Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23

and their abundant supply of peanuts The
wolves, the coyotes and animals of the
plains who have enjoyed outdoor life all
winter, have grown more avaricious with
the abatement of the keen, cold winds, and
now welcome the o'clock feeding bell
with a chorus of barks and bowls that lends
bit of weird wildness to the otherwise
peaceful aspect of spring days at the Zoo.
The water cart has begun it's summer
rounds, laying the dust and giving de-
lightfully cool appearance to the gracefully
winding roads that lead through the hills
and along the shores of Rock creek. The
driveway leading across the creek down
by the sea lions abode will soon be re-
opened for traffic, the concrete bridge
which is being built to replace the old
wooden structure is rapidly nearing COM
pletion. The building of this bridge is the
most important of recent improvements at
the Zoo, and it's construction has cost in
the neighborhood of $4,000 The bridge is
a single arch span, built of concrete and
iron Orders.
improvements Planned.
The spring plans at the Geological Park
include the contemplated construction of
an immense outdoor system of cages in
which the birds now confined in the new
house erected especially for them may pass
pleasant and happy summer. Neither
the plans nor the means of constructing
the cages have as yet been settled upon
The bird house is now one of the most in
teresting at the park. 1t is a long, low
structure, painted gray and green, just
down the slope from the antelope building
1t is the one house at the Zoo it is stated
by the officials there, which is ample and
properly suited for its purpose and rightly
equipped. In it are confined birds alone.
The pathological collection has grown
into one of prominence and is attracting
unusual attention from the early-season
crowds that have already begun to wend
their way toward the geological grounds
In the main animal house, it is stated,
the conditions are not all that they might
be. In it are grouped animals that are
natural enemies in the fields. The mon
keys, for instance, are in plain sight and
hearing distance of the leopards WHOM?
they have good reason to fear While ami
mails of many years confinement become
used to these conditions and. learn to feel
secure from their enemies, with the naw
acquisitions there is often no little trouble
experienced as a result Of the juxtaposition
of strange creatures.
Not only are queer combinations of ami
mails to be found in the main, house. but
loud-voiced parrots as well. There was
evidently no place for the talking birds in
the house of ornithology. The parrots
screech throughout the liVelong day their
cries mingling with the chatter OF the
monkeys in ear-splitting ferocity.
How l do pity these poor lions and
tigers, who have to put up with this
racket day in and day out" declared n
sympathetic young woman who visited the
Zoo recently
"Yesm,'' responded a keeper standing
near by; but just think of the headaches
those poor birds get when the lions begin
| their daily roars.''
From the visitors standpoint, however
the close proximity of the animals in the
main house is convenient, to say the least.
Fine King Vulture.
There many and interesting
specimens now at the Zoo. A newcomer In
the bird house is a king vulture, the first
acquired for the national collection He
was secured from Bostock's Zoo in Balti-
more. an elk being given in exchange.
The career of the latter animal was cut
short by the fire which recently destroyed
the Bostock collection almost entirely.
The king vulture is an unusual bird and
quite rare in captivity. 1t is brilliantly
colored, the general plumage being a
creamy white, while the wing and tail
feathers are deep black. The throat and
back of the neck are covered with lemon
colored feathers with touch of scarlet
on the side of the neck and crown of the
head. Spots of orange, black and scarlet
are observable about the front of the head.
The range OF the king ruiture is from
| the lower edge Of the United States south
ward as far as Paraguay. Its technical
name Is ''Gypagus papa" The bird is well
termed king" Whenever king vulture
appears upon feeding scene the common
vultures draw off and allow him to feast
alone. When the king has had his fill and
flies away the others resume. His royal
pIuU0dSe, 100, suggests IQG dppTOpTldIencSS
of the name
Recent Acquisitions.
The Zoo has recently received five mule
deer, the animals being secured by pur
chase. They are named for the mule be-
cause of the characteristic size Of their
ears. The mule deer Is at home in the
Rocky mountain regions. He used to stroll
upon the plains but his range is gradually
being restricted as is the case with all
American animals.
Another acquisition is an American prong
horn antelope, hailing from Colorado. This
antelope Is the only hOllow-horn animal
known to shed it's horns each year. Hunt
ers on the plains used to tell OF the yearly
growth Of new horns on these animals, but
their stories were never countenanced by
the biologists until one Of the antelopes In
captivity at the London Zoo proved the
truthfulness Of the hunters tales. The
prong-horn antelope is one Of the most
characteristic animals Of the United States.
The species is found nowhere else. 1t is
distinctive family in itself, and, much to
the regret of animal students, Is fast dis
appearing.
The animals do not live long in captivity
a rule, but at the Washington Zoo are
two that have been here for four years and
are now apparently In the best of health
This period Is the longest these animals
have ever been known to live in conf1ne-
ment Several young have also been raised
here.
An Indian antelope. a black doe has also
been received recently. as well as mate
for the female rock kangaroo.
Three New Rear Cubs.
The Zoo officials are just now deeply I'm
terested In the development OF bear cub
lately arrived from Alaska. It Is not known
as yet to what family the young party.
who wears brown and curly coat. be-
longs. His characteristics WIN become
strong enough with age. It Ii believed. to
properly place his genealogy. There are
several species of Alaskan bears from which
the little wall might have sprung. He was
brought from the interior Of Alaska BY an