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BULLETIN®
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Published b y
THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Ht AM i A MM AT MT
HTN ANA : i
AACA SOCORRO ATCO UST NATTA TTT EAT
DEEPSEA PTE LADS PATPPD TUDO TREATY OPE PN REF TY A AO COT RP OCC LO COMO COMODO) ON VOW ON MAO OOAATOUOAAT PAE PASO ONTOON TN OOODNYOOOQOO OOOO POUT CCQ MOOD COE Co TACT TPIT!
im u R F R EUND 1912
a ra ey bes val Sal Yk Sy Pee 2
@ffcers of the New York Zonlogiral Soriety
President
Henry Fareriztp OsBorn.
Serretary ~ Creasurer
Maprison Grant, 11 Wall Street. Percy R. Py.vz, 30 Pine Street.
Executive Cuonmitier
Mapison Grant,. Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne, Samurt THoRNE,* T'rank K. Srurais, Wituram Wuirte NILEes,
Won. Pirrson HamittTon, LIsPENARD STEWART, Watson B. DickerMaAN,
Henry Farrrietp Ossorn, Ea Officio.
Board of Managers
Ex Officio
The Mayor of the City of New York. The Pruesipent of the Department of Parks.
lass nf 1915
F. Augustus SCHERMERHORN, CureveLanp H. Doner, Emerson McMituin,
Porcy R. Pyne, C. Lepyarp Buatr, AntTHOoNY R. Kuser,
Grorce B. GRINNELL, Freperick G. Bourne, Warson B. Dickerman,
Groree C. Crark, W. Austin WapswortH, Mortimer L. Scuirr.
Glass pf 15917
Henry Farerieip Osgorn, Cuarves F. Dirrericu, Wn. Pierson Hamitron,
Wiuiram C. Cuurcnu, James J. Hitt, Rosert S. Brewsrer,
LIsPENARD STEWART, Groree F. Baker, Epwarp S. Harkness,
H. Casimir pe Ruam, Grant B. Scutey, WixuramM B. Oscoop FIeLp,
Glass pf 1918
Levi P. Morton, SamurL THORNE * Ocpen MiLtLs,
ANDREW CARNEGIE, Henry A. C. Taytor, Lewis RurHerrurD Morais,
Mapison GRANT, Frank K. Srureis, ArcHer M. HuntTineron,
Wituram Wuire Niwes, Georce J. Goutp, Henry M. Titrorp.
General Officers
Wituiam T. Hornapay, Director of the Park.
Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director of the Aquarium.
H. J. Suorter, Assistant Secretary. R. L. Cerero, Assistant to the Treasurer.
C. Grant La Farer, Architect. H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer.
Dr. Grorce S. Huntineton, Prosector.
Officers of the Zoological Park
Wituiam T. Hornapay, Director.
H. R. Mircue.t, C. Wituiam Breese, H. W. Meret, G. M. BreerBower,
Raymonp L. Dirmars, Le S.iCranpann; W. Rem Buarr, Witiram MuitcHet.,
Eutwin R. Sanporn.
Officers of the Aquarium
Cuarutes H. Townsenp, Director. Louis L. Mowpray.
Wasnineton I. DeNyse. Rogsert SUTCLIFFE.
Dr. Grorcr A. MacCauuivum, Pathologist.
* Deceased.
Z2O0RO WA OLG A CoA bt Ss Ore IE Y.> BUA EN
CONTENTS FOR JANUARY, 1916
PAGE
Dionne ISTO): (GA OND NE ONS Hs ie 52 eNO. dan ti 2 oR ICN Me ENC Rb NE eR Ra CO NU Ue ol ee De ee Cove
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ANITA TUTE INO) LENE Gores Se Ue au esa a ROR Le ec aa h ve Be Ste SCN eg Richard Deckert 1306
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OUI O rR MOA ES UALR OIN: coerce ee Pe te Non An eens 1S as ee W. TT. Hornaday 13818
Orrruary—Charles Bredericltadetlol deme: a0 cts ae ut ge W.T. Hornaday 1319
NAVsiesipy, I) Eytiaia) “EMO I0). 2 oe Ne ner ee ae Oe gD nena eee W. T. Hornaday 1319
Nai oale nea Rove Gant O Nima) See wee a nie ein Sadi: Sa ke, Re Madison Grant 1320
TeviSter OR TENGE ROR STs waar oo Mae SER gt WN Be Sy RK. L. Ditmars and L. S. Crandall 1321
PUAN AE eA OVANI Sy ce ee emneNeROINE eS Ro AUST UA fg sO Maes a ne een meh cy Meese OP ae Richard Deckert 1324
ET IEAUN ETS VS ol O CONROINUE eee et, fe Naga I TN Teac W. T. Hornaday 1825
SNAKES AND Tur Mexican War ee ee 1325
Iraty Srors Birp SLAUGHTER 1326
A GIANT POLYPOD!UM FFRN
Some of the fronds of this fern are over eleven feet long
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vor XIX.
JANUARY, 1916
NumeBer 1
THE RODENT
COLLECTION
IN THE REPTILE HOUSE
By Raymonp L. Dirmars.
BOUT eight years ago, while the writer
was making a tour of the zoological parks
and gardens in the United States he noted
in one of these collections an attempt to exhibit
a series of the smaller rodents. The animals were
in glass cases, and provided with sleeping boxes
or bunches of cotton wool. In not a cage was a
specimen visible and the only indication of the
species represented was in the explanatory mat-
ter on the labels.
Two years later, while on a similar trip
among the zoological collections of Europe, sev-
eral series of rodents of like arrangement were
noted. The advice elicited was to the effect that
while the smaller rodents were of interest from
their markedly varied form and coloration, the
practicability of using up space in an endeavor
to exhibit them was very doubtful. This con-
dition resulted from the following difficulties:
1. The nocturnal habits of the greater number
of species, resulting in persistent hiding in the
nests during the day. 2. The short lives of
most of the species, owing to improper environ-
ment and lack of exercise. 3. The difficulty
of obtaining new specimens. This latter con-
dition was due to a general lack of interest
among animal dealers in the very small mam-
malia.
After these preliminary observations of other
attempts to exhibit the smaller rodentia, the
writer determined upon a series of experiments
in the New York Zoological Park, for the pur-
pose of successfully exhibiting a varied series of
the gnawing animals, but in such a way that
the specimens could be seen, and at the same
time kept in good health, and enabled to live a
reasonable length of time.
The first series of animals for our experiment
consisted of several species of spermophiles,
kangaroo rats and miscellaneous mice. Thus
the experimental group embraced both nocturn-
al and diurnal species.
As it was realized that the nocturnal species
would retire within sleeping boxes during the
day, their shelter was in the nature of a scant
handful of hay. It was believed that without
some kind of a shelter from observation, they
would be excessively nervous and soon would
die. The cages of the diurnal species were pro-
vided with about six inches of packed earth,
to provide them exercise in burrowing. The
cages were of a type commonly known as “ter-
raria,’ with four glass sides, the glass sliding
in grooves. Each case was provided with a top
of fine wire netting or screening.
Our early experiments with these cages taught
us many things. The nocturnal rodents so skill-
fully collected their hay in corners that when
they crouched motionless beneath the nesting
material their bodies could barely be seen.
With the diurnal species there was an immediate
tendency to dig burrows in the earth, and re-
main under cover the greater part of the day.
The four glass sides and mesh tops of the cases
were found to be a poor arrangement for proper
ventilation. Moreover, it was difficult to clean
the inside of the glass. When the cover was
slid to one side, even though ever so carefully,
the more nervous specimens were liable to leap
up to the sides and escape.
It was by frequent changes of this experi-
“mental series of cages that we evolved a satis-
factory and valuable exhibit of rodents. We
now have a large series of cages, about fifty in
MUVd TVOIDO'IOOZ HHL NI NOILOWTIOO AILda d- LNAGOU
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
number, and in them the specimens are at all
times in view. We have also established sur-
prising records of the longevity of certain
species as captives.
The principal difficulty encountered with the
rodents was the tendency to make nests in cor-
ners; and thus hide from observation. This was
met by cutting up the hay bedding. It was put
through a cutting machine, and reduced to sec-
tions about three-quarters of an inch long. With
this chopped medium the animals were unable
to make a nest, although they would scoop up
a mound of it in a corner, using the concave
center of this as a base to which they returned
after all trips about the cage. The temperature
of the exhibition hall (75° F.) was such that
warmth in bedding was not really necessary.
This is a condition that never should be over-
looked in providing for the comfort of small
mammals in captivity.
Real shelter having been thus eliminated, the
writer was doubtful as to whether or not the
more timid species would fare well. After a
number of weeks that anxiety ceased. In the
changes that were observable, the condition of
the specimens was improved by the ventilation
brought about through the removal of long fibre
nesting materials. The pelage of all the speci-
mens appeared fuller, and of better lustre.
The ventilation of the cage was then improved
by removing the back panel of glass, and sub-
stituting fine wire netting. A sliding panel was
then attached to the mesh cover of the cage;
and through this the keeper in charge could
reach any portion of the interior in placing feed
and cleaning glass without fear of the animals
escaping, as the man’s sleeve closed the orifice.
The writer believes these studies of the needs
of small rodents, and the practicability of really
showing them to our visitors, have resulted in
the best possible cage for the exhibition of such
animals.
As the rodent collection now stands, the
animals are kept in cases twenty-two inches
long, twelve inches wide and twelve inches in
height. We have also found that these dimen-
sions are in many cases sufficient to enable us
to insert glass partitions, thus increasing the
number of compartments. We use shelter boxes
only in those cages where litters of young are
being reared. Several illustrations accompany-
ing this article demonstrate the cage arrange-
ment and construction, and the method of label-
ling the collection.
It is not always the largest animals that are «
of most marked interest or economic importance.
If the smaller species can be shown in a manner
1303
that quickly engages the visitor’s attention,
something worth while has been accomplished.
It is among the rodents that we find animals of
great importance to man, both from the econ-
omic point of view in the damage they do, from
the spread in infectious disease, and because of
the commercial use of a few.
To add to the value of the collection of
rodents we have arranged in close proximity a
series of glass-fronted cases containing those
species of snakes, principally North American,
that are of real value as destroyers of the nox-
ious gnawing animals.
‘rom the interest evinced by our visitors we
would say that the collection described is very
desirable in a collection of living zoological
specimens. The expense in cage construction is
very small, averaging slightly over two dollars
per cage; there is a great variety of animals,
and the specimens themselves, involve but slight
cost in purchase. To obtain the necessary
specimens is, however, no easy matter. The
greater number of these come from collectors
and trappers who make a specialty of capturing
small specimens. Through eight or ten years’
correspondence we have located various parties
engaged in this work, and now we are able to
keep the collection at a uniform standard of
interest and importance. Fortunately, the ship-
ping of specimens is not a difficult matter.
Rodents travel safest in tin cases, properly ven-
tilated, of course, and when supplied with a
variety and abundance of food they require no
attention for a week or more of travel.
Owing to the ability of rodents to live for
lengthy periods without water (if supplied with
vegetable food), their safe transportation is
greatly facilitated. Some of our most valuable
specimens have been eight or ten days en tran-
sit in tin pails with perforated covers wired on
to their tops.
Among the particularly interesting species
now on exhibition are the Indian Jeroboa
(Alactaga indica), Egyptian Jerboa (Dipus
aegyptius), Egyptian Desert Mouse (Meriones
crassus), Porcupine Mouse (Acomys cahirinus),
and the European Marmot (Citellus citellus).
Among the New World species are the Bushy-
tailed Wood Rat, often called the Pack Rat
(Netoma cinerea), Arizona Wood Rat (Netoma
pinetorum), Western Gopher Rat (T’homomy’s
fulvus), Gila Chipmunk (Yamias dorsalis),
Western Chipmunk (Kutamias quadrivittatus),
and the Flying Squirrel (Sciwropterus volans).
Owing to our system of regularly feeding all
of these rodents during the middle of the day,
and limiting the amount of food so that it will
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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
1305
KANGAROO RAT
be quite consumed before the next feeding hour,
we have brought about a condition of diurnal
activity. Prior to a given feeding time the en-
tire collection is active, which results in all its
members being displayed most satisfactorily.
At such times it is interesting to note such
strictly nocturnal creatures as the jerboas and
flying squirrels moving about their cages in
lively fashion.
The excellent condition of the rodents series
is largely attributable to the devoted attentions
of Keeper George Palmer. It is rather difficult
to find men sympathetically interested in the
very small animals, but Keeper Palmer has
shown unflagging interest and care in studying
and ministering to the wants and ways of his
small subjects. Many of the cages, and all
of the nesting boxes and accessories, were built
by him in a work shop at the Reptile House.
The food supply of the collection is inexpensive.
It includes carrots, celery, lettuce, stale white
bread, whole and cracked corn, sunflower seed,
and the small seeds most commonly used as bird
food.
- It is important to note the degree of popular
interest in this collection, aside from the more
Coan
es Si
THIRTEEN-LINED SPERMOPHILE
EGYPTIAN JERBOA
systematic interest of those actually engaged in
the study of animals. At any time of the day
a glance at the rodent series will show a num-
ber of the animals alert and moving. The big
pack-rat may be gathering mouthfuls of cut hay,
or carefully carrying bread cubes from one cor-
ner of his cage to another. Noting some dis-
turbance in his small world, he vigorously
stamps his feet, then ostentatiously clears a
space about him by shoving away the hay with
his forefeet, as if preparing to fight. In a
nearby cage several desert spermophiles turn
endless somersaults by running up the glass
panel, and leaping downward from the top. In
the cage next to them are the vigorous and
vividly striped California chipmunks. Some of
the rodents play like kittens, and from various
cages come cheery whistles, chirps and chatter-
ings. Among the spermophiles there are several
species that are remarkably bird-like in their
ealls.
We have devoted a small group of cages to
remarkable color phases of domesticated mice.
Here may be seen a number of interesting types
of albinism. The most striking of these are
the breeds known as “pink-eyed fawns” and
VISCACHA
1306
“pink-eyed lilacs.” The former is a pale brown
mouse, with the gleaming pink eyes of the per-
fect albino, while the latter is a purplish-maltese
animal. To the average visitor the most inter-
esting among the domestic breeds are the so-
called “waltzing” mice. This animal has been
bred with a view to the deterioration of that
part of the brain that relates to equilibrium and
direction. They spin or “waltz” in such in-
cessant and rapid gyrations that sawdust and
hay particles fly from the scene of action, and
the animal “dances” in a perfectly cleared
space.
AQUARIUM PATHOLOGIST.
Dr. George A. MacCallum, of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, has been appointed
Pathologist to the Aquarium.
BOARD OF MANAGERS’ MEETING.
The Annual Meeting of the Board of Man-
agers will be held at the Down Town Associa-
tion on Tuesday, January 18, 1916, at 3 o'clock
Bee
us,
a
si all
ALBINO FROG
Photographed with common color phase to show the
marked difference.
