The Washington times., 1901-12-01
Stories Of the Many Ami
mails at the Zoo.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT A VISITOR
How the Residents of the Gov
ernment's Menagerie An1use
Themselves-'Pompey's" Death
Specimens From Everywhere.


tragedies and disappointments as intense
/ as their own. The generous Hindu idea
! that animals are but brothers who have
not yet reached so high a stage of de-
eelopment as man appeals more and more
strongly to the mind as scientific research
proceeds, and as the gospel Of kindli-
ness advances.
| Then let us be to every beast patron
and a friend
| Each tells his tale, each has his aim, as
sure as his own end.
| A lessons to be learned from them, and
man himself may steal
Some new light from the tapir, some i'm
preston from the SEAL
I Rare and curious denizens of all quar-
| ters of the globe look strangely out from
the narrow confines of their dens upon the
strange scene and the strange people
| around them. The latest addition to the
park is an Indian buffalo from the Phil
ippine Islands. This is the native cara
boo, and the common beast of burden in
the far-off colony of Uncle Sam. The
specimen at the Zoo, which has been re-
ceived in the last two weeks, was an
attraction at the pap-Amerlcan Fair at
Buffalo. 1t is very odd, very patient, and
stolid looking animal, with a huge pair
of horns somewhat like Texas steer.
lemur, from Madagascar, is a recent
addition to the main animal house This
graceful and beautiful little creature has
large cage, formerly occupied by several
monkeys, all to itself. A number of elk
and bears from the Yellowstone Park
are also newly arrived. There are eight
young bears now housed in one of the
open dens beneath the great rocky cliff
at the eastern extremity of the park,
among the number being one grizzly.
But in noting the later contingent, We
should not forget old friends. The first
animal adopted as a ward OF the Govern
ment and afforded quarters in the rear of
the Smithsonian building, forming thus
the nucleus of the present Zoo, passed
from this mundane sphere about a year
ago. This was a cinnamon bear. and it
is an interesting fact that his successor
as oldest inhabitant Of the park is a
grizzly. The latter the deceased CHINA
mon and black bear, also no more, were
cubs together, but as the grizzly made
a rule of saving his companions the trou-
BILE of eating their meals by appropriate
ing the food to himself it was found
necessary to put them in separate dens.
Admiral Dewey has contributed one bear
to the park, which now possesses bruins
of all descriptions. from the sloth bear
of India to the polar bear Of the arctic
regions.
The buffalos. or American bison, are
among the Oldest inhabitants of the park,
and were transferred there from their
quarters in the Smithsonian grounds. Ad-
jacent to the enclosure containing the
tuffalos, and in marked contrast with them
in the manner in which, as a species. they
have survived the depredations Of the
hunter, are the Virginia deer. These
splendid animals probably owe their pro-
longed existence TO their wonderful swift
ness of foot and acuteness Of hearing.
They are the desire of all hunters in
those portions of The country which they
inhabit. but generally manage TO elude the
most practiced marksman.
From the Far East.
It is curious to notice near the deer,
buffalo. and bears of this country, the
yak of Tibet. the camel of Arabia, and
the sacred bull of India. And the croa-
lures from the Far East seem. too, to be
quite as comfortable even in the open cir,
and with a carpet of snow upon the
ground, as their Occidental companions in
captivity.
The beavers are likely TO be overlooked
from their out the-way abode ON lit
tie tributary of Rock Creek. They are the
most accomplished architects of he ZOO
logical group, and across their little
stream they have constructed dams of
earth, supported by a framework which
they erect from wooden sticks thrown
into their den for that purpose. These
sticks are carefully selected by the beay-
ers, and are hewn out By them Into suit
able lengths, and the frame of the dam
erected This is then filled in with earth,
and the result is a workmanlllke and dur
able structure. A large tree once stood
in the beavers den, and was supposed to
be safe from their depredations, owing to
a thick wire netting which surrounded
it. II was foucd one morning, however,
half cut through, and the Industrious lit
tie animals were allowed TO continue their
work unInolested.
Rivaling the beavers in industry, If Lot
in constructive ability, are the prairie
dogs They form a very enterprsing col
ony, but, as their labors are directed en-
tirely underground, their ingenuity can
not be appreciated by the casual visitor.
A better opportunity, however, was af-
forded the keepers of the park, when the
little animals managed to burrow their
way under the walls surrounding their
territory, which walls extend a consider
able depth below the surface The walls
had consequently. TO be built deeper
The house containing the birds is very
attractive. Hero is 10 be seen the only
harpy eagle in confinement 1t is
handsome creature, and was obtained by
Commander Todd, OF the United States
Navy, on voyage up the Amazon River
about two years ago. The rich and beau
tiful plumage OF the parrots, macaws, and
ducks is very striking. Here also are
such strange creatures rs the ostrich, the
cassowary, and the king vulture. Many
birds are TO be seen outside Of the tird
house. A number Of peac0eks roam at will
about the grounds. They ara very tame,
and will eat out of the visitors hand. On
the lake in the eastern portion of the
grounds, which Is sp-npeI by the new
ornamental bridge, a q Il number Of white
swans and pelicans Tier. used to be a
black Australian swan Gpon this lake,
but Ii died some time a-a., and the only
specimen now in the United States is own
ed by a member of Congress.
The open-air dens OF the lions, tigers
leopards. and panthers. attached to the