Paris ceded to the society a space of
about forty acres in a quiet corner of the great park, and the
preparation of the ground for the reception of its strange inhabitants
was begun at once. The ponds were dug out and enlarged, the meadows were
sodded with fresh, rich grass, spacious stalls were built, and a big
kennel for dogs, aviaries for birds, aquaria for fish, and a silk-worm
nursery, were all made ready. A large greenhouse was also erected for
the cultivation of foreign plants. Here the animals were not brought
simply to be kept on exhibition, but they were made as comfortable and
as much at home as possible.

On pleasant afternoons troops of children with their mammas or nurses
crowd the walks and avenues of the Jardin d'Acclimatation. Here, in a
comfortable airy kennel, are dogs from all parts of the world, some of
them great noble fellows, who allow the little folks to fondle and
stroke them. On a miniature mountain of artificial rock-work troops of
goats and mouflons--a species of mountain sheep--clamber about, as much
at home as if in their far-away native mountains. Under a group of
fir-trees a lot of reindeer are taking an afternoon nap, lost in dreams
of their home in the distant North. Grazing peacefully on the broad
meadows are antelopes, gazelles, and all kinds of deer; and yaks from
Tartary, llamas from the great South American plains, Thibet oxen, and
cattle of all kinds are browsing in their particular feeding grounds.

In a pretty sunny corner is a neat little chalet inclosed in a yard
filled with fresh herbage. A cozy little home indeed, and there, peering
inquisitively through the open door, is one of the owners of this
mansion--a funny kangaroo, standing as firmly on its haunches as if it
scorned the idea of being classed among the quadrupeds.

What is whinnying and galloping about on that meadow? A whole crowd of
ponies! Ponies from Siam, from Java, shaggy little Shetlands, quaggas
and dauws from Africa, all feeding and frolicking together, and there,
in the door of his stall, stands a sulky little zebra. He is a very
bad-tempered little animal, and evidently something has gone wrong, and
he "won't play." In a neighboring paddock is a gnu, the curious horned
horse of South Africa. The children are uncertain whether to call it a
horse, a buffalo, or a deer, and the creature itself appears a little
doubtful as to which character it can rightfully assume.

One of the few animals kept in cages