AN ALBINO FROG.
By Ricwarp Deckert.
LBINOS, or animals lacking color pig-
ment in their structure, are not rare. An-
imals like the rabbit, guinea pig, rat and
mouse have been deliberately bred to albinism
for hundreds of years. Occasionly an albino
horse, dog, raccoon or opossum is met with,
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
and among birds, geese, ducks, pea-fowl, guinea-
fowl, crows and sparrows there often are true
albinos.
Among reptiles, albino specimens of the milk
snake, garter snake and alligator have been ex-
hibited in the Zoological Park Reptile House.
This year we are able to exhibit, for the first
time in the United States, an albino frog. This
interesting rarity, for such it surely is, was
captured by Henry Snyder, the son of our Head
Keeper of Reptiles, at Scarsdale, Westchester
County, New York, and by him was presented
to the Zoological Park.
When this specimen first was seen with some
normally colored green frogs, it was thought
to be a diseased specimen, but the young collec-
tor wisely considered it worth while to take home
the specimen and show it to his father. Mr.
Snyder immediatly realized the rarity and im-
portance of the find. Out of the thousands of
frogs that during the past fifteen years have
been caught for our reptile collection, no one
who has caught and otherwise handled many
thousands of frogs for quite a number of years,
ever previously has secured an albino specimen.
The writer has recently examined all available
records, and has failed to find any mention of
an albino frog having been caught in the United
States. Europe can show records of several
species of frogs and toads in which albinism
occurs from time to time, but this is the first
specimen recorded for America.
The specimen referred to is a common pond
frog, (Rana clamitans) such as may be found
in almost any brook, ditch, pool or freshwater
swamp. Its color is a waxy yellowish white on
all upper surfaces, and milky-white underneath ;
the eyes are brilliant red, with a narrow gold
rim around the pupil. Our specimen is a
a female about two and three quarter inches in
length of head and body, and therefore not
quite adult. At first it was very timid, darting
around its cage with nervous agility, bruising
its head against the screen top and glass sides
whenever anyone came near it. After nearly
three months of captivity, however, it has lost
its nervous fear, and will come from its hiding
place under the moss provided for it and hunt
the roaches, mealworms and earthworms which
form its food. It will also sit for hours on a
large flat stone in the center of its cage, ap-
parently quite content with its surroundings.
Of course this frog is enjoying special care,
and we look forward to keeping it for a reason-
ably long time.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
UTINGA JUNGLE
EXPLORING A TREE AND A YARD OF
JUNGLE.
By C. WirxiiaM Bexrse,
Curator of Birds.
I.
N oblique glance will sometimes reveal
more vital things than a direct gaze. As
with vision so I found it in my occupa-
tions during a fortnight spent in Para, Brazil.
As | have already indicated,* my principal mo-
tive was to superintend the assembling and
transportation to our Zoological Park of a con-
siderable portion of the animals and birds in
the Para Zoo. With the arising of many unex-
pected difficulties, it seemed as if this under-
taking would not leave me free for a moment.
The party not in power even took it up as a
political issue, and the newspapers were filled
with excited editorials condemning our presence
and object. But these things settled themselves,
and at calm intervals I took a tram to the sub-
urbs, and chose Utinga as a base for jungle
work. Utinga is a large tract of jungle, re-
stricted from public occupation in order to pro-_
tect the water-works station. For a day or two
“Zoological Society Butirrin, July, 1915.
1307
I roamed aimlessly about, shooting any inter-
esting birds I came across in the usual collector's
fashion. Then I realized that if any worth-
while results were to be achieved, it was only
by restricted, intensive observation. This I car-
ried out in two ways.
ie
On the first tramp I took in the jungle I
noticed a number of small birds in the upper
branches of a tree which grew alongside of a
trail near our camp. When I had passed that
way several times I realized that this particular
tree had some powerful attraction for birds
of many species. Knowing the shortness of time
at my disposal I determined to concentrate my
efforts on this wild cinnamon, called by the
natives Canella do Matto.
Once having my attention called to this bird
tree, I kept on the watch for others. Several
hundred yards away I discovered a real giant,
towering high above all the surrounding growth.
This I named the Toucan Tree as it appeared
to be especially attractive to these birds. It
was covered with an abundance of good-sized
scarlet fruit, the size of which accounted for
the presence of medium and large birds, such
as toucans, caciques, trogons and kiskadees, in-
stead of smaller callistes and flycatchers. A
third berry-laden tree half a mile to the east-
ward straight through the jungle, bore oblong,
vellow-skinned fruit, appealing especially to
woodpeckers and flycatchers, and from brief
glimpses in passing, the constant abundance of
birds would have furnished as interesting a list
as at the tree near our camp.
I began my study of bird life in the wild
cinnamon tree by stealthy approaches, working
my way through the jungle until I was close
underneath. I soon found that this was quite
unnecessary, as the birds among the upper
branches paid no attention either to me or the
sound of my gun. Three hours of constant ob-
servation beneath the tree resulted in many
hours of pain from strained neck muscles. On
the third day I brought out a canvas steamer
chair and placing it in the trail at a convenient
spot, found it to be ideal for observation. I
could recline so that looking straight upward
was no effort. With gun on my knees, glasses
around my neck, note-book and dead birds on
a stump within reach, I had discovered a truly
de luxe method of tropical bird study. The
biting flies, gnats and mosquitos made it impos-
sible to sit absolutely quiet for more than a
minute, and the ants soon found that the legs
of the chair gave easy access to one’s person.
1308
On the whole, however, I was too much absorbed
in the novelty of the method of work and its
unexpected results to give any thought to the
annoyances.
The principal jungle flower was the heliconia,
whose scarlet, jagged spikes glowed brightly
against the dark foliage. Variegated jeanne
were abundant and hen the slanting sun struck
through the jungle, it often appeared vivid with
color. Black capuchin monkeys of more than
one species were occasionally seen and I saw
as many as nine in a band. Three-toed sloths
were common as were agoutis and small squir-
rels. But during my -pentiodls of watching, no
mammal came near the tree. The more common
sounds were the usual ones of light jungle.
Tinamou called and answered one another, gold-
birds lifted their wonderful voices far away
in the forest, toucans yelped, caciques squeaked
and gurgled overhead, cicadas shrilled and buz-
zed aol great bees and hummingbirds whirred
past. After the daily rain, tiniest of frogs
would each strike up a single, shrill note, un-
ceasingly reiterated.
My business was chiefly with the birds which
I could observe from my canvas seat. I spent
from two to six hours each day for a period
of one week in the immediate vicinity of the
tree and during that time identified ninety-seven
species of birds, none of which were more than
a few yards from the trail. A further division
of these is as follows:
Aerial species flying overhead ...... 7
Birds of the surrounding jungle. 14
Birds observed in the tree... 76
Of the seven aerial species, one was a vulture,
one a nighthawk, one a swift and four were
swallows. These all came into view at one time
or another across the patch of sky visible be-
vond the upper branches of the tree. Now and
then birds of prey appeared, but at such great
elevations that I was unable to identify them.
The fourteen birds of the surrounding jungle
may be divided thus: One tinamou, dove, wood-
pecker, kingfisher, trogon, ani and woodhewer ;
two antbirds, two flycatchers and three finches.
In one or two instances these were birds of
adjoining fields which had strayed a little way
into the undergrowth. The majority, however,
were typical of the lower jungle strata, either
terrestrial or living in the low undergrowth.
This series of strata of bird life visible to
me as I sat quietly, hour after hour, was very
striking, a phenomenon which would never come
to one while moving about through the jungle.
Bound to the ground were the tinamou, and
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
almost as terrestrial were the rustling ground
doves. In the lower underbrush finches, synal-
laxis and antbirds moved restlessly; a little
higher, manakins whirred about and woodhewers
hitched up the trunks. Then came the birds of
the upper branches—callistes, tanagers, fly-
catchers, toucans and parrakeets. Then the low
fliers—the swallows, martins, swifts and night-
hawks and finally the vultures, hanging like the
faintest of motes in the sunlight high above the
earth.
The tree was smooth-barked, richly decorated
with lichens and while only about fifteen inches
in diameter at a man’s height above the ground,
it was very tall in proportion. The first branch-
es were small, mostly dead and about sixty feet
up. From this point the trunk split into lesser
divisions and lifted its topmost foliage into the
full tropical light and heat a hundred and ten
feet above the ground. The berries were small,
round and three-parted and, like the leaves,
slightly acrid, with a spicy, aromatic flavor.
A few minutes after dawn I have counted
eight birds in the tree and a half dozen would
sometimes linger until dusk. As a rule, however,
there were few in sight until 7:30 or 8:00 A. M.,
after which there would be a continual coming
and going until the heat of mid-day drove all
to shelter. The larger number of afternoon
visitors came after the rain was over. Sunshinc
had much to do with the presence of the birds,
and a cloudy half-hour meant but scant notes
as I sat beneath. With the reappearing ef the
sun, the birds weuld again begin to flock from
the surrounding jungle.
Abundance of species and relative fewness of
individuals is a pronounced characteristic of any
tropical fauna. This was beautifully shown by
my first two days’ collection from the tree, col-
lecting, too, which was quite indiscriminate in
character, very different from the more careful
picking and choosing with which I shot on suc-
ceeding days. The first day I secured sixteen
birds, all of different species. The second morn-
ing I got fourteen, all different, and only one
of which was represented in the lot of the pre-
vious day. Thus in five hours’ time I secured
thirty specimens of twenty-nine species. From
the entire district of Para, three hundred and
seventy-nine birds have been recorded. In this
single tree within a week’s time and during a
period of intermittent observation I found sey-
enty-six species. :
The bird visitors to the tree arrived in one
of two characteristic ways. Many came direct
and swiftly, singly or in pairs, flying straight
and with decision as if from a distance.
s
~
z
je)
s
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z
TOURAN TYNE
C,
SKETCH MAP OF A PORTION OF BRITISH GUIANA
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1371
KALACOON LABORATORY
View from the East
and a score of other kindnesses, words fail to
express adequate appreciation. We prefer to
feel that the gift is one to science, which we,
the benefiters, can repay only by the hardest,
most sincere work of investigation of which we
are capable.
Kalacoon is a very large, two-storied house
built on a rather abrupt hill, some two hundred
feet above the Mazaruni River. The labora-
tory room, on pillars fifteen feet above the
ground, is thirty by sixty feet with sixteen
windows. Two miles below the house the
Mazaruni enters the equally large Essequibo;
while the mouth of the Cuyuni River is the
faces north-
east, and the view from the front is magnificent.
All three rivers are visible, together with nine
islands. To the east lies the rubber plantation
of Mr. Withers, and across the river the tiny
group of compact, attractive buildings of the
same distance above. Kalacoon
Government Rest House and the Penal Settles
ment. Beyond these and toward all other
points of the compass, solid jungle covers the
rolling hills.
No more central spot could be found, nor
one more delicately balanced between the abso-
lute primitive wilderness and those comforts of
civilization which mean continual health and
the ability to use body and brain to the full.
Three times a week a little steamer brings ice,
fresh vegetables and mail. We can reach
Georgetown in five minutes by telegraph and
New York half an hour later by cable, while
the steamer trip to Georgetown takes only
seven hours. Yet no one, save an occasional
government official, a tent-boat of negro gold-
diggers, or the wood-skin of an Indian, passes
us. Our Indian hunter finds an abundance of
meat for the table within a mile or two of the
house, and I was recently charged by a jaguar
only a few hundred yards away. I shall re-
serve for other articles an account of the com-
mon creatures which surround us. The short-
est walk often furnishes material for days of
research. For longer expeditions we have
launches at our disposal for ascending the
rivers to the rapids and falls, while Mr.
Wither’s motor car climbs the most impossible
hills and finds its way along trails which other-
1372
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ANOTHER VIEW OF KALACOON LABORATORY
wise are traversed only by naked Akawai and
Carib Indian hunters.
For those who think of the tropics as a place
of constant danger and disease, I may say that
mosquitoes and flies, malaria and other fevers
are absent. A cool breeze blows most of the
day; the temperature varying from 68° to 93°.
At night a heavy blanket is a necessity. A few
poisonous snakes are to be found, but only after
long searching. I have seen two in two months.
A lantern, turned low, keeps away the vam-
pires, and while béte rouge are annoying they
are easily guarded against. Under such con-
ditions it is possible, as we are proving, to work
hard day after day, month after month, and
remain unpoisoned, unbitten and in good
health.
The one, terrible disadvantage, the one thing
which no planning or finance or forethought
can alter, is the pitifully inadequate ability of
each of our human brains to cope properly
with a tithe of the specimens which accumulate,
or to understand and translate into logical ex-
planation more than the merest fraction of the
mass of strange facts and phenomena which fill
our minds and note-books.
NOOSING A BUSHMASTER.
By Wiiu1aM BeEese.
UR Akawai Indian hunter, two nestling
trogons and Easter eve—these things led
to the capture of the Master of the
Bush. For nothing in the tropics is direct,
premeditated.
My thoughts were far from poisonous ser-
pents when Jeremiah came into our Guiana
laboratory late on a Saturday afternoon. Out-
doors he had deposited the coarser game in-
tended for the mess, today, consisting of a
small deer, a tinamou or maam and _ two
agoutis. But now with his quiet smile, he held
out his lesser booty, which he always brought
in to me, offering in his slender, effeminate
hands his contribution to science. Usually this
was a bird of brilliant plumage, or a nestful
of maam’s eggs with shells like great spheres
of burnished emeralds. These he would carry
in a basket so cunningly woven from a single
palm frond that it shared our interest in its
contents. To-day, he presented two nestling
trogons, and this was against rules. For we
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1373
VIEW NORTHEAST FROM KALACOON
Three rivers and nine islands are visible in this direction
desired only to know where such nests were,
there to go and study and photograph.
“Jeremiah—listen! You sabe we no want
bird here. Must go and show nest, eh?”
“Me sabe.”
Accompanied by one of us, off he started
again, without a murmur. In the slanting
rays of the sun he walked steadily down the
trail from Kalacoon as if he had not been hunt-
ing since early dawn. An hour passed and the
sun swung still lower when a panting voice
gasped out:
“Huge labaria, yards long! Big as leg!”
The flight of queen bees and their swarms,
the call to arms in a sleeping camp creates
somewhat the commotion that the news of the
bushmaster aroused with us. For he is really
what his name implies. What the elephant is
to the African jungles, this serpent is to the
Guiana wilderness. He fears nothing—save
one thing, hunting ants, before which all the
world flees. And this was the first bushmaster
of the rainy season.
.
Jeremiah had been left to mount guard over
the serpent which had been found near the
trogon tree. Already the light was failing; so
we walked rapidly with gun, snake-pole and
canvas bag. Parrakeets hurtled bamboowards
to roost; doves scurried off and small rails flew
from our path and flopped into the reeds. Our
route led through the open-trailed rubber
plantation of the Hill’s Estate toward the edge
of the high bush, and we did not slacken speed
until we were in the dim light which filtered
through the western branches.
