MARMOSETS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—From various quarters my attention has been directed to a paragraph in the Daily News of January 25th, headed "An Interesting Zoological Event," which relates to the birth of two little marmoset monkeys at the Blackpool Aquarium.
I gather from the fact that the manager thereupon "called for fresh hay," which he himself placed in its cage as a couch for the mother and her young, that, prior to the event, the parent pair had enjoyed no such luxury, which, however, is really a necessity for such tender little creatures in this country. I give mine at all times a comfortable sleeping-box, furnished with cotton-wool and flannel, and plenty of it. And they are very fond of dry, soft moss. Unless the mother be provided with the insect food which is natural to her, it is very doubtful whether she can bring up her tiny, beautiful offspring ; and, in addition to this, it should be noted that these creatures pine for sunshine and fresh air when the weather is at all mild or balmy. My own marmoset was out in the garden yesterday, and uneasy till he got there. After which, he made a hearty meal of small snails and slugs, gum-arabic, angelica, and pd ti de guimauve. He has lately developed a liking for cinnamon, and when it is offered to him he evinces, in return, the most marked affection. His usual drink is sugar-water or the juice of stewed sweet apples. But he likes a little cream, and fresh pure water occasionally.
I have kept this specimen in perfect health, strength, and activity between three and four years; and as I have observed very closely the habits of these delicate little animals for some considerable period, I may speak with confidence of what is suited to them and their well-being.
I may mention that when in Paris a few years ago, I heard of two little marmosets born in a bird-fancier's shop there, under, apparently, very unfavourable circumstances. The parents had been kept in a darkened cage, which was scarcely more than a packing-case with wires in front, on the floor at the back of the shop, with thirty others of their species, with no proper sleeping-place, no tree-branch or perch to climb upon, and no food but bread and milk. The pair, together with the young ones, had just been purchased before my visit to the shop, and I trust they were destined to more enlightened treatment. Marmosets dislike extremely to live or sleep on the floor of the cage, and at night especially they will seek the highest point possible to rest in.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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