28 THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF EUROPE 



second grotto, are to be seen some white swans with 

 black necks, and some pretty black ducks with dark- 

 green heads. It was a cold February day when I 

 visited the Gardens, but, to show how early is the 

 breeding season in the South of France, I may say 

 that the ducks were already beginning to pair. 



On the right the visitor will come upon three 

 cleverly- constructed cages of a circular shape, backed 

 with rockwork. In this rockwork are the sleeping 

 apartments of the animals in the cages. These sleep- 

 ing apartments have doors communicating with the 

 outer cages, so that when rain or wind comes the 

 animals can find shelter. The cages have been cleverly 

 thought out, and are extremely picturesque. 



The inmates of the first cage were two lionesses. 

 I wished to get close to the bars in order to obtain a 

 photograph of these big cats without showing the iron 

 bars, but as a man was intently watching my pro- 

 ceedings, I thought it best not to venture over the 

 barrier. I was unable to make out whether he was 

 one of the keepers or perchance a French oflficer, and 

 could not make up my mind whether I would offer 

 him a franc to let me go closer or not. 



In the next circular cage was a most amusing polar 

 bear. His keeper happened to come along, and he 

 dropped some large pieces of bread into the water- 

 tank for him, but, strange to say, the bear would not 

 go in after them. However, after vainly endeavouring 

 to reach them witli his outstretched paw, he made a 

 spring, and stood crossways over the tank, with his 

 fore-paws on one side and his hind-paws on the other, 

 where he stood like a white stone bridge stretched 