At the top of a slope we heard a yell—a
veritable red Indian yell—and there our
Akawai hunter was dancing excitedly about,
shouting to us to come on. “Snake, he move!”
We arrived panting, and he tremblingly led me
along a fallen tree and pointed to the dead
leaves. I well knew the color and pattern of
a bushmaster. I had had them brought to me
dead and had killed them myself, and I had
seen them in their cage behind glass. But now,
though I was thinking bushmaster and looking
bushmaster, my eyes insisted on registering
1374
dead leaves. Eager as I was to begin opera-
tions before darkness closed down, it was a full
three minutes before I could honestly say—
“This is leaf; that is snake.”
The pattern and pigment of the cunningly
arranged coils were that of the jungle floor,
anywhere; a design of dead leaves, reddish-
yellow, pinkish, dark brown, etched with mold,
fungus and decay, and with all the shadows
and high lights which the heaped-up tissues
throw upon one another. In the center of this
dread plaque, this reptilian mirage, silent and
motionless rested the head. I knew it was tri-
angular and flattened, because I had dissected
such heads in times past, but now my senses
revealed to me only an irregularity in the con-
tour, a central focus in this jungle mat, the
unravelling of which spelt death.
It was a big snake, seven or eight feet long
and heavy bodied—by no means a one-man job.
Again we carefully examined the screw-eyes on
the pole, and each looked behind for a possible
line of escape.
I quickly formed my method of attack.
Jeremiah was sent to cut forked sticks, but his
enthusiasm at having work to do away from
the scene of immediate conflict was so sincere
that he vanished altogether and returned with
the sticks only when our shouts announced the
end of the struggle. An Indian will undergo
any physical hardship smiling, and he will face
any creature in the jungle, except the bush-
master.
We approached from three sides, bringing
snake-pole, free noose and gun to bear. Slowly
the noose on the pole pushed nearer and nearer.
I had no idea how he would react to the attack,
whether he would receive it quietly, or, as I
have seen the king cobra in Burma, become
enraged and attack in turn.
The cord touched his nose, and he drew back
close to some bushy stems. Again it dangled
against his head, and his tongue played like
lightning. And now he sent forth the warn-
ing of his mastership—a sharp whirrrrr! and
the tip of his tail became a blur, the rough
scales rasping and vibrating against the dead
leaves, and giving out a sound not less sharp
and sinister than the instrumental rattling of
his near relatives.
For a moment the head hung motionless,
then the noose-man made a lunge and pulled
his cord. The great serpent drew back like a
flash, and turning, undulated slowly away to-
ward the darker depths of the forest. There
was no panic, no fear of pursuit in his move-
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ments. He had encountered something quite
new to his experience, and the knowledge of
his own power made it easy for him to gauge
that of an opponent. He feared neither deer
nor tapir, yet at their approach he would sound
his warning as a reciprocal precaution, poison
against hoofs. And now, when his warning
had no effect on this new disturbing thing, he
chose dignifiedly to withdraw.
I crept quickly along on one side and with
the gun barrel slightly deflected his course so
that he was headed toward an open space, free
from brush and bush-ropes. Here the pole-
man awaited him, the noose spread and sway-
ing a few inches from the leaves. Steadily the
snake held to his course, and without sensing
any danger pushed his head cleanly into the
circle of cord. A sudden snap of the taut line
and pandemonium began. The snake lashed and
curled and whipped up a whirlpool of debris,
while one of us held grimly on to the noose
and the rest tried to disentangle the whirling
coils and make certain of a tight grip close
behind the head, praying for the screw-eyes
to hold fast. Even with a scant inch of neck
ahead of the noose, the head had such play that
I had to pin it down with the gun barrel before
we dared seize it. When our fingers gained
their safe hold and pressed, the great mouth
opened wide, a gaping expanse of snowy white
tissue, and the inch-long fangs appeared erect,
each draped under the folds of its sheath like
a rapier outlined beneath a courtier’s cloak.
When once the serpent felt himself con-
quered, he ceased to struggle; and this- was
fortunate, for in the dim light we stumbled
more than once as we sidled and _ backed
through the maze of lianas and over fallen
logs.
Jeremiah now appeared, unashamed and
wide-eyed with excitement. He followed and
picked up the wreck of battle—gun, hats and
bags which had been thrown aside or knocked
off in the struggle. With locked step, so as not
to wrench the long body, we marched back to
Kalacoon. Now and then a great shudder would
pass through the hanging loops and a spasm of
muscular stress that tested our strength. It
was no easy matter to hold the snake, for the
scales on its back were as rough and hard as
a file, and a sudden twist fairly took the skin
off one’s hand.
I cleaned his mouth of all dirt and debris,
and then we laid him upon the ground and,
without stretching, found that he measured a
good eight feet and a half. With no relaxing
of care we slid him into the wired box which
ZOOLOGICAL
would be his home until he was liberated in his
roomier quarters in the Reptile House of the
Zoological Park.
There is little doubt but that bushmasters
hibernate, or at least hide themselves away dur-
ing the dry seasons. When the rains begin,
they appear, but spend most of their time coiled
flatly among dead leaves in the dark jungle.
Unless actually stepped upon they will not
strike at a passing man or large animal. ‘The
next one I came across proved this. A few days
after we caught the big fellow, I was walking
in another part of the forest and found one less
than four feet long. Hope, one of my convict
trail-cutters, was walling ahead when something
impelled me to look down. ‘There at my feet was
the dread spiral, which Hope had stepped
directly over. He had even flicked a leat with
his bare foot partly across the head of the
snake. When I called to him and told him, he
leaned against a tree and turned as pale as
his pigment would allow him.
I had no cord, and was a long distance from
home, so I cut a light reed and with a slight
blow on the neck disabled the snake so that
he was quite harmless. It is astonishing how
slight a tap will derange that wonderful chain
of vertebrae which forms almost the entire
skeleton. I realized why it is that for all their
deadliness, these serpents recognize discretion
as the best policy in their meetings with
creatures of large size.
I do not think that in these dark jungles
bushmasters are especially nocturnal. They
seem to move about regardless of the time of
day or night. But their movements are slow,
and rather than pursue their prey, their forte
in life is waiting, with all the patience in the
world, for some small creature to cross the spot
which they have rendered more deadly than
any pitfall or trap of human devising.
THE COCK-OF-THE-ROCK.
SUPERB, adult male Cock-of-the-Rock,
(Rupicola rupicola) has just come to us
from the Tropical Research Station, es-
tablished in British Guiana by the Zoological
Society. It is the first specimen of its genus
to reach us, and is the most valuable accession
among the birds received so far this year.
The Cock-of-the-Rock belongs to the family
Cotingidae, the chatterers, and is allied to the
bell-bird and the umbrella-bird. Four forms,
all from northern and western South America,
SOCIETY
BULLETIN 1375
are recognized. The range of the species rep-
resented by our bird extends through Vene-
zuela, British Guiana and northern Brazil. It
occurs very locally in mountainous portions of
the interior, and appears to be nowhere abun-
dant. It has been more or less persecuted by
feather hunters, but its habitat is so inaccessible
that it seems unlikely that it has suffered very
considerably from this cause. The Indians use
them to some extent in their feather ornaments,
but seem to prefer the beaks and plumage of
toucans and macaws.
An interesting habit of the Cock-of-the-Rock
is its gathering in parties at the beginning of
the breeding season. A suitable spot is select-
ed, and the males, ranged in a circle, perform a
curious dance, each springing from a_ low
branch to the ground and returning with a
quick leap. A circular space is soon cleared of
leaves and other debris, leaving a clean, well-
packed ring, which is easily recognized.
The male Cock-of-the-Rock is a deep orange,
with black wings and tail. The head is orna-
mented with a long, perpendicular crest, com-
posed of two portions, one of which rises from
each side of the head, meeting in the center.
The outer secondaries of the wing are produced
into long, decorative filaments. The female is
a sombre brown, tinged here and there with
orange.
The plumage of the Cock-of-the-Rock, like
that of many other red and orange birds, fades
in captivity. Our present specimen is slightly
duller than a wild bird, but still is very bril-
liant. These birds, on rare occasions, have
been taken to England, the largest arrival being
six birds from British Guiana in 1911. From
all acounts, they are not among the hardiest of
captives, and no great success in keeping them
has been attained. Our bird, however, has been
in captivity for some months, and shows every
evidence of perfect health.
Ia, Sa (Ce
A Hybrid Bear.—Sometime ago the But-
LETIN announced the birth of an interesting
hybrid bear, the parents being a Russian brown
bear (mother) and the long-eared sloth bear.
At that time the infant was in the den with
the mother, and there was much speculating as
to what its characteristics would be when it
did appear. ‘This young bear is now rollicking
about the den, and is quite remarkable in form
and coloration. It is black like its male
parent, with an exceptionally elongated head
and long ears. Its antics add much to public
interest in our collection of fun-producing bears.
1376 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Hepartments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. Hornapbay. C. H. TownseEnp.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE. Raymonp L. Dirmars.
Lxge S. CRANDALL.
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1916, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELwin R. SANBORN,
Editor and Official Photographer
Vou. XIX, No. 4. JULY, 1916
GREAT SEIZURES OF BIRDS’
PLUMAGE.
Tnuicir Trape 1n BomsBay
From The Madras Mail, May 10, 1916.
Bombay, ©th May.—A_ few figures are published
showing that the Customs Preventive Department at
this port have during the past year been highly suc-
cessful in stopping the trade in the illicit export of
birds’ plumage. Ten exporters have come within their
grasp, and from these were seized egret plumes
worth Rs. 2,19,047 in India and £44,000 in London.
The rupee value represents the sum which the ex-
porters paid to those who took the feathers from
the birds. So the loss to the trade was considerable.
In addition penalties varying from Rs. 5,000 to Rs.
10,000 each, and amounting altogether to Rs. 59,175,
were inflicted on these men, and over Rs. 52,000 of
this sum has been recovered. Sometimes large cap-
tures are made. During the past fortnight, for ex-
ample, feathers worth Rs. 14,400 were seized in
course of export and the exporter detected. The
Preventive Department believe that they destroyed
about 90 per cent. of the trade last year. But the
profits are very large and the despatch of parcels
is beginning again.
There appears to be a serious defect in the law
on the matter. When an exporter is discovered—no
easy matter, for feather correspondents do not sign
their letters with their true name—the Customs De-
partment can, on a Magistrate’s warrant, have his
house searched and seize the feathers found there
to produce as evidence that he is engaged in the
trade. But they have to return the feathers and can
only take possession of them if they are discovered
in the course of export.
Editorial in The Madras Mail.
We referred the other day to the great difficulty
there is in stopping the illicit trade in birds’ plu-
mage, owing to there being no reciprocal Act in the
United Kingdom prohibiting the importation of such
articles, because of the political influence of the trade
that deals in these goods.
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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
other trips to Africa, as I had in hand certain
discoveries of mineral and other resources that
I felt sure would attract attention, so that he
could go back again if he wished.
Ota’s experience in New York is well known.
It resulted first in a sensational story about
putting him in a monkey-cage as an exhibit,
and later on in an effort to give him an educa-
tion. The Zoological Park simply gave him
temporary employment in feeding the anthro-
poid apes, and a safe and comfortable home for
a short time, while I was engaged in private
affairs which needed my attention after these
years of absence in Africa.
After Ota started on his school course, he
became interested in it and so attached to his
friends in the work, that when I offered him a
chance to return to Africa with me on my next
expedition he would not go. Later on I offered
him an opportunity to work here on the Pan-
ama Canal, but he still stood firm on his first
position.
I never thoroughly understood his mental at-
titude, but he was one of the most determined
little fellows that ever breathed. Possibly he
was trying to prove all the time that he was
not a pygmy, as that term, even in Africa, al-
ways conveys the idea of difference from and
inferiority to other people. I never addressed
him as one. To me he was very human; a
brave, shrewd, even smart little man, who pre-
ferred to match himself against civilization
than to be a slave to the Baschilele. All hon-
or to him, even though he died in the attempt!
His manner of going was an apparent con-
fession of defeat; but Hannibal and Mare An-
tony were big souls that succumbed in the same
way after they saw that they had undertaken
the impossible. I wish I had been near Ota
Benga, with an opportunity to try to cheer up
his- spirit; but doubtless his friends there did
all they could. He left Africa because he
would not be a slave, and he preferred to die
in America rather than endure a confinement
against which his spirit rebelled. The chains
of civilization still were chains to him.
I never believed that the sort of education
which seems to be the standard to-day was suit-
ed to him; nor did I encourage that educational
experiment. At the same time I was not will-
ing to combat his chance along that line, espe-
cially since his other friends sincerely believed
it wise. Even had he gone back to Africa, he
might have fared no better. His country is
now torn by war made by the white men among
themselves, and a war far more terrible than
any the pygmies ever waged. In fact, I have
lately heard that Ndombe’s peaceful kingdom
BULLETIN 1379
was utterly broken up by the Belgians just be-
fore King Albert came to the throne, and that
Ndombe’s son was put in prison on some trivial
charge.
Between the impossible conditions of Ota
Benga’s own land, and those which he could not
surmount on ours, the homeless pygmy found no
abiding-place. Can we wonder that he gave up
his life as an unsolvable problem? It was no
less a man than Alfred Russell Wallace who
wrote me a short time before he died, and be-
fore the European war started: “The human
race has not made much real progress in five
thousand years.”
STATUS OF THE ALLIGATOR IN 1916.
By Raymonp L. Drrmars.
URING a collecting trip in April and
May covering a considerable area of the
low-grounds along the Savannah River,
the writer had excellent opportunities for study-
ing the present status of the alligator. ‘The
observations made are particularly interesting
when compared with conditiens noted on the
same ground fifteen years ago, during which
period there has been much alligator hunting,
and the crafty reptiles have adopted tactics for
self preservation that are foreign to their form-
er habits.
Like many other wild creatures threatened
with extinction, the alligator is fighting hard
for its life. In its battle fer existence it has
certain advantages over other animals. Its
ability to recover from gun-shot wounds, unless
wounded in a vital part, and its habit of remain-
ing close to sheltering, muddy water constitute
important factors in self preservation.
Despite the alleged low mentality of reptiles,
the alligator appears to have developed a fear
of man and of guns equivalent to the sagacity
of the modern bear. Throughout the greater
part of its former distribution, the big reptile
has retreated from the rivers and from expos-
ure to hostile observations from boats, and has
taken up its abode in swamps that are remote
and little disturbed.
Fifteen years ago the writer spent some
weeks collecting reptiles about thirty miles in-
land from Savannah, in the extensive low
grounds on the South Carolina side of the
Savannah River. At that time alligators were
yet fairly common in the river, and frequently
were seen in the big open lakes that connect
with the river during freshets. Back in the
cypress low-grounds, which are thick, difficult
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
COLLECTING WAGON
A primitive type of South Carolina conveyance
places to reach and extending about two miles
from the stream were occasional alligators, but
we noted few indications of their existence.
