Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-27
VETERANS PETS AT BENNINGTON
An Intoresting Menagerie which Can be
Soen at tho soldiers Home.
From the Troy Times

~" Van ~"
Seen at tho soldiers Home.
From the Troy Times,l
One of the attractions at the Vermont
Soldiers Home at Bennington is the men
agerie" which has been slowly collecting
from many sources. The principal part OF
the show is in the roomy cages along the
margin OF wide, shady walk that leads
east from the home. Many of tho animals
are exceedingly tame, and some delight in
having bit of sport with keeper or visitor.
Two young coons, as fat as pigs and comical
as clowns, often play roughly with each
other, but always gently with visitors. n
couple of bright-eyed foxes, always wary,
retreat with q jump to the dim recesses OF
the upper section of their cage Whenever n
stranger approaches. An antlered deer,
three prairie dogs and a gray squirrel, that
spins his wheel with bswilderIng speed,
come In for a due amount OF attention.
vicious woodchuck, unconfined by cage,
| has dug hole in the lawn, but as he has
been struck 80 many times with canes and
stones he seldom makes his appearance until
about nightfall. He is the impacable enemy
| of the troop of rabbits about the home and
he's wounded 30 many of them that he is
an object of fear to those timid quadru-
peds. When the woodchuck is feeding any
undue familiarity is Immediately resented
and he will chase the offender about tho
yard. He is the king among the beasts at
the Soldiers Home. Two young alhgators,
| about 20 inches in length, sleep lozily in tue
sun or lash into foam the water of tine tank
at the approach OF u meddlesome visitor.
A small monkey is the pat OF the collec-
| ton. The veteran who wears spectaces
has learned better than to put his face too
near the mischiovous animal. paw darts
into the air, and in the same instant at the
further end OF the cage the monkey is
triumphantly holding up the spectacles, his
| eyes shining with almost human inteli-
gence. He is something OF burglar, too,
for when he is given the liberty of the
house and can catch Ma or CotIey, the su-
perintendent of the home, asleep he will
steal money from the ma or's pocket and
then stealthily carry it to Mrs. Coifey.
parrot, clean, handsome and rose
breasted, talk as good jargon as any
other parrot. An unusually large cage
near by contains five canary blrds-the
beautiful cage and the birds forming an in
terestng picture. A large hen hawk, with
cruel beak and claws and eyes as bright a.
stars, sits sullenly on his perch, disdaining
the narrow quarters in which he is confined
and gazing with seemingly nhinching scorn
upon the passer-by. Farther on is beau
tiful spsrrow-hawk apparently in his baby
hood. Three tame crows have the liberty
Of the premises, and their lszine>s Is in
striking contrast to the activity of the
birds in their wild state, in pulling up the
farmers corn. These crows will often scod
and cav for five or ten minutes at q
stretch, if food be not put into their mouths
being too lazy to pick it from the grounC
when thrown to them. Wild birds, chip
hunks and red squirrels seem to realize
fully the friendly spirit OF the place, fol-
they daily come in liberal Numbers to b.
fed and petted.