Connecticut western news., 1875-08-20
FEEDING THE ANIMALS.

| Sunday as a Fast Day-The Asiatic Lion and his Snbjects-PandemOnium Let LOOse-An Interesting Group of Snakes A Battle Over a Rabbit.
 Near the hour of two P. M. on any day except Sunday the visitor at Central Park geological gardens, New York, may witness the feeding of the animals. Sundays are excepted, because, says Mike, the keeper, Sunday is 's fasting day with the critters" The carnivores need this periodic interval for their health. Meat eating creatures naturally gorge themselves, if possible, and then lie down to rest, whereas good digestion waits on appetite, and health on both. So, says Mike, we help them to an ob- servance of their normal condition once 8 week. Empty stomachs for Sunday.
 The feeding time brings vision of pandemonium no conception of it is possible until it is witnessed. Brute nature, as we'll as human nature, shrinks from responsibility, even in the matter of eating and drinking. Anxious and expectant as the brutes are, they all seem to depend on the old Asiatic lion to announce the coming forage. They get restive in their way, but it is quite plain that they look to him for a definite impulse. The king of beasts, at this interesting period, couches with much dignity and looks steadily through the big window towards the arsenal door. All eyes are fixed at him. At the frstsign from him all is uproar, tumultuous i plunging and rearing the heavy and quick strides of the lions and tigers jar their cages fearfully; the leopards leap and plunge over and under each other, and execute most wonderful vaulting. Each creature has its characteristic movement. Meantime the air is rent by unearthly yells, among them none more strange than the voice of the hyenas, which canter in most ludicrous style up and down the cage and laugh hysterically. They laugh-that is the only word to express it-yet tho sound is like the continuous squeaking of an upright steam saw, slightly interrupted at intervals as if some hard knot arrest cd it's progress. All this time the little elephants have been pumping and stir ring the air, and looking as if they were trying on the last new waltz. Of the larger animals the bears are the most deliberate and demure ; they do not par ticipate in the general excitement, which is mostly confined to the strictly carnivorous animals.
 The pumas are somewhat deliberate in their actions, but they compensate by an occasional yell that breaks through all other sounds and fairly chills the blood an enlarged caterwaul, pitched on 8 demoniac key. The magnificent jaguar the South American tiger-is also dignifed in his bearing. Conscious of great power, he takes his share of food as his right, and eats deliberately, as be- comes his rank.
 All is quiet now, save the low snarl of selfish brute, or the crushing sounds of mastication. Some hungry jaws are grinding the very bones. Not every day can one see serpents fed but we are fortunate in being present on one of the notable occasions when MT. Conklin announced that he had litter of new born rabbits to :' feed out." The snakes, responsive to the late cheerful advance in temperature, had petitioned for sus- tenance. In large glass cage, situated on the grass border near the sea lions, are several rattlesnakes, Florida ser pents, and blacksnakes from our north ern pastures. The genial warmth of the sun, heightened by the glass cover, had stimulated serpentine life into quite hopeful activity. Mike produces the desired provender, and the reptiles ac- knowledge his kindness. There is 8 very perceptible awakening, and im- mediately on the entrance of the rabbits the black heads are seen lifted above the rank growth of clover that lines the cage. A marked difference is noticed between the snakes. The rattle snakes are inert, lying at length, and passively seizing their prey as it ap- breaches them.
 The blacksnakes, on the contrary, are all attention their heads are raised as if listening to the tread of the prey. At sight of it they stretch forward with open mouth and strike. To take their prey headforemost- which they invari- ably do-they execute some maneuvers, being ready to coil around the victim if need be. His coiling is characteristic of the blacksnake, as we had an opportunity to witness on this occasion One of the blacksnakes had swallowed rabbit, and peered about for more; his eye fell upon the half-swallowed prey of the rattle snake, which was quietly enjoying the slow but sure process of saliva coating his evening meal. Without ceremony the blacksnake seized the rattlesnake by the throat and demanded disagreement. The rattlesnake, in his stoid manner, refused, but made no demonstration. He lay at length and evidently trusted to his powers of endurance and his fearful fangs for protection. His antag- onist now released his hold and seizeA the part of the prey left outside sensi- ply concluding that now or never he had