The Washington times., 1937-06-07


in this latitude.
Now, with mod
ern tempera- Edwin c. HlI
ture control, the big ones are
happy here, too. They waddle
about contentedly on an artificial
beach, with artificial cold.
For the monkeys, too, they are
making things pleasant. Their
air is stepped up to tropical tenn
perature, but not merely by the
glare Of sunshine through sky
lights, as in the past, for that was
found to be unhealthful.
Now there are sun shades, and
control of temperature and hui
Nudity which just about matches
the ideal climatic conditions in the
tropics. The same accommoda-
tions are being provided for about
100 small mammals, who happen
to be aliens here. The new house
for the great apes and small ami
mails cost $275 900. 1t is tops in
comfort for this line of trade.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
Not only in Washington, but in
ZOOS all over the country, there
are more and better exhibits. AS
school closes, the big city ZOOS
are marvellous show shops, with no
lack of an eager and insatiably
curious public. Members of the
American Society of Mammolo-
gistS, the Forest Service and the
National Park Service are helping
not only in gathering animals, but
in stimulating interest and in de-
veloping the utmost of educational
value in the various ZOOS.
One interesting derivative of all
this is the new art of making habi-
tat backgroundS-lairs, denS and
landScape-just like our four
footed friends enjoy when they
are back home. There is no rea'
son to believe that a monkey Or a
kangaroo would be any the less
homeSick because of this painted
back drop, but the educational
value of the exhibits is vastly en-
HANGED by placing them in their
native setting.
If Uncle Zed is telling little
RolloW about continuous adap.
tation to environment" he can
make 1t q lot more convincing II
the story of the progress OF the
Eohippus to the horse is told
against the background Of an end
less Australian plain.
Children love these pictorial
settings. They and the animals
help UNNECESSARILY to unfold the
story and the ascent OF life on the
planet. Artists find them in
valuable. Painting an animal in
a cage seems to them an indig'
nifty. They find a new inspiration
in even this simulated habitat
knowing too we'll that it's really
a cage, after all. Most Of US so
called higher vertebrates are In
a cage, too, but we like to have it
dolled up, just the same, so we
can cherish our illusion OF free
dom.
Roman warriors were the first
to bring wild animals to the cities
They didn't study them part1cu-
larly. These lads had the power
itch-which DR.. Adler, who died
the other day, said was more po'
tent and enduring that the money
itch-and they got lot of kudos
in Shaking a bear around in sight
of the crowds.
They penned the bears and
lions in cages, fed them an coca
sional Christian or gladiator, ano
paraded them when they wanted
to show off, using them to head
line their valor and proves. but
for nothing else. The emperor
liked to have them around, to por
tray his dominance over all ere
alton. That was man and thai
was Rome, 1000 years ago.
The first ZOOS grew in England
Little catchpenny carnivals anc
circuses used to have a trained
bear, and, rarely, a bob cat or q
lion. Then, as now, the travelling
show would flop and some tiny
village would have a bear on it,
hands. It was quite apt to becon
the nucleus Of q collection, anc
there began the first studies o.
animal life and behaviour, and thu
first public interest other thar
the obvious fascination Of strange
animals.
In 1848, Louis Agassiz, the great
Swiss naturalist and teacher, ar
rived in Cambridge, Mass. HI
was a man OF amazing energy anc
vast knowledge. He swarmed al
over America, gathering fishes
and animals, stimulating Harvard
University, where he was enrolled
on the faculty, to an unhearc
scientific interest and activity.
Museums Sprang UP like mush
rooms all over the country. HI
diverted from great fortunes
huge sums Of money for me
nageries and exhibits, and h
stirred thousands Of eager be
ginners to further pursuit o
studies in natural history ant
zoology.
All the great ZOOS of the work.
sought his services, but he wa
aglow with the conviction O
cultural and scientific freedom
for America and remained her
to plant seeds which are flower
ing today. His geological studies
placed him on a level with thu
great Cuvier, and any student a