require so much looking
after. There are the squirrels, TO
begin with. Every one is frolicsome,
neat, easy to take care of, and alto
gether bewitching. A squirrel of
any sort likes warm bed, out of the
reach of meddlesome children, plenty
OF nuts TO eat, and liberty-for, like
everybody else he hates a cage
The gray squirrel is the most elegant
of the tribe (unless we except the
black, who is not so often seen), and
he is intelligent and affectionate.
The red squirrel is one of the most
lively of a wonderfully active family,
and is exceedingly inventive in
pranks. The chipmunk. though
frisky enough, is said to be the least
interesting of his race, and the flying
squirrel is rather quiet for one of his
kind, and entertaining only at night.
AS limited above, all rodents re-
quile watching, for their teeth grow
rapidly, and something to gnaw is a
necessity of their existence This,
in a cage is so distasteful to them
it is impossible to secure sufficient
exercise for their teeth. The whole
family is said to be unusually fond of
music; some of them become so alb
sorbed in listening 20 the notes of an
instrument, or even to whistling,
that they lose consciousness of dam
ger, and may be caught without
trouble. l would not advise. how
ever, that ones hand be employed to
seize a squirrel, for he might come
to his senses and use his teeth.
Another rodent, the rat, ~ not
popular with petitioners in general,
but persons who have overcome the
repugnance which our race feels for
his--Frank auckland. of England. for
instance-insist that he Is, above all
other little animals, amusing and en-
pertaining. He is full of gambols as
a kitten and scrupulously neat in the
care of his person, washing and
brushing his fur as carefully as a cat.
Though not over-dainty in feeding
when he is wild and has to live hy
his wits, he is particular and notional
to the last degree when he is cared
for and able to choose. The rat is
peculiarly amenable to instruction,
readily learns TO perform tricks of
all sorts, and, what may seem most
singular in one against whom every
mans hand is raised, he becomes
warmly attached to the friend who
cares for him.
A winsome pet is the common
brown mouse; and now fancy hear
the most vigorous protests from my
readers, who, though they do not
shrek and take refuge on chairs and
tables like Howell's feminine charac-
tiers, still have a strong feeling of
distaste to him, writes Olive Thorne
Miller IN Harper's Bazaar. Nothing
can be imagined more dainty. grace
full and altogether captivating than
the tricks and manners of this hum
BILE resident within our walls. Once
allay the poor little creatures fears
of his big, clumsy human prosecutors,
and his delightsome qualities are APP
parent Frisky in movement. droll
in conceits and eccentric in action,
he is a never-ending source of en-
tertainment Moreover. he is as
teachable as the rat, absolutely neat
in his ways and most loving to his
friends.
A singing mouse. which is not so
great Il rarity as one would suppose
from the newspaper fuss that is some
times made over one, has an added
attraction as pet. The singing is
no doubt similar to thaJ of the mar
moset, and resembles the canary
song a good deal smothered.
All these little creatures should be
tanned and attached to people by
Their affections, and not kept as pris-
oners in a cage. In the former case
they display their peculiar charac-
teristics, and take per ect care of their
coats, while in the latter they require
constant watching and attention, and
show no individuality whatever. 1t
is not pet that is kept in cage, it
is prisoner, and a prisoner in his
unnatural and unhappy life can never
afford much pleasure.
Whatever beast is kept it should
have its own quarters. in which it is
at home and free from intrusion, and
to which it can retire when it
chooses. The home should he kept
clean and sweet by frequent changes
of bedding and the use of soap and
water. No one has right to keep
an animal IN confinement who finds
it too much trouble to attend so it's
health and comfort. It should be
regularly fed on food that is most
healthful for il, and what is quite as
essential to its happiness and conse-
quently to its health, it should be
talked TO and noticed as much as
anybody. | am certain many ami
mails and birds suffer and d in our
homes from pure loneliness and from
being regarded by tn ir human
as creatures of an alto
gether different nature. Whereas
the truth is, if one will but cultivate
Their acquaintance, he will be as
tonished to see how the dullest and
most stup d will wake out OF it's APP
parent torpor and show understand
ing and character
j know family very fond OF pets,