Evening star., 1925-05-24
old HOME WEEK.
FOR NEW ZOO HEAD
DR.. Mann, Donor of Many of
Specimens, Spends Several
Days Checking Up.

The animals, birds and reptiles at
the Zoo probably know DR.. William
NJ Mann. the new superintendent.
better than any other human being in
the world.
The past eight DAYS have heen\ a
sort of Old Home week for that DR.
verse community. Some of the crea -
lures had been the new superintend-
ants companions for adventurous
months on land and sea long before
they were installed in comfortable
cages for the delectation of Wash
ingtonians. He has spent much OF
his time recently renewing these ola
acquaintances among the cages
ecquaintances first made in Amazon
jungles. Mexican mountains or Bo-
livian forests.
There is the Mexican monkey IN
Abe cage with the baby chimpanZee.
rcS-e long time during its own baby
hood Or. Mann was its nurse and
foster father. the only living being
with whom it came in contact. lie
bought it in Mexico short time
after it had been torn from the breast
of its dead mother. and cared for it
tenderly until finally it was deposited
IN always remember that day,
the superintendent said. The sight
of actual monkeys like himself was
something the little fellow didn't seem
able to get over. He would just stand
there and point at them, trying to call
my attention to the strange fact that
he was not the only monkey in the
world
Made Pets of Many.
There is the Bolivian guam. who
for weeks was the voluntary com
panion of DIR. Mann's party. travel
ing perched on the back of an Indian
creatures first brought here by DR..
Mann.
The new superintendent has brought
to the Zoo a very personal touch. To
him every one Of the animals is an
individual. not specimen. Long be-
fore he dreamed that he himself might
some day head the institution he
spent long hours among the cages. and
he never returned from any of his
scientific expeditions without bring
ing back one or more specimens
to add to the collection. Not few
of these were personal pets, such as
the South American long -necked
turtles which he kept for months in
his home before bringing them TO the
Zoo
The new, superintendent has
way about him" with animals and
reptiles. The latest arrival is small
female drill from West Africa. With
In a few minutes after its arrival it
was reaching its paw into his pocket
in a search for peanut. He believes
that il had been made a pet by sailors
after its capture.
The Australian wild dog comes run
ming like any house pet when ne
calls. The South American bush dog,
the rareSt member of the dog family
in the world and the only one of its
kind in captivity. has developed
liking for having its back scratched
Plans Other Exhibits.
1--WE been regular visitor to the
Zoo so often. DR.. Mann said that
II seems impossible to realize that |
am anything else now. ! have just
been visiting around among the cages.
washington has a-splendid goo. 1t
would rank well with any in the
world"
Among his plans for the future,
when space is provided, are those for
reptile house and an insect house.
The few reptiles now exhibited are
only a small proportion of those which
could be obtained if there were room.
There is no insect collection, and
DR.. Mann is a specialist on insects,
particularly ants.
The greatest attraction at the park
at present are the three baby tigers,
now being weaned and getting their
first taste of meat, and the baby
kangaroo. carried about in its moth
er's pouch.
A plan has been perfected for feed
ing the pair of kiWiS, almost extinct
New Zealand birds. Meat is buried
In a pan of earth, entirely concealed,
and the birds thrust for it with their
beaks That is their natural way of
feeding. exploring in the soil for
worms. and they will not take food
merely thrown on the surface where
heN can see il