Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-11
THE BEARS AND THEIR FRIENDS.
A Peep Into the Cages NJ the National
Museum. q
THE FIERCE JAGuAR AND IT'S PRETTY HrpE-rBE COON
THAT PICKED A PockEr-THE PRAIRIE DOGS AND
THkIR REsE vArIoS-FLyISe SQUIRRELS PROM
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY


THAT PICKED A PockEr-rHE rR.IRE DOGS AND
THKIR REsE vArIoS-FLyIsa SQUIRRELS PROM
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
one OF the spotted lynNes. or wild cats ia the
geological collection at the National Museum died
last sunday. II Was the larger and finer OF the
two. An autopsy resulted in the conclusion that
death Was due 20 pneumonia sick Wild cat Is
DOT gentle creature 10 nurse, 80 the patient was
not troubled with muo medical attendance. Toe
remaining lynx seems quite lonely now In the
cage, where IL used 20 SIT all DAY with its CON-
panion glaring At the people who stopped In front
OF their cage The collection OF animals is grow
ing rapidly. Mr.. Hornaday, who has been
chiefly Instrumental In bringing together
these animals and having place
provided Tor their exhibition said 20 a STAR re-
plrler tnai toolog cal collection under the al cc-
uon o. the NATIONAL Museum could be got together
AZ less cost than anywhere else. The facin les
ALREADY aNisting FOR securing specimens and the
Iact that many persons are ready 20 deposit speci-
mems IN such collection, wherr they would he
sure OF proper attention, would make &c possible
10 secure large collection for a comparatively
is a proper building ana grounds. one
OF the most attractive members OF the
group OF anima.s In the exhibition Is
the laguar from Texas a beautiful creature for
whom larger cage than that IA which he now
chaIes is being prepared. THIS ANIMAL has
spotted SKIN, oil delicate tawny sue. inner IN It's
standings and markings than leopards skin. IL
II one N the Largest OF its species The iaguar has
powerful shoulders and foreegS and when II frets
In it's cage darts Its head and springs FROM side 20
Side win wonderful Qulckgess and graceiunrss
The man In Texas who owned the beautiful beast
was onSed 800 Tor IL, but preferred sending It 70
the Naoonal Museum.
THE BEARS
There are now four bears In the collection. BE-
sides the little cinnamon bear that wanders rest
lessly round and round its tree making circle
after circle with Its chain as q radius there are
three black bears In a pit by themselyes These
black bears, one or which is from North Carolina
and the other two from Texas are risky and
sociable creatures. They trolc and play with Que
another, and Chamber about the shelves placed In
their pit for the purpose. They have rondness for
peanuts and for small boys WHO carry peanuts IN
their pockets. These bears eat cooked me and
potatoes. Tue young CHM anon bear is less tame
than the others A rev days so IL became peces-
sary TO loosen the collar, that by reason OF the
bears growth was becoming too tight about It's
neck. Bruin fought desperately against all COM
ers Finally rope was secured about It's neck
aud tw isted about the tree 10 which the bear Is
chained IN such manner that the animals head
was pulled down against the tree and
IL was held tight Even then IL struggled and
came near twisting Itself out OF the rope. The
collar was looSened and Uruin was set free again,
or rather given the freedom OF his chain The cin-
namon bear. when II was FIRST brought here was
OF a very light brown color. Now hall way up It's
legs IL Is dark brown, and looks as though IL had
stepped Knee deep into dark brown paint This
change or color Will 20 on until the whole bear
FOXES AND 'oooss
There are several foxes In the collection, and
they attract much attention. As STAR reporter
was passing a foxs cage the creature was busily
engaged buIylng some article under the sawdust.
witn when the floor OF the cage Is covered. IL
turned out that this was a remnant OF Rewards
dinner which he was Dlrying Tor future use.
par II rdccoons IN one OF the cages form great
attraction for the small boys. THESE animals are
sprighJIy and sociable. Theirlttle eyes SHINE and
sparkle WITH fun They reach out win
Their l , claws TO greet those who come 70
veloped considerable skill as a pickeibook,
and a few days ago captured pocket
book from a boys Pocket anu hastily pulled lt
through the bars into Its cage. The boy was In
great distress. one OF the keepers Was called
upon, and he opened the cage md secured the
lost treasure. The collection VI birds Is growing
too. 4 brilliant creature that dies around The
room was recently sent there on deposit by
Repre- sentative Bourke COCHRAN, OF New York IL is
a gaudy macaW IRON Brazil, and an unusually line
specimen Nearly all the visitors stop some time
al the cage containing n collection OF ylng SOUR
rels- The squirrels inhabit a little hollow log or
limb OF a tree When the Keeper gives tnls log a
little shaking the squirrels come out OF II from all
directions, and clamoer with great agility around
the cage. These squirrels Came from Prince
George CO., Md. They do not actually fly, but
have sort OF wing-like growth extending from
their forelegs 10 their hind legs which they spread
out Ike d parachute when they make a leap.
TIE PRAIRIE Dogs.
A little colony OF prairie dogs probably excited
greater interest than any other part OF the COL
lection when the exhibition building Was first
opened. This colony lived In q 1at cage, partly
Hilcu Will tdrlL- ia WHICH thty DuffOWeu making
their little mound houses Now, however, the
prairie dogs stay In their noes while people are In
the building and come out after the building Is
closed Tor the day. Mr.. Hornaday proposes to have
a regular prairie dog reservation In the grounds
in the spring. portion OF ground will be
enclosed with wire netting. and the enclosure
will be given up TO the prairie dogs. At depth OF
a few feet bed OF cement will De laid to prevent
the animals from tunnelng out. Some years ago
farm OF prairie dogs was started at the geological
gardens In Philadelphia A wall OF brick SUNK
into the ground 10 the depth OF Is feet or more
all around the enclosure. This it was thought
would be sufficient TO keep the prairie dogs at
home. The little animals, however are great
mining engineers IL was not long before they
began TO rise up TO the surface at distance OF %
yards or more from the enclosure. Thy had
burrowed down underneath the brick barrier. SO
IL is proposed TO put sold bottom OF cement
beneath the prariedog reservation at the National
Museum.