'A little-known survival of the ancient flytings, or contests-in-insults of the Anglo-Scottish bards, is the type of xenophobic humor once known as water wit in which passengers in small boats crossing the Thames ...would insult each other grossly, in all the untouchable safety of being able to get away fast'.
The Central Park Zoo is a small 6.5-acre (2.6 ha) zoo located in Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and the New York Aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The zoo (originally called the Bronx Zoological Park and the Bronx Zoological Gardens) opened its doors to the public on November 8, 1899, featuring 843 animals in 22 exhibits. The first zoo director was William Temple Hornaday, who had 30 years of service at the zoo.