Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-21
EHANGE, IN PETS
RaCcOORs, BOas and Spiders Are Re.
60 placing Dogs.
POCKET MONKEYS ARE POPULAR
Wildcat is Much Smarter Than Old
Fashioned Ansora-Poeket Mice Are
Also Becoming Common.
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

Also Becoming Common.
BY Frederic J. Haskin.
Fashions in pets change these days
almost as frequently as in house
furnishings and clothes If you want
to be in style this year YOU must have
something bizarre about the house,
such as snake or a pelican or a
skunk. The reign of the lap dog
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 ito take its; place,
Pet raccoons have mot yet appeared
on promenade In Riverside drive. but
a New York animal dealer reports that
already these magnificent little ami
mails 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 a leash they take
their afternoon constitutional in ex-
elusive quiet on the roof.
That unsoclaI little animal remotely
related to the raccoon-the skunk-is
also being domesticated with surpris-
ing success by city dwellers. With It's
scent bag removed, it is said to make
a charming pet, it's disposition being
more amiable than that of most
poodles. while its striking black and
white coat is considered valuable
asset to interior decoration.
Boa Constructors Favored. g..
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 unwieldly, 30
foot boa constructors, such as terrorize
the natives of South America, but are
of modest size, measuring Z feet or So
According to the animal dealers, boa
constructors are excellent pets, IS they
are exceptionally clean and absolutely
amiable If properly handled. There is
an Engnshman who possesses sucn 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,
howeversall New Workers owning such
reptiles keep them IN strong glass
cases ana do not invite them to dinner
but passstheir food to them through a
little dOAB. .-.. ..,..r. -.
One Of the most popular Of the new
pets is ,,the marmosette, or pocket
monkey, which measures only from 4
to 6 inches, weighs only 7 or ounces,
and can be rpaNSnisntes carried about
in a pocket. or handbag. This little
creature can be taught to do all man
ner Of clever tricks, but it is usually
viciously, ,dnfriendly toward everybody
but its master or mistress and as its
bite is poisonous it is advisable to
brush it's teeth every day.
Gaily colored parrots and para
keets started the vogue for strange
birds as pets last year, which probably
accounts for the present popularity or
pelicans. Dealers in various cities have
recently reported growing demand
for these birds. as well as for some of
the brilfia4t, South American BIRDS
like the Brazilian cardinal and the
troupial. Crows and ravens are also
said to be seplacing 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 a parrot.
The Dainty Wildcat.
Il is also considered much smarter
to keep a wildcat now than, an Angors.
Common cats are out Of the question
altogether; they must either be got rid
of or kept out of sight like milady's
gowns of three years ago. If possible
one should visit South America or
Mexico and return with a wildcat, 80
that ones photograph may appear in.
the pictorial supplements, but if this
ClIlUOI Dt q "iiNSAS SANNAA
by all means be secured through
dealer. The Margay cat or long tailed
cat of South America is a good choice,
as it has n striking color scheme, be-
ing grizzly brown or reddish with
black spots and rings. 1t is also said
10 yield gracefully to domestication-
something which is rare among the
wildcat species.
Another picturesque pet from South
America which is being widely adopt
ed by city dwcllers is the coat, clos.
relative OF our own North American
raccoon.; 1t has the same beautiful!
coat, an even bushier tail and a.
strangely mobile nose that can be
twisted. extended, contracted or made
rigid at will. The coati is easily tanned
and becomes devOtedly attached to it's
home and master. According to one
dealer who owns such an animal, it is
the most interesting and amusing pet
he has ever had, keeping him, he says
constantly entertained by its ridicu-
lous antics.
Some beOrJ'e who like pocket pets