Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-21

never been adopted by 200" people any
where in this country, or, for that matter
throughout the borders of civilization. are
a pair Of magnificent Bactrian cameIs, so
fat that their humps drop over. why do
their humps drop over?" was asked Head
Keeper Blackburn He assumed a puzzled
expression, as though the subject had both
cred his astute intelligence, too, and gave
1t ua. These particular animals come from
the higher attitudes in Asia and are also
inclined to stuff at Washington's winter cli-
mate. In an adjacent paddock are two
dromedaTies. who show plainly the effects
of a life Of ease and luxury. It's pretty
hard natter to fatten dromedary, and
popular tradition and the pictures in the
animal books sustain the legend, but this
pair is certainly slick and glossy-for drom-
edaries.
The little red Indian deer on the slope be-
low with his spotted coat locks the picture
of health in an animal. He rushes at his
wire paling and lowers his horns fiercely at
visitors as they pass by. AS Keeper Black
burn remarks, ''he goes around with chip
On his shoulder all the time now"
A little further on his lordshlp the big
bull buffalo, whose likeness is on all the
$40 bills, comes rushing forth from his
domicile to greet us at a word from the
keeper. Fire flashes In his eye at the I'M
usual intrusion, and his outlines are at
once seen to be noble but he has just been
taking mud bath and his general appear
ance hardly does justice to his picture. The
four fat raccoons are all up their tree, look
ing as happy as children at Christmas time.
They illustrate the keepers remark as we
pass by them:
"A great many of 'em don't thank YOU
for any shelter at all. They just like to
day out in the snow and cold.
Seals Are Happy.
The seals are all happy Three of them
are In the big tank and a fourth. stretched
out on the grass. rolls from side to side and
blinks his round eyes in beatifc content
The seals have nice warm house which
belongs to the big Filipino OK in summer
time, but at present he is housed at tenn
perature of GO degrees in the big house
where the lions are.
The grizzly bears are in fine fur with
coats that shine and sparkle as the high
lights touch them. A little further on
Keeper Blackburn stops before what looks
like a cave-there is strong iron fence be-
tween it and the visitors-and makes a
peculiar noise A tremendous brown appari-
ton, all hair and head and legs and claws,
comes tumbling forth. What is it? Adamzad
the Bear? Surely the Imagination of Kip
ling never dreamed a more terrible brute
than this. And yet he comes up TO the
bars and does stunts and behaves with that
true humor that all bears but the morose
grizzly possess. Buster is an especial
pet, both Of the keeper and the visitors to
the Zoo. He is an Alaskan brown bear,
only five years DID, and yet he measures
fifty inches at the shoulder and weighed
300 pounds only a few months ago. BUS
ter is growing rapidly and is going to be
weighed again soon snow falls for
sedging. He Is already too much Of a
proposition to handle. except on runners.
Upright he can easily seize an apple from
the top of nine-foot pole. He Is the pride
of the Zoo" and Keeper Blackburn
watches his growth with great interest He
says he will grow much taller and will ul-
timately tip the beam at 1 200 pounds.
Most Exnapsi 1o An;p,a1e
The temperature is high enough for