Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-18
LESSON IN ZOOLOGY
BosTocKss WINTER QUARTERS
VALUABLE INSTITUTION.
HABITS, FOOD AND TREATMENT
All Sections of the Globe arc Repre-
scented under 8 Single Roof-A
Great Colony of Jungle Life in the
7 Heart of Civilization.

The establishment of winter quarters
IN this city by the Bostocks has been a
saiuao Die practical lesson in zoology, and
mas served to demonstrate that there is
widespread interest in the study of
animals, their habits and characteristics
Many people go out to the an1phitheatre
ulne after time, and spend hours observ-
ing the beasts and asking questions as
to tneir lives and habits. and food and
treatment. 1t is an interesting study
this section OF Asia. Africa. and all parts
OF the globe under one roof. Here al,
the beasts and birds Of the forest live,
learn, are tanned. die, are born, snd
un-erSo all the experiences of ANNA!
life There are young and old. savage
ana tame animals. in the mena gerie. ano
their doings and fa bits are a constant
source Of amusement and interest.
There is an impression that wild beasts
born in captivity are not as savage a.
those born in the jungles of their natu-
raj homes This is a mistake. not ever
the food with which they are nourishec
makes any difference in the savage ma
ture OF lions. The young lion. born i'll
nenageTie, and whose life is spent en-
tirely amid the surroundings of civiliza-
ton, is just as savage as the baby lion
of the forest, and quite as difficult to
tame and to train. In fact. lions nevel
become tame. They are simply trainec
ana controlled. but their savage instincts
are still dominant and are liable to crop
out at any time, SO that their trainers
and masters have TO be constantly on tins
alert to escape injury.
FINE COLLECTION OF LIONS.
The average age of q lion is
from 30 to So years. The male Is gene
rally much more admired than the fe
male on account Of his great name ans
the powerful heavy shoulders and mech
The young lion has no name. It does no
begin to grow until the beast is 3 years
old, and then it requires about 5 years
for the name to grow to the, fulness @
he mature lion. They may be observe
in Bostock's fine collection with ulane
in various stages of growth, thus indicat
ing to the trained eye the age of tn
beast. The lion is found in Africa an
Asia chiefly. and, strange to say, though
ions and tigers are generally mentioned
together, and are usually found in, al
menageries, they are never found wilt
and at large in the same locality. Ths
largest and finest specimens Of the iior
family are found in Nubia- Others, nearly
as fine, are found in Mesopotania anf
other countries. The African lion is tn
best known, and those seen are generally
from that continent, for the Asal lior
differs from his African brother in tina;
he has no name.
Lions breed we'll. A full grown dor
usually has two filters year, and with
the animals Of the Rostock show fifty
two have been born in a single year. =
lion is born ready to fight, with his eyes
open and with full complement OF teetf
and claws. a fact true Of no other ami
NAL A cub. just born. is worth s2oo
When grown many OF them are Wortf
from $500 to $1,000, and some even more
A genuine, imported forest-bred lion is
worth from $1,000 to 5000.
Young lions are not fit to train earl!
as many suppose The cub has not suf-t
lcient Intelligence Not until they arc
S months old. or tlaereabout, are thei'
brains sufficiently developed to MAKE
them susceptible to much training. Ihe1.
it is a slow and gradual process. at ever!
stage Of which the trainer has TO DC
careful Of his own safety.
CORPS OF ANIMAL DOCTORS.
Every menage has its animal doc
tors, Just as colony Of human beings
must have. and the beasts are subJec1
to many of the ailments to which BIZ
peds are liable, and the treatment IS
much the same. Young beasts are SUD
ject to all the infantile diseases OF chill
dren. and are very troublesome during
this stage. Great care is exercised II
looking after their health. owing TO thelt
great value for the death of any wild an
i1nal means a considerable money loss
They are dosed for colds and pneumonia
lust as human beings would be, and with
out It and a comfortable temperature
many of them would die. All the beasts
In Bostock's collection are dosed Vs.
cod liver oil once week as q precaution
against the development OF pneumonia
they do not love it, but they learn TO
ia kestileir medicines like folks.
The great black grizzly bear IN the
Bostock collection is one OF the most val
nshie in the menagerie. He Is said to
ba without exception, the finest grizzly
IN captivity. weighing 800 pounds. The
beast is just 8 years old