Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-30

like meat.
The lonely bears In their isolated
pits support local bakeries to the
extent of four loaves of bread day.
They also get carrots once In .
while. The pheasants, ducks and
swans require mixed feed, oats and
corn.
The feeding times are 8 in the
morning and 8 in the afternoon.
Most Of the inmates get fed but
, once a day. Among the exceptions
to this rule are the eagles, hawks
and rabbits and, of course, the goat,
who often finds pleasure in search
ing out his own refreshments.
Stuffed Birds Get Attention.
Let us assume that the animals
have all been fed and join the keep
er In the Office of the main building.
Some children around the age OF 10
come noisily or timidly, as their ma.
lures ordain, into the main room OF
the zoo.
Watch Them" he says, land
you'll notice that the first things
they're interested in are the stuffed
birds along the sides Of the room:
They never see the live parrots until
they've stared at the dead ones tor
awhile" This is 4 fact. Explain it,
The keeper gives it up and places It
in the same category with the foolish
questions and the appetites OF the
animals. But he observes lots OF hui
man nature on the quiet.
Around 5 in the afternoon Z GER
tain parrot unfailingly starts Z tele-
phone conversation with himself.
True to life, most of the statements
and questions are unintclligible. But
every once in . while comes out
clear and strong and irritably,
what? whats that you sayF
Then ensues the usual telephone
chatter, concluding with q final
"What's that? after which silence
while the speaker is probably franz
ling a benediction for central" who
has cut him off in the midst of vital
things.
"I notice, muses. the keeper smil-
ingly, "that the eastern states folks
are celebrating about some deer ant
Ilers in velvet that they will exhibit
at the exhibition this fall. Folks
visiting the park here can see the
antlers in velvet every spring. The
deer shed their horns in March; and
here's a funny thing. Ever since
remember the vent has taken place
between March 20 and Is. Well,
from that time on to around now
YOU can see deer antlers in velvet
without the price Of admission.
About now the deer are rubbing
their antlers on rocks or trees and
getting off the velvet. They want
the antlers sharp for the fall when
YOU can see q good many deer
fights"
Whence Birds and Rabbits
In 4 few days the park will start
to get its annual donations Of >rab-
bits. This supply Is an assured
thing each summers end and comes
from families which began the spring
with 4 rabbit or two for the chill
dren and has found that the care
and upkeep Of the animal Is about
az troublesome as that OF an auto
mobile. So they try ultruism and
give the park another rabbit. The
park never asks for bids on rabbits,
for the children keep It supplied: In
the rabbit pens may be recognized
many pets and rulers Of prominent
local families who have outstayed
their welcome in city homes.
A sojourn among the animals
would reveal many unique happen
lings. But animals usually don't
show of to visitors. They perform
best when the ZOO Is deserted.
Prince Chin Chin, the monk, can
drink out of bottles ~ well as any
baby. In this he initiates the baby
deer. The prince Is also one OF the
few monkeys who like water. One
Of his most enjoyed pastime: is to
loll in his cage while the keeper
plays the hose on him. Others OF
1.-The managerie have .thfir own claims
to fame.
| No Excitement for Keeper.
Almost any incident strikes the
visitor as interesting and UNUSUAL.
But not so the keeper. To him
life at the zoo Is about a. exciting
az the existence Of life insurance
clerk or q seller Of shoes. He gets
to know the animals and the aetivi-
ties in his big family are all ia
miliar to him.
The animals are pretty well be-
haved. When the winter cold OBJ
tains and the ZOO may get chilly,
they don't scream for the janitor
nor display impatience with the
scheme Of things. They are only Z
little more quiet than usual, and this
silence 10 hardly noticeable except
In the case of the parrots. Almost
the only other time they are quiet
lagain Is when it IL around 100 at the
bottom of Z brook some August
days. Their profanity and fault
finding Is done, If At all, in their.
own hearts.
There 10 not much sickness
among them. The leopard died last
month and this was red letter day.
lOf course, visitors want to know
what il done If the lion is sick, and
lhow 4 keeper would pull lions
tooth. This exigercy has never
arisen at the park and the keepers
aren't praying for it to come. If it
should arrive Caesar would have to
lbe efficiently chloroformed before
tooth pulling started. And it
wouldn't do, mentioned one of the
keepers, to have him come to in the
l-:j.k ae <da performance Even =