The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06

Petitea Decrease in the summer.
The student Of animal life will find in
all probability. no better field for the
study OF animal character than is pre-
scented in the Zoo at feeding time. The
intoxicating animals. or carnivora. are
fed but once daily. Their meal hour is at
half past / o'clock in the afternoon,
while the rodents. which comprise nearly
! all the rest Of the residents of the mag.
| nifcent mere gerie. receive their allow
ance of frui'. vegetables. grain. hay. etc.
| twfee-once at 10 o'clock In the morn
ing and again at O'Clock in the after
| noon.
| The snakes are most irregular In
! their meals. as, after a hearty dinner,
they are liable TO go 10 sleep for three
months or so.
The carnivora receive from eight to
fourteen pounds OF beef every day, with
J the exception Of Sunday. when a fast is
made, as it is found their health is better
when this rule is observed. Fifteen hun
dred pounds of meat are consumed weekly
at the Zoo. in addition to large quanti-
ties of fruit. vegetables. hay. and oats
A great part of the hay is obtained on
the grounds of the park, which also fur
nishes the rats mice. and chipmonks
on which the snakes are fed. Each ami
NAL knows its meal time. although vari-
Gus degrees of impatience is manifested
by the individuals.
While some openly manifest their
Impotence by the peculiar cries with
which nature has furnished them,
others again do not give such strong
vent TO their feelings, and sometimes one
will be seen quietly sleeping, dreaming per-
haps OF its wild life in the jungle. ard
needless OF its present condition. That the
animals remember and fondly long for
their free condition, no one who watches
the carnivora that have been captured wild
can doubt. Most of these exhibit clearly
| defined contempt of the food which Is
quietly showed into their den BY the OBJ
| noxious keeper, and it is not hard 10 see
that the latter would furnish much more
acceptable meal. The quality of food sup
piled is. however. of a very delectable de-
scription, and might well excite the long
ing of the hungry human being
With the exception of the hay and oats
which is furnished In regular quantities
to the elephants. camels. etc. and the
rats and mice which furnish the menu OF
the snakes. there is nothing distributed
among the denizens Of the Zoo which Is
not retailed over the counter of the butcher
and the produce dealer. The beef used is
what is known as chuck or neck meat, and
costs generally 12 cents per pound. The
neck is used because the bone which it
contains compels the animals to chew the
| meat, which would be "bolted' or guiped
down whole il there were no bones in 1t.
The eagles and other birds of prey re-
ceive regular rations Of meat al the same
time that the carnivora are fed. They ex-
hbit greater voraeity than the nercest
quadruped.
The young boas, the Zoos late It addltlan
to the reptile family. can eat n.ire with
great ease and despatch, while the larger
constructors occupy themselves with rats
and rabbits, sometimes to the number Of
half dozen to the individual There is
a noticeable decrease inthe appetite of the
animals, especially the carnivora, during
the summer about two pounds less being
given to them during the warm weather.
The vegetables most in demand among
the Zoos population are potatoes and car
rots; apples and bananas are the most
popular fruits. About aeventy-iiva pouLGs
OF bread day are distributed among the
birds, bears. monkeys. and elephant. ard.
live on glass bottles AMI Old iran. ard
while a pronounced vegetarian. 'Xhibits a
distinctly dainty taste. About 40
pounds of hay and mashed oats are con-
sumed among the elk. deer, antelope, buf-
faloes, camels, and other Eliminating AMI
mails.
Many of the daintiest things The ami
mails receive, however. are given them by
visitors, and bushels of apples and nuts
dies are brought by children, who take
the greatest delight in witne ssilg the
many q1ieei methods by which nature has
provided that~the different ;pecies should
dispose of their food.
The monkeys afford. perhaps. the most
attractive feeders, and are the recipients
occasionally. of some cruel jokes. Cases
have been known where JACKIE has in good
faith. accepted number of nuts from
deceptive giver who stored in reserve one
which contained a large modicum of red
pepper. There is considerable subtlety in
this plan as the monkey is by nature sus-
picious and examines closely the gift OF
a stranger before swallowing it. The willy
visitor However, knows just at what stage
Jacko reaches blind and cheerful conf
dence and then the thing is sprung The
hideous grimmaces and frantic actions of
the unfortunate monkey afford the heart
less visitor corresponding delight, which is
intensified when the former. who is a bad
reasoner at least in his then condition.
makes for the nearest monkey and proceeds
to take it out on that innocent ndivid-
ual and general fight on the wherever
you see head hit-it' principle eusues. At
this stage the keeper arrives and demands
to know who has been teasing the ami
mails and in all probability he remains IN
enlightened. as the bystanders sre gener-
ally too thankful for the amusement af-
forded them to hetray the prime mover
in the transaction.