Page:George Archdall Reid 1896 The present evolution of man.djvu/167

Rh made, and thus called forth the anger of the alligator. In attacking the fox he did not make use of his mouth, but beat him with so much severity with his tail, that, had not the chain which confined the fox broken, he would probably have killed him. The alligator was fed on raw fish, and sometimes with milk, for which he showed a great fondness. In cold weather he was shut up in a box, with wool in it; but having been forgotten one frosty night, he was found dead in the morning. This is not, I believe, a solitary instance of amphibia becoming tame, and showing a fondness for those who have been kind to them. Blumenbach mentions that crocodiles have been tamed; and two instances have occurred under my own observation of toads knowing their benefactors, and coming to meet them with considerable alacrity ."—Animal Intelligence, p. 258.

"In one of these cases the tortoise would come to the call of the favoured person, and when it came would manifest its affection by tapping the boot of this person with its mouth; ' but it would not answer any one else.' A separation of some weeks did not affect the memory of this tortoise for his friend."—Ibid. p. 259.

"I happen to know the gentleman and lady against whom a complaint has been made because of the snakes they keep, and I should like to give a short account of my first visit to them.

"Mr. M, after we had talked for a little time, asked if I had any fear of snakes, and after a timid 'No, not very,' from me, he produced out of a cupboard a large boa-constrictor, a python, and several small snakes, which at once made themselves at home on the writingtable among pens, ink, and books. I was at first a good deal startled, especially when the large snakes coiled round and round my friend, and began to notice me with their bright eyes and forked tongues; but soon, finding how tame they were, I ceased to feel frightened. After a short time Mr. M expressed a wish to call Mrs. M, and left me with the boa deposited on an armchair. I felt a little queer when the animal began