The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
TIE zoo IN SUMMER.
All the Various Animals Now Settled for
the Season.

The hippopotamuses and the alligators Of
the menagerio in the Park are now once more
Installed In their open air pools the outdoor
cages OF the lions and some other animals that
have such Enclosures connected with their reg
ular cages have been opened for the sea-
son. and tho Zoo Is now generally on its
regular summer footing The hippopot-
nmuses and tho alligators are tho only
animals OF the menagerie that are shifted
with the seasons all the rest occupy
tho same quarters. some part OF them
the year round. The summer pools OF the
hippopotamuses and the alligators are in an
Enclosure in the menagerie grounds to the
west OF the Arsenal building. Their winter
quarters are in tanks provided for them in tho
lion house. They go into winter quarters in
November, and come out again in the latter
part OF May. There are three hippos here,
including one born in this mcnagcrie.
Tho great creatures. which might make no
end Of trouble II they wanted to. are moved
back and forth without serious trouble When
the time comes for them to go in. n continuous
ganEway Is built from their outdoor summer
pool to their winter tank In the lion house and
they are coaSed along it with things they
like to eat. They have been here for years.
they are accustomed to the transfer. and
trained to It. and in the fall. with the colder
weather coming on. they like to get into tho
sneiteTeu anu warmer quarters Incy spend
the greater part of their time in the water. with
the top OF their great. massive heads and
small portion of their backs showing above
the surface at that end Of the pool whore
the incline Is. Hopping about on this slope
not far from the edge OF tho water there IRE
likely to be seen some sparrOws. quite un-
moved by the spectacle OF the tremendous head
in the water so close to them. But the fearless
little sparrows may be seen anywhere in the
Zoo, Just as they might he anywhere else: the
animals may not make friends with them. but
the sparrows are willing to make friends with
the animals. at least to make themselves
at home within the animals cages or ncos-
ures. The sparrows may be seen pecking
about on the ground in the deer padlocks and
they are not in the slightest der overawed
by the great polar bear
The algators catch the eye. Around their
pool there is n strip Of earth. upon which they
lie to rest or TO sun themselves. There is n
on the ground within the wire inc'osurr in
solemn rrpose. and there are here number OF
that lie scattered about on the sand. sometimes
in repose and sometimes in action. Occasion
ally, one, vii approach IN" margin of ia"
cTaw VI s ont e. the Too upon the sa%4
see one OF these smaller aIIigators move on
land gives one not familiar with this animal Il
the common idea of the alligator in motion On
the land would present it to the mind win it's
sf srS we nn' AMI oH ae a of bs .
alIiGstors. shifting its position on tho sand.
stood up VIII l,S Legs 4,m".t strasht and
they were four thick stills. Always an odd
creature, the small alligator walking OH IN that
way seemed more curious than ever.
Two-thirds or moro Of tn animals Oft the BOO
are KEPT in cages tnat are in rerm@n"nt build
kept. some in buildings with paddocks at
tached, making quarters in which the animals
the polar bear and two of the grizzlies. in the
bear pit. comprising two great cages that are
t" ths %n1 EHr%n the front but are
which the bears can crawl II they want to. aud
some OF the animals. Including some other
are. however. rooted over, which are protected
from the, north winds in winter and are so
boarded up and protected at night II such pro.
lection should be needed or in Indictment
weather: Al these cages are broad open now
The polar bear; which has been in, Central
contentrdLy in the snow on the roof Of it's cave
IN winter. has now become so accIimatcd here
t fMs IT gets rhrGSmSh the sumner c3mGrtaby
mer blythe shade of trees. The grizzly bears
IN the 81 adjoining cage; which Green into their
now to keen cool. and they seem to find posi-
back thin layer OF hay to protect itself from
HES HES II might seem strange that flies should
uiStHIn an amman So tnl'k skinned 40 the eIe-
plant. but they do. Atthe rear Of the elephant
house. reached through great barnlikc doors
IL n yard or inclosure in which the elephants
have more room for themselves in summer
All along the west aide Uf tho lion house in
which building are kept also the tigers and
leopards and pumas. there is n sories Of spa
cious outdoor, cages with bars on the outward
side, and each with door opening into the
cage with which It IL connected Those doors
are closed and the outside cages unused in
winter These outside cages. the weather per
hitting. arr opened to the animals In tho latter
part OF May and kept open until the latter pnrt
OF September. Tho animals like the added
ROOM That they get In the outside cages There
was lion lying in tho outside cage tho other
day with rs back up against the bars letting
the sun shine on It.
The prairie dogs missing from view In win
ter come out freely now. There is a litter Of
young prairie dogs AT tn" Park. perhaps a
dozen OF them. but it is difficult to take an ac-
curate census of animals Of their subtcrranean
habits OF lie: one can never tell whether they
are all ont or not.
The various kinds OF animals in the Too eat
substantially the same kinds OF food IN summer
that they do in winter, but. II anything, not
quite so much Of IT,
Very, Very Hard Case