Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-30
FelfdHe 11l Captivity,
w. A. Conkling, in Archives of Comparative Medi
 Tcine and SurGery1

w. A. Conkling. in Archives of Comparative Medi-
 [cine and Surgery.l
 AS the Felid@ family comprises some of the most valuable and interesting animals to be found ln the geological gardens and men ageries, their treatment in captivity Is of great importance. It is impossible, in view of their confinement and consequently limit ed opportunities of exercise, for them to have all the conditions of life favorable to health
 Constipation is one of the serious difficulties we have to contend with. To guard against this, liver is fed them once a week: when this proves intellectual, castor-oil is admins tered with their meat. Their food is either beef or horse flesh, the latter being used al together in the Geological Garden of Phila- delphia, and in the principal European gar dens, as measure of economy Old and worn-out horses are taken to the gardens where veterinary surgeon examines them to ascertain if they are free from disease.
 In some gardens, the mode of killing these horses is by blow on the head, as this re- tains the blood through the meat. Regular ity as to time of feeding is of importance
 We feed once on weekdays only, and fast on sunday in order to avoid surfeiting and to give the stomach rest. The animals under stand this perfectly; for while at the approach of the feeding hour during the week, they pace their cage, impatiently watching for the keeper, on Sunday they give no sign oi expec- tation, but remain quietly in their cage I have had instances of animals voluntarily abstaining from food for period of ten days without suffering apparent inconvenience. In cases of this kind, try to tempt their appe- tite with live rabbit, or chicken, or other delicate morsel The tiger and lion are al- lowed for one meal twelve to fifteen pounds of meat, including bone the smaller animals less, in proportion to their size. When the meal IS finished water is given them, after which they pace the cage for awhile, and then sleep. They are very fond Of catnip, and when it is placed in their cage enjoy rolling In It, thus resembling the domestic cat It IS advisable to place logs of wood in the cage, so that the animal may scratch with its claws; otherwise the nails will grow into the flesh and fester causing much pain and will have to be cut from time to time The felldse live in captivity from fifteen to sixteen years, showing signs of decay about the age of 12. The lion seems to breed more freely than any other species of the felida; and. strange to say, that in travelling menageries they breed as freely as in gardens where the cages are more spacious. This may be at- tributed to the change of air and scene in their circus life. The jaguar and leopard have been crossed, also the tiger and lion
 Specimens of the latter were exhibited last year in this city by MT. Forepaugh in his travelling menagerie. Period of gestation in lion, tiger, and hyena, 16 weeks; leopard, 15 weeks panther, I3 weeks The number at a birth is usually from two to four, in the case of the lion an hour or two intervening between the delivery of each cub. The last time 8 hyena at the menagerie gave birth to young there was an interval of twenty-four hours between each cub. Weight of lion cubs when born, four to six pounds; hyena, three and a quarter pounds. Eyes open af- ter from four to seyen days, and in three weeks teeth all cut. The young of the spot ted hyena are bonn without spots, while those of the self-celotSD animals, lion and panther, are born with spots which disappear in from three to four months. The young of the tig-