The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-21
HOW THE ANIMALS SLEEP.
A Midnight Visit to the Central Park Mana
geric.

An interesting study TO any one fond of
natural history is TO note the different posi-
tons in which animals and birds rest.
visit to the Central Park managere late at
night, allowed bY the kind courtesy of Super
intendent Conklin, revealed some curious
sights.
The elephants were no longer looking for
peanuts, but lay stretched out on the floor of
their cages, their huge legs lying out at full
length and the trunk curved under the body.
They were all resting on their right side. Near
by in the deer-hOuse the different deer had all
crouched down for their rest with their forelegs
bent under them and the hind ones drawn up,
while the head wHs turned TO the right and rest
ed on the side OF the body. The Oryx. with its
long horns, was resting with its head away
from the body and the horns making an arch
over the shoulders. The alpaca simply looked
IKE large ball of black wool. Jack, the
donkey that draws the cart with the commits
sariat of the menagerie, was lying down, and
only deigned to blink at the lamp that
revealed him resting on q well Uttered
bed with his forelegs slightly turned in
ward from the knee and the hind ones also
drawn inward. The female camel. who has q
temporary home in the deer house lay on her
stomach with her fore and hind legs bent
under her while her head and neck were
stretched straight out. The little axis deer
was cudded up close TO its mother. the two
looking like some piece of mahogany picked
out with white. Fanny" the Skye terrier.
who gives her chief attention 10 the rats that
swarm in the house. looked out inquistively
at the visitors. while her pup lay curled upon
al empty sack.
In the lion house the liOness was lying on
her left side at full length. while the lion,
couchant rested with his head on his fore
paws that were crossed, his hind legs half
drawn under him, and the tail curled in to-
la leon
ards were all resting on their sides, in nearly
every case lying ON the right side. The
hyenas, parahs and scavengers of the forest.
rested with their hind legs drawn under them.
the forelegs stretched cut with the head
slightly bent to the right. Opposite them the
two-horned rhnoceros was lying at full length
on his left side gently snoring The hippo
potami showed only their head and backs
above the water, and "Fatima." the baby
hippo, rested its ponderous nose on the right
shoulder of its mother.
In the smaller mammal house. given up al
most entirely TO civet cats. 'pOSsums and such
like, every animal had eurled itself up into
the smallest possible space, burying the nose
under the stomach with all their paws drawn
up close to the body. The monkeys were
squatting about their cages. their heads bowed
down over their chests. the arms resting on
the thighs of the hind ones A baby
monkey was sleeping cuddled up in the arms
Of It's mother, its little ewes peering out
inQuisitively and fearlessly at the midnight
visitors. The bears were resting in various
positions. some lying out at full length. others
curled up. The two polar bears were all hud-
died up in heap. with their noses buried
deep IN their white fur. and forc-paws crossed
over the eyes. Most of the birds were resting
on their perches their legs bent under them
and their heads tucked under wing. in
every case the right one. The parrots had
only drawn their necks in, while the
toucan had turned its head and rested
its large beak on its back The pelicans slept
squatting on the ground their heads drawn
well back, and resting Their ponderous bills
on their breasts In the same inclOsure the
sea lion had left the pond. and was living ON
the coping-stone. 1t lay on Its rieht side the
left fin resting on the body. The head was
turned upward showing the lower Jaw. which
is without fur. The emu WAS resting with
the first joints Of its legs on the
ground, the body q short distance
above. and its head buried IN the plumes.
The porcupine was lying on its $, 1mach. its
head bent 10 the lett. with the quilts standing
ont III every direction The l.amas. zelus
and African buffalo were resting as cows rest.
with the forelegs drawn under them and
their hind ones drawn in and this was also
true OF the American bison. Under the caves
~ the houses sparrows were roasting. and
lOr time. at least were not chattering and
ughting.-Ncw York Tribune