The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-10

with the baby-birds. blt often. II the
mother does not amIs- them they VII
seek amusement thenzelves- And how hl-
Hal that trait is1
a mock % ewes and lambs seemed 20 md
their greatest pleasure In the game com l-
monty Known as 'FOl0W my leader nla
was in TWO ADJOINING fields separated BY
O wooden fence Wi-h a few gaps IN H. The
largest lamb led the n1cE- when scam
pereu around the field Till they reached the
gaps, over which they would jump Ana i
one happened 10 make "a more successIll
leap than It's Fellows. % would give one or
Two extra jumps and turns after II was
over, 20 celebrate IT'S unlocked for victory.
pie
Another flock vas seen 70 play the game
= m the King OF the Castle A large pile
OF se4Ween lay in the field where the lambs
were, and one OF them. mounting IL, was
attacked BY half a dozen others Wnich
strove TO draw him from his position sure
~ no one can doubt that II they so played
tney must have enjoyed the sport.
4 little black and tan dog nnds lis
greatest amusement in "a tug or war"
No sooner IS one seated IN the room where
ne Is IMAM ne drags down a cushion from
a chair or a sofa. and his delight IS In
tense when we eaten hold OF one corner.
Ihen he pulls and lrags, all the time
groWllng-but that is part OF the sport.
" course he always carries OF the VIC
tory. Wnicn means that he literally car
ries of the cushion, and mounts guard
over Il.
Another game much INDUCED in by ami
mas Is that OF racing. or more simply,
running. II is natural for dogs and horses
to run, and Il natural. when running to-
setner Tor each TO try 10 Guido the other.
80 II becomes an easier ta.N TO train these
animals Tor races than We would at nrst
suppose.
When horses fail to put forth all their
streng IN IN the running Of race It Il
ProDaDly the result of a remembrance Of q
former time, when whip and spur forced
them 10 an overtaXiug OF strength or
power. II a race be lost through a trick,
IL IS not the horse that is to blame, for
all its instincts teach it 10 Guido its rival.
An amusing story is told of a dwarf
greyhound a. a dog race In England. 1t
was a handicap race and the contestants
were placed at various distances, within
TWO yards. Each dog was held by a man.
VINO placed one hand on its chest, the
other on it's shoulders. This greyhound
twisted its head and looked back at its
next neghbOr. Then turning to the man
who held il, 1t began to whine and bark
and TO lick his hand in the most persua-
siVe ana caressing way. The man IN
derstood and moved il forward, giving IL
ABOUT yard more for the start. That
was clearly what the beast wanted, for
II yelped now in the greatest joy, and was
as eager as the rest were to be Off At
the second round 1t led, but whether IL
came out first in the finish is not known.
Ihat dog showed craft and perception!
But though so much is done in the spir-
It or rivalry, it Is by no means all done
Tor that Animals delight in things for
the pure pleasure they derive from them
A morse VIII roll over and over in the
grass; dog will plunge into a stream
ana swim, for the pleasure they get
from these exercises In the spring time
the sparrow hawks and kestrels, and even
the rocks, at times, will soar up into the
air for long periods, without a flap of
their wings. This they do for mere pleas
ure.
Two kestrels, which had been confined
to house till their wings were full
grown, lowered for days about the case
ment, looking up into the pure light with
out. When at last the window was OPEN
ed, they fiuttered out seeming at first
afraid to test their powers. Then, over
coming this fear, they scared up in great
opposing circles, up and up, flashing the
sunshine from their wings, and seeming
to enjoy the freedom so long denied them
for the blue-vaulted heavens seemed
boundless. and their seemed no limit to
their power for testing its great hight and
breadth.
Another common characteristics, which
enters so largely into the play of the ami
mails is the "make-believe" which, in
ourselves, we call imagination. The ami
mails do play at that, and derive much
fun from the deception. If you run your
hand up and down behind a curtain, as
" a mouse were playing at hide-and-seek,
watch the Kittens eyes. She knows that
ii is no mouse, but she enters into the
spirit of the fun, and how she crouches,
ready to spring. Or give her a worsted
ball Win she not claw II and shake It
and bite It? And then she pushes 1t with
her paw, giving it life, stin deluding her
self.
1 know little dog that keeps the back
yard clear of cats. You have only TO imi-
tate one of these, his deadly enemies, and
though he sees and hears that 1t is you,
off he darts to the yard, and barks till he
draws a whole assemblage of his enemies
onto the fence, to see what the trouble is.
For they are sly enough to see that be Is
a little dog, and though they keep be-
yond his reach, they tease him by staying
within sight.
Even lions and tigers are fond of play,
and huge wooden balls are their delight.
A very tame tiger once lost her plaything,
which rolled under the bars of her cage,
and her grief and distress and mute APP
peals for help were quite pathetic
Birds often indulge in ''make-believe''
games. Tame sea-glllls have been seen
playing with sticks and stones which they
toss into the air and catch again in their
beaks, just as they would do with a fish
And tame rock always pretended first to
kill a biscuit before eating it,
1 could tell you many more incidents,
showing how the animals play; but you
yourself can see, and perhaps you will
think more about it, after reading this.
But all have said is about their play in
sunshiny weather. Some time 1 may tell
you about their griefs. their courage, their
humor, their etiquette, for they suffer and
enjoy all of these, and many more things
besides.