Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-06

was the Oldest animal in the collection, and
had been in the Park fifteen years, and was
a universal iavorte with all the attendants
He lived for many years with his mate MAT
tie" who was mother Of large families of
little panthers, in one of the roomiest cages
in the house. Several weeks ago "Joe"
began to fail. He left his food half eaten,
and spent his time stretched upon the floor
in half stupor, from which nothing could
arouse him. One warm afternoon in Sep
TENDER the visitors were startled by howl
from the panther cage. "Mattie" was
sprlnging up and down the enclosure, howl
ing in the greatest excitement. "Joe" was
lying in his accustomed corner, stiff and
cold, with his green eyes glazed and sight
less. He had died from old age. 1t was
hours before his mate could be quieted
enough to allow his body TO be removed,
and for DAYS afterward she mourned and
cried for him. and refused to be comforted.
The box which contains the allgators has
been taken into the lion-house and placed
next to the snake cage. The little ailgators
have been given full meal and are now ex-
pected TO sleep like good little reptiles all
winter long.
The snake cage is carpeted with heavy
d-blanket. Two leafless trees, built in an
adjoining carpenter shop, are planted IN each
end Of the enclosure, on which the snakes
may crawl and rest. In the centre of the
cage is transparent glass stove, in which
jet of gas continually burns. This furn-
ishes the requisite heat, but it occasionally
gives out. When this happens it is the
duty Of Thomas Donaghue, the night
custodian, to relight it. Once last winter
there were six big boa-constrictors tangled
up in great knots in the cage. They had
been sent in from some western menagerle
nearly frozen to death. When they were
laid on the blankets they we're as stiff as a
gas pipe and more dead than alive. They
soon began TO revive under the influence of
the warmth and we're beginning to untangle
themselves when the light went out. They
| were as cross as bear with a sore foot, and
their angry Kisses could be heard all over
the building. In one Of his trips over the
ground Mr.. Donaghue discovered the
accident. " hat was to be done? 1t would
be dangerous to leave the snakes in the cold
until morning in their half-frozen, half
thawed condition, and It would be equally
dangerous to open the sliding door and
light the jet. He made several attempts to
do so, but each time he found the head Of a
monster snake altogether too close to his face
to be agreeable. He finally hit upon the
plan Of lighting wax taper and thrustng
it through the door to the jet. This worked
admirably. The snakes viewed the light
with discreet alarm. But when the jet was
reached it was found that il would not light.
He was obliged 10 call the assistance of
some Of the police Pieces Of the carpet
were procured, the door was raised, and as
each snake ventured TO thrust his head into
the outer world. it was covered with the
carpet and his snakeship dragged, writhng
and Kissing, from the cage and put in large
dry goods box Then Mr. Donaghue
entered the cage. repaired the jet, and re-
lighted it. The box was then put in the
cage, the lid was taken off, and the snakes
crawed back into their old quarters. AT
present the only inmate of the cage is mis-
cradle little lizard, who lies in front of the
stove half-buried in the blanket, almost too
lazy to catch and devour the unhappy insects
which are daily delivered to it for food.