Animal Stories

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 40, Issue 40, 1 October 1903, Page 6

Animal Stories

Everyone loves a good animal story (writes our Dublin correspondent) and we have had a very interesting one from the Zoological Gardens recently. Ido not know if your fauna includes the raccoon. It comes to us from American woods and is an animal somewhat like) a small bear. Lately, one of these escaped during the night from its own quarters and for some time could not be found, although the keepers made diligent search. At last, some nights ago, the watchman sighted the raccoon taking its airing around the lions' quarters. It was secured and brought home to its tree, but soon after it was discovered that while amongst the lions it had given birth to a little coon which it had induced a fine lioness to adopt as a foster child. The lioness had evidently taken good care ot her nursing, but allowed her keeper to remove it quietly and in safety. I can vouch for the following occurrence, which took place in the home of a friend of my own. The lady had a splendid red Irish setter which was a great pet in the family and was allowed liberties, such as occasional visits to the drawing-room during the day. The animal formed a close friendship with a fat drake in the farm-yard ; they walked together and slept together, and no doubt quacked jokes together. One afternoon the ladies of the house were at needlework in the drawing-room, which is on the first floor. A curious bumping noise on the stairs attracted their attention. One lady went to find out the cause and beheld a strange sight. Evidently, the setter had told his friend Drake what a nice place was that, drawing-room : scraps of cake and othotr good things to be had, and had promised to introduce him to the ladies. But how was the fat, flat-footed bird to mount the stairs ? The bumping sound that brought my friend out to the landing was produced thus : The dog came up the steps first, slowly and quietly, and, hanging on to its tail by a firm grip of the bill, was friend Drake, who was thus hauled up, step by step, then, once landed on level ground, he let go his hold and waddled gravely into the drawing-room beside his companion.