help me with this book by giving me unique 

 information, occasional private performances, 

 and some excellent stories. 



The difficulties of obtaining information 

 and unique photographs, such as are contained 

 in this work, can only be realized by those 

 who have tried it. For instance, an animal 

 may be in a zoological garden or animal show 

 for years and never once do anything which 

 is the least unusual or worthy of notice. 

 From many zoological gardens I have received 

 the courteous reply that the Directors would 

 be only too pleased to give me animal stories 

 if they had any, but that they knew of abso- 

 lutely nothing of their animals which was 

 either unusual or of sufficient interest to 

 make even a short anecdote. 



This is only one of the many difficulties, 

 but these difficulties have been more than 

 compensated for by the many pleasures and 

 courtesies I have received during the time I 

 have been doing this work. I can only hope 

 that my readers will appreciate the stories 

 one-half as much as I have appreciated the 

 experiences. Ellen Velvin. 



New York City, June, 1907. 



