Evening star., 1947-08-30
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Trace1DeU.


The National Geological Park always has
had one of the best collections of cats. Today
it probably stands unrivaled in the world.
In the small-mammal house-the one with
the bronze anteater outside-the friend of the
cat family will find many gorgeous specimens.
There is the jungle cat, for instance.
This beauty comes from India.
II is tawny, and sits placidly on its tree
branch, as it has been doing ever since 1899
when the Zoo acquired it.
Although the species is generally regarded
as intractable, this particular specimen was a
house pet in Rangoon.
The friend of all cats. watching it, will
readily understand how that far-away owner
fell in love with it.
Here is q marvellous creature, with a sweet
expression, 1.-THE, intelligent, clean.
The fur is tawny, in various shades, from
yellow to orange.
The tips of the ears are black, and there
are black circles around the long tail.
1t is the kindly general expression however,
which is the attraction Of the jungle cat,
Felis chaus.
This charm will convince any cat lover
that this is no mean creature, really, but
could be readily domesticated.
Looking at the description above the cage
(second to the right, as you come In the big
front door, the observer will begin to have
some doubts, however, when he notes that the
animal has been at the local Zoo for about
nine years.
1t must have been no more than a kitten
when it was pet in house in Rangoon.
Probably the owner was glad to get rid OF 1t,
as its wild temperament increased.
The cat is in excellent condition. No lines or
wrinkles If we may call them such, are ap-
parent. The animal perches placidly most OF
the time on its branch, and pays no attention
at all to the thousands of persons who drift by.
If you come there in the afternoon, you may
see it pacing around, trying to get out the
back door into the open air space
It is marvellous cat, whose tawny fur clngs
here and there to the close spaced bars, where
it has rubbed in its journeys around the walls.
While watching this creature, one will OBJ
serve that not many people stop to look at 1t.
Probably it seems to them to look too much
like the tabby cat they left at home.
Then, too, they just aren't interested in the
cat tribes. 1t is too bad but so many people miss
so much of life as they go through it. I'VE VIII
not pass this way again. we have been told
many times, and truthfully enough, 1t seems.
The wise men land women try to see as many
good things as possible; and, If feasible, TO
like as many as possible.
Too many persons today pride themselves on
their limitations. They do not like symphony
music-snd are proud of it. They like dogs.
but they do not like cats and they are proud
of both like and dislike. There is nothing
to be proud Of however, in cutting ones
self off from so much. The world is won-
derful place, and all that is in 1t is wonderful
it is only the human mind that tends, at times,
to finland all too often-that the wonders
are Just the familiar little wonders, while 1t lets
the unfamiliar ones pass by unnoticed.
That is one of the best things about our
geological park, rightly used. 1t makes one
see new things, and stop, look and listen. The
woody gray monkey swings on his bars, and the
bearcat PAGES mis- cage, and the jungle cat
looks peacefully out at the people who pass.
THE people. It's the people, are the show!"
pale pack rat lies motionless under sort
of toadstool affair. Look, mommy, he's dead!"
screams a child. The rat wiggles one pale
paw, but that is all. He is apparently succumb-
ing to the Washington weather, and one has
fellow feeling for the poor thing.
The spotted Geoffroy cat seems mild and
innocent enough but one may feel glad there
are bars. One of the cats raises his head,
looks out-and sneezes. He, too. is almost
human.