The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-22
A Great Animal Manager

The creates triumph won by Mr..
Bartlett during the early days of his
stewardship (of the London Zoo) was
the successful rearing Of the young
hippopotamus in 1872. This was not
the first of those born in the menagerie.
but the calves born in 1870 and 1871
poth died. In the Society'S report for
lo'2 II was stated that arrangements
had been made that in the event Of a
third interesting occurance of the kind
taking place the young one may be re-
moved and brought up by hand The
interesting event did take place., and Mr..
Bartlett received the society's silver
medal as an acknowledgment of the
great Skill and care shown on this oc-
casion, and the services he has render
cd generally to the society,"" The mann
ma hlppOptamuS brought up the young
one herself, though Mr.. Bartlett was
fully prepared to bring it up by hand.
But this was a credit to our zoo, for
the Duthch hippoptamus, which had a
young one, had to hand it over to a
nurse.
The series of Historical monkeys
kept ait the Zoo began with Joe" a
chimpanZee, which the erection of the
mex monkey house nabled to be kept
alive for sometime. Frank Buckland's
description OF his management by Mr..
Bartlett gives an insight into his read
mess and reSOurce in dealing with diff
ferent animals. The big ape needed
exercise. This he obtained by being
allowed the run of the monkey
instead Of remaing in a side rOom-be-
fore the visitors came. AS he knew he
would be caught and put back in his
room at this hour, the ape used to
climb up on to the top of the other
cages and refuse to come
down. As he could not be tempted by
food Mr.. Bartlett appealed to his mind
by working on what he had noted to
be his weak points, curiosity and cow
ardice. This is Mr.. Frank Buckland's
account of the daily proceedings at
this hour: Mr.. Bartlett went to the
keeper. and touching him gently on the
shoulder. directed his attention in a
mysterious manner to the dark passage
underneath the gas-pipe which ira
verses the house, pretending to point
out to Sutton some horrible
creature, using an energetic name
! but saying nothing except words to this
+ effect: 'LOOh Out-there he iS-there
he isl At the same time the two men
would peer into the dark place under
the gas-pipe." The monkey used
presently to come down to see what
the subject of fear and interest was,
. when Mr.. Bartlett ana Sutton used to
shout: He's sOming out! he's sOming
: OUT" ~ rush away in the direction
Of Joe's cage. Them Onkey would
rush for the same place of safety, which
happened to be by the door of his
own house, n sometimes enter it be
fore them. auckland notes as curious
that the monkey never learned the de-
ception but would be taken in 10y it
whenever the time came to finish his
mornings airing.
These 'indirect methods of animal
management, something akin to the
wonderful way some people have
with little children. never failed Mr..
Bartlett. To the last he would walk
round and see all the creatures as to
whose health or temper the keepers
had any misgiVingS, and his sugges-
ions OF directions were scarcely at
fault. Take for example the difficult
case of a r~hinOcerOS with a bad place"
on its face, which occurred some two
years ago. The question was, does the
abscess come from a bad tooth, or does
it only need lancing? You cannot ask
rhinoceros if he has the t~OOthache. and
though this one was in considerable
pain, the cauSa causans was not OBJ
viOus. All Mr.. Bartlett said w Give
him a new birch broom" The broom
was presented, with the bands at the
top cut, and the rhinoceros at nee ate
it up, grinding up the bits with great
gusto. "Ah; you see his teeth are all
right" said Mr.. Bartlett, n the next
day he 'lanced' the abscess with a
well-sharpened bill-hook. The dag
nosis was ingenious, and worthy of the
head Of the profession, which Mr.. Bart
lett undoubtedly was.'-LOndon Spec
tatOr.