Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-03

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Isthmian Tapir.
valuable acquisitions have been obtained.
He was one of the naval officers who WIS.,
tied the South American countries in the
interest of the worlds fair at Chicago.
During his trip Lieutenant Wells ran
across large number of interesting ami
mails, all of which he shipped to this city.
The animal. exceptionally reared and
of vast Importance in a geological collec-
tion is known in polite society as an elias
mognathus bairdi, but to the masses it's
every day designation as tapir will per-
haps suffice. This is the first tapir ever
brought to Washington and Is one of the
few in the geological gardens of the world.
1t is doubtful If half a dozen could be
found on exhibition in North America.
Tapir a Rare Animal.
The tapir Is an uncommon animal about
which comparatively little is known. The
recent arrival at the zoo is expected to
attract the interest Of all mammologists in
this section. Several wel!-known animal
artists have notified the officials of de-
sire to sketch the tapir and to color the
plates true to life. Hitherto pictures of the
easmognathus bairdi have been made
from description, and hence were defec-
tive. A careful study will be made of the
character and habits of the tapir, and it
Is expected much information of value to
natural history will be secured.
Six months old and gentle and docile,
the specimen is at present quartered with
in a grassy Enclosure just north of the
main animal house. Becoming guest of
its Importance it has a diet of rare rich
ness. Daily 1t is fed with pans of milk,
the tactical fluid being slipped with raw
enous avidity. For dessert and variety S
sake bananas and oranges assist it in APP
peasing the pangs of isthmian hunger.
Named for Prof. Baird.
bad h,,
Theodore GILL and was named by him az
ter the then secretary of the Smithsonian
restitution, Prof Baird one of the fore
most mammologists and ornithOlogistS of his
time. The range of the animal Is from the
northern edge of South America up as far
as southern Mexico, being known there as
the danta. Tapir flesh Is highly esteemed
as food by the people of Central America.
Within this limited belt the tapir is not I'M
common, but few hive specimens are ever
brought to the ZOOS.
An interesting feature of the tapir Is that
the young are strongly striped with yell
low, while. when adult age is attained. their
coat is solid and dark brown. 1t is a
question as to whether or not this stripping
Is caused by rays of the sun percolating
through the tropical trees where the young
tspir is left while his parents are out in
the open. This would be a means Of pro-
lection for the young beast because In the
underground it would hardly be notice.
able.
AS far as can be learned the tapir belongs
tn family strictly Its own. 1t is Of what
| Is known as the .'odd-toed" class of AMI
mails. and this fact together with the
shape Of the head. leads to the conclusion
that away back in prehistoric times the
tapir and the horse had common ancestor
| although the handsome thoroughbred equine
of today would probably resent an intima
| ton of relation to such an ugly creaturs
as the elasmognathus bairdi. WheI
| full grown the tapir will stand between
I
| probably In the neighborhood Of 200 pounds
| Lieutenant Wells wrote Interestingly OF
the discovery of the tapir now at the zoo
| A black woman was nursing the ANNA.
at her breasts and parted with 1t with re-
| 1uctance The specimen was shipped from
Cartagena and came through in excellent
| health and general condition.
other Acquisitions.
Recent acquisitions to the local ANNA
collection. which has already outgrown the
quarters provided at the Rock Creek reser
walton. include two hutias. or tree rats
from Cuba. They are the largest nativ,
| mammals on the island. There are deer II
Cuba. but they were imported. The hutia
are as large as muskrat and were sen
to the park here by Major Hatfield of tn
army, stationed at Camp Mckenzie
Puerto Principe They were raised as pet
| by his daughter and are presented to tn
zoo on her behalf There are now at tn
having been presented by Karl Decker
the young newspaper man Of this city, o
| Evangelina Cisneros fame, and two beini
| sent by General Dagtin y Feliz. mayor Q
Bolondron. through General James Fl. VIII
| son. governor Of Matanxas and Santa Clar,
| provinces.
A trip the other day to the Enclosure SO
apart for prairie dogs developed the fac
that the family had been Increased b,
about twenty. The prairie puppies are pref
ty little animals and are all doing nicely,
west are now padding in the waters o
Rock creek. within the zoo course of tn
stream, and are apparently contented.
| California Condor.
Rarities which were received yesterday TO
the Zoo include California condor an
a Quebec caribou buck. The condo
In the largest of vultures. The con
dor of the Andes Is one OF the famou
birds Of history. The California specime
Is practically Of equal size, and is in ever
way up to the Andes mark. The bird 1
| believed to be on the way to extinction
| however, and where the condor family wa
once numerous in California, It is now sci
dom seen. This Is due, probably, to tn
poison placed out by farmers for coyote
and ground squirrels. The condor probabi
fed upon the poisoned carcasses Of thes
animals and suffered a fate like their foo
subjects. The birds have also been rech
| lessly shot.
Speaking of the caribou buck yesterday
| DR.. Baker said 1t was tho finest specizne
he had ever seen in captivity. It wa
brought here. from Lake Edward and al
rived In splendid condition.
The Zoo will probably receive within