The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief features

by C. V. A. Peel

THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, MARSEILLES

These Gardens, which are worked under the control and direction of the Jardin d’Acclimatation at Paris, contain a collection of both useful and wild animals, many of which are bought and sold here. The Gardens also serve as a resting-place for the animals which the Jardin d’Acclimatation imports from the far East and exports to the hot regions by the Mediterranean. The animals remain and get acclimatized before they are sent on further north to Paris.

Shrubs and plants are also grown, and by their situation behind the Palais de Longchamp the Gardens constitute one of the most attractive promenades in Marseilles.

One of the entrances to the Gardens is through a most magnificent set of buildings, having a large cascade of water in front. This imposing building is called the Palais de Longchamp, and contains an art museum and picture-gallery. On passing through the gate, and going up two flights of steps, you come into a large garden above, and, keeping to the right, you fall in with the pay-gate to the Zoological Gardens.

It must, however, be borne in mind that the quickest way to reach the Zoological Gardens is by an ever-ascending electric tram-car, which finally lands you right in front of the ordinary entrance-gate. On arrival there, you put a franc into a sort of missionary-box made of tin, and are ushered through into the Gardens by the gate-keeper. You are at once confronted with a pretty little grotto arrangement, down the rockwork of which trickles a waterfall. In the basin at the foot of the fall are a number of flamingoes wading about and feeding.

LE PALAIS LONGCHAMP, MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS, MARSEILLES.

The Gardens will be found to lie upon a steep hillside, upon which walks and terraces are cut one above another. On the second terrace you find a grotto, with another waterfall higher than the one below. This grotto is extremely picturesque, the situation of the Garden on the hillside lending itself well to this form of garden decoration. Here, at the foot of the second grotto, are to be seen some white swans with black necks, and some pretty black ducks with dark-green heads. It was a cold February day when I visited the Gardens, but, to show how early is the breeding season in the South of France, I may say that the ducks were already beginning to pair.

On the right the visitor will come upon three cleverly-constructed cages of a circular shape, backed with rockwork. In this rockwork are the sleeping apartments of the animals in the cages. These sleeping apartments have doors communicating with the outer cages, so that when rain or wind comes the animals can find shelter. The cages have been cleverly thought out, and are extremely picturesque.

The inmates of the first cage were two lionesses. I wished to get close to the bars in order to obtain a photograph of these big cats without showing the iron bars, but as a man was intently watching my proceedings, I thought it best not to venture over the barrier. I was unable to make out whether he was one of the keepers or perchance a French officer, and could not make up my mind whether I would offer him a franc to let me go closer or not.