The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-18
PRICES OF WILD BEASTS.
Elephants, Giranes, Cancellations, Tigers,
rs-HippOpotamus, Rhinoceros
w. I

New York Tribune.l
"Want to know the prices Of the ami.
mails, do your asked the veteran
trainer, George Arstingstall, as he cama
out of the ring at Madison Square garden
after performing his great act" and
pulled off his dress-coat. ''Well.
/ don't know that l can give
you any definite information. The
show business is good deal like the
retail jewelry trade. You ask all you
think you can get and get the most
you can. Some animals are almost be-
yond price. That white elephant, for
instance-Vanderbiit couldn't buy him.
He cost US all Of 100000. A we'll
trained elephant will bring from
$780, 900 to $4,000. Five of
these together" -pointing to the herd
quietly munching their hay behind
the ropes-''cost $3.50, 200. The aver
age green elephant costs 81, 900 or
g., 900 in this country after his passage
and the duty at the custom house has
been paid. If you 60 to an agent in
Ceylon he will charge you from 800 to
1000, while he pays the natives who
capture them about half that, in all
probability.
This classification holds in all cases
FIRST comes the educated or performing
animal, which will always bring a good
price. Then comes the tame animal
that will stay in the cage without tear
ing itself to pieces and chewing up every
thing within it reach. Then the green
specimen that has ustlanded, and which
is liable to do all these unpleasant things
and anything else that its ingenu-
ity may suggest. Finally and lowest of
all is the animal in his native wilds at
the place of capture. The figures that
am giving you are for either the first
or second class. We have a fine lioness
that cost So, 500, but average male lions
range in price from 81, 900 to 5000.
"a good tiger costs $4,000, while in
ferior specimens can be bought as low
as $500. The tiger is more truly royal
beast than the lion, and does not stand
captivity as well. This and the diff
Guilty of catching him keep prices up.
The man who goes out to bag full
grown tiger has large contract on his
hands A good trick bear will bring
$1,000, while the ordinary show beasts
range from $3.50 to 500. A white Polar
bear that has become acclimated and
can live without his two or three tons
of ice a day is worth $1,000. Brazilian
and African Geopards range from 81, 900
to $4,000.
1.-THE giraffe is delicate subject The
longest he was ever known to live in
captivity was two years, and it is rare
that one lasts half that time. 1t is diff
cult to teach them to put their heads
down to eat and drink. When in the
wild state they drink from the cup like
leaves of the palm tree. A single speci-
men is worth from -, 900 to $40, 900. A
herd of fifteen was once sold for 800,
600. There are more than sixty varie-
ties of the antelope family, from the elk
and horned horse or gnu down, costing
from 81, 900 to ~, 900 each. The camel
costs from $500 to ~, 900, but we bought
a lot once from a Spectator. who had
made an unsuccessful attempt te accli-
mate them in Texas way below those
figures. In the desert a camel is worth
about as much rs horse aud lives to be
the same age.
The hippopotamus is rather uncertain
in price. Ten years ago one would cost
$4,000. They're cheaper now, how
ever. The rhinOceros is quoted at from
81. 900 to O., 900. Monkeys are cheap at
*25 each, while large blue.nosed or
dog faced specimen will sell for 81, 600.
Any Snowman would gladly give
. 5000 for live gorilla, but he is not
obtainable at even that price, and we
have to content ourselves, with chin
panzees at $4,000 each. A large
ostrich will bring from x1 900 to ~, 0OO.
He is a short lived, vicious bird, and
worries himself to death. The emu and
cassowary cost $500 to $1,000 each.
THE saddle tapir, so called, because
his skin wrinkles up like blanket, will
sell for $1,000, Or more, If it is fine
specimen. Hyenas are catalogued at
from 81, 900 to $1,000, while sea lions
are SO rare that it would be difficult to
putt price on them. Large snakes,
boas and pythons, run up to 81, 200
each, and any specimen of that class
which has learned to feed in captivity,
after which they will live long time, il
worth at least ! 1000"
How much capital is there invested
in wild animals in this countryF
"Well that | couldn't tell exactly; as
much as "a, 600, 900 some say"