The Washington times., 1905-05-28

The animals at the National Park Zoo
are now housed in their summer quar-
ters The large open-air cages, winch
extend from the back Cf the house cages,
have all been put In order. and the AMI
mails are enjoying the sunshine ana
fresh air after several months or Ia
door life.
The spring planting Is well unoef way
Many improvements In the way OF grad
ing are now being carried on TO Inahe
This already beautiful landscape more
pleasing to the eye
On Wednesday night seven skunKs
were born, and also two Htters OF blue
foxes. This makes three htters of blue
foxes born this year They are naturally
so Wild that if an attempt is made to
count them until grown. the mother be
comes so scared ard vicious that she
eats them. It is estimated, however,
that the total is not less s.1an twenty
young ones.
Last Sunday female buffalo calf was
born. A few days previous the hatch
ing of four Canadian Wild geese oc-
CURED.
New Animals Bought.
Besides the animals born at the zoo
new ones are being purchased ana ob-
tained from outside sources T2ght aiohs.
The head keeper has just returned ffoii
New York, where he went 70 seiect d
nair of Ilamas for breeding purposes and
an Indian antelope. or black DUCK mas
Just been ADDED to the collection.
4 recent addition TO the cages are some
macena or Hungarian quail
| AS the weather continues 10 improve
so does the number OF visitors increase
Last week the daily average attendance
| was about $50 while for the past month
/ the number of Sunday visitors shows
an average of Ie, coo. The record day SO
far this year was April 30, when II Is
estimated more than 5000 people came
| to look at the animals.
New Building Progressing.
The work on the new building is
progressing raaidly. It viii soon be
ready TO put IN the equipment TO receive
| the animals The line Of bear cages has
| been reset. and concrete walks ana ne"
sewerage established
| An awning has been provided over the
walks. and 1t is not necessary any more
| 10 stand in the hot sun 10 watch ''bruin"
as he stalks from one end OF his cage to
| the other. The new highway connecting
Adams Mill road and Quarry road, lead
ing almost directly over the old bear
den viii soon be opened, and form
definite boundary for the park.
It Is sometimes said that snakes never
eat while IN captivity. but if one is for
tunate enough to be present at the Ma
tiunaI Zoo when the keeper gives them
food ii is readily seen that such is not
the case. The snakes not only partake
of food but they are given the deli
lcacies of the season.
Feeding the Snakes.
Can you imagine any more palatabls
dish, at this time OF the year thar
spring chicken? That % what those
snakes are fed on Not spring chicken
as we get II on the table. but little young
chicks which they can swallow whole. II
they go. head nrst and slowly disap-
pear until only the legs are visible. and
finally the whole chick disappears. and
the swelling of the snake indicates the
progress OF the chick on its journey &c
the snakes stomach
One woman, who was standing by
was evidently chicken fancier. Be
fore the performance was half over she
turned away in disgust exclaiming
Poor little peep.
THE more one watches those mon