Evening star., 1932-09-01
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass September / (N.A.-
MAJ Apparently the reaction of the
furred and feathered population Of New
England to the eclipse was as varied as
opinions as to the real cause and cure
OF the current depression. Some OBJ
servers report birds going to roost and
animals curious. frightened or think
ing of bedtime. Others found their
chosen subjects of observation blandly
indifferent to the spectacle of a
century"
Probably never before have so many
different people been speculating about
animal behavior at one and the same
time. The announcement last month
Of the survey of animal behavior dur
ing the eclipse to be made by the Bos-
ton Society Of Natural History and that
societys appeal to New Englanders to
collect detailed information regarding
any unusual actions observed aroused
widespread interest-so much so, IN
fact, that q good many people watched
the sun with one eye and the family
pet with the other.
starlings and Squirrels.
One of the most interesting facts
noted was at the Benson animal farm.
In Nashua, N. H. There Arthur Love-
ridge of Harvard, acting as an observer
for the Boston Society OF Natural His
tory, saw a flock of starlings ny 10
a large elm where they were accustonfed
to roost and remain there during the
height of the eclipse They left after
ward and Mr.. Loveridge said that he
believed their sction was probably due
to the eclipse.
Mr.. Loveridge was also interested IN
a dozen squirrels which went into their
sleeping boxes at totality and remained
there for half an hour. He said that
he saw no other animals which seemed
to be affected by the eclipse.
John T. Benson. head of the farm,
reported that peacocks started to roost
at 3:55 O'Clock and that only two re-
mained on the ground when the eclipse
was deepest. A number Of swans left
the water and tucked their heads un-
der their wings. Pigeons went into
their cotes and several geese Of differ
ent species left the water and wan
dered about as If looking for some
where to go.
Mr.. Benson also said that for the
first time the members OF his little
beaver colony of mother, father. four
youngsters and an unattached beaver
fiapper, came out in the daytime. some
zebras and sacred Indian cattle LETT
their yard and went into their house
during the eclipse, he said.
Monkeys Cuddle Together.
There are few subjects in which peo-
pie differ more widely than on the
subject of animals. A large gre lp Oh
rilesus monkeys. Mr.. Bensors said, were
| they all congregated on the shelf in
| their cage and sat cuddled together
| as they do in the evening. until tbs
| eclipse was over. Mr.. Benson attrio-
| uted this to the eclipse.
Mr.. Loveridge, on the other hand
| doubted that this action had any con-
! nection with the eclipse.
Elephants MAJ be the wisest OF ami
mails, but they don't care about the
marvels Of the sky. Tony and Waddy
| at the Franklin Park Zoo were one
! with the ponderous pachyderms at the
Benson farm In tending strictly to theil
own affairs. A reporter watching the
| latter animals hoped for moment
/ that a real story was developing or
| noticing that both elephants were
weaving back and forth impatiently BY
| the closed door Of the elephant house
| 1t was explained, however, that th'
two do this every afternoon around
! o'clock because that is the time fol
! them to leave their outdoor yard.
Nor did the big cats seem to be con
cerned with what was happening up II
the sky At the Zoo the Sultan, th'
lion; Ray and Ploto, the tigers; Tipp'
Tib. the leopard. and the other IioI
house denizenS, went right on With th'
.F Iax tfrNn "a I
o'clock dinner. Not one feline missed
a bit, according to the men on duty IL
the lion house. The lions and tigers a
the Benson Farm were equally indider
ent, although they were not eating a
the time, Mr.. Benson said.
Birds Are Unaffected.
Curator Daniel Harkins Of the Zo'
personally watched the happening II
the the big flying cage when the eclips'
was heaviest, and found that the bird
were wholly indifferent to the brie
dusk Sammy. the black swan, Wa
4 ducking for tidbibs in one Of the httl'
ponds and a big crowned crane wa.
picking up grain during the clima'
of the eclipse Another crane dashet
acrose the Enclosure with spread wing
at the same moment, but the curato
| explained tnat lew nours go py WIN
out such a demonstration on the par
of these beautiful and temperamenta
birds.
Mr.. Harkins said that none Of tn
keepers had reported any unusual &C
tions on the part of the animals or bird
during the eclipse. Even the owl
seemed unconcerned at the prematur
: arrival of their favorite light condition.
One would expect cows and horses t
be various in their reactions and tn
J reports indicate that they were. Tn
superintendent of DR.. Edward Wiggles
worth's dairy farm at Topsfield. Mass
5 reported that neither cows nor chicken
showed the slightest interest in tn
eclipse. Nor was the supply of mil
affected in any way. few cows givin
). slightly less and others slightly NOR
than the -rhaoeding night 0s,ite IN, zae