FILLIS' CIRCUS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6893, 3 February 1894, Page 3

FILLIS' CIRCUS.

; — •*• . The following facts regarding the animal belonging to Mr Fillis' nionnqerie may be of interest to our readers. Mi Cox, who trains the lions and tigers, took to his present life about two years ago, when 20 years of age, from choice, and he likes his business, though on more than one occasion he has had a " bit of a bite" from the carnkone under his charge. His theory about lions is that they go through their performance with a certain amount of willingness simply because it is less burdensome to*them to do so^ their tasks being very easy, than to endure the forcing to which they would be immediately subjected in case of a strike, and the additional punishment of a delay in the feeding. As for the tigress, she is treated entirely on persuasive principles, and with her there is a good understanding. It is a mistake to suppose that lions aud tigers are fed immediately before a performance so as to bribe them not to make a repast of the trainer. They have ther allowance of meat in the morning— once a day on ! y — so that they may rest and digest before being called on to perform. Beef is generally supplied to them ; but when out of sorts they are given liver or mutton as a physic, and they make as great a fuss about taking such food, or a piece of cooked meat, as a boy does over a dose of castor oil. They have in fact to be forced to eat this food. Pasha, the big lion, i3 about twelve years old. He and the others were all born in captivity. The elephants, on the other hand, were captured in a body . in an Indian jungle while very young. There are three bulls and two cows. The small ones are about five years of age, the others from eight to twelve years old. As elephants go on growing till they reach the age of twenty-eight any of this collection tnay yet be a second Jumbo. Mr Burns, the trainer, has made a special study of elephants, and delights to talk about them. He says that it is an error to suppose that these ponderous beasts are thick-skinned and dull of sensitiveuess in the body. An elephant is particularly tender between 'the toes — flies crawling in there cause the monsters to squeal with irritation ; and a pin scratch will draw blood from their flanks. It is only the front of the head that is hard and rocky. Every day each elephant has a bath, this being necessary for health and for comfort. Were this precaution not taken the skin would crack and blister and come away in flakes, causing the beasts to wince under the attacks of flies. Even when washed regularly elephants are for ever lifting straw and rubbish on to their backs so as to keep their winged tormentors away. Once a month the elephants are carefully rubbed down with oil, the object being to keep the outer skin from cracking. A set oi harness is provided for each elephant, and thus equipped they sometimes draw waggons, or help to set up or poll down a tent pole, and do other jobs about the circus. The females work the , most intelligently. Mr Burns says— or, aa he "puts it, they make a better job of- whatever they tackle —unless sheer strength is wanted, in which case a bull has most value. Bulls have strength in all parts of their body ; the cows are comparatively weak in front, and for this reason they are never asked to stand up on their front legs.