A lovely place it was , and I enjoyed myself immensely ; for May-day in England is just what it should be , mild , sunny , flowery , and spring-like . As I walked along the well-kept paths , between white and rosy hawthorn hedges , I kept coming upon new and curious sights ; for the birds and beasts are so skilfully arranged that it is more like travelling through a strange and pleasant country than visiting a menagerie . The first thing I saw was a great American bison ; and I was so glad to meet with any one from home , that I 'd have patted him with pleasure if he had shown any cordiality toward me . He did n't , however , but stared savagely with his fiery eyes , and put down his immense head with a sullen snort , as if he 'd have tossed me with great satisfaction . I did not blame him , for the poor fellow was homesick , doubtless , for his own wide prairies and the free life he had lost . So I threw him some fresh clover , and went on to the pelicans . I never knew before what handsome birds they were ; not graceful , but with such snowy plumage , tinged with pale pink and faint yellow . They had just had their bath , and stood arranging their feathers with their great bills , uttering a queer cry now and then , and nodding to one another sociably . When fed , they gobbled up the fish , never stopping to swallow it till the pouches under their bills were full ; then they leisurely emptied them , and seemed to enjoy their lunch with the grave deliberation of regular Englishmen . Being in a hurry to see the lions , I went on to the long row of cages , and there found a splendid sight . Six lions and lionesses , in three or four different cages , sitting or standing in dignified attitudes , and eyeing the spectators with a mild expression in their fine eyes . One lioness was ill , and lay on her bed , looking very pensive , while her mate moved restlessly about her , evidently anxious to do something for her , and much afflicted by her suffering . I liked this lion very much , for , though the biggest , he was very gentle , and had a noble face . The tigers were rushing about , as tigers usually are ; some creeping noiselessly to and fro , some leaping up and down , and some washing their faces with their velvet paws . All looked and acted so like cats that I was n't at all surprised to hear one of them purr when the keeper scratched her head . It was a very loud and large purr , but no fireside pussy could have done it better , and every one laughed at the sound . There were pretty spotted leopards , panthers , and smaller varieties of the same species . I sat watching them a long time , longing to let some of the wild things out for a good run , they seemed so unhappy barred in those small dens . Suddenly the lions began to roar , the tigers to snarl , and all to get very much excited about something , sniffing at the openings , thrusting their paws through the bars , and lashing their tails impatiently . I could n't imagine what the trouble was , till , far down the line , I saw a man with a barrowful of lumps of raw meat .
This was their dinner , and as they were XXXXX but once a day they were ravenous .
Being enjoyed fed lay lost moved see stared threw went