Love Stories of the Zoo.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue VII, 17 August 1901, Page 334

Love Stories of the Zoo.

RELATED BA' THE KEEPERS OF ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

Among the first inhabitants of the Cincinnati Zoo was a family of three buffaloes. If they longed for the freedom of the prairies they did not show it. but seemed thoroughly contented and happy in one another’s company as they browsed about in their limited enclosure. But they had not been long in their captive home whfen one of the trio was loaned to a circus. and she was sent away to travel about the country to be stared at in a cage beneath a tent. She had not been gone a day before she was homesick. She missed her companions, and refused to be cheered. Could she have had them with her she might have been reconciled to a circus life, but without them she was utterly disconsolate and unhappy. She would not eat, and became listless and morose, until at last she was sent back to the zoo as unfit for exhibition, and as likely to die within a very short time. But the general family rejoicing over her return was followed by swift recovery to health, and for years after the happy trio lived contentedly together.

Pat and Grannie Rooney also lived in the Cincinnati Zoo. They were remarkably intelligent chimpanzees, and took much pride in the attention they attracted by their many accomplishments. Dressed as man and woman they ate their meals at a table, seated upon chairs and feeding themselves with forks and Spoons in true human fashion. Pat always showed off to the amused spectators by- bolting his food ns rapidly as possible and then helping himself to what was left of his partner’s portion. Grnn-

nie never took offence at this impoliteness. though it sometimes cost her nearly her entire meal, for she was a slow and dainty eater. Without a sign of protest she would allow Pat to snatch the last morsel from her fork, and would then grin with loving pride when the onlookers laughed at her partner’s bad behaviour. She knew that her Pat acted in this way simply to be funny, for his thoughtfulness of her on other occasions was all that one monkey could ask of another. If at any time she was ailing or in bad spirits, or had been absent from him for some little time, he would take her in his arms and caress her with fond tenderness. They were both subject to colds and other ailments, and the sickness of one was always a cause of much worry and anxiety on the part of the other. Finally, after a number of years of affectionate companionship, Pat died of consumption. For two months poor Grannie grieved for him. Sad and lonely she crouched beneath her blanket, refusing to eat or to be comforted, until death released her from her loneliness.

Her rich gray coat and her gentle disposition give a special charm to Bessie, the queen of the coyotes in the Zcologtcal Park of New York. She attracts much attention from the visitors, and takes great pleasure in their smiles and the dainty pats that some are brave enough to give her. But this is not agreeable to her surly mate, Pompey. He resents these attentions to his charming better half, and is far from pleased at the satisfied manner in which she receives them. When you speak to Bessie, and she thrusts her trim little nose through the bars for a few love pats or to lick your -hand. Pompey quickly trots up, snarling with jealousy, and showing his teeth with such an unbenevolent grin that you are glad to leave Bessie alone. But Bessie does not mind. She knows he cares for her in his own churlish way; and when he comes up growling and snapping fire from his fierce little eyes she turns and smiles upon him, gives his nose wrinkles a lick or two, and then frisks about him until he is obliged to yield and “make up” by joining with her ir. a Il< > .- romp.