Evening star., 1901-05-18
LONDON's PRIVATE ZOOS.
The Fashion in That City Runs Now
to Curious Pets.

Ine Fash1On IN That City Runs Now
to Curious Pets.
From the London Mail
Can l sell you a nice little armadillo,
sir?' They're great favorites now and the
price of that armor-plated beauty is only
f3 Or if you prefer something larger for
your money; here is striped hyena. We
call him Dan Leno Ten pounds is the
price. Listen to him laugh. It's quite
catching, isn't it?''
And the man who daily sells wild and
fearsome beasts as placidly as if he sold
tea and sugar chuckled in sympathy with
the snarling, gibbering brute that showed
it's teeth between the bars of the cage. The
Daily Mail representative was not buying
hyenaS that morning.
This attempted deal took place at one
of four private ZOOS in London, where the
animal lover may purchase as a domestic
pet almost anything that crawls, creeps or
flies. For f25 down and the balance on de-
livery he can have a full-fledged rhinoceros
capable Of demolshing a fairly sized jerry
built villa, or he can stock the fountain
basin on his lawn with young alligators,
which at 15s. each are regarded as ex-
tremely cheap today.
The man who dislikes his next-door
neighbor can derive satisfaction and
amusement by allowing a few Indian py-
thons to roam about promiscuously Six
feet of python are obtainable for e. In the
capacity of peacemaker and healer of
neighborly differences the python should
be invaluable in the suburbs
AS matter of fact, many suburban resi-
dents would be astonished if they only
knew what strange visitors they stand in
danger of meeting some dark evening. 1t
was only the other day that lady bought a
sent to her suburban home in a large
wooden case, labeled, Glass. This side
up, with care"
Then there is gentleman in the High
bury district who keeps four or five diff
ferent kinds of lemurs, while until quite
recently. a young man who occupied a fiat
in another suburb kept leopard, which
used to run about the rooms and curl itself
up on his knees like an overgrown cat.
That leopard is now no more. 1t was acci-
dentally suffocated, but the residents of
the fiat now breathe with more freedom
than they did before.
Pumas are the favorite pets of a Ken
sington lady whose name and address are
withheld at the wish Of the dealer who
supplies the animals. The puma is sleek,
soft-treading, dangerous and desperate
creature, resembling the lionesS. He likes
sheep, and has been known to kill fifty in
one light. The same lady has a small
leopard. Kensington should beware,
The taste for curious animals as family
pets is spreading rapidly, and the four en-
poriums which make speciality of supply
ing them - Whiteley's, in Westbourne
Grove; Greene's, in Covent Garden; jam
rach's, in the Ratcliff Highway, and
Zaches, in Great Portland street-are con-
stantly sending to private houses weird
looking creatures from all parts of the
world.
Only last week an elderly gentleman of
means, who has a large house between
Richmond and Twickenham, took home in
seldomseen monstrosity, the "horrid mo-
loch Something like a lizard in shape
this appropriately christened reptile is
studded with spike-like protuberances
armed cap-a-pie. The buyer did not grum-
BILE at having to pay ELL for his pet"
The jerboa Is a rather pretty little ami
mai winch now roams about scores of West
End and suburban houses. He has the head
OF small rabbit and the body of dimjnu-
tive kangaroo. His forelegs are short
almost to the vanishing point, while his
hind legs are absurdly long. Upon the lat
ter he hops about the house with amazing
energy, and his favorite amusement is
breaking costly china. Jerboas are selling
at fl.
Mr.. Jamrach has lately come into pos
session of an animal which, despite his
lifelong experience, he has never seen be-
fore and cannot Identify. He consulted the
famous naturalist who created the Zoo
at Tring Park, but neither could he give
the animal name. What is it?' is some
thing like squirrel and is yet not a squir-
rel. In fact, up to the present it is not hing
more than What is it?''
For some unaccountable reason the ST.
berian nutcracker is becoming bird pet,
although he Is not particularly handsome
and costs Els. For another flo one can
get gorgeous macaw with a twenty-four-
inch tail that rivals the hues of the rain
bow.
But, after all, mere outward snnear-
bird life. The other day an ornamental
paroquet at one of the private ZOOS" will
fully and deliberately murdered his wife.
This dreadful bird is a blaze of green gold
red and blue with a bright, chirpy man
ner, an honest eye, and open countenance
And yet after slight domestic quarrel he
most foully slew his helpmate! Worse still.
he manifests not the slightest sign of sor-
row or repentance. Who will buy him for
f6?
Other out-of-the-way pets that are being
sold just now include the kea, a bird which
appears to be afflicted with St Vitus' dance
and could, no doubt, be taught to play at
skipping rope with the children. His price
is only f5 IS. Black llamas are fetching f25.
Ural owls flo, Japanese bears f1O, polecats
(not in great demand) e, dog-faced mon
keys g. Chinese mocking birds f6, young
boas mot for wear) 3Os., and white Persian
cats with blue eyes flo.
But the most expensive pet of all, for
his size, is the white mouse-that pretty.
on crumbs in schoolboys' pockets. That
kind of white mouse costs no more than
about a penny but a certain kind of white
mouse is valued at ESQ because 1t is striped
like a zebra, and has other peculiarities
that render it cheap In the eyes of judges
at f3 an ounce.
With the spread of the taste for strange
and curious pets has come a corresponding
diversity in the character of the four
footed passengers in London streets Last
summer 1t was common sight to see In
the West End ladies leading little lemurs
o. baby pumas along the streets in the
same way that they lead pet dogs This
summer it is probable that the spectacle
will become still more common, judging
from the number Of orders received at the
various depots for baby pets Of this de-
scription. The jerboa is another popular
animal for "airing" in the street, where its
antics naturally create not a little amuse-
ment. Full-grown animals Of dangerous
type have not yet obtained the liberty OF
the footpath, but perhaps they will do SC
some day. and London will. IN one respect
lnso nP riy,oiti tixraf