At that time, the river steamboats carried
veritable arsenals in immediate readiness on the
tops of their pilot houses. The appearance of
an alligator caused a general fusillade. Fisher-
men going into the lakes invariably carried guns
for the diversion to be found in shooting at
every alligator that appeared. These forms of
persecution have driven the reptiles to cover,
but have not wholly accomplished their exter-
mination.
During the spring of the present year, the
writer and Keeper George Palmer so success-
fully covered this same area in another collect-
ing trip for turtles, lizards and snakes that it
resulted in the capture of over five hundred
specimens. We expected to find the alligator
almost exterminated, and were not surprised to
learn that these reptiles are “pretty scarce”
along the Savannah River and larger bodies of
open water. During a series of trips into the
dense cypress swamps, however, the discovery
was made that alligators are even yet fairly
numerous. ‘They had retreated into these pro-
tecting swamps, and multiplied in greater num-
bers than formerly were seen on the river.
The accompanying illustrations convey an im-
pression of the vast area and inaccessibility of
these cypress swamps. Their scenery is weird
and impressive, and their atmosphere, to human
beings, is decidedly unwholesome. They shelter
legions of moccasins, and various species of
bloodsucking insect pests, some of which bur-
row under the skin and cause dangerous sores.
On entering the swamp, one is immediately
impressed by the spectacle of great trees that
swell at the base like the neck of a bottle, and
sometimes are so boldly corrugated as to ap-
pear like a compressed mass of organ pipes.
Many of these trees are a hundred feet high,
and some are much higher, and their foliage is
fine and feathery, like that of the northern
larch.
In some areas not a ray of sunlight strikes
the ground, although there is a peculiar, and
really bright effect of lighting that is due to
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN 1381
HUNTING FOR LIZARDS
In the cool of the early morning these active creatures hide under the bark
reflections from the mud-encrusted tree trunks
and cypress knees. ‘The great river backs into
these swamps during freshets, and stains the
trunks from six to ten feet high to the color
of its coffee-colored waters. This dries out to
a pinkish-brown color, and imparts an effect
like a weird stage setting for an allegorical
opera.
In these swamps the crafty adult ‘gator
selects a pool, then burrows under the bank
until it has constructed a deep, under-water
eavern in which to retreat. The pools teem
with fish of various kinds, and some of these
are of large size. In nesting time, July and
August, the female crocodilian selects a par-
ticularly secluded spot, then scrapes together
a great mound of dead twigs, leaves and mud.
The mound is from six to ten feet in diameter,
and from three to four feet deep. In this nest
the parent buries her eggs, which have a very
hard and brittle shell. Incubation comes from
a certain amount of artificial heat generated by
the mound of decomposing vegetation; and the
young hatch in about eight weeks.
The alligators observed by the writer in the
cypress swamps were extremely shy. In mak-
ing our way toward the pools, it was necessary
to go with the utmost care in order to avoid
stepping upon brittle twigs, or rustling the
leaves of bushes. Their sight is so keen that
it is necessary to advance very slowly, using
bushes and tree trunks as screens. Coming in
this way to a bayou we observed an alligator
about eleven feet long sprawled upon the bank,
with fore and hind feet stretched in abandon.
The mouth was open and the eyes appeared to
be shut. Nearby were about a dozen small
specimens ranging in length from two to four
feet. All were on the opposite side of the pool
from where we stood. We had consumed about
twenty minutes in our stealthy progress to the
pool, over the last three hundred feet, and we
crouched behind an enormous cypress trunk
smothered in vines. One of the party, sinking
in the ooze. threw out an elbow to save himself.
On the instant it seemed that every alligator
in the bayou had received an electric shock.
¥
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el 3
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CONTENTMENT AFTER THE JOURNEY NORTH
Photo by E. R.S.
Our captive is slightly over eight feet long
1382
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1383
HEART OF THE CYPRESS SWAMP
The modern alligator has retreated into these vast, inaccessible areas
The big specimen went into the water with a
crash, sending up a geyser of muddy spray.
The rush of the smaller reptiles was prac-
tically simultaneous, and it was followed by
the appearance of many infant gators that had
been prowling among the cypress knees. They
came from all directions, running like fright-
ened chicks, all seeking the protecting water.
Our experiences in a number of bayous were
quite similar. The writer photographed one
batch of alligators coming to the surface and
crawling out on the bank; but this was done
only after constructing a blind for the camera
and waiting, motionless, for over an hour. Dur-
ing this time some great blue herons and snowy
egrets were much interested, coming within
twenty feet of us, with darting of heads and
staring of pale yellow eyes. Several ‘gators
rising near these birds caused a big heron to
take flight, and the crash of his wings as he
went through the trees sent the reptile colony
to the bottom for another long wait.
During one of the bayou excursions we noted
an alligator diving into a water hole not more
than six feet in diameter. When we sounded
this hole, we found it to be five feet deep, with
an under-water tunnel running off at a sharp
vertical slope to a distance of twelve feet. Our
collecting wagon was not over a mile away, on
a corduroy road, and we returned for a steel
alligator hook, an axe and coil of rope. A
slender young cypress was cut and the hook
attached to it.
A half hour's manoeuvering enabled us to
hook the reptile that was located in that under-
ground retreat. It remained motionless until
the hook had firmly caught, then so furiously
did it struggle that to drag it out was a her-
culean task. The hook had penetrated a fore-
foot, and we brought the animal to the surface
for a view of its size, and to determine upon
methods for its subjugation.
A noose was made, the creature was again
hauled out, when the rope was slipped over the
jaws, a loop thrown around and behind the
forefeet, and thence over the jaws again. Then
we tied the reptile to a cypress tree, and made
ready to bind him more securely.
1384 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
AN ALLIGATOR’S BASKING ,.PLACE
The ripples mark the place where a big specimen has just dived into the water
The struggles of the reptile were fast and
vigorous. We worked on a platform of bark
hastily torn from a decaying tree, and which
prevented our sinking to our knees in the
swamp. Between showers of mud thrown up
by the alligator’s tail, we looped the creature’s
jaws in a way to form a rope muzzle with about
ten feet attached for pulling.
We hauled him a full quarter-mile out of the
thicker part of the swamp, thence led the wagon
a tortuous route between the trees to meet -the
captive. Lifting the animal to the wagon, we
bound him to the floor upon paddings of Span-
ish moss, then drove ten miles over corduroy
roads to the pinelands and our collecting base.
We had rented an empty house as our camp,
and having no cage for the alligator, were in
doubt what to do with him until morning, when
a shipping crate could be built. Our trouble-
some specimen was eight feet long and about
two hundred pounds in weight. Threatening
to destroy the wagon, and hissing furiously he
caused us some anxiety, until the idea occurred
of locking him in our best bedroom. With
much prudence we moved out furniture and
baggage, before the alligator went in. His
initial struggles with his new surroundings
shook the house, and a blow of his head loosened
the door fastenings. But in the end the room
held him, and the next morning a crate was
built for shipment to the North.
This fine specimen is now on exhibition in
the Reptile House, and in the large pool with
a specimen almost matching him in size that
hatched from a batch of eggs collected in the
same neighborhood fifteen years ago.
Fortunately, for the future status of the
alligator, the market for hides has reached such
a low ebb that traffic in skins is no longer worth
while. A large dealer in leather goods informed
the writer that the skin of a four foot reptile
—the size most preferable in “the trade’—is
worth but fifty cents, and that the finest dressed
hide, all ready for cutting into desirable sizes
for manufactured articles, is worth only two
dollars. This latter value involves tanning
only by the best processes. As a fashion, the
use of alligator hide has “gone out.”
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
TEXAS WHITE-TAILED DEER
Sixteen Point Buck
BIG GAME OF THE TEXAS BORDER:
By CuapMan GRantT.*
WO four-point antlers hung on a_ back
T porch in Texas; tied together by a two-
foot cord; their bases smoothed off and
polished, evidently used as handles. Nothing
to excite interest, but I wondered what purpose
they could serve. Upon inquiring I was told
in a matter-of-fact way that they were used for
“rattling up deer.” “You climb into a mes-
quite, early of a frosty morning, rattle the
horns and bucks will run up to you.” “You
can shoot them if there are no rangers around.”
This is quite enough. I laughed indulgently
to show that I could not be gulled into “holding
the sack,” for any Texas version of our classical
“snipe hunts.” A wily buck running up to
watch a gentleman in a tree rattling the antlers
of one of his, the buck’s, deceased relatives was
too wild a fancy to fool any one.
However, hunting deer by “rattling” is a
recognized offence in Texas, and forbidden by
*The observations in “Big Game of the Texas Bor-
der” were made by the author during a two-years’
service as 2nd Lieutenant of the Fourteenth U. S.’
Cavalry in the border patrol. Mr. Grant is now on
the reserve list for Ist Lieutenant, of Cavalry, U. S.
Volunteers.— Eprror.
1385
the game laws. Buck deer begin to fight when
cold weather sets in, which is about the second
half of November or the first part of Decem-
ber. The poacher secures two antlers and
climbs into a mesquite tree so that he can get
a fair view around him. ‘Then, with his rifle
in a convenient place, he takes an antler in
either hand and brings them together with a
crash, rattling the points and drawing them
apart. On a clear, cold morning this noise
can be heard a long distance. The rattling is
repeated several times, but the technique varies
with each hunter. Each claims more or less
exclusive knowledge of just how it should be
done, based generally on his remembrance of
the sounds of conflicts between bucks that he
has witnessed. They all admit that old, dry
antlers do not emit the proper sound.
Large bucks are the first to respond. Occa-
sionally they may be seen a quarter of a mile
away, coming at a gallop. Sometimes from ten
to fifteen bucks can be assembled in half an
hour, the smaller ones coming more stealthily,
and the does very rarely or not at all. The un-
scrupulous hide-hunter used to slaughter many
deer in this way where game was abundant.
One might imagine this a prosaic way to hunt,
but all who have tried it agree that it is most
thrilling.
SWOLLEN NECK OF BUCK
This occurs during the rut
1386 ZOOLOGICAL
The first time I saw a doe running with one
fore leg held up in front of her, I thought that
she had been wounded, especially since she ran
this way until out of sight. Later I saw a doe
and two fawns feeding, and approached within
a few yards, up-wind. Finally the doe saw me
move, and gave one of their peculiar, whistling
snorts that can be heard a very long distance.
I stood motionless and she regarded me for
several minutes, but seeing no further move-
ment, was undecided whether to start feeding
again or not. I moved again, and she turned
and trotted off, holding one fore foot high in
air for several steps and then bringing it down
smartly with an impact that I could plainly
hear. She snorted several more times while
running away, and struck at intervals with one
and then the other fore foot. The fawns were
striking the ground also, and all three disap-
peared over the hill with white tails waving
from side to side, every hair erect. It was a
noisy and conspicuous cavalcade. I have seen
this time and again. When a bunch of deer is
started, the smaller fawns are often left behind,
or else remain out of curiosity. It may be that
they have so recently lost their baby spots that
they are undecided whether to run or freeze.
The food of the white-tail consists for the
most part of small, black-thorn twigs which are
nipped off and swallowed, thorns and all. Later
they are chewed fine in the cud. The common
opuntia, or prickly pear, also is a favorite with
them. It is at first difficult to distinguish be-
tween the sound made by a steer breaking
“pear and that made by a deer. Cactus is a
nourishing food, and during dry years, ranch-
men send Mexicans over the range with gaso-
line torches to burn the thorns off of the pear.
Cattle and goats follow after the torch, finding
food and drink in the succulent leaves. Eating
unburned pear year after year generally kills
cattle, because abscesses form on their jaws.
Deer do not seem to suffer in this way. Deer,
wild cats, peccaries and rabbits all have a coat-
ing of thorns, large and small, immediately be-
neath their skins, resembling a coating of
felt with a generous interspersion of mesquite
thorns. I believe that these thorns remain in
the animal throughout life, as they lie in the
connective tissue immediately beneath the skin,
and do not cause inflammation. Besides, the
older the animal the more thorns he seems to
have.
Mexicans make seccinas of deer meat, known
in the west as “jerkey.” The meat is split into
thin sheets, sparingly salted and _ peppered,
piled and allowed to drain for a few hours, and
then hung in the shade. The hanging portions
SOCIETY BULLETIN
are propped apart with small twigs so that the
air can circulate freely. Blowflies do not bother
the meat, but wasps eat their fil] until it hard-
ens; which in the dry season does not take long.
In rainy weather the meat must be hung in the
windiest place available. The seccinas are
either stored dry or, better yet, are toasted over
coals till brown, when they will keep indefinite-
ly. Toasted venison is a delicious and sustain-
ing food, and can be eaten like stick candy, with-
out further preparation. Pinole in Texas is not
simply ground, popped popcorn as it is in the
west, but is made of equal parts of toasted and
ground seccinas, ground and parched corn and
brown sugar. This makes a remarkably sus-
taining and delicious food.
White-tail deer seem to get along amicably
with their small neighbor, the collared peccary
or “jabaline’’ (pronounced hay-a-le-fie), as I
have seen eight or ten deer feeding among a
bunch of, possibly, twenty peccaries in thorn
brush. There are many stories current of the
ferocity of these little pigs. Many hunters
claim that they are dangerous, and attack when
wounded or to protect their young. Close in-
quiries failed to elicit any authentic informa-
tion of anyone actually being hurt by them, but
numerous stories prevailed of hunters being
treed by infuriated peccaries. Judging by the
rapidity with which these little pigs can travel
through the brush, I believe it would be very
difficult for an active man to climb a tree, even
were one right at hand, before being over-
taken. I have shot peccaries, and had a bunch
of from five to fifteen scurry past me under
the brush in open formation. Those that passed
nearby would see me, and snap their tusks and
raise their manes, and I believe that this helter-
skelter scurry for safety is often mistaken for
a charge when really the little pigs are merely
running in the direction in which they were
headed when startled. I am positive that I
could not successfully have escaped by climb-
ing a tree had they really been after me.
The flesh of a young sow is delicious food,
but that of the older animals, or the boars, is
very musky and not fit for food. The musk-sac
must be removed from the animal as soon as it
is killed, if the flesh is to be used.
Both sexes bear a scent-gland, analogous to
the oil sac of birds, on the pelvis, about eight
inches above where the tail should be. The
gland lies just below the skin and is not di-
rectly attached to the body. It is about two
inches in diameter and half an inch thick. The
musk is very strong and similar to that of the
skunk. I believe the scent is used as a warning
to pursuers, and also to enable the young to
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
COLLARED PECCARY
find the mother. One moonlight night I walked
into a herd of sleeping peccaries which started
up with grunts, snorts and a clicking of tusks.
