Evening times-Republican., 1911-07-14

January at the winter quarters of the
circus IN Bridgeport. 1t is lustS'
thriving youngster and bids fair to
live to a ripe old age. Only once be-
! fore is 1t recorded that giraffes have
bred in captivity Sometime in the
sos one was born in the London
geological gardens but 1t only lived
nine days. The rarity of giraffes in
the circuSes and zoos of this country
is due not only to the immense cost,
but also to the fact that the animal
dealers Of the continent will not guar
antee safe arrival in America. Very
often the giraffes die upon the ship.
There are less than a dozen gil
raffes in the country, and Vet the ami
NAL dealers OF the continent could
probably supply three or four at an
hours notice, whereas they might re-
auire months. or even year or more,
to fill an order for hippopotamus or a
rhinoceros. James A. Bailey waited
two years for an order for a "rhino"
to be filed, and all that time had an
expedition financed by himself in quest
of one. Even when the animals are
safe at the port for shipment the
worry IS far from over Tropical
beasts must be gradually hardened to
the climatic changes
Cape Town is the starting point for
MANY Of the trapping parties and huge
storehouses are fitted there to protect
the captives from sudden change of
climate. The temperature OF the lions
cages is slowly lowered by means of
ice. Other types OF the cat" family
are acclimated in similar fashion.
Secured at Tremendous Cost.
Then comes the tremendous care and
expense to land the animals in Amer
ica. only to have many of them die in
transit. or before being placed on ex-
hibition All these things contribute to
the almost prohibitive cost Of some of
the animals and may be cited as reas-
ons why only the Very largest zoos and
circuses can stand the cost The In
dian tapi-. perhaps, attracts bu, little
attention at the circus and yet it is
most expensive creature. Some animals
are practically priceless. The gorilla
may be mentioned as one. Many speci-
mems have been caught and brought TO
the western coast of Africa but this
-nan-like creature is so habituated 10
the steamy nature OF its own forests
that i can noc live elsewhere. None
has ever been seen in America Some
success is had with the chinpanzee. of
which type the Barnum show has two.
IAsy are very susceptible to tubercu-
lar troubles and il IS a difficult mat
ter 70 rainta in them. Lions cost any,
"here from $500 to $1,000. full grown
jungle bred type bringing the latter
price and sometimes more. Tigers will
run bit higher. Elephants. or bulls"
in circus parlance. can't be had muct,
under $1,000 in the rough, ard as they
are trained to do stunts" their value
rapidly increa ses Most of the perform
ing pachyderms are Of the Asiatic type,
is they are more iractable. intelligent.
and anenable TO training than the
African elephant
Camels, fuiigrown. and Of the Siber-
ian breed. cost from s4oo to $500. Hy-
enas are comparatively inexpens
The Barnum show recetly acquired two
Grevey zebras. paying $4,000 for the
pair. They are unlike the ordinary type
seen al circuses. Monkeys are relative
" cheap. as are llamas and alpacas.
Ihe polar bear is expensive and hard
to keep. that is. for a travelling outfit.
The same applies to the huge Kadiack
bear OF Alaska r.
1t Is within the bounds Of conserva-
lisn 10 say that quarrer OF million
collars would not replace the collection
OF animals that the Barnun1 & Bailey
organization brings to the door, almost,
OF thousands Of people during its an
nua! tour, and it might be years before
some OF the types could be replaced. for
as shown. i is not altogether a matter
Of money For the urtraveIed. and
those apart from the permanent zoos
maintained by the larger municipalities.
the coming OF the circus and animal
display may be looked upon as dis
UactlE educative. for the first helpful
lessons in natural history are taught
the majority OF children just outside
the cage bars Of the itinerant men
agerie.