Mr. John Seago —— 2 
haven't read it. As you will recognize, there are some broad 
swipes at the London Zoo. You will also recognize the imbalance 
of this article. He says what is wrong with some of the zoos, 
and does not say what has been done progressively. I can imagine 
that Herr Professor Doctor Grzimek is writhing at this particular 
article, and I can also imagine that Sir Solly Zuckerman is not 
overjoyed with it. Frankly, I believe he had a lot of good points 
and what he said needed to be said. He could have pointed out 
that there were some zoos that were trying to do these things and 
he could have given examples of the good as well as the bad. How- 
ever, I suppose he's crying all the way to the bank. 
All of this doesn't seem to affect me very much except that I've 
had numerous letters to answer in regard to it. The letters 
start with Congressional mial, letters referred to me from the 
White House, etc, etc., all of which take up an ungodly amount 
of time and it is against my nature to be nice to people who write 
such letters, but being a public servant, I must behave= myself. 
And to think, a few short weeks ago, I was in Kenya: There are 
days, such as right now, when I am reviewing what I've been doing 
since I got back from Africa, and I really wonder what this has 
to do with (1) running a zoo, and (2) with animals. 
Life is not all bad, though. Today we had a pygmy hippopotamus 
born, and I was talking with the head keeper of the large mammal 
division about the impending birth of the giraffee. The oldest 
female should deliver @out the first of the year. which isn't too 
far away. This will make the third calf from “ichael-John and his 
two companions. The emus have been laying eggs and they are in- 
cubating. The Black Swans are sitting on eggs at this time, as 
are the Black-necked Swans, It seems that these Australians and 
South Americans can never adjust themselves. They insist on 
laying their eggs when it is springtime in the Southern Hemisbhere, 
regardless of what the temperature is here in the Northern Hemi-~ 
sphere. The Kiwis continue to eat earthworms like mad with no 
regard for the price that we have to pay for them, but at least 
they are fat and sassy and seem to be doing well. So you see, 
I do get to look at the animals once in a while. | | 
Mike will be happy to know that it is cold and very, very blowing 
today with a few flakes of snow. There is ice on the ponds. Ali 
the leaves are off the trees and it is just dreary as only a | 
miserable December day can be in Washington. Just think, it will 