A wave of musk of great intensity arose and
spread so quickly that I feel sure that it liter-
ally must have been forcibly ejected from the
glands. MHabitually, the boars rub their backs
on low limbs to leave their trade mark behind
and thus m.-: out their range.
Young peccaries arrive at any season of the
year, so that at any time one is likely to come
upon a nest containing one or two little reddish
pigs. If taken and raised on a bottle they be-
come affectionate pets, and later develop into
very jealous and ferocious watch dogs; but for
the safety of strangers they must be killed or
confined when a couple of years old.
Little black pigs follow their mothers right
among the full-grown pigs of both sexes. Pigs
may be found anywhere; on hill tops, along
streams, on the flats, any place at any time;
their little tracks making lacework over the
ground after a rain, showing in many places
where the pigs walk on the extreme tip of the
hoof when expecting danger. The first intima-
tion that one gets of the proximity of pigs is
their strong odor, by which they actually can
be followed by man.
1387
When the pigs detect the presence of an ene-
my, they snort and click their razor-edged
tusks, but as soon as the enemy is located they
make off, deploying in fan-shape formation, to
come together again when danger is past. They
root for their food, which seems to be princi-
pally vegetable, although grubs also undoubted-
ly are eaten. Cactus, or nopal, forms a con-
siderable portion of their diet, as it does of the
deer, wood rats and other animals.
The peccaries of the Texas border were near-
ly exterminated some years ago by hide hunters
who used dogs. I found a little negro who
killed his pecearies with a penknife! The dog
would seize the pig by one ear and hold on
until our hero ran up, seized piggy by the other
ear and cut his throat. Peccaries cannot be
hunted with a jacklight, as deer are illegally
hunted, because their eyes do not shine. Their
eyes are small, and possibly the pigs have more
sense than to stare at a strange light. It will
not be long before peccaries are exterminated
throughout the partially settled country, be-
cause they are easily followed by dogs, and
they have a fatal failing for going over their
old range despite the changes wrought by man.
Thus it is not unusual to see a band passing
through a yard, or even a camp of soldiers.
A MEXICAN AND HIS PET DEER
AN IMMATURE WOOD IBIS
He might have been saved
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Avian Castaways.—Gulls, petrels, gannets
and other sea birds are a refreshing sight at sea
to break the monotony of the otherwise barren
air. Perfectly at home on the water or flying,
they derive their food and drink from the sea.
Land birds blown to sea at night during migra-
tion and alighting upon a steamer for succor
from the waste of water give rise to entirely
different emotions. The bewildered birds for-
get their fear of man as a rule, and will suffer
themselves to be closely approached. Little
warblers flit about the decks and rigging seek-
ing insects that have been blown to sea by the
same wind that took them out of their course.
Their fate is generally the same, however; a
few sips of salt water that remains in puddles
after the sailors have washed down the decks
cause their wings to droop, they become less
active, and either fall an easy prey to the ship’s
cat, or crumple up into pitiful little puffs of
feathers and die. Larger birds, such as hawks,
generally alight upon the wireless antennae and
will ride sometimes for two days until their
keen eyes detect land.
The only bird that I have noticed show any
hesitancy about alighting was a barn swallow.
Again I saw a bat far at sea. He paid no at-
tention to the ship, but bore straight on, hope-
lessly unorientated. Among the birds that I
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
have seen aboard coastwise vessels are the king-
fisher, robin, redstart, yellowthroat, great blue
heron, purple martin, mourning dove, osprey
and various hawks.
The little castaways appeal to me as pecu-
liarly pathetic, and I always place fresh water
where they can get it; but it is doubtful if they
are ever saved to find their way ashore. The
immature wood ibis in the accompanying cut
might have been saved, as we came within sight
of land the day following his advent, but he
was very guileless and besides the sailors enjoy
stewed “‘crane.’—C. G.
Collecting Reptiles—The Curator of Rep-
tiles has returned from a trip to the low
grounds bordering the Savannah River, Georgia,
spending fourteen days in collecting work.
Five hundred and sixty reptiles were caught,
erated and successfully shipped to New York
without losses of any kind. Turtles, tortoises,
lizards, snakes and batrachians were repre-
sented in the shipment, to the number of forty-
seven species, and the total net weight of the
specimens collected was slightly over five hun-
dred pounds. There was a particular neces-
sity for this trip, owing to the fact that our
supply of Old World reptiles stopped abso-
lutely, at the beginning of the war. In addi-
tion to the specimens that were obtained, the
southern trip also yielded photographs and
scientific observations.
A TINY CASTAWAY
A little warbler far out at sea
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
A BASHFUL ORANG
A Bashful Orang-Utan.—Young orang-utans
are usually bold and confiding, and delight to
be carried about by anyone who takes an in-
terest in them. We have an exception to the
rule, however, and this is Datu. He was born
in the spring of 1912, and while playful enough
in his roomy cage, where he impishly delights
in teasing his immediate chums—another young
orang and a chimpanzee—he steadily refuses
to make friends among the keepers. Keeper
Engeholm is the only member of the Monkey
House staff who can handle Datu without em-
ploying vigorous measures. If Engeholm for
a moment leaves the ape while the latter is out
for exercise, he manifests his rage with the
most fearsome screeches.
Datu is particularly bashful in the presence
of the camera. When the instrument is made
ready, there is a furtive search for friendly ob-
jects to serve as hiding places. The two photo-
graphs here shown portray Mr. Sanborn’s
difficulties. In the first instance Datu refused
to be photographed on the table and retired
beneath it. After many attempts he was in-
duced to remain on the table, but only when
a stool was provided as a canopy of partial
seclusion.
New Anthropoids.—Despite the fact that the
serious war conditions have practically elimin-
ated the foreign animal-market, we _ have
managed to obtain another specimen of chim-
panzee which adds strength of numbers to our
series of anthropoid apes. ‘There now are three
chimpanzees, representing two species, and one
orang-utan. The newest arrival among the
anthropoids is a female about three years old,
of the white-faced type known as Pan chim-.
panzee, and was captured near the Gaboon
Coast. Our other chimpanzees are not tract-
able, and can not be handled. The newcomer,
1389
which we call “Fanny,” is particularly wel-
come, as she is altogether docile and delights to
be carried about by her keeper.
Mammal House Repairs.—Owing to the gen-
erous amount of water and disinfectants nec-
essarily used in the cleaning of collections like
those of the Small-Mammal House, the cages
of that building have become so disintegrated
by rusting, that it has become necessary to re-
place them. The new compartments have been
designed particularly to eliminate grooves and
channels where water could accumulate. Few
of our visitors realize the great amount of labor
involved in cleaning the cages of this building.
Without this work, the musky odors produced
by a collection of civets, mustelines, small
canines, felines and various other animals would
render the building unpleasant for visitors.
There are over one hundred and twenty cages
in this building, and each of these must be
scrubbed and scoured every morning before
visitors enter. To further purify the air we
have an electric ozonating apparatus in opera-
tion during the day.
Cementing the Wild-Fowl Pond.—In_ con-
junction with the repair work in the Small-
Mammal House, is the installing of a cement
bottom in the Wild-Fowl Pond. Occasional
sickness among the water-birds has demon-
strated the necessity of treating the pond so
that it can be emptied, and the bottom washed,
at regular periods. This improvement effects
a series of small-mammal cages on the west-
erly shore. With the water out of the pond,
the cages for coypu rats and otters are receiv-
ing their share of attention, and an interesting
installation will mark the filling of the pond
and return of the ducks, geese and other water-
fowl from their temporary quarters.
HE WAS INDUCED TO REMAIN ON THE TABLE ONLY
WHEN SHELTERED BY THE STOOL
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
BANDED CURASSOW NESTING IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK
There is no authentic record of these birds breeding in captivity, prior to this instance.
Shipping Deer—We suggest to those in-
terested in the purchase of deer, and who fre-
quently write the Park about duplicate speci-
mens for disposal, that spring is a very bad
time for shipments. The bucks are growing
their new antlers and being “in velvet” at this
time, they are easily injured. It is almost im-
possible to crate and ship a buck with velvet
antlers without the latter becoming cut or
bruised with the consequent loss of much blood.
Moreover, the does give birth to fawns dur-
ing May and June, which renders their ship-
ment practically impossible during those
months. If deer are to be shipped in the
spring, it should be not later than March. In
every way the autumn is the preferable time
for shipping.—R. L. D.
Vulture Habits—Playfulness and _ evident
pleasure in human society are traits which one
would hardly expect to find in birds of the
habits of vultures. Yet many of the New World
species possess these characters to a marked de-
gree, as has already been noted in the Butur-
TIN, in the case of the California condor. The
king vulture is equally well endowed, and but
for a single drawback, the friendly demeanor
and brilliant coloration of an adult, hand-reared
bird, would make it a charming pet. Its dietary
needs are not difficult to meet, but its unfortu-
nate habit of returning a meal, some time after
ingestion, if it is sufficiently displeased, is not a
recommendation to close companionship. Seri-
ously, however, the friendliness of really tame
king vultures is most engaging as well as inter-
esting, and brings these birds many favorsand
attentions which otherwise they might not re-
ceive.
Savage Hawks.—Fortunately for our small
birds, the American goshawk is less abundant
than its fellow-marauders, the sharp-shin and
the Cooper hawk, and except on rare occasions,
confines its depredations to the northern por-
tions of the continent. Cannibalism is not the
only trait shared by these three villains, for all
are difficult to keep in captivity. They are wild
and intractable, characteristics markedly differ-
ent from those of most hawks in confinement.
Moreover, they demand a continual diet of
birds, which are not always easily supplied.
With the goshawk, our experience has been
somewhat limited, as the species is seldom to
be obtained. In December, 1915, however, we
acquired a superb specimen, which had been
captured at Watertown, New York. This bird
is becoming very steady, and as it does not in-
sist that all of its food shall be feathered, may
prove to be the happy exception.— L. S. C.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organiza-
tion, who desire to contribute toward its support.
The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to
the Zoological Park on all pay days, when he may see the collections to the best advantage.
Members are entitled to the Annual Reports, bi-monthly Bulletins, Zoologica, privileges of the
Administration Building, all lectures and special exhibitions, and ten complimentary tickets to
the Zoological Park for distribution.
Any Annual Member may become a Life Member by the payment of $200. A subscriber
of $1,000 becomes a Patron; $2,500, an Associate Founder; $5,000, a Founder: $10.000. a
Founder in Perpetuity, and $25,000, a Benefactor.
Application for membership may be given to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park;
C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the General
Secretary, No. 111 Broadway, New York City.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK
The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thursday of
each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these days fall on a holiday no admis-
sion fee is charged. From April 15 to October 15, the opening and closing hours are from 9
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From October 16 to April 14, the opening and
closing hours are from 10 o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset.
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
The Aquarium is open every day in the year: April-October, from 9 o'clock A. M. to 5
ocleck P. M.; November- March, from 10 o'clock A. M. to 4 Solel P. M. No admission is
charged.
| PUBLICATIONS
Annual Report No.1............ Paper $ .40 Official Guide to the New York
; s rt fs Dees eel Nauta thet oF 75 Cloth $1.00 Zoological Park (Hornaday)....................... 25
re hi ; and a each. . i a * me Souvenier Books: Series No. 3, 48 pages, 7x9 inches, 73
cis ow 8, Ncuen t i 100 “ 1.95 illustrations from four color plates............... 50
ee oh “9 “40 oh ce ee or 150 (By mail, postage 3 cents extra.)
NE “ “11, 12, 18, 14, 15. : Souvenir Postal Cards: Series of 72 subjects in colors,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, CACHE aes 7 1.00 oe 1.25 sold in sets of 24 cards, assorted subjects......... 25
Our Vanishing Wild Life (Horna- : (By mail, postage 2 cents per set extra.)
day) postpaid..............:. 1.65 Photogravures Series of 12 subjects in sepia. Animals
Destruction of Our Birds and Mam- and views in the Zoological Park. Sold in sets
mals (Hornaday)...........-. i 15 of 2 subjects. Per set, postpaid................. .25
Notes on Mountain Sheep of North : Souvenir Map-Fan: A combined fan and map of the
America (Hornaday).......... 40 Zoological Park Gage pune atm ndlao inte Sedo oid Ge 10
The Caribou (Grant)............ i 40 .60 (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
‘The Origin and Relationship of the Panorama of the Zoological Park: Reproduced in colors
Large Mammals of North Amer- : from an original drawing in perspective. Sold
Tee CCLATID no eae “ 1.09 labor inetolderitonnaty sce ence l= sre ly cranes sents 10
; sy i By mail, postag xents e) )
The Rocky Mountain Goat (Grant) 1,00 f ae posta ee gents ora
3 ‘ 5 Enlargements: 11X14 inches. 12 subjects in black and
Zoologica Vol. 1. Nos. 1-11 inclusive, re SCOT aye ENG OV cc IMCL amon Ce ee eee ey nee staat niente 25
SOD es ys Fey ne 2.30 DUOLONe MBO WII CAGI ue) euieoac et aeihay cs nee Pome lient ci 35
Zoologica Vol. 1. Nos. 12, 13 and 14. A‘ 25 Hand Colored (10 Subjects), each................ 15
x ifieigg No. ie hac ec Rather 8 ie a Photo - Letter: (folding) 18 pictures, photogravure... 2 for .10
aa toe paige Sh in hanagi ies “ rs “8 s “ik . ANGOLOISHT ere 2for .10
e Pah AER HLL ROR RSA ee me 30 New York Aquarium Nature Series
i Pe eA OV UPR ENG str 3 25 Sea Shore mlbiten (NVaiviel) emanate fone ace eo aes ss cael onenens $1.20
12 Ee ACA eve Cnr ae 7 25 : Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds (Townsend)............ .20
i i ree) a ee as On id 25 | Chameleons of the Sea (Townsend) ...........-..--..- 15
' ea yr SHUT ey bit enn 3 25 Northern Elephant peal low nsend) PUTA TT e oeL tetany toa 25
i \ an Care of Home Aquaria (Osburn)............+..-...-.- 25
Bulletin Nos. 1, 6, 8, 35, 43 and 46 .. Out of Pr int porpoise in Captivity (Townsend). -.-.cs-cs:-. Ba aes
Bulletins—Bi-monthly......-.. 20c. each; Yearly by mail 1.00 | Natural History of the Whale Shark (Gudger).......... 30
Bulletin Nos. 5 to 23 inclusive, set, cloth bound, Aare xeb esta ee 5.00 : =
SUNT OMG OMamnie Tee ae ee a ea oe ip eee ane) etic uayeae ete: 10.00 Aquarium Post Cards: Colored. In sets, each..... Bel ickts)
Bublicaions for sale at 111 Broadway, Zoological Park and the New York Aquarium.
Wo XTX. No.5 OD SEPTEMBER, 1916
: Published by
| J THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL aes
mn
Cpe tain SE UHM en CEP LUE ui
THUR FREUND 1912
New York Zoological Sorivty
General Orrice, 111 Broadway, New York Ciry.
