THE ZOO IN A FROST 
9 
the broken edges of their ponds, and let fall on the 
sound ice. They then scrambled and fought for the 
pieces as they slid on the slippery surface. One big 
gull swallowed a large triangular piece, which stuck 
for some time in its throat, and evidently gave it much 
discomfort until the sharp edges melted. The ravens 
in the crow-cages were also much pleased with the 
broken ice, and were busy hiding all the pieces in holes 
round the edges of their aviary. One of the birds was 
evidently not satisfied with the concealment offered 
by the cranny into which it had poked a large frag- 
ment, so after considering for some time, it drew it 
out again, rubbed it in sand till it was well covered 
with grit, and then pushed it back, protected by a 
coating of colour “ adapted to environment.” 
The heating of the Monkey House had been care- 
fully looked to during the night, and beyond showing 
a disposition to huddle together and sleep, the common 
monkeys betrayed little obvious sensibility to the 
bright dry cold outside. But the delicate little mar- 
mosets and small tropical South American species 
were, with the exception of the Capuchins, removed to 
the warmer inner room behind the glass palace. One 
creature only seemed penetrated by the frost, a sleep- 
ing lemur. It was clinging to the bars of its cage, 
its hands grasping the rods, its two front arms stretched 
out, and its head, heavy with sleep, drooping between 
them. Yet, though steeped in slumber, it was shaken 
from moment to moment by spasms of shivering, its 
body conscious and responsive to the cold, though its 
