784 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



It is here, again, that a thousand facts each year are brought 

 directly under the observation of the naturalist and specialist 

 in every department of biology — nidification in all its details 

 among birds ; all the data in connection with the breeding habits 

 of mammals ; and a volume of unwritten lore having reference to 

 the life-histories of our native reptiles and their kin. 



Nor is this all, for it is at the zoological garden that the mor- 

 phologist, surrounded as he there is by all the conveniences that 

 civilization can bring, finds that priceless opportunity to carry on 

 his researches upon the structure of animals, in ways that he 

 could not do under any other circumstances ; for material is here 

 brought before him that, as a rule, not only admits of the investi- 

 gation of individual forms, but from its abundance enables him, 

 like Garrod in London, to draw conclusions from the anatomy 

 presented by whole natural groups, and thus science is an enor- 

 mous gainer. 



It will be seen, then, from what has gone before, that not only 

 are great pleasure and enjoyment of a highly elevating character 

 brought to thousands of people annually, who have the opportu- 

 nity of frequenting a large zoological garden, but those ultimate 

 ends of all human activities — education, culture, art, and science 

 — are immensely benefited thereby ; and this implies a powerful 

 and constant operation of a good influence for all mankind. 



When a city distinguished as being a scientific center, or may- 

 hap the national capital — and this itself may be such a city — 

 determines upon establishing a zoological garden within its pre- 

 cincts, a great deal depends upon the site which is chosen for the 

 purpose. 



If possible, the form of the grounds should be a regular figure, 

 an oblong being one of the best, with a long side toward the direc- 

 tion whence come the prevailing winds, as this assists in secur- 

 ing good ventilation; and the area should include at least two 

 hundred to two hundred and fifty acres. The site should be 

 within some convenient distance of the city museums and libra- 

 ries ; surely not separated from these by more than three miles at 

 the most. Another matter of great importance is the character of 

 the country, which should be as diversified as possible; and the 

 inclosure should contain a few sizable ponds or a good, strong- 

 stream of water, in which event the former can be easily con- 

 structed artificially. Old trees in groups ; some low, level marsh- 

 land ; and some hills and rocky portions, are all points of extreme 

 natural advantage. These latter features, if marked, usually in- 

 sure, too, another benefit, for then hilly or broken country is likely 

 to be found immediately beyond the limits of the garden, which, 

 though conducive to the building of handsome suburban resi- 

 dences, is not likely to fill up entirely with houses as the city in- 