President
Henry FarrFietp Osgorn.
Hirst Vice-President and Secretary
Mapison GRANT.
Serond Vice-President
Frank K. Srureis.
Oreagurer
Percy R. Pyne, 20 Exchange Place.
Asst. Greasurer
Tue Farmers’ Loan anp Trust Co.
Exerutinve Comumitter
Won. Pierson HamitLtTon,
Frank K. Srurais,
-Henry FairFietp Osporn, ex officio
LisPENARD STEWART
Watson B. DicKERMAN,
Antuony R. Kuser,
Mapison Grant, Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
Wittiam Waite NItes,
Board of Managers
£x officin: The Mayor and The Presioenr Department of Parks, City of New York.
Glass of 1917
Cuarues F. Dietrericu,
James J. Hitt
Georce F. Baker,
Grant B. Scutey,
Henry FarrFieLp Osgorn,
Witiiam C. CuurcnH,
LisPENARD STEWART,
H. Casimir pE Ruam,
Wo. Pierson HamiLton,
Rosert S. Brewster,
Epwarp S. Harkness,
Wiziam B. Oscoop Frexp.
Class nf 1918
Levi P. Morton,
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
Mapison GRANT,
Witiiam Wuire NI es,
Henry A. C. Taytor,
Frank K. Sturais,
Georce J. GouLp,
Ocpen MILLs,
Lewis RutHerFurD Morris,
ArcHer M. Huntineton,
Henry M. Titrorp,
E. C. Converse.
Class of 1919
CiLeveLanp H. Dopee,
C. Lepyarp Buratrr,
Freperick G. Bourne,
W. Austin WapswortH,
F. Augustus SCHERMERHORN,
Percy R. Pyne,
Georce B. GRINNELL,
Grorce C. CLark,
‘Emerson McMittin,
AntHony R. KuseEr,
Watson RB. DicKERMAN,
Mortimer L. ScHIFr.
General Officers
Wituram T. Hornapay, Director, Zoological Park.
Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director, New York Aquarium.
R. L. Crerero, Bursar. C. Grant La Fares, Architect.
H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. Grorce S. Huntineron, Prosector
Officers of the Zoological Park
Wittiam T. Hornapay, Director.
H. W. Merxet, Chief Forester.
W. Rew Buarr, Veterinarian.
H. R. Mircuetu, Chief Clerk.
Raymonp L. Dirmars, Curator, Reptiles.
C. Witi1aM Besse, Curator, Birds. G. M. Brerrgeower, Engineer.
L. S. Cranpatu, Asst. Curator, Birds. Wituiam MitcuHet.t, Cashier.
Exwin R. Sansporn, Photographer and Editor.
Officers of the Aquarium
Cuarues H. Townsenp, Director.
Wasuineton I. DeNysez, Assistant. CHapMAN Grant, Assistant.
Louis L. Mowsray, Assistant. Rospert SutcuirFe, Clerk.
Grorce A. MacCatuivum, Pathologist.
coniat | nstiz
qansor Ug,
oS ; %
mm SER DL GiO 22
Ne .
“ional Muses
ZO) Or eO EG IC AC TS OL | hel BoULE bene IN
CONTENTS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1916
PAGE
WC O@WING VSIA AGT cee ee eee oe EPDM ears ate pasate) arms Vel mbsala Mela ae Tn ape RrulR als k Frontispiece
INGigmbtieng@ VSL ANTIATANS aw VE UON ree Wiliam Beebe 13938
PicTURES FROM THE RESEARCH STATION ccc cece eee RU Sen Ue py OG ce PA Pe 1400
Vampire
Beesa Monkey
Blaeck-Necked Aracari Toucan
Akawai Indian Benab
GREATEST VICTORY FOR THE Bap oicciicccccccccccccccccccsccceccccceeececeecneeeeneeeseeeecn eee eh W. T. Hornaday 1404
INiirexvvaelll lors tors io Spore een terol nts aus marlon one end ce SU cio oe new equi rm Site ae ie UO oat eel a ee son 1404
NAern= CMiviPnNniG SALAMANDER 28 = 6 lo ee Richard Deckert 1405
(oars aesserm JARO ee eet aio eee ee ste Raymond L. Ditmars 1406
]Birmroayopnre: (CoA IS TRU se ae i eta cineca NOE I eer cle Teese eG. 1409
Vawramnis @is RPS RTOS ie ee eee a rome R. 1. Ditmars, L. S. Crandall 1410
Our Shy Giraffe
Red Squirrels
Prairie-“Dog” Feud
Tropical Specimens
Some Huge Frogs
New Horned Snake
Great Ant-Eaters
An Industrious Elephant
A Guilty Basarisk :
Wasps aT THE TROPICAL RESHARCHY STATION .eccccccccccccc cece cccccececeeeceeceeeseeecceseneecceeeeee Paul G. Howes 1412
(Gi O UNG AU Aen nn eons ave NG ie ee Pe mat, VM Aiea, ARORA INAS ele ba So 25 Cover
YOUNG HOATZIN 3
Unlike all other living birds, the young Hoatzin uses his fingers and claws in climbing.
13892
LOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vou. XIX
SEPTEMBER, 1916
Numper 5
NESTLING
HOATZINS AT HOME
By Witu1am Breese.
Illustrated by the Author and Paul G. Howes.
HE flight of the hoatzin resembles that of
a an over-fed hen. ‘The hoatzin’s voice is
no more melodious than the cry of a pea-
cock, but less sonorous than an alligator’s roar.
The bird’s grace is batrachian rather than avi-
an, while the odor of its body resembles that of
no bird untouched by dissolution. Still, zoo-
logically considered, the hoatzin is probably the
most remarkable and interesting bird living on
the earth today.
It has successfully defied time and space. For
it, the dial of the ages has moved more slowly
than for the rest of organic life, and although
living and breathing with us today, yet its world
is an affair of two dimensions—a line of thorny
saplings threaded along the muddy banks of a
few tropical waters.
A bird in a cage cannot escape, and may be
found month after month wherever the cage is
placed. LU py ey
oF
Dy
ZI
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vor. XIX
NOVEMBER, 1916
NuMBER 6
HOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE AQUARIUM
By C. H. Townsenp.
T IS four years since the Zoological Society
completed plans for a larger building for
the Aquarium, and the City is still financially
unprepared to undertake improvements on the
scale proposed. A part of this BuLierin is
devoted to the presentation of a substitute plan,
which, although costing but a fraction of the
original plan, will do much for the relief of
an institution that has always existed under
unfavorable conditions.
The Aquarium is a museum of which the
public makes constant use, but its equipment
is such that the demands made upon it have
never been fully met. It is deplorable that
while other museums, which stand in the same
relation to the City of New York, have all been
increased in size and scope through city ap-
propriations, and have extended their fields of
usefulness, the development of the Aquarium
has been arrested for lack of space and equip-
ment.
The situation is remarkable when we con-
sider the fact that the Aquarium has always
been far in the lead of the other New York
museums as an attraction for the people, hav-
ing for many years had more than two millions
of visitors annually.
The improvements proposed would place the
mechanical department of the Aquarium on a
safe and sanitary basis, afford adequate space
for the storage of coal, allow some increase
in space for exhibits, and provide a little more
office space. '
The extensive heating, pumping, filtration
and refrigerating plant at the Aquarium has
been in operation for twenty years. It is not
only out of date and costly to operate, but is
unsanitary and dangerous to the health of those
who use the building. The Aquarium has al-
ways lacked suitable coal bunkers, and the
engineering department depends for its supply
on deliveries made every four days. A pro-
longed blizzard such as occurs every decade
in New York, would make deliveries of coal
temporarily impossible, and such a disaster
would cause the loss of the entire marine col-
lection, the maintenance of which depends up-
on the continuous running of steam pumps. At
high tides the fire room and the small coal bun-
kers are invaded by the sea, and sometimes are
under water to a depth of one and a half feet.
The tidal water at such times penetrates
throughout the pipe galleries under the main
floor, making them temporarily inaccessible. No
branch of the municipal service would tolerate
such conditions. The Zoological Society is as-
sured by its engineer that it will be possible
to remove the entire mechanical department
from the section which it now occupies, to the
north side of the building. Suitable quarters
can there be provided for all machinery, by
reconstruction of the basement.
By the purchase of electrical power and by
reducing the steam plant, the amount of coal
used annually and the cost of operation, can
be considerably reduced. The removal of the
machinery from the south side of the building
will permit of the reclaiming of all of that sec-
tion for much needed exhibition space, and will
permit of the construction of a number of tanks
of much larger size than any now in the build-
ing.
1417
1 Op: Cornick- Anp~
LBSLUSYR ADE Reney,
I SLAG’ Kooe-
FRONT ELEVATION OF THE AQUARIUM SHOWING PROPOSED THIRD STORY
This addition is made necessary by the removal of the machinery to the front of the building.
fgime Room
a
OFFICE
MAIN ENTRANCE
SCALE FEET
° 5 lo 16 20
GROUND PLAN OF THE AQUARIUM SHOWING POSITION OF BOILER AND PUMP ROOMS
It is proposed to remove the entire mechanical department from the rear, to the basement of the front of the
building. The recently enlarged tanks are shown at the right, and this series of large
tanks can be extended into the space now occupied by machinery.
1418
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
The administrative work of the Aquarium is
carried on without adequate space. It is very
important that a third story be added to the
north side of the building. This addition will
greatly improve its external appearence, as will
be seen by a glance at the architect’s sketch of
the front elevation presented herewith. An ex-
amination of the ground plan of the Aquarium,
reproduced in this BuLuet1n, will serve to show
the large amount of space that can be reclaimed
for exhibits, by the removal of the boiler and
pump rooms—a space that amounts to about
one-fifth of the circular portion of the building.
The plans described above have been ap-
proved by the Executive Committee of the
Zoological Society and the Commissioner of
Parks, and an application for the issue of cor-
porate stock for these expenses is now pending
before the Board of Estimate.
Public spirited citizens have been very gener-
ous to the up-town museums, and might do much
for the development of the Aquarium if it were
better heused and could present a better appear-
ance. The excellence of the collections in the
Aquarium can not entirely compensate for the
structural defects of the wretched and outworn
building which houses them.
The various handicaps under which the daily
work of this popular institution has been done,
are at once apparent to any one who inspects
the building. Space for working equipment,
for instance, is so limited that supplies are
stowed in out-of-the-way corners; the entire
attic is a fire trap; the refrigerating plant is
dangerous; the pipe galleries are exposed to
high tide. In fact, the establishment is open
to criticism in practically all its branches, and
the only remedy lies in a much more radical
improvement of the unsightly old Castle
Garden building than has yet been permitted.
LARGER EXHIBITION TANKS AT THE
AQUARIUM.
By C. H. Townsenp.
T has long been recognized that the glass-
fronted exhibition tanks of the Aquarium as
originally constructed, are too small, both
for the comfort of their occupants and for the
best effects in the exhibition of aquatic animal
life.
The larger tanks, located on the main floor
of the building, are not more than seven feet in
length, with a depth back from the glass fronts,
of four feet. The still smaller tanks of the
baleony, constructed of wood, serve fairly well
1419
for the keeping and exhibition of small forms.
The main floor tanks being of heavy masonry
construction, it was always considered inadvis-
able to enlarge them. Their defects were such,
however, that it seemed worth trying, and seven
of them have already given place to four tanks
of ample size.
This improvement was accomplished without
the expenditure of special funds, the work being
done by Aquarium emploves as opportunity af-
forded. The first large tank was completed in
April and the fourth in October. Being built
of re-enforced concrete, the principal outlay has
been for cement and other materials. The cost
for each tank has been a little less than fifty
dollars.
The method of enlarging was to combine two
tanks, by removing the partition between them,
as well as their back walls; setting the latter
twelve feet back from the glass.
This extension of the exhibition tanks in-
volved the removal of the reserve tanks behind
them, but the latter are no longer required as
their occupants now enjoy the increased space
afforded by the new tanks, and thrive accord-
ingly.
The under-water effect of the enlarged tanks
is excellent and is much appreciated by visitors.
The increased space has made it possible to
exhibit sharks and sturgeons behind glass, that
formerly had to be kept in the large open pools
on the ground floor.
The wreck of an old boat in one of these large
tanks has proved to be an interesting accessory.
It was discovered recently during excavations
for the subway at the intersection of Greenwich
and Dey streets, where it has reposed for gen-
erations. The parts exhibited in the Aquarium
consist of the forepart of the keel, stem, several
ribs just back of the stem, and portions of the
planking of the hull. It was presented to the
Aquarium by direction of Mr. T. P. Shonts.
A MANATEE FROM THE AMAZON.
HE fresh water manatee of the upper
Amazon, (Manatus inunguis) has been
exhibited alive in Europe, but the speci-
men now at the Aquarium is the first to be
shown in this country.
It was purchased on the Amazon for the
Aquarium by Capt. R. H. Terrible of the Booth
Line Steamer “Stephen,” and arrived in New
York on July 38, 1916, in excellent condition.
During the voyage it was kept in a roomy tank
poze[durod useaq ApRolTe savtl syuUL} pasav[ue ssoyy Jo MOY
SYNV.L NOILISIHXY GHOUVINGA ATLINAOAY WAL AO HNO HO MUHIA
pene;
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7G ihn. a 6
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Uisomiplin
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
MANATEE OR “SEA COW” FROM THE AMAZON
BULLETIN
1421
—
Not dead, but resting on its back.
of tresh water and fed on bread, lettuce, cab-
bage and such vegetable trimmings as were
available.
It is smaller than the brackish water mana-
tees, (M. latirostris) from Florida, which were
brought to the Aquarium several years ago, be-
ing only five feet in length.
The nailless flippers and white breast, two
of the characters which distinguish it from other
species, are easily seen. Like our other mana-
tees it turns on its back when the pool is drawn
down for cleaning, and remains in that position
until the water again becomes deep enough to
float it.
Since coming to the Aquarium, our manatee
has fed chiefly on eelgrass (Zostera marina)
and bread, eating a loat every day. Lettuce he
no longer cares much for. This manatee is
much more active than any of the manatees
brought from Florida, often swimming actively
around the pool. It is also the most sociable
manatee ever kept here and will come to the
edge of the pool any time to have its back
rubbed.
FISHES THAT HATCH EGGS IN THEIR
MOUTHS.
By C. H. Townsenp.
HERE are two species of salt water cat-
fishes to be found on the New York coast,
the gaff-topsail catfish (Felichthys marin-
us) and the sea catfish (Hexanematichthys fe-
lis). Both species have about the same range
along the Atlantic coast, being found from Mass-
achusetts to the Gulf of Mexico.
They are interesting to naturalists on account
of the peculiar manner in which they care for
their eggs, which after being deposited are car-
ried in the mouth of the male fish until hatched.
