YAP.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 143

YAP.

A WRITE): in Chambers' Journal gives a slight but loving biography of two prairie-dogs, which were sent him from Texas, and which succeeded in becoming really domesticated in their English home. At the end of a year the older of the two died, but Vap, livelier and more hardy, has now reached the advanced age of six years. His food is strictly’ vegetable, and his diet light. Dry oatmeal, oats, or a bit of oatmeal cake, are his favourite dishes. The average temperature of England being so much lower than that of Texas causes him to creep close to the kitchen fire, where he sits beside the cat, fondling her and bestowing on her loving pats with his little paws. When out of doors he is particularly fond of keeping close beside a little bantam hen.

One peculiarity of both dogs was that they lacked the sense of vertical distance. Whenever they had mounted a table, chair or window sill, they were liable to fall as if unaware, sometimes hurting their faces quite seriously. When they attempted to leap from one chair to another, they would miscalculate and fall between them. Now, however, experience has taught Yap to estimate distance and direction.

Yap is never satisfied until he has thoroughly examined any new piece of furniture which appears in the room. At one time, when a new rug was placed temporarily before the fire, he sat down (on it with great enjoyment, but as soon as the old one reappeared, he showed unmistakable re sentnient by tearing and gnawing it. He expresses his affection mainly by pressing gently with his teeth the hand of him he loves. If a stranger touches him with firmness he offers no objection, but should the action be timid or hesitating, he is apt to give him a pinch. Like the nettle of the warning rhyme, Yap must never Ire grasped ‘ tender-hearted.'