THE SIMPLE LIFE 239 



ditions of the fighting was a steady source of strength 

 and vitality. 



The question of the degree to which domesticated 

 animals, or those kept in captivity, benefit by fresh 

 air in a climate like ours, has been raised in a practical 

 form lately by owners of pedigree cattle and by the 

 managers of Zoological Gardens. In the London 

 " Zoo " the new and very costly house for the anthro- 

 poid apes has been built more on the " hot-house" 

 system than with the idea of trying how far access 

 to the open air would benefit the inmates. As most 

 of these come from the tropical forests of West 

 Africa or the Straits Settlements, perhaps the decision 

 was correct. Yet we seem to have read of very cold 

 and comfortless weather both in the Congo forests 

 and in those of Java and Sumatra. If the apes can 

 endure such a temperature at home, it does not seem 

 unlikely that they would benefit by enjoying the fresh 

 air of an English summer. 1 At the Dublin "Zoo" 

 a most remarkable success was obtained by subjecting a 

 pair of very weakly lions to the open-air cure. They 

 were allowed to remain in the open all the year, with 

 only a shed to retire to, and no artificial heat. The re- 

 sult was that they grew thick, warm coats, and improved 

 so much in health and condition that instead of being 

 the worst, they became the best lions in the collection. 



The great interest taken by breeders of high-class 



1 If they were thus accustomed to change of temperature, they 

 might be taken for change of air in winter to Broadstairs or Margate. 

 It would be interesting to see whether the effect would be as beneficial 

 to the baby apes as it is to human babies of a tuberculous tendency. 



