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PARKS 



region in which the particular community is located. One of the first exhibits 

 of wild animals installed in many zoological parks, particularly where funds 

 are limited, is the bears. These animals are, as a rule, easily secured, live 

 well in captivity and are always interesting to the public. Cages or dens 

 can be constructed at a nominal cost and no houses are needed. Plate 361 

 shows the old bear pits in the Philadelphia Zoo which were constructed as 

 long ago as 1875 at a cost of $1,500 and which are still in use. The bears 

 live wonderfully well in them and are readily seen by the public at close 

 range. While there have been other bear cages of a more modern type 

 erected in this zoo, these old pits with their climbing trees seem to be as 

 much of an attraction as when they were first installed. Plate 362 shows 

 the modern, up-to-date bear exhibits in the St. Louis Zoo. These artistic 

 and efficient enclosures, containing five units, were erected at the great 

 cost of $235,000 and were constructed at a time when the cost of labor 

 was about thirty-five per cent less than at the present time. 



Most of the modern zoological gardens are being built on the plan of 

 the "barless zoo," that is, the enclosures that are to contain the large 

 mammals are, so far as possible, built with wide moats or ditches surround- 

 ing them. This enables the visitor to view the animals without the inter- 

 vening fences. This type of enclosure is rather more expensive and requires 

 more space. It is doubtful whether this barless method adds anything to 

 the life of the animal or to the visitor's enjoyment, and they are certainly 

 much more difficult to keep clean. From the artistic standpoint, however, 

 there is no comparison. The moated cliffs are beautiful, and to stand off 

 at a distance and watch the animals moving about in this seeming replica 



PLATE No. 362. BEAR EXHIBIT IN ST. LOUIS ZOO 



