The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-18
The Central Park Menagerie.

The Central Park Menagerie is q source of
never-ending entertainment not to the children
alone, but to their guardians as well, for there
are few people too dull to look with interest on
"wild beasts" One never grows weary of
watching lion-if he be in a cage-and eager
ness to see the monkeys is universal. The
scene in the monkey-house at the Park ON a
crowded afternoon, passes description One
must wait patiently for a chance to get to the
cages, for men, women and children push and
struggle for q good look at these odd little
beasts. The ubiquitous street boy wriggles
through the crowd like a small worm to gain a
front place, and household pets of few sum
mers, perched securely upon papa's shoulders,
shrek with delight. There are at present in
the cages, balloons from Africa, capuehins
from South American forests, macaques from
India, spider-monkeyS from Costa Rica and
numerous other varieties. All are alike anus
ing, and full of grotesque, half-human frolic.
Now serious big monkey, apparently full of
years, bangles rope, upon which the smaller
ones twist and turn, until, the rope
being dropped suddenly, they all tum-
BILE in a heap to the floor, only to
scramble up and begin new tricks. And so the
incessant monkey play goes on, and we crowd
our way out into the fresh air and linger be-
fore the cage where the great American bison
stands mournfully and in silence, as if longing
for the freedom OF the plains in the far. West
The poor bison inspires pity; and so do the
eagles, which flutter heavily about their cage.
screeching in dismal, discordant fashion, as if
protesting against confinement in the very
land where they are the symbol of liberty
The pigeons, owls and other birds in the large
aviary appear contented enough. The pigeons
plume themselves, and look contemptuously
on the wranglings of a crowd of sparrows,
which have taken possession of one of the
large feed dishes, to the utter exclusion of all
their feathered sisters. But the sparrow is
always loafer and a thief, and as such we
m ust accept him.
During the summer numbers of animals are
chained on the grounds around the buildings,
or confined in outside pens and cages. Here
are different species of large-horned CATTLE
quietly munching at heaps of fresh-cut grass,
or resting in the shade. Here, too, is q hide
Gus, fabby little elephant, standing patiently
and quietly under a tree, the cynosure of
bevy of wondering boys and girls Across the
path is a cage through which tank of water,
placed on the top. pours continuous shower,
and in the refreshing dampness stand three
white polar bears, swaying their heads to and
fro without ceasing for an instant. There are
black bears, too, trotting restessly in their
cages, and i'll pen near by, a group of solemn
camels are wagging their jaws from side to
side. Other pens contain graceful spotted
deer (Which push their soft noses through the
railing for handfuls of fresh grass, zebras
llamaS, Angora sheep, and other herbiyorous
animals. A large incloSure with a tank in the
centre contains the seals; and here is the rare
sight of mother sea-lioness ard her baby.
The infant was born during the journey of the
mother to this city. 1t appears to be q thriv-
ing child, and the mothers tenderness toward
her offspring is very touching. AS we gazed at
this novel sight, tall, lordly English crane
stalked across 4ae inclosure before whose
presence the seals fled precipitately, and at
the door of the seal-house there appeared a
large gray seal, which stood calmly gazing out
upon the scene, as a hermit might sit in the
doorway of his cell on a summer evening.
Within the buildings the vicious and savage
animals are confined. There are panthers,
tigers, wild cats curled up asleep, and. looking
more like mice pussy" than a beast to be
dreaded, and lions, noble, grand and shaggy,
looking out through the iron bars of their
cages with stoid, disdainful glance at the gaz-
ing crowd. These great beasts, however, are
not altogether wanting in affectionate feeling
for one of the keepers of the menagerie having
been removed not long since, the lions roared
for him so at night that the slumbers of the
inhabitants of the handsome residences along
the Fifth Avenue side of the Park were dis
turbed and broken by terrible dreams Of the
Ozark Continent
A menagerie is like large family, and has
its episodes of birth and death. The death list
at the Park during last year includes an ele-
plant, a lioness puma bears and several
smaller animals. In nearly every case death
was the result of hardships endured during
long voyage in a confined cage, the hygienic
conditions of the Park menagerie being in
themselves favorable to animal life. During
the same period, nine lions, four prairie wolves,
two camels Zebu, several deer and large
numbers of the feathered tribe were born
Helen S. Conant, in Harper's Magazine for
October.