Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-02-11
AT THE LONDON zoo
How the Children of the Worlds Me-
tropolis Enjoy Themselves on
Saturday.
Seeing the Animals in the Great Gar
den is an Attraction in the
Big City.
Riding the Elephants, Feeding the
Lions and Other Exciting Ep-
isOdes.


No day is more animated at the Lon
don Geological gardens than Saturday.
when the children appear in full force,
marshaled by papas and mammas, who
are doubtless glad enough to visit the
scene of their own early ''larks," but
who try to look as if they came only as
guides and guardians. The little peo-
pie begin to appear early in the forenoon,
some of them bringing u lunch basket,
wherein may be found not only their
own bread and butter but biscuit and
buns for feeding the animals.
Those who are to take their MONDAY
meal in the refreshment room, how
ever, need not be destitute of provende1
for their four footed acquaintanccs:
bun may always be bought for penny,
and biscuit are abundant on many
convenient counter.
First comes the preliminary ralnble,
and then skurry back to the fish house
where at l2 o'clock the diving birds are
fed. A large glass tank of clear water
occupies one end of the room, and into
this precisely at noon an attendant
throws a handful of tiny fish, a few OF
them still living. Then the side Of an
adjoining cage is removed. and down
plunge the penguins to seize their prey.
1t must be confessed that their table
manners are not fine. They literally
gobble fish after fish. and then hurl
themselves about in the water. evidently
delighted with their bath,
Another bird-a slender, graceful
creature, familiarly called "darter"-
is admitted alone to the tank, and his
motions in eating his fish dinner are
wonderful to see. He sweeps through
the water like an arrow, and impaling
each fish upon his bill lifts his head,
and in some mysterious and lightning
like manner catches the victim and
swallows it.
THE RIDE ON THE ELEPHANTS.
Later in the afternoon the pelicans are
fed in the little yard where they strut
solemnly all day long. A small pond
occupies its center, and into this bits of
fish are thrown. in search of which the
birds rush pell mell, covering the water
with a confusion of gigantic waving
wings. AS the attendant approaches to
carry out this pleasing ceremony, the
birds awaken from their drowsy calm,
and it is a sight not soon to be forgotten
if one can watch a stately old pelican
lift his wings and begin an awkward
curveting in token of his JOY.
In the bear pit. deep and well lighted
inclosure, dwell two bears, who are un-
wieldy with the fatness produced By
many buns. They have been so per
sistently fed by visitors that when one
looks over the railing his bearship calm
ly rises. holds out two entreating fore
paws and sits in pleased anticipation OF
a feast.
He catches bits of bun i'll his mouth
with the unerriag skill given by long
practice, and will even climb the pole in
the center Of the pit, if one will but hold
bun over it suspended from stick.
"But how will he know want him tt
climb" said little girl. who had just
been provided with this plummy bribe
''Just hold it near the pole where he
can get il" said an attendant, "and he'll
do the rest. He knows as much as we
do"
So, heavily and with much painting
the awkward creature mounts his pole
seizes the bun, and descends to MUNICH il
in content.
The crowning joy Of all perhaps fol
little visitors is that of riding the ele
plants, which, provided with great sad
dies, large enough for dozen people
take their load OF shrieking, laughing
children and 90 numbering of down the
walks. waving their trunks this side and
that in the hope Of receiving stray tit
bit from the neighboring crowd.
FEEDING THR LIONS.
Later in the day comes one grea,
event, to which even the most serious
grown person must be interested. Al
half past the lions are fed! Long
before the time visitors begin to pour
into the building where, in large cages
against the wall, lions, tigers and leop
ards are pacing restlessly up and down
The creatures themselves need nc
watches to tell them dinner time is near
At the appointed moment man en-,
ters, pushing . barrow Of bleeding meat
and wheels it past the cages to tho very
end OF the room. At the smell and
sight pandemonium breaks loose. One
terrible roar, made by many voices n
awful concord, fills the place. At the
last cage the barrow stops, bar i
thrown back, and two large pieces q
meat are thrown in. The lion seizes them
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