474 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



THE NEW QUARTERS FOR THE HIPPOPOTAMUS IN THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 

 The low iron partition through the enclosure separates the main stall from the bathing pool. 



HOW THE HIPPOPOTAMUS WAS 

 MOVED. 



LXCEPTING one, each stall in the Elephant 

 House was occupied on the opening day. 

 The empty one was that of the Hippo- 

 potamus, and for several days it remained un- 

 tenanted. The problem which confronted Ma- 

 homet upon viewing the mountain, confronted 

 the Director when the guileless "hippo" refused 

 to leave his quarters in the Antelope House for 

 his new home in the Elephant House. 



To the keepers the task had appeared so easy 

 that no special preparations were thought nec- 

 essary, excepting a means of conveyance. A 

 horse ambulance was secured, large enough to 

 hold the animal's great bulk. The sides of the 

 vehicle were raised to a height of six feet, and 

 the "hippo" was loaded in so easily that our 

 trouble seemingly vanished like mist before the 

 morning sun. No covering was put over the 

 top, because the sides of the van were three 

 feet higher than the animal's back. 



In closing the end-gate preparatory to driv- 

 ing off, the noise startled the animal, and with 



one frantic effort he reared up on his hind legs, 

 and threw his fore legs and head over the side, 

 breaking off the temporary boards. For a mo- 

 ment his plight was really serious. But by 

 prompt and vigorous exertions on the part of 

 the keepers, the Hippo was rescued, — badly 

 frightened, — and returned to his quarters. The 

 only alternative now was a crate, which was 

 hastily constructed and put into the stall in the 

 Antelope House, until the favorable hour for 

 moving should come. 



"Pete's" temper, a most equable one, was en- 

 tirely unruffled. He viewed with calm indiffer- 

 ence the confusion of the departure of the 

 "rhinos" and elephants, and also the strange box 

 in his quarters. Even the shortening of his 

 rations had no visible effect upon his spirits, and 

 the loss of his bath palled on him but a trifle. 

 Such calmness augured well for complete suc- 

 cess ; merely lead him into his shifting box and 

 away with him ; but a trifling task. 



Consequently on the morning of the opening 

 day, the keepers assembled at the Antelope 

 House prepared to finish the task with dispatch. 



