CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
ZEBU YARDS 
Zebus are a curious sort of cattle found in India, China and 
the east coast of Africa. It is probable, however, that their 
original home was India, and that they were afterwards dis¬ 
tributed to the other countries named. There are a number of 
different breeds, and they range in size from a large ox to a 
Newfoundland dog. They vary greatly in appearance. While 
the hump is a characteristic of all, in some of the cows it is so 
small as to be hardly perceptible. In some parts of India it also 
does duty as a horse, being either saddled or harnessed. Under 
such circumstances it may take journeys of considerable length. 
WOODCHUCK AND SKUNK CAGE 
The Skunk (Mephitis americana ), also called pole cat, is a 
common creature throughout America, and is one of the most 
destructive thieves with which farmers have to contend, steal¬ 
ing, as it does, both eggs and chickens. It is rather prettily 
marked with white and black stripes. It has a bushy tail, and 
though small in size, it has the power of emitting an odor so 
penetrating that no amount of washing or disinfecting can 
subdue it. All skunks in our collection are deodorized. In the 
next cage is: 
The Woodchuck (Arctomys monax). The woodchuck is known 
in this part of the country, as the ground hog. Everyone is 
familiar with the superstition which says that the weather for 
six succeeding weeks depends on the ground hog’s seeing or not 
seeing his shadow on the second day of February. The wood¬ 
chuck makes his home on the side-hill. 
THE OWL HOUSE 
The Barn Owl (Strix flammed) from United States. Owls are 
to be found over the whole world. Their habits are almost with¬ 
out exception nocturnal, as they are abroad by night and 
hidden away by day. They are not readily seen. About 175 
species are known, but they are so much alike that our common 
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