1228 Zoblogical Gardens, a Critical Essay. [December, | 
the exercise of all the originality and versatility of a creative , 
genius than a zoological garden. 
Let us now, for the sake of demonstration, examine why Mr, — 
and Mrs, Bruin refuse to turn their pit into a nursery. The free 
black bear has an economical way of spending the snowy season — 
—he hybernates. As a captive, however, he is up and about all — 
winter, because he does not recognize the paved recesses and 
vaults of the conventional pit as proper places for retirement. 
The loss of his good long snooze seems to unsettle him com- 
pletely, and lead him into disastrous ‘irregularities in his mode of 
life. For instance, instead of mating during the second fortnight 
of the October term, as is his wont at liberty, I have known him 
to copulate as early astheend of July. Now, since in the natural 
state the periods of gestation and hybernation fall together, the 
logical conclusion would be that with bears a periodical : 
sion of animation is not only beneficial but quite necessary to the 
development of vigorous offspring. That captivity does not pro- 
duce absolute sterility in bears, is evinced by the fact that a female 
in the St. Louis gardens recently miscarried about a month ater 
conception. Such knowledge, added to some native ingenuity, 
should enable us to construct enclosures for bears, where inal 
probability, they would breed successfully. ae 
The landscape features of a zodlogical garden claim the fll l 
attention of the designer. The aim here must be to unite beauty 
with use. On the whole, I would like to see the ruling ge 
advocated in these pages for the care of the animals, extende?™ 
their surroundings, by imitating, as near as the climate one 
the scenic characteristics of the homes of the various aon a 
confined; this would be a pleasant delusion to 
animal. These widely different styles of scenery: AGH 
course, be blended into a harmonious and well-balanced co! 
sition by a very guarded and gradual transition, thus m 
delightful surprises at every step. ; a 
The limits of this article do not admit of my giving s 
of the results of investigation and study on this inte ‘ale 
ject, or a graphic pen picture of the model zodlogic’ ~ i 
such as I see it in my fancy—a very Eden of beau 
mony, bursting upon us like a revelation, and fascinating “hot 
itor by its innate correctness and completeness. I ben 
ever, I have, in a general way, indicated the kzi 
