The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-09-29
5DZHN

monkeys; and it has been found al
ready, in the case of the harder kinds,
that there is a great diminution in
colds and chest complaints, while the
fur becomes thicker and finer.
Still greater freedom has been given
| to some other creatures. A colony of
gray squirrels was established in an
inclosure consisting of an unclimb-
able fence surrounding some trees,
and after these had settled down they
were allowed to range in perfect free
| dom over the gardens. Many of them
have wandered into Regents park and
to neighboring gardens, but a num-
Der have settled in the zoo, and freely
take food from visitors, while some
have bred in hollow tree.
1t is easy to win the confidence of
these and of many small animals, such
of monkeys and lemurs. With a little
patience they may be induced to run
over one, and to sit on ones arm
or shoulder, but it is necessary to
allow such animals to grasp you, and
not to try to grasp or stroke them.
Put out your arm to even a strange
monkey and most probably it will
| seize hold of you and permit you to
carry it about. Reverse the process,
and try to seize it, and it will dart
away or bite. With the small carniv-
ora, on the other hand, you can seize
hold of them firmly. No doubt, the
difference is due to the fact that the
maternal lion or tiger, cat or dog, is
accustomed to carry it's young in its
mouth, while in most other cases the
young cling to the mother.
Some Australian bronze-winged pig
cons and some common kites have
been similarly gradually accustomed
to complete freedom. The experiment
appears likely to succeed in the case
of the pigeons, and several pairs have
bred. In former times kites were ex
tremely numerous in London, and
were of service as scavengers. Those
liberated at the zoo, however, had to
be. caught again. AS they circled over
the gardens they caused almost a
panic of terror in the case of some
OF the smaller birds in exposed cages.
Other strikingly successful novelties
are large aYiary for water-birds. in
which avocets, plovers, curlews. and
oyster-catchers live under natural con.
ditions, and large aviary where cock
atoos, macaws, and parakeets are
able to exhibit their graceful fight.
The London ZOO differs from many
collections of animals, in that visitors
are allowed to feed the animals In
some cases it is necessary to forbid
it entirely, and in other cases a Ger.
tain amount of harm is done, rarely
by folly or malice, usually by ignor.
ance; but on the whole | think tbero
is an advantage in our ARRANGEMENTS
1t is much more interesting IN v,si
tors; and the constant possibility Of
being fed keeps the animals on tbo
alert, and helps to prevent mon,np
The geological society has ALWAYS
been most successful when If has hoo,
able to bring home fairly large col.
lection in steamer, with special ~
rangements, in care of special keen.
ers. The success of the Indian coIIec-
ton presented two years ago nv tbe
prince Of Wales was so great that tbo
society is arranging to have a similar
exhibition of the fauna of some dif.
ferent part of the British empire ever,
alternate year. In the summer Of
this year, Australia, New Zealand
and New Guinea are to DISPLAY tboir
animal treasures on the prince Of
Wales ground at the gardens.
The complete. collection win arrive
in England early in June. II is tho
intention of the society to have =
Canadian exhibition in 1910. one frou1
Uganda or East Africa in 1912 and 90
forth. 1t is the object of those wbo
guide its destinies that the IondoU
zoo should be truly Representative -
the empire, and that by deserving tba
increasing support of the public 49,
society should be able to maintain its
gardens as q great center of ponrIor
instruction and amusement, and &C.
scientific side as an increasing foroa
in the advancement of knowledge