Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19

%S.Szax.s.e
ready take the first opportunity to seize our hand
but he gets several shifts of the catnip he sneezes
once or twice, shakes his head vigorously and turns
away. In a moment or two however he is back
again, not able to resist the subtle attraction this
time shifting he comes and rubbing his nose
against his leg and paw.
In three minutes he is fully under the control of
the innocent herb and now, purring loudly and
rubbing head and nose against the bars he follows
from end to end of the front of the cage appar-
and rub the sleek rosettes his coat he stands still
and soon tumbles down and rolls from side to side,
utterng brobdignagian purrs, which rise and rumble
through the house ike dininutive reverberations of
thunder.
Although lack of faith in the absolute efficacy of
catnip has always prevented Our testing its power
by going into the cage of an animal under its iniu-
ence. YET judging from the actions of the fierce
Senior Lopez it seems certain that one could go in
and come out unscathed All hint of savageness has
disappeared, and the jaguar, in allowing and
counting attention and permitting familiarities no
whit different from its lesser relative who walks
alone about our hearths and delights in saucer of
cream.
We walk down the line of cages and whether met
with tolerance by the tigers, semblance of interest
by the lons most diabolical snars the part of
the black leopards, we have them all in our power.
Sooner later each animal comes to the bars begins
its song of contentment, and fops down its back
What no man could accomplish by force, we bring
about in few minutes and from the grandeur of a
rnajestically raised head and thunderous roars we
have lowered the dignity of the King of Beast" to
impunity to pull his name stroke the massive
muscles of his paws. When we reach the end of the
building, nothing is audible except purrs in various
keys, and view down the line of cages reveals
numberless legs waving in air and noses being
rubbed against the tiny bits of catnip which are
the ridiculously disproportionate cause of the
whole Transformation.
Some Other Experiments
FUTURE experiments along this line promise
much of interest. We have found that sew
of act
sooner than catnip, one smell sending growl-
ing leopard over on its back, fawning and purr-
ing. On the other hand, if oil of anise is pre-
sented when the creature is in this condition,
there is sudden reaction The new scent seems
to neutralize the effects of the catnip or penny
royal, and the animal leaps to its feet, growing
as at first-Dr. Jekyn transforms into Mr.. Hyde
in the twinklng of an eye.
The first effects of the pennyroyal are different
in different individuals We can never dis
tinguish between two yearling lion cubs which
share the same cage, until we offer the herb One
always succumbs instantly, fawning and rolling.
The other sits down upon its launches and goes
through most comical performance First the
head IS turned as far as possible from side to
side, then the majestic face is distorted by
grimaces the eyes squint tight. the
wrinkles up and the huge feet helplessly paw
something tangible. Then with a whine of half
contentment, the lion rolls over by the side of
its brother, and the two roll and purr in unison.
When we think how keen is the sense of smell
in these nocturnal creatures, realize how
powerful must be the effect of these odors.
Other subjects of great interest are natural
preferences and antipathies among animals,
and we find that these no less strongly
marked among lions and tigers than among
monkeys and birds. have often noticed that
in crowd of people the attention of lion
would be at attracted by colcred
person, although l have known such
interesting demonstration as that related by
Cornish Speaking of the Zoo in London he says:
When Mr.. Hagenbecks Somais were at the