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[start page] [Heading] Feathers Preened, Fur Slicked AS New Zoo Arrivals Clean Up [Sub-heading] Big Cargo of Birds and Animals Happy to Be Uncrated After Long Trip by W. H. SHIPPEN, JR. This was clean-up day at the Zoo for newcomers from South America. Some 250 birds and beasts, after three weeks in crates, while they traveled 7,000 miles, splashed themselves with fresh water and preened feathers and fur. The long, hot ride through the tropics in close confinement was tough on some of the delicate things, like the black-necked swans and the Chilean flamingoes, but almost all of them survived. The wild swans, in particular, seemed happy to plunge into a bath. For weeks while we cared for them at sea we saw them trying to clean their plumage. They dipped their necks deep into the water jugs and splashed themselves. Some of the mated birds helped each other clean up in cramped quarters at sea. [heading] Even Rodents Take Bath. The wild swans, with their snowy plumage, were scarcely more meticulous than-of all things-the rodents! The big capybara, an aquatic member of the rat family weighing more than 100 pounds, took a high dive into his new pool in the small mammal house this morning and remained submerged so long a photographer trying to take his picture got tired of waiting. A whole tribe of Argentina nutrias, another water rodent, went swimming at t he Zoo today and climbed out to scrub their long whiskers with their paws. They cried like babies for joy. We heard them howling pretty frequently at sea, and it was pleasant to know they had quit complaining. A score of tiny oven birds came through in fine shape. Dr. William M. Mann, Zoo director, hopes they will make a thriving colony here. Their screaming this morning was reminiscent of the Argentine pampas, where they are numerous, highly visible, with their flashing yellow wings, and always audible. The birds build covered nests of clay, cunningly constructed, with passageways and several rooms. Their nests resemble somewhat the outdoor clay ovens used in rural Argentina. A whole colony of some rare, red-breasted thrush arrived in good condition. They were the gifts of the zoo at Cordoba, in central Argentina. Two types of birds resembling our quail, the tinamou and the martinet, are rare in collections here. Two dozen of the birds survived the trip, and only two died en route. [sub heading] Wild Dogs Get Into Brawl. The Andean condors, wild ducks and geese were to be installed in new quarters today. Also three wild dogs of the pampas. These little fellows were still belligerent after three weeks in a crate. They got into a brawl at 4 a.m. yesterday as our ship approached New York. Dr. Mann, whose cabin port looked out on the cages, was awakened. He tried to make peace by sprinkling the wild dogs with drinking water, but that only made them madder. The result was that Dr. Mann, and perhaps a few other passengers forward, got no more sleep that night. "It was almost morning, anyhow," Dr. Mann said. The Zoo director is anxious to get the new animals on exhibition as soon as possible. One reason is the fact that two sailors from the S. S. Brazil are expected here to see them tomorrow--Bos'n Charley Bauer and Seaman Chester (Scotty) Brown. The two men were life-savers on the long voyage North, working overtime at cleaning, shifting crates and feeding. Dr. Mann wants them to see the animals under more favorable circumstances. It was hot work, coming through the tropics, especially in the doldrums with a following breeze. Under such circumstances 70 crates of birds, beasts and reptiles can give off a distinct odor. A British noblewoman who got on the ship in Trinidad will testify to this. The only available cabin was in the center of the boat, and the port looked out on the freight deck. The lady passenger was no sooner on board than she stuck her head out of the port. The horned screamers were sounding off and the wild dogs fighting--again. "I hear you have some animals on board," the lady said to Dr. Mann. "Yes," Dr. Mann replied, "you can hear them for your self, but I hope you can't smell them." "Ah, they're a bit sniffy, I should say. but fortunately I picked up something of a cold in Trinidad!" On hand to see that the animals were made comfortable in their new homes were Dr. Mann, who escorted them from their South American environs; Ernest P. Walker, assistant director, who has awaited the arrival of the collection with eagerness, and William H. Blackburne, headkeeper, who states openly that newcomers mean nothing but more work for him, but secretly is delighted when strange faces appear for his care-taking. Missing from the list of scheduled newcomers were two llamas and two guanacos. They had to be left behind in New York in quarantine. Dr. Mann said their homecoming will be delayed for two or three weeks. [below article is a photo of three women and two men] [on the right side of the article is part of the name of the newspaper] r Society and [below this is a photo and the caption says] This capybara, a rodent weighing at least 100 pounds could scarcely wait until he got into his new quarters and take a swim in his pool [end page]
