52, NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Like most zoological-garden buildings, it is only one story in 
height, built of red brick, and lighted chiefly from above. Along 
both ends and one side extend big, roomy cages, with graveled bot- 
toms, bath tanks and tree-trunks for the dozens of huge pythons, 
boa constrictors, anacondas, cobras, rattlers, iguanas and lizards 
that inhabit them. The central floor space is partly occupied by 
large masonry tanks, fringed above with pointed iron bars, con- 
taining the crocodilians. Without exception, all the cages are 
clean, and the occupants seem well fed and comfortable. And, in 
all conscience, they should, considering what a menagerie of rab- 
bits, ducks, pigeons, rats, mice and what-not, is maintained in 
the rear yard to furnish food acceptable to the capricious appetites 
within. 
This house is very popular with visitors, and it deserves to be. 
It affords a fine opportunity to study groups of animals which, to 
most. people, are very imperfectly known; and it is appreciated 
accordingly. About it there is nothing offensive, and the profu- 
sion of palms and hanging baskets gives this building the most 
charming interior to be found in the whole garden. 
Leaving the Reptile House, and looking toward the centre of 
the Gardens, the visitor’s curiosity is awakened by the sight of a 
large iron structure which looms up above the shrubbery like the 
lower portion of a modern steel-framed office building, going up 
on ‘“‘the American plan.’’ Its vaulted roof of iron bars is sup- 
ported by four heavy girders, and we wonder at the lavish expen- 
diture of iron so far above a wild beast’s range of assault. 
A nearer. view discloses five huge outdoor cages attached to the 
Lion House, their high, cemented floors occupied by lions, tigers, 
leopards and pumas, who ought to be among the happiest of their 
respective kinds. Each cage is nearly large enough for a croquet 
ground, and contains two or more groups of rocks and tree-trunks 
on which the inmates love to lie and bask in the sunlight, and 
lazily blink at the visitors. Unlike the open-air cages of the con- 
tinental gardens, these are quite without roofs, or other shelter 
from the weather. 
The Lion House itself is wholly of red brick, unpretentious as 
to architecture—albeit its aspect is decidedly pleasing—and it is not 
too much to say that it is one of the best buildings of its kind in 
Europe. It must be confessed, however, that in one point—the 
means of communication between the indoor and outdoor cages— 
