Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
zoo NOW. HAS FINE
ANTHROPO|D GROUP
Gray Gibbon Latest of Family
to Arrive-0nIy One SpeCi-
men Lacking.

The entire anthropoid family of ami
mails, of which man Is the highest rep
resentative, now is assembled at the
Zoo, with the single exception of the
gorilla.
The latest arrival this week was
year-old gray gibbon from East ASIA
the lowest of the group in intelligence,
but very much nearer man than any
of the monkeys. It is one OF the most
graceful of all arboreal creatures ana
eventually becomes attached to man
II is very active. Its call is some
thing like the bark of dog.
The gibbon is extremely delicate I'M
iii IL becomes accustomed to its new
surroundings. When acclimated, IL
often lives for 90 years or more IN
captivity. The present baby glboon
is no exception to the rule and IS
receiving great deal OF Afternoon
from the Zoo attendants in an EFFORT
IN mil II through the preliminary
stages. The cold weather which 1t mas
experienced since coming to Washlng-
ton has not been favorable after the
confinement of its long voyage.
Gorilla Very Expensive.
The other representatives of the an
tbronoid family are the chimpanzee
and the oran-outang. The former re-
mains cheerful in captivity for a long
time. but the latter soon develops
melancholy trend. It is almost lmpos-
sible to keep in captivity the oIher
member of this family-the gorilla
and since they are very expensive, 1t
nrobably will be many years before
the collection is completed. The go.
rilla soon becomes disconsolate ana
morose, and few have been kept awe
more than two or three years.
Among the accessions OF the past
week are four three-toed sloths, pre-
scented by Samuel Gress of the United
Fruit Co, which were captured near
Port IIimon, Costa Rica. They repre-
sent one of the lowest orders of man.
mails in the Western Hemisphere
They will hang from the roof bars OF
the cage, upside down, for hours at
time, looking very much IKE SO many
punches Of old brown rags.
These animals are extremely Cell
cate, requiring high heat and plenty
of attention. They are being lea pa
nanas. lettuce and mulberry leaves.
The latter addition to their diet, which
they seem to appreciate, was made be-
cause Of a close resemblance to some
of the foliage upon which they reed
In Central America, although 1t De-
longs to a different family.
The last of this family OF anlmals
represented in the Zoo was tWo-toeo
sIoth which died several years ago.
Three Seals Received.
The Zoo received Tuesday, from the
California Academy OF Natural Sci
ences, three harbor seals. There are
now four seals in the Washington
Zoo. True seals are rare in collections,
although their close relatives, the sea
lions. are common. The California
institution catches considerable num-
bers of these. and always tries them
ont to find If they will eat well In
captivity. Those that viii not are put
back in the water.
The seals are taking well to their
new surroundings and are objects OF
great curiosity to the offers in the
next pen. Two of the usually active
offers win stand by the hour studying
their new neighbors.
A valuable addition to the Zoo col
lection this week was a snow-white
horned owl, an albino, captured in
Mississippi. Albinos among these
birds are very rare and this is prob
ably the only one in any collection.