The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-11-30
CHANGE IN PETS
Boas and Spiders Are Re-
placing Dogs.
By Frederic J. HaSkin.

| luTulSuluSS duu ClOIuSS. IL yoo " oh
| to be in style this year you must have
something bizarre abut the house
such as a snake or a pelican or a
skunk. The reign of the lap doc
seems to be over, and the animal deal
ers of our big cities are now hard
pressed to supply an ever-increasing
demand for weird and exotic house
hold pets to take it's place.
Pet raccoons have not yet appeared
on promenade in Riverside drive, but
New York animal dealer reports
that already these magnificent little
animals are usurping the place of the
apartment dog. They are given all the
freedom, comfort and attention OF
their predecessors except that instead
of being led along by leash they
taken their afternoon constitution in
exclusive quiet on the roof.
That unsocial little animal remote
ly related to the raccoon the skunk
is also being domesticated with
surprising success by city dwellers.
With it's scent bag removed, it is said
to make a charming pet, its DISPOSE
ton being more amiable than that of
most poohles, while its striking black
and white coat is considered valu-
able asset to interior decoration.
Boa Constructors Favored.
Boa constructors are also becoming
fashionable. Eight Of these formid-
able-looking reptiles have recently
been sold to private families in New
York who intend to make pets of
them. Of course, they are not un-
wieldly, 30-foot boa constructors, such
as terrorize the natives of South
America, but are of modest size,
measuring 7 feet or so. According to
the animal dealers, boa constructors
are excellent pets, as they are excep-
tionally clean and absolutely amiable
if properly handled. There is an
Englishman who possesses such a
pleasant boa constructor that he gives
it the freedom of the DINING room in
his home, where it is said to enjoy
coiling itself around the legs Of the
dining table. So far as is known,
however, all New Workers owning
such reptiles keep them in strong
glass cases and do not invite them to
dinner, but pass their food to them
through little door.
One of the most popular Of the new
pets is the marmosette, or pocket
monkey, which measures only from
to inches, weighs only or 8 ounces
and can be conveniently carried about
in pocket or handbag. This little
creature can be taught to 'do all man.
ner of clever tricks, but it is usually
viciously unfriendly toward every
body but it's master or mistress and
as it's bite is poisonous 1t is adVlsaDle
to brush it's teeth every day.
Gaily colored parrots and parra-
keets started the vogue for strange
birds as pets last year, which probably
accounts for the present popularity OF
pelicans. Dealers in various cities
have recently reported a growing de-
mand for these birtls, as we'll as for
some of the brilliant South American
birds, like the Brazilian cardinal and
the troupial. Crows and ravens are al
so said to be replacing canaries in the
drawing room. Crows when taken
Young in life become very tame and
lovable, and they can often be taught
to talk as amusingly as parrot.
The Dainty Wildcat.
1t is also considered much smarter
to keep a wildcat now than a Angora.
Common cats are out of the question
altogether; they must either be got
rid of or kept out of sight like mila-
dy's gowns of three years ago. If
possible one should visit South
America or Mexico and return with a
wildcat, so that ones photograph
may appear in the pictorial supple
ments, but if this cannot be arranged
wildcat should by all means be Sc
cured through a dealer. The Margay
cat or lony-tailed cat of South Ameri-
ca is a good choice, as it has strik-
ing color scheme, being grizzly
brown or reddish with black spots
and rings. 1t is also said to yield
gracefully to Observation-Disclosures
thing which is rare among the wild
cat species.
Another picturesque pet from
South America which is being widely
adopted by city dwellers is the coati,
a close relative Of our own North
American raccoon. 1t has the same
beautiful coat, an even bushier tail