The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-27
Beautiful Spring Weather Attracts Thousands,
 Young and Old
MISS FANCY IS IN
 A PLAYFUL MOOD
The Swan Was Only Feeding at the Bottom of the Lake, But the Little Boy Didn't
 Know It
Nv JACK BETuIiA

sorted dStS anu SiHtfs hN
 folks far outnumbered the grown-ups,
 who were out by the thousands to enjoy
 practically the first pretty Sunday of the spring.
 The animals, of course, were the cen-
 ters of attraction, and there was an
 endless procession up the hill and down again throughout the afternoon. Of the animals, the crowd around Miss Fancy. ! the children's elephant was always the largest and the place she holds in the
 heart of the younger generation of Bir-
 mingham was again emphasized by the little ones
 Miss Fancy yesterday afternoon was in playful mood. The crowd began arr irving before the elephant had finished her dinner or lunch. which consisted of a
 large quantity of the best quality of hay The big beast forgot for the moment her
 mendicant ways and ignored the ''goob-
 CTS" held entleingly near by the chil-
 dren.
 Miss Fancy's Playful Ways | Miss Fancy has way, as have all ele-
 plants of carefully rolling up her hay before conveying it to her small, pointed
 mouth. tucked away under her trunk |
 This was the occasion of endless com
 ment from onlookers which Miss Fancy seemed to enjoy. What makes her roll 1t up?" one lady asked of Dayton Allen'
 the keeper He was saved the necessity of reply by his charge. who elevated her trunk and groaned, while there was a | twinkle almost human in her shrewd lit tie eyes.
 After her lunch Miss Fancy, by some
 means, conveyed the information to Allen that she was thirsty, and would like a
 drink She was accordingly unclaimed and led over to the hydrant. It was evil dently familiar spot as Miss Fancy sidled up without hesitation Allen fum-
 bled around in his pockets until he found the key to the hydrant. He is forced to
 keep the key there to prevent Miss Fancy from turning on the water with her fieX-
 ible trunk and flooding her abiding place. The elephant applied her trunk to the faucet much in the way a small boy
 does when there is no glass handy, and
 an expression which by a little imagina- ton might he termed "beatific satisfac- tion'' overspread her rugged countenance She executed a little tango of apprecia- ton Swaying from side to side she swung one front leg across the other
 with a sound familiar to that produced
 when sandpaper is rubbed together. Then
 she did the same thing with her hind feet.
 Meanwhile she had been conveying the
 water to her mouth literally in trunk fus"
 Miss Fancy's Shower Bath Presently she became satisfied and then
 she began to play Catching some water
 she threw it over her shoulders and body:
 this she repeated several times. Then
 she unexpectedly sqirted some in the air
 and umbrellas were in order. She ap-
 peared as much amused at the result anyone. Later in the afternoon Miss Fancy was taken for a stroll and did not at all dsdain to accept the proffered
 peanuts after disposlng of her hay. A
 subject of wide comment was her do- clity and instant response to the wishes of her keeper.
 While Miss Fancy is a large and sub stantial part of the ZOO, she by no
 means Is all of it. Probably the most
 interesting collection is that of the eagles. There are five of these lords of the air. and they are extremely picturesque. Sev- era1 of them were captured In the state and donated to the zoo.
 To note the attitudes with which the various animals and fowls bear the scrutiny of the crowds is interesting. The eagles attitude Is one of disdain. He eyes the spectators scornfuly, and will
 stare the average onlooker out of coun- tenance The eagle has an air of being
 consciously superior to his surround
 ings, and there Is power in his every movement.
 Peacock Still in Seclusion
 
 | shrinking. the owl ignores the spectators
 entirely the doe is shyly friendly and
 the llamas suspiciously aloof The fowls
 are proud and inclined to parade with the exception of the unfortunate peacock who was robbed of the major portion of his tail feathers recently. He was still in seclusion yesterday. remaining hid in
 his cave the greater part of the day Extremely interesting to watch are the
 waterfowls in the lake with the
 islands. There was considerable amuse-
 ment yesterday afternoon at the expense of a small boy who was evidently on his first visit to the zoo. His mother led him up close to the wire possible and he viewed a swan, who sailed up calmly
 with breathless interest.
 The bird inspected the little boy for a few moments and then plunged his head down among the roots at the bottom of the lake to feed. As the seconds passed
 and the head did not reappear, the watch ing youngster became first anxious then terrified and then hysterical. He ran to
 his mother and pulled at her skirts fran tically.
 "O-o-o mamma, it's gonna drown,' he shrieked, and burst into sobs. The lady did her best to calm him. but l it was rot until the head of the swan came to the surface that he was reas- 1 sured The fowl swan off with slow kicks and the boy, looking after, breathed a long sigh.
 A Needed Change i The zoo at present is beautiful and trere is but one change that is needed. On l the cages of the animals appears a mo- tice offering reward of $25 for the arr rest and conviction of anyone caught | teasing or abusing the animals. Ap- parently the notice Is disregarded at will.
 l A little to the east of Miss Fancy's | house Is a cage which contains wild | hog. This animal is inclosed in a sub stantial cage which prevents 1t approach l ing the public at all. Yesterday afternoon | 1t appeared to D, the delight of several young men to tease the hog into a frenzy of helpless rage. They poked him with small sticks until he gnashed his teeth in fury. and then knowing that the animal was helpless to effectually resent l their attacks. punched him again. to 1, laugh in derision at his intellectual efforts | to retaliate.