, 1892-02-10
THE LONDON zoo.
HOW THE CHILDREN ENJOY THEM
SELVES ON A SATURDAY.

Seeing tho Animals in London's Great
Garden Take Their Daily Meal Is n
Weekly Attraction in the Big City.
Watching tho Creatures Eat.
No day is more animated at the Lon
don Geological gardens han 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 a lunch basket,
wherein may be found not only their
WI 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 provender
for their four footed acquaintance; a
bun may always be bought for a penny,
and biscuit are abundant on many a
convenient counter.
First ONE the preliminary ramble,
and then a skurry back to the fish house,
where at 10 o'clock the diving birds are
fed. A large glass tank of clear water
occupies n end of the room, and into
this precisely at moor an attendant
throws a handful of tiny fish, n 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
amer 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 n "darter"-
Is admitted alone to the tank, and his
motions in eating his fish dinner are
wonderful to see. He sweeps through
h 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 p~elicans are
fed in the little yard where they strut
solemnly all day long. A small pond
occupies its center, ard into this bits of
fish are thrown, in search of which the
birds rush pell nell, covering the water
with n 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 n 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 e pit, n deep n well lighted
inclosure, dwell two bears, who are I'M
wieldy with the fairness 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 in his mouth
with the unerring skill given by long
practice, and will ever climb the pole in
the center of the pit, if one will but hold
a bun over it suspended from a stick.
But how will he know l want him to
climbS' said a little girl, who had just
been provided with this plummy bride.
"Just hold it near the pole where he
can get it." said an attendant, land 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 it
in content.
The browning joy of all perhaps for
little visitors is that of riding the ele-
plants, which, provided with great sad
dies, large enough for a dozen people,
take their load of shrieking, laughing
children and go numbering off down the
walks, waving their trunks this side and
that in the hope of receiving a stray tit
bit from the neighboring crowd.
FEEDING THE LIONS.
Later in the day comes n great
event, to which even the most serious
grown person must be interested. At
half past 4 the lions are fedl Long