Evening star., 1901-12-12
ARRIVALS AT THE zoo
ANIMAL DtPARTsIEHr HAS NUM-
BIER OFSADDFTaONs.
COnstructioa e0fs Immenxes s.Flying
Claws Cut

Claws Cut.
Within the past month the National Zoo
has received quite q number of new and in
teresting animals from various sections
Another feature Of interest at the park is
the work of erecting Che enormous fly
ing cage for American birds. which is
well under way. This cage is being con-
structed like those in the New York and
Philadelphia Zoos, of immense steel
girders, which will be covered by wire
gauze. The cage, which in form will be OBJ
long and about 200 feet in length, eighty
feet wide and thirty feet high, is situated
at the head of a picturesque ravine, from
which flows a spring of pure water. Sew
eral trees are included within the cage,
and the work will be completed by spring.
AS soon as finished the cage viii be filled
with every variety Of bird indigenous to-
North America, and will form striking
object, situated as it is in wild ravine,
between tive forest covered hillsides.
or the new animals received lately and
attracting the most attention is a young
d!ngo.. just received from Australia, and
presented to the Zoo by DR.. F. w. Cooling,
United States consul at Newcastle, New
South Wales. In many respects the dingo
can lay claim to being one Of the, most
remarkable animals on the face OF the
gloDe. When europeans first discovered
Australia they found that, with one single
exception, the entire mammalian fauna Of
the island continent was marsupial--that
is to say, all the animals were of the
kangaroo and opossum family of pouched
animals. The single exception to this rule
was the dingo, very large and able,
bodied variety of wolf, the only carnivore
The dingoes hunt In packs and have
things pretty much all their own way
among the harmless and defenseless ami
mails of Australia. - .5..--..
OF the Dog Family.
At first naturalsts were very much puz-
zled to find wolf in such place as Aus
tralia, but later Investigations have salts
fed them that the dingo Is, after all, moth
ing more than a variety of the domestic
dog that has run wild for generations.
There was a time, centuries ago, when
Australia was uninhabited, and the native
tribes have distinct traditions that their
forefathers came in canoes from New
Guiena and the north, bringing with them
fer much from the dogs kept by the Aus
tralian aborigines, and when he is closely
studied, it is stated, the fact becomes all
the more evident that he is after all only
a wild dog.
The dingo has the long wolf ears, but
his muzzle is far from being as sharp
and pointed as the wolves Of Europe and
America. In color he ranges from a beau
color OF an ordinary 'yaller cur" The
latter variety are confined mostly to north
ern Australia, while the maroon-colored
dingo is indigenous to the southern coast
of the island. The tan Of the dingo is in-
termediate between that of dog and
wolf.
The dingo now at the Zoo is quite a young
animal, and of a deep maroon color. Like
all his kind, he has deep, melancholy
howl, quite like that OF the ordinary wolf.
In the National Museum there is stuffed
and mounted specimenlof the adult dingo.
from north Australia, of much lighter color
than the one at the Zoo.
The other arrivals at dhe Natinol Zoo are
large caraboa, OF water buffalo, recent
arrival from Manila, and a ''tayra,"
Guiana weasel, sent to- the Zoo from Car
aeas, Venezuela. The Philippine water
buffalo has much longer and more peculiar
horns than has the African variety. He
arrived in good condition. and seems to be
well satisfied with his Surroundings.
The "tayra, 'aor Guiana weasel Is not as
his name would imply, a small animal but
is as large as a dachshund or beagle, and
of about the same. proportions. He has a
long. bushy tail, and Isl jet black in color,
with yellow head. He is by long odds
the most active, 9energet8c, industrious, ag-
gressive and ubiqutous animal in the Ma
tienal Zoo, and since his arrival has been
trying his best ito get at a cage Of snakes
opposite his own domicile. In his own
country the 'tayra" has great reputation
as fighter, and can whip the largest boa
the pike. ,a.. -
Keeper Blackburn Pleased.
Head Keeper Blackburn is greatly pleased
over the healthy and excellent condition of
all the animals under his care Since the
establishment of the Zoo several curious
things have been demonstrated. One Is
that the Arabian camel, or dromedary, the
little Zebu cattle of India. the Barbary
goat and the peccary of Texas and Mexico
stand the winter of this climate like ma
tives, and require no extra heat or hous-
ing.
The big carnivores-lions, tigers and leop-
ards-are also fond of a little cold weather,
and are turned out In the open air in the
Enclosures to romp and play on. mornings
that are decidedly frosty. .-E
The buffalo calf grew so fast last summer
that he is now quite large animal and is
developing heavy name. The baby tapir
has also attained full growth.
An interesting operation was performed
essary to cut the claws of the largest of
the two grizzly bears. The job lasted
nearly all day. Wahb raised objections
from the start and had to be tied up. In
captivity the claws Of these animals grow
to an immense size from lack of USE and
would, If allowed to grow, eventually Grip
pie the animal. AS a result 1t becomes
necessary to every now and then pare
The two polar bears are now in their ele-
ment. and, if anything, would prefer colder
weather. a.-.
$1.26 to Baltimore and Return via r.
and o. railroad, Saturday and Sunday, De-
cember IA and 15 tickets good returning
until following Monday. Good on all trains
except Royal Limited.-Advt.
No Funds Available.
W. A. Patten and number Of other citi-
zens of Burrville, village in the extreme
northeastern section of the District, have
written to the District Commissioners, COM
planning of the condition of the roads lead
ing into the suburb from the Sheriff road.
The residents also ask for a more frequent
suburban schedule on the Columbia line
and a waiting station at Burrville. Upon
investigation by the engineer department
nue. from the Sheriff road to Burrville
would cost between $1,000 and $4,000. Cap
tain Newcomer assistant to the Engineer