The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-29
BATHING AT THE ZOO.
The Elephant, the Elk and the
ChimpaDzee Like the Water.
From the PhiladaInhin lima

EAOAA luS Iilldutlpnld Times.
The quip Of the old author who says
that the difference between civilized
and uncivilized men lies in the fact
that the former bathes and the latter
does not, has long been dsproved by
fact. But II the difference of a bath
made the civilized man. the Zoo con-
talns a number of animals who can
fairly claim the benefit of the distinc-
tion-whether 1t makes them civilized
is not altogether clear. There Is the
elephant, for instance. IL re1oioes I'm a.
huge tank sunk in the ground, to which
an incline Is sunk, and wherein the
pachyderm may enjoy Itself There
are two elephants at the Zoo, but the
bigger doesn't battle. He's too fierce
Wild and untractable TO be let out Of
his cage. So they keep him securely
chained, and when he needs a bath the
hose is turned on him. The female
quiet beast of pleasant manners
saunters forth every afternoon in sum
mer and bathes in the tank Her ioy
is simply unmeasured.
When she does battle, the trumpetinc.
the splashing, the squirting of water
out of her trunk on her back and
TANKS. are simply prodigious. It's the
sight of the day-but any one getting
too near may be drenched That
doesn't feaze the elephant She's there
to battle, and battle she does.
The crowd watches in amazement.
Elephants, as is well known, do not lie
down, even TO battle, and the Zoo ele-
plant is no exception. She stands UP
and swashes about. acting as her own
shower bath, and making the most OF
her opportunities.
The male elk is another bather, on
a long and protracted basis There is
a 20 In he all N,a Ia. -.
water constantly flows. 1t Is not a
large tank and when the male elk gets
into IL there isn't much room for any
thing else, so the females and the lit
tie elks are forced to stay out and
watch the old one enjoy himself. As
he is liable of a warm day to stay in
the tank from dewy morn to dewy eve,
the others get theirs in watching.
While thus enjoying himself the elk
is frequently submerged, except his
horns, which are wide. and his nos
trils. They say his object is to avoid
the flies. which can't bite his horns
very well, and don't have much of
chance on his nose. The rest of the
elk family have to fight flies as best
they may.
The champanzee. Billy. gets sponge
bath daily. The heat OF July was
few too much for Billy, who had been
reared In the comparative chill OF Gen.
trail Africa, and he had to be put on
ice to keep him from slipped his earth
ly mornings altogether. Nowadays his
keeper. Murray, gives him a sponge
bath every afternoon, which is simply
Billy's chief delight. When he feels the
sponge he closes his eyes and smiles.
and expresses his qualification in low
shorts and whistles.
The alligators and crocodiles. being
by nature very fond of bathing. divide
their time between lying in the water
with their mouths open and lying on
the ground with their mouths open.
They are not expressive OF countenance
and their bathing may be by force of
habit. The persistent indulgence In
water baths alternated by sun baths
may account for their good health. for
so far as known they never die a nat
ural death.
The pelicans, storks, swans, ducks,
cranes, and other like birds are fond
OF the water. as every one knows The
pelicans, cranes and storks stand and
wade In Il knee deep, with one leg
drawn up and one eye closed. Just
why this one-sided habit is not known.
even to naturallsts.
The polar bear. not having any ice
bergs on hand, takes u out IN water.
which he leaves long enough 10 eat
and take an occasional nap. His feel
ings during the recent hot spell may be
eonjectured.