The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
HOUSING rHE BRUrrs FROM a1rEp.
a Menaaerie Mt NIght-Wnys OF Resting, and
NJ oods on Awnkcntnn.

Half an hour after the last visitor passed
out Of Barnums Circus and Menagcrie in its
recent exhibition only seven or eight gas
| Jets were burning in the large building. DIR.
| George o. Starr. press agent OF the cir
Gus. and oxDeputy Coroner Of Wcstchestor
County. took the writer by the hand. and led
him on tip-toe to ono OF the monkey cages.
Back In tho dark cornors on the floor were two
black clusters. lie scratched the cage with his
cano, and instantly dozen whitish spots mp
| peared on the surfaces Of each OF the clusters.
These we're the faces OF the monkeys. They
were held perfectly still for a short time. but
whom another gas jot was lighted nearer tho
stage several monkeys broke away from their
companions to leap from perch to perch and
saueal. like bnts. DR.. Starr said that
tho monkeys sometimes roasted like chickens
on their perchcs. but such n peculiarly
was not observed in any Of the cages. Mr.. Nc
| Glenn. very Trustworthy keeper says they
often indulge their propensity for fun by pull
ing each others tails and pinching each other
at dead Of night. Then the whole cage will set
up a chatter. Monkeys never snore. but thcro
is always heard a smiling sound. the Fremont
tory symptom of consumption Of which they
generally die on account Of the GOODNESS and
changes OF n northern climate. In separating
| into different clusters 10 sleep each species
| seeks To keep by itself as much as possible.
DIR. Starr said the pelican usually squattod on
| the noor OF his cage Ike u duck in its coop. but
| II WINS found roasting on tho edge " water
| tank in its cage Its big wcbhed toes are fur.
nished with long, sharp. curving claws. and
| hold. Its beak. nearly II foot In length. rested
along its b9ck. When, keepers hand was
thrust warily between the bars the long beak,
MS II seemed with n single motion moved
! viciousy from its back and struck bar
| Of the cage against which the hand had rested.
! Aiter that II stood up ON guard. snow ing hs big
! brown legs. and nwkwardiy braulishing its
hoax. The snakes lay motoncss most Of them
| being In n cluster. The ostrich lifted itself from
squatting position on tho floor OF its cage
| when the visitors approached. looked out OF
one eve inquirngly, and tetrrel lis long neck
! up and down. rs II II were balancing its body
| with IL on its two ungainly legs. The kanga-
aroused 10y the conversation Of its midnight
guests, il suddenly lifted it, head. and with its
tail gave thump or two on the side OF It's cage;
when it is attacked in close quarters II IS
said to whirl about and use i like
upon its launches and began to yawn
and scratch IL sides with its short torelegs. like
u monkey, The front Of the mandrill babo1ns
cage WIS closed with Kind 81 horizontal smut
! ter. When this was brnE removed tho
creatures paw missed a keepers hand only by
! hall an inch. II stood on all iours, about three
| feet high and glarei through the bars with It's
| gray, sunken eyes. throwing queer expression
| OF cool contempt into It's blue cheeks aud bright
! carmine nose II would occasionally thrust out
| its chin. decked with short, sandy beard. 1t
has acquired the pct name OF Drill" but II IS
/ 49, - .. - ~
angry IL has been known to put forth strength
equal to that Of two men; 1t TOOK u chew II
! what n keeper said was tobacco, rolled IL about
| in its mouth, and appeared TO ENJOY II. DR..
starr said that II could smoke, hut that It was
| not allowed To have matches. The capybara.
| kind OF hairless South American hog. scrambled
up when It heard u noise. and ran to it, trough.
