The Washington times., 1901-12-22
BABY KANGAROO
BORN AT The zoo.
Great Rejoicing in the Whole
Australian Family.
SEVERAL NEW ACQUISITIONS
'nrnbno. From Distant Luzon. aud
the Dinro, From Nu.traIin-Gamc
From the Yellowstone - Apes
Adaptation of "Mothcr Goose,

ened the hopes and ambitions OF everyon
connected with the big animal place. II
came into existence only a few days age
and marks a new era in the history c
the Zoo. for he is the first infant kangaro
to show his tiny head at the Zoo, an,
one of the few ever born In captivity. s,
far his head is the only part OF his small
body that has been seen. He has not ye
left his mothers pouch. but is content
and will be for some time, to view tn,
world from between his parents paws.
The baby Is the greatest pet at the park
where every effort is being made to en-
sure his growth into healthy. strong
specimen of Australia's strangest animal
the continent where odd quadrupeds are
he rule, and not the exception. Strangers
have not yet been admitted into close
proximity with the little beast.
The Baby's Cradle.
Some days ago he was born, and his
mother immedic -ely placed him in the
pouch made for that purpose by nature,
whence he has not yet issued. Every now
and then he thrusts delicately formed
head into the open air. and surveys the
surroundings. Each appearance is hailed
with delight by the animal men.
The head Of the baby resembles that OF
a black-and-tan puppy. The eyes are
bright and clear. nearly black in color,
while the infants cars are a delicate pink,
Soon he will grow into a big fellow. and
then he will be the greatest attraction at
the Zoo, not only TO the children, but to
students OF animals as well
Father Kangaroo, since the advent Of
I the baby. has been so oyerioyed that he
seizes every opportunity to show his ap
! probation OF the circumstance by knock
| ing mother and child about the cage.
Yesterday Mrs. kangaroo was seated on
4 large stump in the cage with the baby
peering out from between her legs. Mr..
I Kangaroo. on shelf above them, sud
denly leaped down with great force,
knocking his wife and child to the saw
dust. He is so good-natured that the
keepers say there is nc malice in his
heart.
Sudden Advent of winter.
With the sudden advent OF winter on
Thanksgiving morning extra precautions
of the new arrival. His part OF the
animal house IS kept very warm, and
no draft is allowed TO fan him. The
suddenness with which the snow came
also resulted in the rapid perfection OF
plans for providing winter quarters for
the animals, and nov the Zoo is in q
condition1vbiGh maybe described by say
In hag - 10 4
Food and fodder are stored up. the heat
ing apparatus is in working order, while
the animals themselves have been busy
getting out their winter furs.
On Thanksgiving morning the birds
were the arst to discover that the ground
was covered with snow. Those not con
fined under wire netting drew their heads
from under their Wings and after gulp-
ing down a few mouthfuls OF insects
started south. The polar bear opened his
eyes to see them 20 and gave start of
joy. The water in the tank was frozen
over, and the groHnd was white.
Song of the Hear Keeper.
The bears keeper said that the two
from Greenland celebrated the event first
Of all by taking a cold plunge in the lee
cold pool. The floor OF the cage was full
of siftcd snois and ice, which the animate
proceeded to enjoy by much rolling about
The keeper came up to bring their fish
and TO congratulate them on ;he arrival
of winter. He sang a song to them which
wen, some hing like this:
So glad were they to sec the snow,
For which they'd often prayed
They clean forgot last summers heat
One hundred in the shade.
The other animals woke UP, not all |
together but one at time, Ike the /
different Instruments in an orchestra I
tuning up. The roises at the Zoo on that /
particular morning. the animal men say
beat anything in the same line that they
had ever heard. Peep! peep!' for the
birds "Ha-nph," for the lions
'3Iu-kwtzt." for the tigers 'Ka VOW
growI," for all the animals. The Zoo
early in the morning is a very noisy
place.
A BuIi From the Philippines.
An entirely new cry was also heard In
the general concert of animals. 1t was
that OF the Philippine water buffalo, or
carabao, which has just been received at
the Zoo. 1t is native OF the new Pacific
where it is the great beast
Of burden when tanned, and forms one Of
the most interesting exhibits at the park.
1t is kept indoors on account OF the eli
mate II bears a resemblance TO our
domestic bull, and to our buffalo or bison,
but at the same time is like neither. 1t
is distinctively Oriental.
The Philippine commission has devoted
considerable space to the carabao in its
report to the President, in which it de-
5cribes the animal as a native Of the
Calamianes Islands. Masbatc. Negros, and
The other islands OF the group, although it
IS not found In all. In Luzon. where this
Dne came from. it is the most important
beast.
II has a mild disposition when domesti-
,ated, but even in that state has been
Known TO iniure its owner in wild state
L is very fierce, and hunting it is de-
;cribed as a dangerous and exciting sport
rhe report says that frequently the cara
,ao has been known to kill the hunter
ifter it had been shot through the heart
Il is a great swimmer, ten miles beinc
IN easy swim Tor iull grown animal, aud
I is consequently of great com nercial |
Importance in country where the rainy |
eason takes up 50 much OF the time.
The Australian Dingo.
The carabao. however, is not the only
ecent acquisition to the collection of an .
mails at the Zoo. \ few days ago an
australian dingo was received from Dr.
" coding tho United Ct,+ag 1,ors,,I | ,
1 Newcastle, New South Wales. 1t is a
uppy. and resembles small red dog.
Inc dingo belongs to the same family Of