Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-11-26
The rasr.asuus xso-xeo.

A VISIT 10 FHILADHLPHIA's COLLECTION or brAsrs
ANB nIaDs-THE VARIED AasRMBIAdK OF WILD
| LIFE.
Az every seusible improvement which PhilA.
deiphia makes in the Park OF which she il 90
Justly proud adds fresh lustre to her civic crown,
the Geological Gardens there have an interest
beyond that OF ordinary places Of amusement,
and the lAts largo and interesting accession made
to their stock Of animals is an event upon which
our sister cty 10 to be congratulated. On fine
day, even this late in the Autumn, few things
are more entertaining aud agreeable than a
VISIT TO THAT VARIED AssEMBLAaE
Of animal life andaven from our own city the
TIP s,n z neither Istiguing nor expensive one.
The chief city railways IN Philadelphia, with few
exceptions. furnish tickets providing transport
70 and from the Geological Gardens aud entrance
there for 4Octs., an Arrangement which saves
trouble and reduces the expense nearly by half.
In the garden. great improvements have been
made in the few months that have elapsed since
| 1t was frst opened to the public. The buildings
which accommodate the animals 10 sumptuously,
have been multiplied ~ tile number Of their
tenants has increased, and they, ~ veil ~ the
open-air enclosures, are kept in state Of beau-
tlful order and cleanliness, quite surprising un-
der the circumstances. The large building near
the entrance on which Workmen are still actively
employed, is nearly completed, and many Of the
newcomers are already installed there among
the most interesting Of which are several
cAaEs or LEoPARDs AND ooELors,
beautiful, 1.-the, fierce creatures specimens of
the rare spotted deer the sun bears from Java,
gawky and queer-looking; and some very fine
porcupines. The lion whelps, kangaroos, and
aoone of the creatures now kept in the open air.
will also soon be installed in this new residence
Of the dainty pavilions which dot the swels
and slopes Of the part Of the Park allotted to
the Gardens, the psgoda-lke monkey house, ,rad-
ant with its stained glass and gay decoration, Is
tho prettiest without and the most entertaining
within. There children, and grown folks too,
crowd unweariedlv, witnessing the antics which
y recall the theories Of our descent from or at
least our kinship with the absurd creatures.
Meanwhile the motley
CROWD OF MONKEYS AND pABooNs,
now greatly augmented by the iate arrivals, dis
port themselves with a. much gayety and self
possession ~ in their native forests. The peace
10 toleraby well preserved among them, thanks
to tho energy and ability Of monkey mother in
Israel who in addition to her family cares has
voluntarily assumed the duties Of police ser
geant.
It 10 refreshing to an advocate Of Womans
Rights TO watch this worthy matron apparently
absorbed In her maternal duties, yet constantly |
keeping severe eye upon the rowdy bachelors |
OF the community. Let one Of these roughs |
infringe upon their rights or threaten the per-
sons Of his younger and weaker brethren, and in |
. twinkling that estimsble lady ia down upon him |
inficting such discipline ~ makes him fly chat
tering andhowling to the fsrthest limits Of space |
Among all the creatures 1t was interesting to see
how the instricts of motherhood modify and |
transform the utter selhshness common to brutes.
Roussetts bats, or flying foxes became less
Objectionable in watching the mother clasp her
little ones to her bosom.
WRAPPING HER LEArHER-wINaED ARMS
about it, till mother and child were safely ell
sconced in . complete waterproof cloak, prepar-
atory to hanging herself up by her heels foi
HiestA.
Il was pleasant, too, to see the droll looking
mother kangaroo enduring with the sweetest
patience the frisky assaults Of her young son,
even when that overgrown infant insisted on
himself down for nap in the mater.
nal pouch, for which he was much too large and
evidently too heavy.
Peculiar attention seems to have been paid to
the
EAGLES OF THE "zoo-zoo,"
possibly with an eye to the impression to be pro-
duced by our national bird at the Centennial In |
their handsome and roomy house, with its ap-
propriate furniture Of Topped cedar trees and |
piles Of rock, they really retain mole of the I'M
pro-sivo qualities of siio DiId ~ Frou,iorn rnan
We have seen in any other collection.
One great advantage which our American 70
illogical Garden possesses over even the famous
ones OF London and Paris is the extent and in
terest Of the contributions Of animals indigenous
to our own territory. Colorado in particular fur
nisheH q very large and interesting quota. The
black, brown, and grizzly bears, who may be
paradoxically ranked among the ''lions" Of the
place, all hail from there. Also - number Of the
finest deer, There are
BIsoNs FROM THE FAR WEST,
prairie wolves from the central plains, and large
cheerful settlement Of the quaint little prairie
dogs or mArmots. Tho rattlesnakes also are
creatures Of which North America has the pleas
mt monopoly.
Finally, in leaving the entertaining gardens
and the beautiful park itself the Wilmington
visitors reflected, in spirit of emulation not
with sadness, that in the immediate
Of our city, too, lies the opportuni-
y for . park not inferior in beauty to that upon
The banks Of the Schuylkil The time will sure
y come when we too will awaken to the desira-
oleness, almost the necessity, of utilizing it for
he pleasure and welfare Of the public May it
only not be left too late, till vandal axes and
IuArrying tools have thoroughly done their work
eaving only = remembrance Of the romantic
beauty Of the banks Of the Brandywine.