The National tribune., 1897-11-04

the world over; down to the black tip Of his
tail he has n fine, silky, beautifully
coat He has queer markings o9er his eyes
that give him a eock-eyed = expression and
lends fierceness to his ferOcity
There IS an ostrich who a year ago was q
helpless little affair no bigger than a young
turkey, and quite a pet Now me has de-
veloped several yards of neck and legs, and
good deal of temper. and is prepared TO deferd
himself most effectively if given an oppOr-
tunity. He seems TO have a good crop of
plumes and tips, but they need cleaning, dying
and curling to be beautiful
There arc llamas too, Slim-iegged, little
headed, hare-lipped, gentle creatures, that
bear heavy burdens of long. crinkly wool.
They have gentle manners. and beseech
for peanuts with their great. dark eyes,
and eat them quietly from the hand. IL
they be ieased, however they retaliste by
forcibly splitting a quantity OF hal-maStieated
peanuts right in the faces of their tormept0rs-
The wise little boys have stopped teasing
them, and only watch and grin as they see
other naughty boys tormenting them by hold
ing peanut in front of them and suddenly
taking 1t away
Every thing at the Too wants peanuts; the
parrots curtsy, screech and implore for them,
the BADGER turns somersaulis for them. the
monkeys chatter and frolic and scOld after
. peanuts the coons reach out slim. elsmmy
little fingers, and the little mule deer is tame
because OF his love for them. The people
eat about rs many as the animals do; big and
little, gentlefolks and darkies. eat peanuts.
the fashionaoles evidently regarding the
Zoo " as an excuse for eating this good nut
that fine society for some reason has tabOOed.
The Zoo" is kept very fresh and clean,
and another attractive feature OF it is that the
officials are uniformly courteous and always
good humored to the little folks. Mr.. Black
burn, the head keeper, does all in his power to
make the place pleasant for all concerned
beasts and visitors He lisa good friend of the
b. asts, and ''jollies them up" as he goes
around among the cages, stToking the Ostrichs
long neck passing the tine of day pleasantly
with LObenguls, patting the aTmadillOs, and
arguing with fierce old hyena, who watches
him every moment he is in sight.
The ZOO " officials have to be patient, too
people insist upon teasing the animals feed
ing those which should not be fed, and over
feeding the greedy ones. Indeed, the Zoo "
recently lost a cassowary, whose death was
easily traceabe to too much peanuts, and
several years ago some valuable Angora
goats were poisoned with laurel branches
thrown into their cages by careless visitors
1t is the delight of the children to feed the
animals, and on crowded day many OF the
beasts get more than is good for them but
all this is borne good naturally.
The armadillos are queer little fellows with
a hard, Gathering armour over their backs,
pointed heads and long, pointed tails, They
would be terrifying creatures if they were
large, and indeed they can fight pretty
savagely if attacked As it is, these at the
g Zoo - are funny little fellows, not at all
at home there. If they be disturbed, they 90
Gathering about on their stout little feet,
pOking their noses into the creyieeS of the
register and under their foOd-box, until, find
ing these unavailable for burrowing purposes,
they scramble into the hay and, presto, five
or six pointed tails waggle and disappear.