Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-26
The Philadelphia Zoo.

The splendid Geological Garden at Fair
mount Park, Philadelphia, was opened to
the public in July, 1874. yet it has the air
and general appearance Of famous long
established like institutions in Europe. Its
collection of animals is already very eX-
tensive, lacking hardly any thing of grand
importance TO the mass of patrons, unless
we might mention the hippopotamus. At
the last annual meeting the superintcnd-
ent reported four hundred and thiIty-four
mammals, four hundred and fifty-lhree
birds, fifty eight batrachians, and sixty
three reptiles; and every visitor can testify
to the exceedingly fine condition Of most
of the animals. The seals and a-lions
disport themselves in the water or sun
themselves upon their island structures,
sleek, fat, and apparently us happy as
seals can be. One of them manifested his
vigor not long since by climbing over the
railing around his pond-four feet high, |
should say-and taking a promenade over
to II neighboring seal pond, whose incos-
ure he also sealed. 1t would certainly be
interesting to know how Il seal could climb
II fence. | was told of this feat by the
superintendent himself II gentleman of
distinguished manners, blythe way, and Il
scientist of note.
The collection of seals in this garden is
more extensive, | think, than that of any
other-than that of the London Zoo, GER
tainly-and seals are very expensive lux
uries. The superintendent OF the London
| Zoo says that fourteen hundred weight
of fish per annum is no more than is abso-
lutely necessary to keep seal in condi-
ton. OF course seals are accustomed to
eating their food alive, and so difficult is
the task of teaching them to eat dead fish
that thirteen out of fifteen seals received
ut the Philadelphia garden died under the
discipline. The general mortality among
the seals, indeed, appears TO be greater
than anywhere else in the garden. One
died in 1876 from periiOnitis, and another
under very distressing circumstances; this
was II Young female who "bad the habit
of generally staying in the water ut night.
During very cold night, early in the
winter, she lost the air-hole she had KEEP;
open to breathe Though, and not having
strength 10 break the ice which formed
over her. she WAS found in the morning
| drowned"
| Among the rare animals may be men,
toned two black leopards, n splendid rhl-
noccros weighing over three tons, three
fine giratles, and II large number of kan
garoos. The kangaroos appear in most
vigorous condition, and almost any time
the visitor may see the little ones protrud,
ing from the maternal pouch-the dis
tincJive characteristic of the marsupiaI
family. There are, however, some fish
that have Il pouch for their young. The
hippOcampus, or sca-horse, is IN example
No one, it seems, has ever witnessed tho
birth of the kangaroo; but it is certain
that when first found in the pouch it is no
much more than IN inch in length, ant
looks exceedingly like the common garder
grub worm. Sruclurally, indeed, the
kangaroo is the most wonderful of animals
The collection of camels, deer bufltlocS
and zebus is very large. The black zcbr
(sacred bull of lndia) is Il splendid ami
nal, presented to the society by the com
missoners Of Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Its color is very rare. Besides this one
there is another bull, four COWS, and ,
little calf born in the garden. Ii is sal,
that they can be easily acclimHtcd here. |
so. there may come to be a " rage fO
ze bus, and the milk of the sacred COW
may vet be considered Indispensable to III
first.class hotels and restaurants IN
HoWhHd, IN Htrpcr'S Maga:ine for April