This habit is practiced by marine fishes of
several genera inhabiting other regions. It is
definitely known that the gaff-topsail catfish
carries the eggs in this way, and it is in all
probability the same with the sea catfish.
Prof. E. W. Gudger has taken as many as
fifty-five of the eggs from the mouth of a single
male of the gaff-topsail catfish and has also
found the newly hatched young in the mouth
of the fish. He determined by dissection that
the eg@s are cared for by the male parent. The
eggs are among the largest in size produced by
any of the bony fishes, and are described as re-
sembling white grapes.
The male fish must of course cease feeding
while the eggs are in process of incubation, as
the mouth becomes quite distended with its load
of eggs.
The gaff-topsail catfish is so called on ac-
count of the height of its dorsal spine. The
sea catfishes are smooth-skinned fishes, reaching
a length of two feet and a weight of five or
ZOOLOGICAL
Photograph by Elwin R. Sanborn
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
SEA CATFISH THAT HATCH EGGS IN THEIR MOUTHS
six pounds, but the specimens so far received
at the Aquarium have been of less than half that
size. Both species live well in captivity and
have been taken at Gravesend Beach, New York
Bay, on several occasions, but they do not seem
to appear in our waters every year.
The Aquarium has at present twelve speci-
mens of the sea catfish (H. felis), the largest
of which is fourteen inches in length. They
have lived in the Aquarium for three years.
These fishes have been found to feed largely
on small crustacea, mollusks, worms, sea anem-
ones and algae, together with some small fishes.
The sea catfishes are but little esteemed as
food fishes, but according to Mitchell are really
good eating.
When the spawning season arrives, efforts will
be made at the Aquarium to determine whether
the eggs of the sea catfish are actually cared for
in the same way as in the gaff-topsail catfish.
FISH POISONING UCHTHYO-
TOXISMUS).
Is not this simple ptomaine poisoning?
By L. L. Mowszray.
Much has. been said and written about the
poisonous fishes of tropical and sub-tropical
seas. It is a known fact that, among people
eating the same species at the same time, even
caught in the same locality, some have been
poisoned while others have not. Among fishes
eaten by man, the species considered most like-
ly to be dangerous as food during the season
from May to October, are the barracuda, two
species of kingfish, three species of jack, red
rockfish, and tiger rockfish.
The barracuda (Sphyraena picuda) is a
pike-like fish, inhabiting both shallow and deep
water, and is often seen hiding behind the Gor-
gonias, waiting for its prey. ;
The mulleto kingfish (Scomberomorus re-
galis) and the common kingfish (S. cavalla),
are swift and active, and are among the best
of food fishes.
The jacks (Carana hippos, C. ruber, and C.
crysos) are swift swimming surface fishes, usu-
ally traveling in large schools. Their food
consists of the anchovy, pilcher, hog mouth fry,
and squid and crabs that live among the Gulf-
weed.
The red rockfish (Mycteroperca venenosa
apua) and the tiger rockfish or gag (M. ti-
gris), live on rocky coral bottoms and often in
very deep water. Their food consists of small
bottom fishes and crustacea. Both species are
captured by hand lines and in traps.
All of these fishes are carnivorous, preying
upon various species of fishes and invertebrates.
There is no evidence whatever that they feed
at any season upon forms which would render
their flesh unwholesome.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
While in the Turk Islands I questioned many
fishermen concerning the fishes that were poi-
sonous, the effects of the poison, and at what
seasons the fish were most dangerous. Without
exception their reports tallied. All agreed that
there were two forms of the disease; that the
fish from the north side of the Islands were the
most dangerous, those from the south side not
being so likely to prove poisonous. ‘This seems
incredible, as the island of Grand Turk, most
densely populated of this group of islands, is
only one and a half miles wide by six miles long,
and lies in the trade winds and the Bahama cur-
rent, which move all surface food at a consid-
erable rate to the westward. I consulted Dr.
Geogaghan, then the Medical Officer of the
Colony, who kindly gave me a description of
the symptoms, which he had personally experi-
enced in both forms of the disease.
Dr. Geogaghan said: “To my knowledge the
common poisonous fish are barracuda, jack, and
mulleto kingfish. In certain places, for some
reason or other, the barracuda is more likely to
be poisonous than if caught elsewhere.
“There are two distinct kinds of poisoning
from these fishes. The ordinary type is similar
to ptomaine, being in the nature of a simple
gastroenteritis of an irritative sort. It is char-
acterized by acute spasmodic pain in the stom-
ach, diarrhoea, and vomiting, coming on from
ten to twenty hours after eating the fish, and
subsiding readily under treatment. There is oc-
casionally headache, usually fever (101 to 102
degrees I.) and a rapid pulse (90 to 100). Gen-
erally speaking, it is an acute gastroenteritis.
“The other form is in the nature of a tox-
emia. I have never seen a case following on
the eating of jack, but can not be certain on
this point. The symptoms are slow to subside,
sometimes lasting for months. It starts from
two to six days after eating the fish, very sel-
dom less than two, and usually three or four.
There is repeated pain of a dull resistant type
over the region of the pancreas; constipation;
slow aching pains in the joints, especially in the
knees and back, without any physical signs;
pain behind the eyes and headache, acute irri-
tation of the bladder with frequent burning and
tickling sensation.
“The joint pains are called “bone-pains”
here, and are similar to the pains of influenza,
though more particularly associated with the
joints. There is an intense feeling of lassitude
and debility, and subnormal temperature.
1423
“Naturally clinical cases vary in severity.
Occasionally the two forms of poisoning are
combined, one following the other. I look on
the first as a simple irritative disturbance of the
intestine which throws off the irritant in the us-
ual way. The second is a real poisoning of the
system. I have had both myself and it was
many months before I was rid of the joint-pains
of the second.”
The Turk Island species described herein
are also among the principal food fishes of Key
West and the Bermudas, excepting the kingfish,
which is seldom taken at Bermuda, and poison-
ing is unknown in these localities. —
After observing the conditions and the man-
ner in which the fish are handled, I have
reached the conclusion that the reason they are
poisonous in one region and not in another, is
that in Bermuda and Key West almost all fish-
ing boats have live-wells, and therefore usually
bring their fish to market alive, while in the
Turk Islands and Bahamas the fish are killed
and allowed to remain in the sun until the shore
is reached—sometimes five or six hours after
they are caught.
All of the fishes considered poisonous are of
soft flesh and rich in gastric juices, and are
therefore the most likely to decay quickly; and,
when eaten in a partially decayed condition,
cause ptomaine poisoning. Naturally some are
more poisonous than others. Those caught in
the morning are exposed to the sun’s rays much
longer, and are therefore much more decom-
posed.
The fishes, when examined externally and
internally, appeared to be in the finest condi-
tion when caught, and I could detect no differ-
ence between them and those of Bermuda or
Key West. I have seen specimens of Grand
Turk Island with the scales standing almost on
edge through the decomposing of the flesh,
which, forming gases, expanded the fish. These
fish are frequently sold from house to house,
though caught the day before and in a half pu-
trid condition. It is probable that if, when
caught, the fish were eviscerated and bled, a
case of poisoning would be a rarity.
An interesting antidote for fish poisoning is
used by the natives. When a fish has been eat-
en that is suspected to have been poisonous, the
bones are saved for twenty-four hours, within
which time, if at all, symptoms should appear.
On the first indication of trouble, the bones are
roasted, pulverized, and made into tea for the
patient. Belief in the efficacy of this treatment
is implicit, provided the bones of the right fish
have been used.
1424
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Departments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. Hornapbay. C. H. TownsEnp.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE.
Lrg S. CRANDALL.
Se eee ee Eee — EEE SSS
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1916, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELwin R. SANBORN,
Editor and Official Photographer
Vou. XIX, No. 6 NOVEMBER, 1916
RaymonpD L. DitTMars.
TUNA IN NEIGHBORING WATERS.*
N the November, 1910, BuLLETIN, notice was
made of the occurrence of the tuna or tunny,
otherwise known on this coast as the horse
mackerel, in considerable numbers off the New
Jersey coast. Many of these fish were taken
that summer off Barnegat and Asbury Park and
reports of their appearance have reached the
Aquarium each year since then.
During the past six years they have been
taken also in large numbers in the waters about
Block Island. In the Forty-fourth Annual Re-
port of the Rhode Island Commissioners of In-
land Fisheries (Jan., 1914) Mr. Chas. W. Wil-
lard of Westerly, R. I., called especial attention
to the development of the tuna fishing industry
and to the opportunities for the sportsman who
may care to engage these big fellows with rod
and reel.
According to Mr. Willard, large numbers
have been taken on hand lines baited with a
wooden jig made bright with aluminum paint.
Only the smaller fish, weighing fifteen to seven-
ty-five pounds, can be handled in this manner,
for larger ones either break the lines or tear
out the hooks and escape. The larger fish,
weighing up to six hundred pounds or more
have been taken frequently in traps or with
the harpoon. Prices have averaged four to
five cents per pound.
Hundreds of sportsmen have tried their
hands at angling for these hardiest of all game
fish and with great success.
*Since the above article was wri'ten, the catch-
ing of tuna off Block Island has been followed
vigorously, especially by anglers. The Atlantic
Tuna Club, organized in October, 1914, with head-
quarters at Block Island, now has 184 members
divided among 10 states. During the months of
\ugust and September, 1916, large numbers of tuna
yere taken with rod and reel, some of them weigh-
ing from thirty to forty pounds.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Some idea of the abundance of the tuna in
the Block Island waters may be gained from
the report of the deputy assigned to the task
of collecting data of the fishery for 19138.
“From the 25th of July to the 20th of October,
10,000 were caught by hook and line, averag-
ing from fifteen to thirty pounds. In the same
period, 500 were taken in traps weighing from
500 to 800 pounds, and taken with the sword-
fish iron, 150 running from 400 to 900 pounds.”
In the Westerly, R. I., Sun for July 30,
1914, Mr. Willard further reported the presence
of the tuna in large numbers in the same region.
The region about the Santa Catalina Islands
off Southern California has long been famous
as a resort for anglers interested in the absorb-
ing and often wearisome sport of landing a
tuna with rod and reel. The well-known Tuna
Club was organized there, drawing its member-
ship from those who had been successful in
landing a large fish. Sportsmen in the eastern
states will welcome the opportunity to try their
tackle on these superb fish without having to
undergo a trip of several thousand miles across
the continent. The presence of tuna in large
numbers for seven years in succession in waters
so near at hand will doubtless be of interest
to all anglers ——R. C. O.
STRANGE SEA FISHES GOOD FOR
FOOD.
By W. 1. DreNvysz.
EW persons are aware that there are a
number of sea fishes in our local waters
that are perfectly good for food, but which
are seldom used.
The sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus)
when skinned and the backbone removed, fur-
nishes two pieces of flesh that either broiled or
fried are excellent. The common sculpin makes
a good stew and is also very good fried. The
tail of the big angler (Lophius piscatorius) when
broiled or boiled is quite equal to the ordinary
sea fishes as food.
The skates or rays are edible and much used
for food in other countries. The flesh of the skate
when boiled tastes much like lobster, and many
so-called lobster salads may consist chiefly of
skate meat with a little lobster meat added for
the proper coloring. :
The dogfishes (Mustelus canis) and (Squalus
acanthias) are good food fishes that will even-
tually be in demand.
On the west coast of England they are utilized
both fresh and salted. At Folkstone, quantities
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
of them are salted, then freshened and after-
wards smoked, when they are called Folkstone
beef.
Our native dogfishes are now being eaten to
a limited extent in Canada and New England.
The writer has personally tried young drum-
fish, eel pouts, conger eels and even the despised
toad fish, and found them palatable.
THE CAPTURE AND TRANSPORTA-
TION OF A LARGE SHARK.
By W. 1. DeNyser.
N anticipation of obtaining a large shark for
the Aquarium, a boat was prepared for
transporting it. An old dory twelve feet
long, such as fishing smacks use, was converted
into a well-boat or floating live fish-car. ‘Two
feet from each end a bulkhead was constructed
from the bottom of the dory to the top rail,
making the central part of the boat available
for a water compartment. This section was
decked over with two hinged doors running fore
and aft, which could be raised to admit speci-
mens.
Openings were made in each side of the boat
four inches above the bottom. ‘The openings
were four inches wide and eighteen inches long,
and covered with heavy half-inch mesh wire
netting. Numerous three-quarter inch holes
were also bored in the bottom of the boat. The
length of the well being eight feet, it made an
ideal conveyer for the shark.
A motor boat was hired at Gravesend Bay to
tow the well-boat, and on Monday, September
11, a start was made from the Bay at three
in the morning, for the pound nets along the
New Jersey beach at the southern end of New
York Bay. At daybreak the pound nets were
reached, just as the fishermen were about to
“haul” them. A large shark was at once located
in the pound net of Capt. Jacob Schnoor, and it
was transferred to our well-boat without injury,
and the hatch closed. Then commenced the
journey to the Aquarium twenty-one miles away.
The sea was rough and the tide ahead all the
way, but we reached the slip beside the Aqua-
rium at eleven o'clock, having been four and
one-quarter hours on the way. The transfer to
the large pool in the Aquarium was made in five
minutes. A large canvas was placed on the
landing stage to which the shark was quickly
transferred. The canvas was seized along the
sides by several of the Aquarium men, and the
twisting and rolling shark was rushed into the
pool, where it was soon swimming about, very
1425
little the worse for its capture and hurried trip
to the Aquarium.
This specimen, a sand shark (Carcharias
littoralis), was eight feet long. It lived six
weeks, or five weeks longer than any other large
shark ever brought to the Aquarium.
AQUARIUM ATTENDANCE.
HERE is little doubt that the recent de-
erease in the number of visitors at the
public museums of New York, is attribut-
able to conditions resulting from the war in
Europe.
For eight years the annual attendance at the
Aquarium exceeded 2,000,000, amounting in
1913 to 2,205,729 persons.
In 1914, the attendance fell to 2,029,707 af-
ter five months of the war.
In 1915, after twelve months of war, the at-
tendance fell to 1,538,831, while for 1916, the
attendance to September 30 amounts to 1,212,
036. This number, compared with the attend-
ance for the same months of 1915, shows prac-
tically no decrease, and we may therefore ex-
pect about the same total for 1916 as for 1915.
After the commencement of the war there
was a decrease in transatlantic steamship travel
and in immigration, both of which served to
limit the number of persons passing through
New York City.
The twelve months of war in 1915, as com-
pared with the five months of war in 1914, pro-
duced more effect. Immigration from Europe
has practically ceased and the legion of tourists
going abroad has been reduced to a mere rem-
nant. These conditions continue and may be
expected to continue for some time to come.
Meanwhile the annual attendance figures for
the Aquarium show a tendency to become sta-
tionary.—C. Hi. T.
