New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-27
MRS. BRIGHTWEN'S PETS.
SIGNS OF INTELLIGENCE IN LOWLY
CREATURES

Mrs Brentwen. author Of "Wld Nature r ,rA Won
by Kindness. Illustrated py lheo. 'dr'e'aS
| Pp ~ Macmillan Co.
Are doves intelligent? Mrs. BrIghtwen at least
thinks that they nearer 20 being rational Great
| ures than many people suppose she mas FANNY
- tnen AT her home. The Grove. The parent birds
which she named respectively Pence and Patience
had a painful experience in their youth They were
! housed by their first owner in small wooden Dox
with wire front They mad no nest-box no bath
f., short non. OF the comforts OF dove life. Bui they
would not give up. and at last their endurance was
rev.. rdeI with large wicker cage. abundant food
me freedom OF large sunny veranda plenty OF
mira vate- in which 20 battle Under these condi-
ions they soon became seek and SOFT ana sninlng
a.. doves should be, and when they wers allowed
,nsr a tire to ny about the dnlng-room. Peace.
the male bird. soon found something to admire In
his own reflection in the looking glass over the
ra1te-plece Pcrched on the marble clock In front
OF the ,..ass re would bow and courtesy and co.,
| evidently imagining tia; the reflection was real
bird but paying it the natura! tribute due to fine
feathers When The doves came 10 make nest.
he, tried first to find material for themselves In
the house pulling ont mIiden-hair fern ana orcnh
stems from the flower vases. But when little twigs
and dried grass were offered they gladly accepted
them Under tho tender care OF Mrs. Brghtwen
they grew so conndlng that she could even take
the tiny nedglings from the nest without annoying
tho rnothcr-bird The second nes;-buldlng was not
begun without a consultation, to which Mrs Bright
wen WAS q party. as both birds seemed clearly to
understand. They decided on placing the new nest
in some ccmats that grew up the pillars OF the
,cranda. 1t & charming spot to select Tor
the lite mother-brd had nckerng srnbeams shin
ing upon her While she sat, and leaves TO shelter
her from the heat
II was when the question arose as to where build
ing material was to be found that Mrs. Brightwen
was appealed Peace came to her with an eager
look in his eyes that told his wishes as plainly
eattid haya
twig after another and was delighted and amused
when he few the nest as II everything mad turned
out Just the way nc expected. Then Mrs Brightwen
took direct share in building the nest The birds
had woven the twiss in their own way. but size
thought carpet Of fine soft shavnss would add
10 the comfort OF the little home. SO sire provided
one lining the nest with her own hands After
much tax among themselves the doves agreed that
this was a real improvement, though they had not
thought OF f. themselves. Another incident which
seemed 10 indicate process OF thought in the male
birds mind occurred a chilly evening. Frs;
there q tapping the window II am a.
ways accustomed attend to any such appea.
from bird ANIMAL says Mrs. Brightwen.
'since generally find (, to that they
gently require something" The cage with the
doves carried indoors. But Peace was still!
restless and unhappy. AMI at length his excitement.
was such that he allowed 10 fly out OF the
window. Soon there cooling under the veran-
IA. and there Peace was found with one Of his
children which had been brought in with the
cage. He acted though he were trying to show
his mistress his truant ch..d. and as soon as
took them both up and carried them TO the cage
Peace was quite happy and contented"
Mrs Brighiwen succeeded admirably in second
attempt tc domest!clte two lemurs. bright-eyed,
four-handed lite creatures from Madagascar Her
first pets OF this sor; too old 10 take kindly
to training. The lemurs were placed in wire in
closure in the conservatory They had branches
lfuah tt,on and iory ~ ant vfth GA
sides and top. l!ned with hay. and they showed
approval of their quarters and no signs OF dis
content in captivity. OF the second pair one was
rufed lemur. the other ring-;a!ied lemur
Though differing thus. they soon became great
friends They both capable of very surprising
things Blu: the rng-tliled lemur had one trick
that seemed wonderful those familiar only with
ordinary creatures II would walk up pcrpend.cu-
lar surface as easily as fly could do II. and for
similar reason. since its paws were provided with
elastic pads. somewhat like a iy's foot with lis
suckers" The lemur would swiftly UP the side
OF door. for example. and seat Itself on the top
apparently pleased by the surprise which his per
formance Always occasoned. Mrs. Brightwen
lee rned investigation that the ring tailed emurs
are confined by nature to a rocky tableland. where
there trees and that II requires an unusual
leatherlike under surface upon It's paws to make
1t secure wet and slippery rocks. In an Eng
lsh sitting room. however. this peculiarly was
troublesome. II the rlng-tailed emur was not held
by a leading string attached to its waistband. he
to dart away and be at the top OF
picture frame out OF reach In a moment Lemurs
extremely neat and cleanly In their habits. and
they like dainty food-fruit OF all kinds. lettuce
clover blossoms. rose petals. dates. raisns. They
took kindly to TIE bread and milk Of civilization.
hut those In Mrs. Brghtwen's care DID not seem
to be very Intelligent. They loved bright fire.
and the rng-tailed iemur usually threw up Its
and struck at attitude like a sun-worshipper.
They disliked being left alone The sight OF
mongoose brought out the fact that leinur. small
az II ls. has voice worthy OF much larger
creature IL frightfully and It's occasional
loud grodas are startling
The monsoosc og ichneun.o1. whicn hfh brgnt-
YEA melted W-s .sen more selfish than tho lemurs