Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-30
PETS OF THE PARK
no. and Where They Pass
the Winter
The RACC00NS AND 'P0SSUMS
Comfortably Housed and Cared for-HOw
the Othef Members OF the Happy
Family spend the Winter.
IE RACCOOsS AND 'P0SSUmS

ums Of year. Yet there are son'
thinzs worth seeing even these emily
DAY. just now the geological aud OF
Neurological specimens are gong int
winter qu4rteF.- The rnx-talled rae
eoons have retired To the seciuslon OF d
tgnt box IN the hollow walls OF which
have been carefully stuffed With hay
Within the quiet Of this box they Wi
lie snGziy and quietly sucking their IA
ana JUICY thumbs. Ali summer these
EaccoOns ara the special pets OF AL Wis
lt0Ts. and arc ted al sorts OF pfoyis
hons. They viii eat anything from
gum drop - znipe on toast and as q
result are as fat as the prize pig ~ q
county fair. The motto IS, Make Tat
while the sun shines, for IN winteI
they eat nothing. but hide away IL
their dark boxes and, ike their cousin
BFuiu. sleep cOnEsntedly tlll spnng.
lne OpOssums are less greedy IN
summeg. but keep steadily At II the
whole year. They are natives Of the
land where frOsts ars less severe than
IN John Ball park, and as a
result they get warm corner IN
place provided near the green house.
The only time tue OpDosums sleep Is
when they see one OF the coiOred mepi-
bers of cIety approaching their en-
closure. The realize the fondness Tor
juicy 'pOssum meat which the colored
race has, aud will quietly drop INTO an
apparent slumber until the danger Is
passed. 10 a room near the opossums
T. lr4N. r
a warm climate.
In. owls aud Crows.
The owls and the crows and the
hawks are All native birds accustomed
10 our climate. aud a-e left all winter IN
the enclosure. where they are seen n
the boiling days OF summer. 1t Is true
the crow complains al times Of tue
beastiy weather ani swears occasion
ally At the owl, whose midnight solos
disturb ms slurabers. but he will cav
10 the -pring right merTIly and forget
the minor priyatiOns To which he has
been subjected. Anyway, be ought
not TO forget that while ne has lost ms
freedom DO - no longer forced To
scratch his supper from under a snow
drift, aud as long IS be knows the
necessities of life will be provided ne
sh uid be happy.
The most dissatisfied specimens seem
TO be The wild geese. When not en-
closed they will leave the water and
start on a walking match across the
nearest hill. Their wings are clipped
so they are unable To fly, else they
would not remain long enough for
sp rtsman TO get a shot at teen. They
are splendid specimens ana were
donated to the city by Lyman T. KIN
ney, who nas a whole flock OF them On
nIs farm.
The RABBITS burrow the same as other
rabbits. but thew may be seen skipping
about and nibOling the young twIg- At
All hours of the day aud night. The
three legged deer Will remain IN his
Old enclosure Ia the park and Will be
carefully fed and cared for during the
colo weather. No stable 10 needed for
hlm as the cool climate agrees with his
constitution. Every precautlOn has
been taken To prevent q repetition of
the rad made by dogs last winter.
The greenhouse ~ filled with all
plants which Il pays TO preserve and
al bulbs and roots which need housing
nave been gathered. 4 large number
of beds for flowers next year are being
this fall and the necessary re-
pairs are being made. The leaves
winch fall from the trees are not being
turned, as Is so generally prscticed,
but they are beng gathered and will
I Q allowed To- rot. They Will be used
~ making flower beds. Many I'M
provements will oe made before the
park - opened IN the sprng and
everybody viii Do delightfully."- sur
pri-ed when they make their tirst visit
10 the park nrKt summer.
Lincoln Park.
Lincoln park lacks the attraction of
4 msuagerIe. bat 10 Is q lovely spot aud
Nil ~ more lovely next sun. mer. la
= long bed near the PAVILION are /
'beeled Ia" large number Of shTubs /
a 81 trees. 20 be- set IN the park. Al !
ready the main drives have been 4
ianked with young bircnes, horse |
hestuuts. mountain oaks and other 1
trees. Ia the bed yet to be set out are /
90 be seen Norway naples, purple |
aeeChes. catsi pas, mountain a.h. /
mountain blrches, European birches,
African isrcn, white hlacs, al
ihsss. kilmsFnOek willows, syrlngas.
IRISH jumpers. bsisams. Nor
way spruce, cedsrs. hemlocks
Austrian pine aud many Others IN
= eat abundance A gang of men are
SLY engaged n setting ut the tree,
! shrubs and placing the park in
n IN for cold weather. Large heap. of
.eftlixers are scattered about aud will /
le spsdsd INTO tue flower beds befor.
winter begin.
II ghlsud park - receiving some
,ttention and sooner or later will he
,ns Of the most popular parks n the
aty. The woods slopes and valleys
re natural park aud with the
ouches the committee on parks y put
ing upon DC. &c vii be the fsvorite spot
4 the north eastern part Of the city
The Fulton street park - also recsiv-
nE some attention. A fine cement
yak hss been aid on the vest side
nj wi Dc extended next summer.
ne bssn Of she fountain viii be eur
bundled with a. iron fence. Within
he fence circle twelve feet vide Will
= soddst and cement walk vii sx
end sround it outside the fence.