“TAME” OCTOPUS AT THE LONDON ZOO IS FED BY HAND

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6808, 11 January 1929, Page 3

“TAME” OCTOPUS AT THE LONDON ZOO IS FED BY HAND

It is a pretty fair test of tameness when a wiuld creature feeds out of your hand, and the London Zoo is quite justified in now describing its biggest octopus as "tame,” says tbe Daily Vail. When the time comes for its crab supper tho eight-armed thing comes brazenly to the edge of its tank and pushes out a tentacle so as to be helped before its three companions. Hand'ed a fair-sized crab, the octopus brings it within reach of its horny beak—ignoring casual nips from the' victim—chips a piece of shell as .delicately as if it were an egg, and then absorbs the soft inside.

The four largo octopods now in the Zoo Aquarium promise to do really well The reason contains no moral for children, because tho authorities base their hopes bn the constant quarrels which take place. Life is one long wrestling match for tho quartet, and bits of skin float in the water after each round. Thus the well-matched creatures get. plenty of exercise as well as something to give them, an interest in life. As they ar<2 also feeding well, there i? every hope that they will establish themselves.. A group, of healthy, blood curdling octopods would be, so to speak, a bright gem in the crown of Regent’s Park.