REFORMS AT THE LON= DON "ZOO."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 10

REFORMS AT THE LON= DON "ZOO."

A NEW ERA AT THE REPTILE HOUSE. 'Die tide of reform at the Zoological Gardens has now readied tho reptile, house—perhaps the most fascinating section in that world of wonder* Following up the process of devolution which relieved llio hard-worked office of the superintendent by tho Appointment of a curator of birds, n now curatorship of reptiles lias just been created, and Mr. Edward Uoulcngcr has Ijeen chosen it) till it. Already tho changes in the reptile house aro great. The first i>oiiit wliich strikes a visitor is that the smites are no longer enshrouded in that dim, devotional obscurity which clad them with tho terrors of the half-seen. A few chaises in tho roof and a reconstruction of tho lops of the cages have lot in a flood of daylight, and, for tho first time, tho reptiles can bo properly seen. This improvement is meat noticeable in the two largo glnfisfronfed tanks, one of which was occupied by tho late lamented ■Snapper turtle. This I repulsive-looking creature could bo faintly ' seen only when ho got eloso to tho glass. Uo was of a sedentary nature, and sometimes did not move a muscle for days together. He was one of tho late keeper's indirect trials, for children (and sometimes adults) camo up in a fairly constant stream to report that "the Snapper must be dead; ho won't move." Tlio keeper got very tired of explaining that it was not death but laziness. Later I have seen a prince at this same tank peering into blank nothingness in the hopo of seeing a. now "lung-fish," which had been placed there. Though tho keeper tried hard to drive the fish near tho glass with n rod, royalty never had a sight of tho new-comer. To-day this tank is perfectly lit, and tho family of giant salamanders now in possession can be watched with comfort. Another wclcomo innovation is tho box-ing-in of tho hot water-pipes, the warmth from which is now concentrated on tho cages instead of being wasted on perspiring and unappreciativß visitors. A DEFERRED SENTENCE. Tho next surprise is provided by tho cages themselves. Tho bare, oell-liko appearance (which must have impressed a sonsitiro serpent with tho idea that ho was serving a life sentence for his ancestor's offence of being accessory before tho tact in tho first indictment for fruitstealing) is vanishing. Walls of imitation rock-work are replacing tho plain bare paint iii the case of rontilo visitors from rocky districts, while a" tasteful combination of sand and cacti gives tho desert snake a "home-from-homo" feeling which must be most gratifying. Even tho bullfrogs and barking toads are provided with compact but comfortable artificial marshes of water-saturated earth, turf, aud reeds. In tho case of the snakes especially, tho artificial rock-work is most useful at tho time when tho annual skin-shedding is due, for the rough cement gives them a uscsful purchase in getting rid of their old coats A snake may have considerable trouble in getting rid of Us outgrown skin, and soft-hearted keepers havo to help him out of it as if he were a football player with a tight-fitting jersey. THE SNAKES FED IN PUBLIC. Perhaps tho most notable change- of nil is that now, for • the first time, the snakes are fed iu public. Many visitors in tho past have envied the fortunato ones who wore'able, to obtain "admission to •the Gardens on Sunday, wliich was formerly tire snakes' feeding day, on account of this one wonderful sight. Each Friday afternoon their food is placed in the eages-r-dead mice, pigeons, ducks, goats, etc.—the' dinnor graded according to tho sizb of the diner. Opinions may vary as to whether the sight of a feeding snake is pleasant, but nouo will question that it is wonderful. Of late each of the birds and animals destined for the reptile-houso larder havo been examined for tuberculosis, and about 5 per cent., on (ho average, condemned and destroyed. Since this precaution has breii taken, I am assured by Mr. Boulenger that tuberculosis has substantially decreased among his charges. ■ The. "Zoo's" reptiles aro now being handled moro frequently than ever before. A close inspection is made daily; lor example, if a snako is found to be suffering from a certain fungoid disc-ass winch affects the mouth and jaws, he is hauled put and tho place is dressed with an antiseptic wash at once. Tlie two operations on tho giant python are a fair example. The great reptile is over Wty years old, and his bones are becoming brittle. Ho broke bis jaw over a young goat—considerably smaller than sonio ho had managed quite comfortably, m his earlier days, and the broken bones v;ere replaced and set in plaster-of-paris. A week or two ago this dressing was removed to enable him to cast the skin of ! the head, and (lie bandage was afterwards renewed, the reunion of the bones being only partly complete. OPEN AIR FOR ALLIGATORS. Another class of inmates which are disappointing in their growth are tho alligators and crocodiles. Tho biggest of all was "Dicjv," the alligator who died last year She was nine feet long and not much moro thau half tho size of a full-grown specimen. (By the way, "Dick" obtained her misleading nickname under a misapprehension, which was not removed until she had laid a creditablo batch of eggs.) If tho "Zoo's" crocodiles and alligators run small, it is not for want of feeding, but a change is in contemplation which may have tho effect of stimulating their growth. It is hoped (hat in tho not very distant future an open-air pond may be available for these saurians for their summer headquarters. The open-air treatment lias had markedly encouraging effects upon the lions, tigers, baboons, ete., and ,it may encourage tho alligators to attain a more imposing size. In the winter they would have to go back to their warmed tanks inside the reptile house, for alligators, like the snakes, are liable to pneumonia. A charming novelty has been inaugurated in the adjoining tortoise house. The once baro walls have been covered with a lining of rough bark. "Pockets" for ferns havo been inserted hero aud there, and over tho whole of this "wall garden" ream some two hundred wall lizards, which have been turned loose as an interesting experiment. Their happy hunting-grounds are for the most part out of the reach of the boy visitor, for tho turtle tanks form an effectivo barrier, but the lizards aro quite at liberty to roam where they please, and tho authorities aro quite awake to the possibility that a small percentage may fall victims to the pet-hunting small boy.—L.G.M., in the f 'Daily Mail."