Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-02
NEW Styles IN PETS
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

long-t4iied cat Of South America IL a
good choice. az it has d striking color
scheme. being grizzy brown or red
dish. with black spots and rings. 1t
ID also said to yield gracefully to
yield gracefully to domestication-
something which is rare among the
wildcat species.
Another picturesque pet from South
America whteh+sis. being widely adopt,
ed by city dwellers is the coat, 4 close
relative Of. our own North American
coat. an even bushfer tail ana a
strangely mobile nose that can be
twisted, extended, contracted Or made
rigid at will. The coat is easily tam
ed and becomes devotedly attached to
Its home and master. According to
one dealer, who owns such an animal,
it Is the most interesting inc amusing
pet he has ever had, keeping him, he
says, constantly entertained by It's
ridiculous antics. y
Also the Pocket Mouse
Some people who like pocket pets
have adopted pocket mice, which odd
ly shaped little animals are now be-
Ing imported from the southwestern
states to supply the demand for novel
ties in the metropolitan pet markets.
The pocket mouse ID fawn-colored
above and white below. with fine,
silky fur and large, lustrous eyes. But
it's head Is SO large In proportion to its
small body, Its hind legs 50 enormous
compared to it's diminutive feet, ana
It's tufted tail so unexpectedly long
that it has a very dro,l appearances.
It Is said to be an affectionate and
agreeable companion, except for its
habits which cause it to be. very ac-
tive at night and ~toEsleep during the
day. 1t can be induced to change this
unfortunate custom, however, If It Il
fed in the day time and food Is not
left in its cage at night.
Women seem to be losing all vi
their traditional fear Of mics, II one
may judge by the heavy demand fol
these creatures at the pet shops
Waiting mice, especially have lately
become almost as popular as goldfish
Nature played a cruel joke on these
little rodents. making 1t impossible 70,
them to travel in a straight line. The,
are able TO move forward only in dizzy
circles taking two steps backward
for every three forward. Even wher
eating these mice do not seem able t
cease their q%uivering st. $Vitus dance
motion.
In some cases novel pets can b,
trained to be extremely useful. Thus
n mai who kept a Mygale spider fol
a pet,~trained it to live among tn
curtains of his bed and rid him o
flies and mosquitoes which woult
otherwise have disturbed his slumb
ers.
Chamelions are also to be recon-
mended as attractive household pet
to people. who are troubled witt
c~ockroaches. These curious lizard
prefer flies, but they will gladly &C
cept a straight cockroach diet afte
the fly season IL over. Although the,
have q rather alarming appearance
with their large google eyes and LONG
sticky tongues. they possess a gentl
disposition except when pestiferou
insects are concerned. Moreover. a
!. everyone knows. theee extra ordinar
| creatures are able to adapt their col
, ors to their environment. so that the
would never interfere with the colo
| scheme, Of a room.
But there are some people who pre-
r fer ~cockroaches to chamelions ant
incredible az it may seen. even thes
annoying insects car be trained. to b
affectionate pets. DR.. L.. O.. Howar
OF the United States Bureau of Entt
f moloEy. has had remarkable snccet
"A crotch BUG, he writes, "of tn
usual. inquisitive form Of mind ii
t habited my office desk, and as 500
as / laid down my cigar upon the eds
Of the drawer, the little fellow thvari
ably came out OF his hiding place an