300 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:7-Oct., 1916 



devoted to the proper care of such animals, under the conditions 

 we enforce in regard to them in their captivity. I would say, how- 

 ever, that an extensive zoological park of diversified topography, 

 where forest, hillside, meadows, ponds, lakes, and streams have 

 been preserved as far as possible in their natural wildness, — such 

 a place, well stocked with animals from all parts of the world and 

 of as many kinds as possible, constitutes an institution to meet 

 various educational ends, the value of which it would be difficult 

 to overestimate. The advantages that flow from the mainte- 

 nance of such an institution in a civilized community can, as a rule, 

 te useful only to the cultured and progressive elements in that 

 community. 



For many years past I have constantly studied the influence 

 of a zoological garden upon the minds of those who visit it regu- 

 larly or at varied intervals. This may easily be accomplished 

 without your ever being suspected of making such observations, 

 and the information thus obtained is well worthy of consideration. 

 Fully seventy-five per cent of the visitors that go the rounds of a 

 zoological park derive about as much benefit therefrom as they 

 would by going to a circus ; they pour in at one entrance and pass 

 out at another, with no more information than they would have 

 gained from witnessing the antics of the clown in the ring. An- 

 other percentage goes to the "Zoo" for the sake of amusement, 

 which they get, in some instances, with a scant modicum of ben- 

 efit of information. A still smaller percentage resorts there, not 

 only for the purpose of seeing the animals, but to really learn from 

 them what they can, under the conditions through which they are 

 exhibited. 



As a matter of fact, apart from a "Zoo" being a public amuse- 

 ment, it is too often the case that only the select few derive the 

 benefit that these institutions are really intended to furnish. But 

 then these few are worth the while ; for they are of the scientific 

 ilk, and they average only about one to ten thousand the country 

 over. Perhaps those who derive the most benefit from a first- 

 class and extensive zoological garden are the zoologists who reg- 

 ularly visit it ; next we have the anatomists and pathologists — pro- 

 vided the management admitted of the proper facilities for study. 

 Then come the artists, sculptors, and photographers, who very 

 often depend upon "Zoo" animals for their models and illustra- 

 tions. Finally, there are the classes from the schools, and the 



