The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-10
8te 9arnt.
The Berlin Aquarium at
Midnight.
FROM THE GERMAN OF GUSTAV
SCHUBERT.

StHUBEhls
The Berlin Aquarium, which
was opened to the public on the
18th of MAY, 1869, is n of the
largest and most elegantly appoint
ed in the world. In its almost
countless cages and tanks may be
found representatives of the animal
kingdom from every quarter of the
globe. The beauty and variety OF
It's rock-work, flowers and plants,
and the facilities possessedl for the
maintenance of the numberless
tenants, are unsurpassed. For the
sustenance of the marine animals
alone twelve thousand cubic feet of
artificial seawater are kept con-
stantly on hand in a reservoir.
The author having spent consid-
cradle time in daily observations
within its precincts, was led to
wonder what aspect this Animal
Home presented at night. How
and where did the animals sleep:
Indeed, did they sleep at all 10
convince himself on this point, he
asked permission of Doctor Hermes,
the Director of the Aquarium, to
pay it a nocturnal visit. This was
kindly granted, Doctor Hermes
himself agreeing to accompany
him. The time fixed for the visit
was a moonlight night in last April,
on which occasion the two gentle
men, each armed with a dark Ian
tern, entered the interesting insti-
tute at midnight.
| experienced a peculiar sensation
as the massive iron doors closing
behind us, we were left in a truly
Egyptian darkness. The artificial
cliffs and ~stalactites, built IN the
most fabulous manner and sur
rounding us on every side, appeared
like threatening giants determined
to bar the way to lis importunate
wanderers. What if hobgoblins
and gnomes should suddenly issue
from out of this ..millennial rock,
SO ruthlessly torn from the mother
ly bosom of the earth, and inquire
u business there But every
thing remains deadly still, the only
sound which breaks the silence is
the splashing of the cascade in the
Geological Grotto," which family
falls upon our ears.
Noiselessly we grope our way
through the labyrinthine walks,
and stop first in front of the cage
occupied by the raccoon and cOati
(nasua sOcialis), an animal of South
America resembling the raccoon.
With these animals, as with all
of the others, we observed the fol-
lowing mode of procedure j; first,
to listen in the darkness and notice
all we could, and then to make use
of our, so far concealed lanterns.
The raccoon and his friend. the
coati, sleepin a cage fastened to the
wall. Hardly had the rays from
oar lanterns illuminated it than the
raccoon, with tie greatest caution,
raised his head above the edge of
his bed and began to watch us with
fiery, uncomfortable chances. For
several minutes he remained petri-
fed by CONSERVATION, in this posi-
ton; without moving a muscle, he
endeavored to make out our forms,
behind which gigantic shadows
whisk along the stone walls. The
coat lay rolled up in a corner, evil
dent wholly unaware of our presence
and the agitation and fear of his
companion.
We pursue u way and softly
approach the monkey-house. In
the greatest variety of postures have
have these four handed inhabitants
of the tropics gone to rest. Some
cover in the straw and soft saw
dust that cover the floor of theil
mansion. Others, congenial souls
hold each other clasped in a close
embrace, and sleep and dream to
gether. One little baboon sits OF
the table (the residence is furnished
quite humanity in a melanchof,
position. With his head %leanin!
against the wall and his hand
lying folded in his lap, he present
an indscribably comical appearance
looking like nothing so much as
sentimental penitent ~confessing
long list of misdeeds. Suddenl,
our lights fall upon the sleepers
They Immediately awake and star
around in an amazed manner, bu
remain entirely motionless. No
N makes the attempt to get III
and discover the reason for thi
nocturnal disturbance. We observ
similar results in the case of nearl
all sleeping ANIMALS, it seems tina