THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN 439 



as a temporary expedient ten years ago, requires extensive repairs to prevent it 

 literally falling from rottenness. 



As I say, the aquarium project has now been abandoned, and a na- 

 tion oj£ .90,000,000 of people must be satisfied with the dozen or more 

 well kept, thoroughly inadequate and small aquaria at the building of 

 the U. S. Fish Commission in Washington as the extent of the facilities 

 for the study of living fishes in confinement; a few trout, turtles, bass, 

 and gold fish which, as far as they go, in a measure instruct the people, 

 and certainly amuse the scientists. But when we come to think what an 

 immense problem in economics our fisheries presents, and how vitally 

 important it is for us to study them in every possible way, both in na- 

 ture and in aquaria, the negligence of congress in not amply appropri- 

 ating money for the proper and extended prosecution of such enquiries 

 by the scientific staff of the government is simply an indication of na- 

 tional inefficiency, and one of the trade marks of a backward, second 

 class civilization. 



At present, the one eagle cage that has been built is very good, as far 

 as it goes ; it has, however, been filled to its maximum capacity, and we 

 find a superb specimen of the South American condor and a harpy eagle 

 of great value cooped up in miserably small quarters, where, in the case 

 of the latter bird, he can not enjoy the sunlight that his very nature 

 craves. 



Every intelligent naturalist and psychologist knows what wild ani- 

 mals of all kinds hourly suffer when confined for months — sometimes 

 for several years — in small cages, pits and pens; their mental suffering 

 is terrible, and only equaled by that endured by some highly educated 

 person similarly confined. It is by no means an elevating sight to watch 

 the pitiable efforts they make to relieve the terrors of what amounts to 

 a great deal more than the mere loss of liberty; for it often means to 

 them loss of companionship, sunlight, proper exercise, adequate amuse- 

 ment, and everything else that conduces to make even the life of a 

 monkey or an elephant worth living. Still, if we close our eyes to all 

 this and continue to hope that we may, some day, really have a congress 

 that will appreciate these things, and do its duty by them, there is much 

 to learn by a visit — or many visits — to our National Park. 



Apart from my studies of the many animals there, it has, ever and 

 anon, been a matter of delightful surprise and satisfaction to me when, 

 at some unusual time and perhaps only two or three people- — aside from 

 keepers and others — could be found in the place, I have come upon some 

 enthusiastic boy, vigorously at work with pencil, color or brush, in front 

 of one of the cages, doing his best to faithfully portray its inmate. Ah, 

 I've thought to myself then, may be a coming American animal painter ; 

 and, if it really turns out to be so in the future, not a few of the thou- 

 sands of dollars congress has appropriated for this necessary project 



