THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 54

THE NATURALIST.

Sports in the Animal World.

Most people have heard of, and perhaps seen, white blackbirds, jackdaws, robins, greenfinches, and sparrows ; but there are also many other rare-coloured pports to be found in our wild birds which many people have not even heard of. Many of these are very valuable. As much as £10 has been refused for a cinnamon-coloured greenfinch, and a like amount for a curious straw-coloured starling ; whilst a lavender-coloured itarling that was recently shown at a large bird show, and was stated to be the only one ever seen of that colour, was not for sale at any price.

A black lark — a very common colour — was sold a short time ago for £1 ; but it was a fresh-caught bird, and in very poor condition. A •'•eally good specimen of this colour, if procurable, would probably fetch £5. A really good white blackbird, if a male bird and an albino with pink eyes, will readily fetch £5. Biifc an ordinary white blackbird, with dark •eyes, would be worth from. £1 to £2, according to purity of colour and condition.

Pied specimens :>f the above are not so valuable as the whole-coloured sports. Many of the leading naturalists hold the opinion that these albinoes and rare-coloured sports will not produce then like, but will revertback to their original colour

A*. any rate, there is plenty of room for experiment in this direction ; bub very great difficulty would b«. experienced in getting a pair of these sports or albinopp, and, even if procurable, it would not be easy to get them tam<> nough to breed in confinement.

A Rat's Tail. — ji. rat's tail is a wonderful thing. The great naturalist Cuvier says that there <tre mort muscles in this eurioiiß appendage than are to be found in that part of. f.h© human anatomy which is mobt 3<l-

mired for its ingenious structure — namely, the hand. To the rat, in fact, its tail serves as a sort of hand, by means of which the animal is enabled to crawl along ledges or other difficult passages, using it to balance" with or to gain a hold. It is prehensile, like the tails of some monkeys. By means of it the little beasts can jump up heights ' otherwise inaccessible, employing it as a proj,ectile spring. Elephant versus Camel. — Elephants have the bitterest enmity to camels. When the camel scents the elephant it stops still, trembles in all its limbs, and utters an interrupted cry of terror and affright. No persuasion, no blows, can induce it to rise ; it moves its head backwards and forwards, and its whole frame is shaken with mortal anguish. The elephant, on the contrary, as soon as he perceives the oamel, elevates his trunk, stamps with his feet, and, with the trunk thrown backwards, snorting with a noise like the sound of a trumpet, he rushes towards the camel, which, with its neck outstretched and utterly defenceless, awaits with the most patient resignation the approach of its enemy. The elephant, with its enormous shapeless limbs, tramples on the unfortunate animal in such a manner that in a few minutes it is scattered around in small fragments. • When Elephants Have Toothache. — It is not easy to tell when an felephant has got toothache, but it is best to keep out of the way when you do know it. A surgeon, who had been for many years in India, says he would sooner risk a railway accident than meet an elephant so afflicted. It is stated that toothache affects these animals in a more severe manner than it does any others. Elephants have very sensitive nerves, and a touch of toothache often brings on madness. Providing you are able to chain down an elephant and draw out the offending tooth, the brute is certain to be affectionate to you afterwards. Here is an instance. An elephant in fTengal became affected with toothache, but the keepers managed to secure it while the dentist drew a decayed tooth — the cause of the trouble. After a time the elephant seemed to understand -that the dentist was trying to do something for his pain, and gave every evidence of appreciating the attention. When the operation was over he positively danced round the dentist.