Animals in the Wild [115 



Adventures In Park And Zoo 



The mammals of American field and woodland have first claim 

 on our children's interest; these animals are part of the American 

 scene, and their colorful variety always suggests some fascinating 

 detail to absorb our attention. Yet, somehow, there is a greater 

 enchantment about the exotic animals of faraway places. Thrilling 

 as it is to see a shy, graceful creature like the deer in our native 

 woods, we often feel it would be a more exciting experience to 

 stalk elephants and other big game in Africa. 



Such expeditions are out of the question for most of us. But 

 not altogether. There are little safaris we can make close to home. 

 A visit to the zoo is a delightful way to make the acquaintance of 

 strange animals from every part of the world. Throughout the 

 United States and Canada there are a number of fine zoos and 

 zoological parks where animals from Asia, Africa, Australia and 

 the other continents may be seen in the space of a single afternoon. 



SHOWMEN AND SHOW-OFFS 



Every zoo has sights and sounds that take us completely 

 out of the daily round of humdrum living. But to get the most 

 fun out of a visit to the zoo, you must have one or more youngsters 

 along with you. You will enjoy their reactions, their curiosity, 

 their astonishment. For a visit to the zoo is fun as much fun as 

 the circus, and often very much like the circus if you see the 

 animals at feeding time, or in the spring when frisky babies en- 

 liven many cages. 



Some animals, the natural showmen and show-offs, are enter- 

 taining at all times. The sea lions with their graceful diving, their 

 awkward waddling, their hoarse yawps, their bent for deadpan 

 horseplay, and their efficient if not elegant eating habits, are great 

 favorites. All children are delighted with the tail-swinging antics 

 of the monkeys and some of their droll attitudes which caricature 

 humans. The huge elephant with his fantastic trunk and his digni- 

 fied, patient look; the tigers and leopards with their air of sleek 

 power, and drowsy laziness; the giraffes with their incredibly long 

 necks and the camels with their bumpy backs all these and many 



