The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-08-12

pute, took walk through the Lincoll
park ZOO In Chicago the other day ant
commented thereon. Mr.. Burroughs
who was returning from four months
trip to the Hawaiian Islands. stopped
In Chicago on the way to his home
The theme OF his remarks rs he pnss
cd from one cage TO another In the ZOO
searching the Inmates with his keen
eyes, was. There Is really no legiti-
mate excuse for keeping these poor
children OF the wild In captivity"
Mr.. Burroughs opinion Of Gagged col
lections OF live animals and birds APP
plies to all
III were the absolute ruler OF this
country" he said. every one Of these
animals would be turned back into the
woods and fields. ! don't know why
we need geological gardens. II we
must keep animals for study they
/ should be turned loose In large nation
nj parks where they can be free and live
the lives intended for them by nature.
Nobody gets any good from Gagged
animals. They nre opty objects or iffe
| curiosity Their real habits are OBJ
scured. II really Is awful for them to
be dragged from their proper surround
| ings and shut up within four walls.
| All that can be learned from them here
| is how they adapt themselves to the
| conditions OF an inferno. And to learn
even this would take weeks of observa-
| ton. so great Is the lethargy into
which they soon fall
Just look at those poor birdsr'
The aged naturalist stepped up to
the railing outside the large, dome
shaped cage of the owls and eagles.
Two bald eagles were hunched mo
tionless ON perch a few feet above
the ground.
That Is the bird which this nation
has chosen as its emblem he said. his
eyes showing the pity he felt. HE is
bird of the rugged cliffs and the
mountain tops. He loves the high air,
the freedom of the upper attitudes, the
Wild winging life of the bird of prey.
And see to what state he is brought
how detected he looks. His plumage
Is all frayed, and his beak hangs open
as If he didn't care what happened to
him. He knows he Is In prison and
seems almost to feel the shame
II wonder ii he remembers how 1t
feels to circle high up in the sky and
see the earth spreading out beneath
him? stuffed eagle would answer
this purpose--to sit and be gazed at
as well as II live one. Stuffed animals
would answer the ends of the painter
and sculptor too. Taxidermists are
such artists In these days that they
can reproduce life In the New York
museum are groups of animals shown
In their natural surroundings so ac-
curately that the effect is marvellous.
have seen stuffed stag so poised that
II seemed you could even see his breath.
Groups like that afford a much better
education for people than all the ami
mails In captivity"
Mr.. Burroughs went to see the Amer
lean birds. In cages In which there
were ten or twelve special kinds he
called them by name almost as quick
ly as his eyes could see them.
Hello, There's little mistake"
he exclaimed. THAT cage is labeled |
Snow Buntings.' but those are not
snow buntings, They are snowbirds
or. as they are called. juncos. The
snow bunting Is larger bird. and Its
plumage Is white"
Nothing about the imprisoned crea- |
lures escaped MIR. Burroughs eyes. OF
nearly every species-birds, foxes,
zebras. kangaroos, bears. sea lions-he |
had bits OF learning to impart. He !
seemed to be acquainted with every
creature he saw.
The naturalist looked long time at |
the waterfowl.
THE keeper should know" he COM !
mented, that these geese should have |
fresh grass to eat. II you would cut |
some and throw 1t In to them you |
would see how fast they would gobble
II up"
The size Of the bison herd drew from |
him an expression of surprise.
II had no idea there were so many |
here They should send them up to |
the northwest. where the government |
is building up herd and trying des-
to save the splendid beasts /
from extinction. You don't need so |
many here. One would do just as
we'll Aud how they would thrive IL /
they could get out on the plains again"
The big elephant was standing under |
her shed. swinging her head and lash |
Ing her tail ceaselessly, when Mr.. Bur |
roughs paused.
shes just like machine" was the
comment of the naturalist. "She has |
nothing to do but stand there swinging I
her trunk and heaving her body back /
and forth. Elephants In the jungle or |
those having work to do never act that I
way. She will probably be standing /
there just like that all day. curling and /
uncurling her trunk That is a won
derful instrument. that trunk II moves
like big worm. curling and coiling !
ceaselessly.
1.-The elephant has better brain |
than any of the other large animals.
The horse Is stupid compared with it,"
When asked what he thought of Gag
Ing human animals In cities Mr.. Bur
roughs replied that Il Is great pity
Chicago News.