Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-28
WEIGHS ELEVEN OUNCES
The Baby Bear Recently Born at the Zoo,
This City.
The Mother Is "a Big Black Specimen
A COmicaI Monkey Mother
With Her Infant.


are three of them. But there is one in par
ticular and that happens to be not the
youngest, but. the smallest. Its existence
has been a state secret at the Zoo for some
two weeks now, because 1t has not reached
that mature age when the authorities think
1t will be safe to let 1t become acquainted
with the public.
1t is quite a curiosity, for Ii is unusual
for bear to be born in confinement, and
this is what this baby is-a little bear. Its
mother is big black bear that used to
roam in the Yellowstone Park. She weighs
between 40 and 200 pounds, and is a good
sized animal. The baby. however, has evil
IDENTIFY determined to bring ridicule upon its
parent, for 1t only weighs eleven ounces
and is about the size of an average rat Its
weight at birth is not known, as the young
ster's entry into the world was not gener-
ally known, even to the intimate friends of
the fanily,as ii lay concealed in the shaggy
hair of its mother The baby also had
brother or sister, but unfortunately, mother
bear was somewhat careless in stepping
about or rolling about and smothered the
poor little thing at an early stage in its
career.
Mother Bear made ample ARRANGEMENTS
for the reception of the little strangers,
and the babies trousseau consisted of a
deep nest made principally of hay. This
is arranged in one corner of the cage and
the mother and the baby snuggled down
in the soft mass and appear to be comforta-
Die and happy. Baby bear has already
shown evidences of a decided character,
ana squalls Justify whenever il feels hun
cry or has dyspepsia or any other ailment
that Is apt to make people disagreeable.
Eyes Not Yet Open.
The noise it makes is more like that of
cat than anything else. 1t has not as
yet the real bear voice any more than Il
has its weight and size. But, after all, II
makes a good deal of noise for eleven
ounces and his mother is kept busy look
ing after the sightless little tyrant. For
Baby Bear, although it has been in the
world some two weeks now, has not yet
opened its eyes to see what is going on.
AS 1t gets its meals regular every day and
has plenty of time to sleep 1t is probable
that ii has no curiosity to know more of
the world than these few physical facts.
The birth of a bear in confinement is so
rare that the little fellow Is likely to ie-
ceive a good deal of attention from the
scientist 1t is supposed that the bear will
open its eyes in the course of three weeks
from birth. In the zoo at Cincinnati
bear was born some years ago, and IL was
reported In regard to IL, so DIR. Baker says,
that 1t did not look out upon the world
for about six weeks. There Is, however,
difficulty in noting the habits of the baby
bear, but, as scientists are suppo ;ed TO
be fond of meeting difficulties for the pleas
ure OF overcoming them, 1t is natural 10 ex-
pect that they Will succeed in this instance
The mother is the obstacle in this case
for she has a decided objection to any one
except the keepers approaching the cage
She Is probably aware that her baby
owing to its diminutive size, is espe ,ially
exposed to danger. a visitor might easily
pick 1t up and stow It away in his pocket
The attitude of the mother toward all
human beings except the keepers is anoth-
er reason which led DR.. Baker to keep the
bear and her little ones excluded from the
public until the latter has reached a more
mature age. He is afraid that IL the mother
becomes excited that she may accidentally
DO some harm to the baby. AS it is now,
when people approach the cage she is apt
to take the baby up In her mouth and carry
1t around.
Thus far the little one has depended on
the nourlshment that is received from his
mother. and he has shown very methodical
habits, and rings the dinner bell with a
regularity that would be appropriate in a
more orderly house. The bear and its in
FAINT is housed much the other bears are
the only difference being that the portion OF
the cage directly over the nest is covered
with boards. so to protect ii from the
weather. As far as possible an effort has
been made to max its present surroundings
similar to those it would have in its native
home.
Two other Babies.
There are two other babies in the Zoo
now. One is quite recent, having been born
on Monday to little African monkey. The
baby is quite active and the mother is
anxious and solicitous. The scene presented
is therefore amusing. The mother holds the
baby in her arms when giving nourshment
and sits in the cage rocking backward and
forward. a perfect picture of maternal care
and affection. No doubt the little mother
would hum Mother Goose rhyme if the
monkey language was sufficiently elastic to
permit it. AS it is she is quite human in
all her ways and looks after her little ones
very much as the human species is cared
for at that period of life
The kangaroo has also a little baby. as
has been announced in The Star. Almost
imm ediately after birth baby kangaroo was
deposited in its mothers pouch and has
remained there ever since. 1t will soon