The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-02-26

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 PEG,
pie begin to appear early in the forenoon,
some Of them bringing a lunch basket,
wherein may be found not only their
W 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 acquaintances; q
bun may always be bought for a penny,
and biscuit are abundant on many a
convenient counter.
First comes the preliminary ramble,
and then a skurry back to the fish house,
where at II 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 oOn 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.
II must be confessed hat 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, Familiarity called a ''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 impalinS
each fish upon his bill lifts his head,
and in some mysterious and lightning
like manner catches the victim and
swallows if.
THE RIDE On THE ELEPHANTS.
Later III the afternoon the pelicanS are
fed in the little yard where they strut
solcmnly 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 nell, covering the water
with IL confusion Of gigantic waving
wings. IS the attendant approaches -
carry out this pleasing ceremony, the
birds awaken from their drOwsy calm,
and it is a sight not soon to be forgotten
if n can watch a stately old pelican
lift his wings and begin an awkward
curveting in token Of his joy.
In the bear pit, Il deep and well lighted
inclosurc, 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 uncrring skill given by long
practice, and will even 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 | want him to
climb 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 dcSccuds to munich it
in content.
The crowning joy of all perhaps for
little visitors is that of riding the ele-
plants, which, provided with great sad
dies, large enough for Il dozen people,
take their load of shrieking, laughing
children and go numbering off down the
walks, waving their trunks this side and
that III the hope of receiving Il stray tit
bit from the ncighboring crowd.
FEEDING I'll LIONS.
Later III the day comes one great
event, to which even the most serious
grown person must be interested. All
half past 1 the lions are fed. Long
before the time visitors begin to pour
into the building where, in large cages
against the wall, lions, tigers ana Loop
ards are pacing restlessly up and down.
Tho creatures themselves need no
watches to tell them dinner time is near.
Al the appointed moment a man ca
tiers, pushing Il barrow of bleeding meat.
and wheels it past the cages to the very
end of the room. At the smell ana
sight pandemonium breaks loose. Ole
terrible roar, made by many voices III
awful concord. fills the place. At the
last cage the barrow stops. Il bar is
thrown back, and two large pieces of
meat are thrown in. The lion scizes them
III his paws and lies contentedly down.
to gnaw AID lick them with the DELHI
Grafton of Il well fed animal.
So the programme goes on. until one
voice after another is SileuceI ana the
barrow Is empty. One very interesting
fact is always TO be observed. The
animals do not. on rec living their first
piece of meat, retire tC devour it: they
wait for the second anu then turn away
with both held securely in their DAVIS.
They have evidently learned how much
to expect AMI can count up to that
number.
Indeed the delights of the Zoo are
almost i~ueyaustible TO animal loving
children. There is the monkey house.
where those grave, wrinkled, half hui
man creatures sit picking ifas from
each other with an air of funny absorp-
ton. There is the chimpanzee sally"
who will count five for her keeper bv !
naSSiOU him the rnrujSita pnmLar DF |