REVIEW, 258 
idea, inherited from the Tower Menagerie and the various itinerant wild-beast 
shows, prevailed, even in such an excellent and well managed institution as the 
Zoological Society of London during its earlier years, 
This practice of keeping animals in dark, narrow and ill-ventilated cages 
remained in vogue in this country till May, 1876, when the Calcutta Zoological 
Gardens were opened to the general public. Since then, the Indian public 
have had ample opportunities for realising the inhumane character and the 
unhealthy effects of the practice, by comparing the emaciated and sickly looks 
of animals in private menageries with the sleek appearance and improved 
health of the inmates of the Calcutta Gardens, due no doubt to the improved 
method adopted by the Managing Committee of providing them with com- 
modious, airy, and substantial buildings, suited to the habits of particular 
groups of them. Among these may be mentioned the Gubboy House, with its 
arched Leslie patent roof, plate-glass doors and fan-lights, for excluding 
draught and cold and regulating the atmosphere, which has been found admi- 
rably suited to the gibbons (Hylobates), other varieties of monkeys (Semno- 
pithect and Cercopithect) and small and rare mammals of a delicate nature. The 
Dumraon House is adapted to the requirements of hoolocks (Hylobates hoolock) 
and monkeys peculiar to the Indo-Malayan fauna (Macaques). The Hzra 
House, with its lofty roof and minarets and enclosed airing-grounds on the 
east and the west sides, furnishes very comfortable accommodation to giraffes 
(Camelopardalis giraffa), zebras (Zebra burchelli), and other equine animals. 
Ii is needless to multiply examples ; suffice it to say that ali of them are built 
on the latest approved principles, and are furnished in such a way as to 
present their inmates, as far as practicable, with the surroundings of their 
native wilds, 
As regards food, the experience gained im the Calcutta Zoo shows that 
wild animals in captivity thrive best if fed with articles of diet which Nature 
usually supplies to them while living in a wild state. In cases where these are 
difficult to procure, articles of similar character should be given them. A 
monotonous round of the same articles of diet, it has been found, brings on 
disease in menagerie animals. Changes from one sort of food to another 
should be frequently resorted to, and the animals are found to preserve health 
better when fed on varied diet each day than when fed with the same food 
all the year round, Animals which prey upon small mammals and birds 
should, in a state of captivity, be given small living birds, such as sparrows, 
live fowls, pigeons, or mice, guinea pigs or rabbits, for them to kill and eat: 
and this expedient has been found in the Zoological Gardens to be very 
effective in sharpening their appetites and reviving their drooping spirits. 
The larger carnivora often display an aversion to their ordinary diet; and 
in such cases live kid, or fowls, and mutton are given. A sufficient quantity 
of food and clear water should always be provided, as the carnivora possess 
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