The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-04
Zoo-Zoo' Items.

The Philadelphia Bulletin gives some
interesting items concerning their Zoo
logical Gardens, which may be found OF
practical service to our Zoo-zoe friends
in this city. The Bulletin speaks thus
"We are getting along right well, and
will be able to make u right nice sho W
ing when our Centennial visitors. arrive.
How much have we. spent, did you say?
Well, We have already expended $780,
000-"
The conversation took place in the
hoHse known as the stCarnivora," and
| the parties were Captain Thompson and
a. Bulletin reporter
"Whap lion like that worthr' said
the Bulletin man, pointing to the fine
male specimen that Was engaged in
growling at him.
'WelL" replied the captain, 81
couldn't say. There's no standard. of
valuation for such animals. 1've bought
one for $25, and have known them to sell
for s., 800 and $4,000. You've got to buy
them rs best you can. There's no regular
market value"
"suppese you enlighten the public as
| to tue ieeding Of these animals r'
swell, all carnivorous animals are fed
six times a week. We count one day
out Of the seven-Thursday."
"Why do you make them fast one day
in the week?,
"You see, we try to follow nature.
None OF these ANIMALS in their wild
state succeed in finding food every day. :.
Then, again, we make the break in order
to provide against exigencies that might
tarise. You see we get our supply Of
meat from bulchering firm that isi un-
der contract to supply US. Well, now,
suppose they should fail us for a day on
| two, or the meat should come in frozen,
then, as matter of course, the animals
could not be fed, and their health would
suffer. Which is the biggest eater
Why, the Bengal tiger. We are giving
the tiger more thar the lion. His allow
ance is sixteen pounds of meat per day.
How much does it take to serve all the
carnivoraf Wei, let's see. One hum
ldred and eighty pounds"
Counting tfty-two weeks to the year,
ana six DAYS to the week, this would
make the total amount Of meat used
81, 100 pounds, which, at 9 cents per
pound, loots up a cost per annum OF
S3, 3b9 80 for food for the carnivora alone.
'rAe hyenas you'd suppose to be big
meat eaters, wouldn't your" said Cap.
tain T.
We answered that such was our opin,
ion.
"Well, it isn't So" said the Captain.
lssrhey eat very little meat. We give
theta plenty Of bones, which they muneh
and crunch and grow tat on. See how
sleek they look. All the animals require
more or less bone Iood for the lime
Itnerein contained"
| Snow the birds we feed regularly
Ieyery day. All the seed.eatiDg birds
lhaye enough seed SET before them each
day to last them tor twenty-sour hours.
The monkeys we feed twice day. Fer
breakfast they get bread and milk, and
for dinner they get vegetables. bread
and milk. Then, You know, the visitors
are continually feeding them."
"Haye they any special lIayorite in the
vegetable line, Captain~
'Qn,. ag, yesl They are extremely
fond OF sweSp Yytostt,e ef-'
/ ssHow about The snakes, Captainr'
81 can't say much about the snakes
as we hardly know when they 'do"'eat
i We have to keep offering them food, and
when it suits them they take IT, anu
4 when it does not they leave 1t alone
4 Sometimes they'll feed once in two ol
three weeks, Sometimes every two Of
4 three months. and they have beer
known to do without for six months"
1 "Wha1s their bill OF farew
sWe generally give them rats, guinea
pigs, rabbits, pigeons, frogs, mice ant
4 sllall birds. Tue rattlespakes seem X
prefer rats and small birds. The pigs
and rabbits we give to the boas. All ar,
! given to. them alive, They wouldp'
, think Of touching anything dead. Th'
lbuil!frogs we iced on miceN ne
s.Where do YOU get your supply of rat
and nicer
sl 'sRight here-why the grounds ar
al overrun with them-why, sir, we've 20
some water rats over there,n pointing b
the beaver dam, "that come right up an
9 take the food right away from the bea
I tyers. The rhinoceros we iced on hay
a bran and potatoes. The bears we fee
principally on bread. The sea lions an
Ell fish -cating birds we feed on fish. We as
: about sixty pounds Of fish per day. Th
. eagles get meat. In winterwe commenc
lieeding at 8 O'Clock in the afternoon, all
lin summer ain hour later" te
II "fIow about the elephants, giraTei
/ oanaels, buffaloes, deer, etc. ~
"All hay.eating animals are Ted twic
day on hay ana gratn."
al -----ss-ssss------
II There 10 a story In Kentucky OF
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