284 BIG GAME SHOOTING IN ALASKA chap. 



on November 13. Here I remained three days, most of 

 which I spent in the company of the officials at the head- 

 quarters of the Biological Survey Office, who displayed great 

 interest in the results of our trip, and in the treatment we 

 had received at the hands of the custodians of the law in 

 Alaska. Accompanied by Mr. Osgood and Dr. T. S. 

 Palmer, I again paid visits to the Smithsonian Institute and 

 the National Zoological Park, at the latter of which we were 

 taken in charge by one of the officials, who was exceedingly 

 kind in showing us all over the fine Zoo, and even stirring 

 up with a long pole all the various bears so as to parade 

 them outside their dens for my edification. I was much 

 impressed with the magnificent accommodation and ample 

 space provided for the various animals and birds in the 

 park, which far excels anything in our own Zoo, where 

 the space is somewhat limited. The monkey house was a 

 marvel of cleanliness, and its inhabitants looked splendid 

 in health and coat. I was informed that tuberculosis or 

 consumption was practically unknown amongst the monkeys, 

 which the official in charge of them attributed to a special 

 diet he gave them of fruits and cooked meat. Milk is 

 strictly prohibited by him as a diet in the monkey house. 



On the termination of a very pleasant visit to Washington, 

 I set out for New York, and on arrival there found that the 

 guardians of the game laws still considered that I looked a 

 suspicious character. 1 was much amused when, on stepping 

 out of the train, a keen-eyed official in plain clothes, who had 

 noticed my rifles being taken from the car, and also that I 

 was carrying a small dressing-bag, stepped up to me, and 

 pointing to the bag said, " Have you got any game in that 

 bag, sir } " I replied that as I had only been shooting a few 

 bears and moose in Alaska, I had not taken the trouble to 



