202 THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF EUROPE 



nivorous beasts, and the intermediate tiers for birds 

 and small mammals, A few round caoes in the other 



o 



side held paroquets, and the macaw-stands were placed 

 in the middle. A large aviary occupied the second 

 compartment. The collection was compact and repre- 

 sentative. About 1852 a new range of cages was built 

 for the larger cats, and a little later the first elephant 

 took up his residence in the Gardens. 



Three cages represented the first lion and tiger 

 house, and one of the first occupants was the King of 

 Oudh's ' fighting tiger,' purchased at a very high 

 figure, and never surpassed since in size or nobility. 



About 1870 began a time of extension and de- 

 centralization. The lion house was extended to its 

 present size, and it proved a suitable place for breed- 

 ing both lions and tigers. The other animals were 

 housed, without much attempt at scientific order, 

 far and wide over the extensive grounds, which had 

 been considerably augmented by purchase, and now, 

 with their two lakes and wooded tracts, offered in- 

 numerable picturesque cage sites. The polar bears form 

 a beautiful picture in their light-built cage under a 

 knoll covered with noble forest trees that dip their 

 roots in the shady waters of the lake. A moss-grown 

 staircase leads up to the pits which contain Himalayan 

 black bears and a Kussian brown bear. They take 

 life easily, many reacliing tlie age of fourteen to 

 twenty years. 



Beyond the lake and water-fowl pond stands the 

 monkey house, a large white building of Moorish 

 design, 800 square yards in area, the boast of the 

 Gaidens and tlie finest in Europt^ There is a central 



