254 ANIMALS AT WORK AND PL A Y 



Magazine subsequently civilised by the missionaries 

 into a general conformity with European habits. 

 But the Indians, ' who had thrived when naked and 

 living on whale blubber, did not thrive as clothed 

 farm labourers living on bread. The woollens of 

 the whites were less efficient as clothing than 

 whale oil. Fatherless children, who had been 

 strong and sturdy when naked in the storms 

 of sleet, died when well dressed and living in 

 a warm orphanage. Every child taken into it 

 died. Pneumonia and consumption became plagues.' 

 These complaints were once the scourge of the 

 Zoo, until the Park was drained, mainly as the 

 result of a report by Sir Richard Owen. Now they 

 are almost unknown, except occasionally among the 

 larger apes and delicate monkeys. 



Even want of space is not a serious drawback to 

 the happiness of most animals at the Zoo. The 

 lions and tigers feel the confinement of their inner 

 cages, and often strike impatiently the doors which 

 separate them in winter from their summer palaces, 

 and the wild cattle would enjoy life far more if 

 a roomy paddock could be added to their pens. No 

 hawks or eagles can be happy in cages, because 

 exercise in flight is essential to their health. Parrots, 

 on the other hand, dislike exercise, and consequently 

 live to the greatest age of any creatures in the Gardens. 





