NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTER 253 



the creek below the inlet to the lake assures an even level of fresh 



water. 



The National Zoological Park has always been particularly suc- 

 cessful in the breeding and rearing of animals. In addition to large 

 numbers of deer, antelopes, bisons, camels, llamas, guanacos, yaks, 

 and other ruminants, many lions, tigers, pumas, and other great cats, 

 bears, wolves, kangaroos, etc., have been reared. Tapirs and hippo- 

 potamuses have been regularly reared also, and in recent years 

 great success has been obtained in breeding such unusual species as 

 Rocky Mountain sheep, mountain goats, and reindeer. 



Young animals are always of intense interest to visitors, and it is 

 a great satisfaction to the keepers to be able to show them. Nothing, 

 perhaps, speaks so highly for the condition of a collection of living 

 animals as regular success in rearing the young. Baby lions, tigers, 

 bears, and monkeys always attract and hold the attention of great 

 crowds of enthusiastic visitors. 



One of the most remarkable instances of memory by a lower 

 animal for a human friend that ever came Avithin my personal 

 observation had to do with a baby hippopotamus born in the park. 

 The little fellow had been a great favorite with his keepers, who 

 always called him "Buster"; and when, at nearly 2 years of age, 

 he was exchanged to the St. Louis Zoological Society, Mr. W. H. 

 Blackburne, the head keeper, accompanied him in a special express 

 car on the journey. For a large part of the trip the car was attached 

 next behind the locomotive tender, and the young hippo was nat- 

 urally distressed and nervous. He was perfectly contented and 

 quiet, though, if Mr. Blackburne sat at the head of the crate and 

 allowed him to suck his fingers, and as a consequence Mr. Black- 

 burne spent the better part of one whole night in this position with 

 his hand in the mouth of the baby hippo. 



On his arrival at the St. Louis Zoological Gardens the hippo was 

 rechristened "Steve," became a general pet, and was known to 

 everyone by his new name. Nearly two years later Mr. Black- 

 burne and I were visiting the St. Louis zoo and came into the hippo 

 house, with a number of other people, just at feeding time. The 

 young hippo, now very much grown, was eager for his food, which 

 was then being placed for him at one end of his large indoor in- 

 closure. Mr. Blackburne hailed the animal with his old-time " Hello, 

 Buster ! " just as he had done hundreds of times in Washington two 

 years and more before. The response from the hippo was instant; 

 he turned at the sound of the old name, and after Mr. Blackburne 

 went back of the guard rail and the hippo had smelled of his hands 

 and received the old-time pats on his great lips, absolutely identify- 

 ing his old friend, he refused, for the time, to pay any attention to 



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