Semi-weekly herald., 1910-01-17

us. lost my forage, however, which
was a great embarrassment,
"The cages were slowed on the
main deck of the steamer, about mid
ships, under an awning TO protect
them from the sun, and the animals
made the voyage Interesting for the
passengers, although the lions did not
like to be started at, and always made
a rush at the spectators, which fright
ened most of them away. When we
reached Port Said everything had to
be transferred to lighters, and we lay
there for thirteen days waiting for a
suitable steamer. We were anchored
In midstream of the Suez canal, and
had to protect the animals from all
forms of contagion under the orders oil
the agricultural department. Finally,
on the 21st OF November. we got
aboard the Moltkefels Of the Hansa
line OF steamers to Philadelphia, and
reached the latter city Dec. II, after
voyage of twenty-six days. The
steamer was slow but comfortable
There were no storms, and the wealth
er WAS generally pleasant. ! had the
assistantance of n Maltese sailor from
Port Said in taking care of the ami.
mails
From Philadelphia the lions and
cheetahs were brought directly to
Washington, but the antelopes. the
wart hog. the zebra and the other
animals and birds had TO be inspect
ed by the bureau of animal industry
of the agricultural department, and
were sent to quarantine for fifteen
days Mr.. Brown, director Of the Phil
adelphla ZOO very kindly took care of
them.
AT Philadelphia we lost an Gland
which is a big antelope. 1t died very
suddenly. It was sick only an hour
and half, and we have not been able
to find out the cause. We turned the
body over TO the National museum.
81 reached Philadelphia with twenty
one animals, including those presented
by Mr.. Mcmillan, except the cheetah
and one gazelle which had its leg
broken on Juia farm before we left.
There is also an Gland which was
presented to the 700 by Lord Della
mere, who has an extensive estate
at Moro. All of the animals are valu
able and rare. One of them, called
Koke's hartbeest, has never before
been seen in America before, and
there is none in Europe. II Is large
antelope There are other hartebeests
in the different geological gardens of
the world, but none Of this species
We also have a specimen of Thomp'
sons gazelle, which has never been in
any ZOO before"
How does the collection of animals
at the Washington 200 compare with
those in Europe?"
1T will compare favorably in ap-
pearanoe with any collection in the
world, but the accommodations at the
Washington 700 are away behind ev-
erything. Nearly all the buildings are
sadly inferior to those In Europe and
other American cities. And in num-
bers they are smaller too. We rank
up well in mammals. We have some
of the finest specimens in captivity,
but are short of birds and reptiles"
(Which is the best 700 in the
world" l asked
THE New York ZOO at the Bronx
has the finest buildings and one of
the best collections in the world, con
sidering how modern it is and how
difficult it is to obtain certain rare
animals. You cannot get collection
of wild beasts in a minute or by ask
ing for them. London and Berlin have
the largest and most complete collec-
tions. and perhaps that in Berlin is
the best of ALL