Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-03
FEEDING WILD ANIMALS.
Strange scene Enacted
Daily IN Calcutta.
How Live Buffalo and Sheep are Fed to
Lions Tigers and Pantherz

AAOhn 1AElE udbAN6 1l0lal WllQS-p3n-
theirs, leopards. tigers and lions and
other fierce creatures from Africa, live
in comparative safety.
When the visitor passes the first IN
closure. and has traversed series Of
weII-watered and charming gardens,
he comes to 4 half-moon, separated
from the den Of feIines by two sliding
gates. Turning this, he mounts to a
kind Of gallery, from which he can
look down into the inclosure. and
which is high enough to be out of
danger.
Within, the lions and tigers pass
their days in indolent ease, wandering
about with the air Of monarchs retired
from business. 1t is not their native
jungle, indeed, but 1T is far different from
the gloomy cage Of a menagerie. Shut
il by palisade of pointed bamboos,
they learn at last that their roaming Is
checked. The spectator may study
them in every attitude, sitting like
bronze figures. majestic and still, or
rolling over, distending their awful
jaws in yawns and gapes, the younger
bounding in play, or in contest with
each other.
From out some dense thicket win
stalk an old Bengal tiger to fondle its
mate or its young, and retire again to
dream of its days of freedom.
Toward evening all the animals are
on the alert: their roars and cries be-
gin, and some come up toward the
Palisades, shutting the air. At last
gong sounds, and is answered from
within by aperfect pandemonium. and
the animals all gather near the en-
trance. From the other side, amid the
din, maybe heard the lowing of buffalo,
the plaintive cry Of sheep. The sounds
from either side excite the others.
The wild beasts. seeming food, re-
new their cries for it; their victims
hearing their natural enemies appeal
for mercy. The lions roar rises above
all as he stalks forth stately to make
his way through his subjects: the
leopard and panthers glide between
the larger animals.
At last the gongs cease; the victims
have been driven up to the inner gate,
and that slowly rolls back. An awful
silence follows as the poor creatures
crowd back against the gate. Then
the buffaloes, as IL aware that there is
no escape, dash madIy forward, charg-
ing the wild beasts with their lowered
heads and horns. a gap is made, and
they plunge forward. The sheep at
tempt to follow, but their bIeating is
soon drowned. as they fall beneath the
teeth and claws Of the smaller felines.
In Che open space the larger animals
seem fully TO enjoy the chase. a tiger
bounds on = buffalo COW. and. fasten-
ing at the neck, drags it down; an old
lion. BY a bound. faces another. and
with blow Of bis terrible paw on the
sturdy forehead. felis it.
IN another place buffalo may be
seen, with glaring eyes. dilated nostrils.
holding 1t bay two crOuching panthers;
but while thus engaged. q stealthy IT,
gress from behind scars through the
Lhe air. and DESCENDING. fastens her
deadly claws on che throat Down
they 20. the tigress. crushed almost BY
the weight Of the buffalo. clawing and
tearing, while the lesser beasts assail
he sturdy victim from behind, till. tot
ering from wounds and loss Of blood,
It sinks lifeless
IN short time the slaughter Is done.
and each Of the greater animals tears
III its chosen quarter and retires: then
only 10 the smaller animals generally
venture 10 approach. But II ! ven
t.srcso,no leopard. G. even three Of
them. attempt to touch ! body ID
presence of ! tiger. ; blow o. growl
soon puts them % flight
AS che Lon stalks toward . victim
III draw back. and bis roar clears ths
space cor the lloness and cubs on all
sides you ca Sc and hear nothing 6ut