| over which i stood looking opportunity at those
who had disturbed IT, The little sun bear
was rolled up IN n black ball in corner
OF It's cage while the FIRST sight OF the grizzly in
! another apartment OF the same cage showed Il
| swHying nosrlcssly To and fro. The striped
! hycna was roaming about IN lis cage. A ridge OF
| disturbed and II retired TO the rear OF It's cnge
to glare at It's visitors. IL Kept M low but un-
ceasing growi. Il retains the wild instincts ot
| It's ancestors. and the Keepers say that this low
| growl can be heard nearly all night. IL hOwls
prediction Of storm several hours before the
Savage Kisses were heard from two black
| copards before the visitors arrived at their
| their glistening teeth and red gums came into
| view. Their upper lips were drawn back ms
they crouched on the floor, and their short ears
were laid back until II seemed as II there was
| no room for any brains In their serprnt-like
skulls. They are the hcrcest Of all the beasts
| IN the menagerte. and SO wild that when they
| are changed 10 a new cHge they will not eat for
several days. large spotted hyena was found
! growing IN the dark and twlsting uneasily on
| It, back with his clumsy feet In the air He
weighs 800 pounds. He immediately got NJ,
mehacinsIy wildcat spr AZ To- tho r,a1 f M
| cage when IL was approached and crouched as
! II for spring moment Aiterward II sat w
| looking rs innocent and unconcerned rs "A
house cat after Il has eaten a canary. II killed
three Of its brothers last summer \ la4suar
passed its cage. but otherwise affected To dis
regard them. Two lions. born IN Central Park
! two years and half ago. lifted their nos2les
| from their front paws stretched out IN front OF
| them and showed their fine. large fronts while
| they blinked lazliy AT newly-llghied gas jet.
! Showmen like lions. on the whole, much better
than tigers, because they are not SO treacher-
| Gus but they say that bad lion is worse than
| "A tiger. The other day, when these two lions
were fighting over bone, Joseph Barrett one
! OF the keepers, entered the cage and took the
bone away from both OF them. Nevcrthele all
| lions are dangerous at times Before approach
ing within reach OF "A non. Keeper always tries
| It's disposition by coaXing words and by offers
TO pct 1t. IL II holds down It's head to 10
scratched II Is considered TO be IN q safe mood
| 10 handle. Tho rhinoceros sleeps with a hoarse
| snore, and resembles huge. over-fnt hog az
its body spreads out over the bottom OF the cage.
Tho one In B1rnum,s menagerie Is said To
| weigh 1900 pounds All Of the frame work OF
| the wagon on which It's cage rests is made OF
| steel. IL is said that II would be- the most dan
gerous animal In tho menagcrie II II should
escape In AN angry mood. Though usually
| very sluggish. il is terribly quick in action
when angry. and there is practically no limit to
The four or five baby elephants stood in n
row. iastidiously selecting choice spears Of hay
with their restless trunks. while Emperor and
his huge mates lay sprawled out on their side,
their upper sides being rounded up into for
mdabe mounds Of flesh. The effect Of the
| light WAS 10 make several Of them lurch back
| ward and forward and sideways. and finally sit
up on their LAUNCHES in their clumsy broken
lointed fashion. The sea lion sleeps on its plat
| form and not In the water. The girafe usually
| holds It's long neck nearly erect. with its legs
| doubled under him like u horse.
| Keepers in mcnagerie divide their charges
into six classes, hay an imals, cat animals. mon
keys. elephants. birds. and fishes. II a
| keeper OF the cat animals Is killed, or
II he leaves his situation. the manage
| ment look about for an experienced man to take
| his place. II they cupuot find any. they pro-
mote one Of the OLDEST and trusticst hay animal
| keepers u the vacant position The cat ami
| mails comprise everything OF a naturally savage
nature. including the lions. The hay animals
| include deer. glraiies and the like. In the ele-
! phant class are included rhinocrrOses and hip
! poponml. IL requires particularly steady and
| trustworthy man Ia care Tor the eats, " which
| can never be handled or changed from cage 10
| cage without precautions. no matter how tame
| they may seem 10 be.
How His Trousers Got Shortened.