Miss Ida M. Mellen, who has been appointed
secretary and stenographer at the Aquarium,
holds not only a certificate as an expert amanu-
ensis, but comes to the Aquarium with an excel-
lent training in biological work. She has had
the advantage of academic and normal school
training, followed by special biological studies
at the Marine Biological laboratories at Woods
Hole, and at Cold Spring Harbor.
Mr. Robert Sutcliffe, clerk of the Aquarium,
has been with the New Jersey militia at Doug-
lass, Arizona, since June.
Od GNV HSIla-dWd NVHOO “AVYOW NAHYO
UIOQUES "yy U
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7.
»
ZOOLOGICAL
A PECULIAR HABIT OF THE MORAY
By CuarpMan Grant
UCCESSFUL combats among some of the
lower animals seem to require an empty
stomach. To satisfy the cravings of hun-
ger, an animal will fight against heavy odds,
but when outclassed it will often give up its
latest meal, at once increasing the possibilities
for speed or fight and offering a bribe to the
enemy to escape further pursuit. The parasitic
jaeger regularly exacts tribute from gulls in
this way. Kipling says that the tiger is hunted
after he has eaten his fill and is taking his
siesta—with an empty stomach and senses keen
he could fight or retire.
Animals have strong abdominal muscles and
birds possess contractile muscles which enable
them to disgorge. Fishes, too, have the power
to disgorge by simple muscular contraction, as
witnessed in the case of the giant grouper or
jewfish which swallows large spiny lobsters
whole, many of them, in fact, if available.
Some time later he ejects the empty lobster
shells which his powerful digestive juices have
colored as bright a red as if boiled. The eel-
like moray, however, has no such muscles which
can be used for disgorging, or if he has such
muscles at least does not use them, but resorts
to the following remarkable expedient observed
by the writer:
While trapping fishes for the Aquarium at
Key West in 1912, one of the wire fish-pots
caught a number of panfish called “grunts.” A
three-foot green moray had seen this inviting
meal, found his way into the trap and eaten
all the fish it contained. When the round of
the traps was made, this particular one held a
few frayed remnants of crawfish which had
served as bait for the fish, a sluggish moray look-
ing like a green Christmas stocking well filled
and the panfish visible in outline only. We had
plenty of morays at the Aquarium at that time,
so I was going to release this one for future
use should our stock in New York get low.
The fishermen with me wanted to kill the moray
for they dread its sharp teeth; in fact, it is hard
to keep a Key Wester in the same boat with one.
The moray is also looked upon as a thief of
that which the fisherman thinks is his birth-
right; the claim of priority of the moray avail-
ing nothing. I emptied this specimen onto the
deck to watch him a few moments before drop-
ping him overboard. The fish, which is normal-
ly very aggressive, when coral, could neither
fieht nor escape in his stuffed condition. Heroic
measures were necessary. The swallowed fishes
must be jettisoned. To accomplish this, the
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1427
moray raised the head and fore part of the
body, turned it to the right across the hinder
part, and then under and out through the
loop, thus forming a simple knot—nautically a
thumb knot. By contracting the body, he
tightened the knot; and, holding the hinder
part of the body rigid, proceeded to back the
forward part out through the loop. In other
words he tied a loose knot in himself, tightened
it, held the hinder part of the body rigid and
untied the knot again. The first time I thought
it merely an aimless writhing. A second time
the movement was attempted with no result.
The third time, growing desperate and prob-
ably in need of oxygen, he drew the knot very
tight and hitched the forward part of the body
backwards through the loop. At the first hitch
nothing happened, but at the second, an eight-
inch grunt fish was forced out of his mouth, tail
first; another hitch produced another grunt, and
I could well imagine the moray grunting had he
possessed vocal powers. After five grunt fishes
had escaped him, each locking a little worse for
wear than the one preceding, came a bedraggled
Bermuda chub, cooked white by the digestive
juices. Now completely disgorged, the moray
lay dazed for an instant, but at a touch he
slipped lightly into the sea and wriggled off to
search for another meal.
On two other occasions I witnessed this re-
markable performance and had to conclude that
it was not accidental, but the regular and pur-
poseful way in which a moray reverses the feed-
ing process.
The same means is resorted to when he is
trying to disengage himself from a hook. If
held dleracllins in the air, the moray will double
on Ihfianel © tie the knot and then pull his head
out backwards. It has always been my experi-
ence that the hook or line broke at this junc-
ture, allowing the fish to escape. Mr. Mowbray,
however, states that he has seen morays strangle
themselves when caught with strong tackle.
PORPOISES AT SEA.
By C. H. Townsenp.
HE two small photographs reproduced in
this Butierin, showing porpoises racing
under the bows of steamers are interest-
ing in spite of their imperfections. The one
made by Mr. Greenlee shows a porpoise with a
shark sucker (Remora) attached to each side
of its tail, while the one by Mr. Chapman Grant
shows, although very dimly, a small baby por-
poise racing close beside its mother. Mr. Grant
1428 ZOOLOGICAL
‘es
Photograph by C. Grant
PORPOISES RACING UNDER THE BOW OF A STEAMSHIP
In this photograph the porpoises are entirely under
water, the female in advance having a baby
porpoise swimming beside her.
observed that the little fellow managed to main-
tain the pace set by its parent. It is difficult
to make photographs of porpoises under such
conditions, because they keep just below the
surface, merely protruding the tops of their
heads to breathe. Their speed at such times is
of course equal to that of the vessel.
Mr. J. K. Nye, of New Bedford, Mass., in-
forms me that he “timed” a school of porpoises
off the coast of South Carolina, when the vessel
was steaming at the rate of twelve miles an
hour. The porpoises remained with the vessel
about one hour. On another occasion when the
steamer was running at the rate of fifteen miles
per hour, a school of porpoises remained near
the bow for nearly two hours.
I have seen a school of porpoises in the in-
land passage to Alaska, remain near the bow of
the United States Fisheries Steamer Albatross
for nearly three hours, while the vessel was
maintaining a speed of nine miles an hour. This
happened at night, and as the sea was smooth
and phosphorescent, the moyements of the rap-
idly swimming porpoises made a rarely beau-
tiful sight.
Porpoises could no doubt swim much faster
than fifteen miles an hour, but would not be
likely to remain long with a very swiftly mov-
ing steamer. Careful observations made on
board some very fast steamers would furnish
interesting information on the speed attained by
porpoises. Steamship passengers are always
interested in these lively animals, but not one
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Photograph by E. S. Greenlee
PORPOISES RACING UNDER THE BOW OF A STEAMSHIP
The porpoise at the left has a shark-sucker
(Remora) attached on each side.
person in a thousand, perhaps, thinks of ascer-
taining the actual speed of the vessel and the
length of time a school of porpoises may accom-
pany it.
NOTES ON THE PERAI.
From the Tropical Research Station of the
Zoological Society.
By G. Inness Harvey. E
HE perai, perhaps better known as the
piranha or cannibal fish, is one of those
mysterious inhabitants of the South Amer-
ican fresh waters, of which very little appears
to be recorded. Like the barracuta of the Carib-
bean and other southern seas, wherever the
tropical rivers run fresh, it is an object of fear
to both men and beasts. Many gruesome tales
come to us of its depredations and savagery.
The family of the Characins, to which the
perai belongs, is very large, and composes, ac-
cording to Kigenmann, more than one half the
fresh-water fishes of British Guiana. Though
usually smaller, the perai sometimes attains the
length of eighteen inches. It is flat and round-
ed, unlike most other ferocious fishes, and is
somewhat similar, at first glance, to our com-
mon porgy. Both the upper and lower jaws
of its not very large mouth bear a row of sharp-
pointed, razor-edged, triangular teeth, which,
like the teeth of a -shark, can shear cleanly
through soft flesh. They can nip off only a
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Photograph by Paul G. Howes
THE PERAI (ROOSEVELTIELLA NIGER)
small piece at a time, but considering the hun-
dreds that gather about the unfortunate animal
that unwarily falls within their reach, they are
indeed, a menace. Once blood begins to stain
the water they become a hoard of blood-crazy
demons.
In the upper reaches of the rivers every ani-
mal that by chance, flounders through the wa-
ter, is their prey; even the birds that flutter
down to drink are often snapped up; nor is man
exempt. Col. Roosevelt tells how various mem-
bers of his party were bitten, and how wounded
animals, even cayman, are
often partially devoured be-
fore they can be recovered
from the water into which
they have struggled or fall-
en after being shot. I have
seen wounded birds, when
only a few feet from the
shore, dragged down, not to
come up again. Splashing
and rippling seems to at-
tract rather than frighten
them away.
Natives, when entering
the water, do so with care
and quiet, though, it is true,
during my experience with
them, none were ever in any
way attacked; and the chil-
dren daily spent much time
playing about waist-deep in
places where perai abound-
ed. In the higher levels of
¢
Photograph by Paul G. Howes
1429
the rivers, where food is less
profuse, the perai doubtless
are more ferocious and will
attack any living thing even
though no blood oozes from
it as an attraction. There
have been cases where per-
sons, idly trailing their
hands in the water from the
side of a canoe, have lost
one or more fingers from the
cruel jaws.
The question whether the
perai is a bottom or a sur-
tace fish is a much-mooted
one. Probably it is both.
Time and again, I have seen
them playing near the sur-
face, often leaping clear of
the water. Again, to catch
them on a hook, it is best to
have the bait near the bot-
tom. The Indians, to catch
them, hold the dripping entrails of a freshly
killed agouti just over the water so that the
ends trail and the blood spreads away with the
current. The perai, its craving aroused by the
thin taint of blood, moves up the stream until it
reaches the dangling morsel and greedily seizes
it. Then there is the twang of a bow-string; the
fish is transfixed by a long, hollow, spear-like
arrow, and soon finds itself twisting and biting
with others of its kind in the bottom of the
“woodskin.” They are welcome articles of food
to the natives, but to the white man their flesh
HEAD OF THE PERATI
‘sIvad jpelyy @ pur Inoy wWnlienby oy} Ul paall sey puv UOT YooJ IMOJ SI UoUMIVEdS sIITT,
(AYNONTNOSVHM XOSZ) WONNTIV MASON
utoques “yy UIM]A Aq yde1z0}04g
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
STRANDED “ BLACKFISH ” (GLOBICEPHALUS MELAS)
Folly Island Beach, S. C.
is rather soft and has a slight muddy taste,
while there is a great abundance of bone.
Sometimes, when desirous for a change of
diet, one of us would take a rod and go down
to the banks of the river. The best way to
eatch the perai, we soon found, was to fish
from a boat anchored a few yards from shore
where the mud bars shelved steeply down into
deep water. The fish seemed to swarm along
this steep bank, while a few splashed about in
the shallows nearer the forest clad shore. Usu-
ally the bait was the flesh and entrails of some
bird or animal, but, as excellent as any, were
the entrails of the perai. No food seemed re-
pellant to them. In their stomachs I have
found fish, birds, pieces of flour dough used by
the natives to catch other fish, and in one lo-
cality, where there is a citrate factory, I have
seen them swarm in thousands, fighting over the
refuse lime seeds thrown out as waste from the
mill.
It was always best to use a long line with
the bait hanging within a few inches of the bot-
tom. The usual procedure of the fish was to
nibble feebly for a few moments and then strike
and strike hard. Sometimes they would strike
without any preliminary warning.
As a game fish the Perai is not one that will,
except for a few moments, delight the heart of
the angler. After the first few rushes the fight
is over and the fish comes quietly to the surface.
The fisherman must be careful to keep a taut
line, for, at the slightest slackening, away goés
the quarry: he must strike hard to make fast
the hook for the perai has a mouth of bone,
against which the point of the hook often turns
1431
as if made of lead, or snaps
off like the head of a match
struck too hard against the
box. A strong wire leader
must be used. Even, then,
I have seen the villainous
teeth click together on a
heavy piece of phospho-
bronze wire and, as easily as
a pair of wire nippers, snap
_ it in two.
The fish in the boat is
nearly as bad as in the wa-
ter. One must be very care-
ful not to place any portion
of his anatomy too near, or,
with a flop, the perai will
seize it. He seems to use a
certain amount of cunning.
If a finger touches his body
he will not make a motion until it is within
reach of his jaws. Then, with a twist or turn,
he snaps, bringing his teeth together with a
sharp click, and it goes hard with the finger
that is between them.
The species described above is Rooseveltiella
niger. The accompanying photographs were
made by Paul G. Howes from specimens col-
lected by William Beebe at Kalakoon on the
Mazaruni River.
STRANDED “BLACKFISH.”
IRECTOR Paul M. Rae of the Charleston
_/ Museum sends a photograph showing sev-
eral blackfish (Globicephalus melas)
which were recently stranded at Folly Island
Beach, South Carolina.
There were ten of these large porpoises, and
the photograph shows how close together some
of them were cast on the beach.
It is possible that these represent the south-
ern blackfish (G. brachyptera), but this cannot
be determined from the photograph.
All are lying on their sides. The two in the
foreground have their heads toward each other.
The blackfish has from time immemorial been
the object of an important fishery in the Faroe
Islands. It attains a length of about fifteen
feet.
SHARK SUCKERS.
T HERE are several specimens of the shark
sucker (Hcheneis naucrates) in the Aqua-
rium, the larger of which have been there
two years. Two are quite young, being only
1432
seven inches in length. These fishes are dis-
tributed among the tanks containing dog sharks,
to which they may be seen clinging in charac-
teristic fashion. When there are no fishes pres-
ent to which they may cling, they attach the
head dise to the walls and glass fronts of the
tanks, or even turn over and attach upside down
to the tank bottom. The appearance of the ce-
phalic dise is well shown in the accompanying
photograph of the fish clinging to glass. In the
photograph of the two nurse sharks, the small
fishes present are shark suckers.
FEEDING HABITS OF THE STURGEON.
By W. 1. DeNyser.
HE sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), is one of
the largest food fishes caught in our wa-
ters, and sometimes reaches a weight of
500 pounds and a length of 10 feet. Its food
consists of mollusks, crustaceans, and algae, and
sometimes small bottom fishes are found in its
stomach.
Its method of feeding is unique. Underneath
the snout, and near the point of it, are four
barbels about two and one-half inches long,
placed about three-quarters of an inch apart
across the snout. It swims with the snout close
to the bottom, allowing the barbels to trail along
on the sand or mud.
Whenever these barbels touch the protruding
siphons of the soft shelled clam or razor clam,
the siphons of the clams contract, and by doing
so, notify the sturgeon of their presence. It
halts, and with its telescope mouth pumps the
sand or mud away from the clam, passing it out
of the gill openings, and finally drawing the
clam from its home in the sand or mud up into
the jaws where it is crushed. The larger por-
tions of shells are discarded through the gill
openings. If the clams are small. very little of
the shell is discarded, all going into the stomach.
Another way the sturgeon has of feeding is
to plough a furrow through the sand or mud
with its long pointed snout, then turning around
and going back through the furrow, it picks up
small mollusks and crustaceans it has thus ex-
posed. The sturgeon also will suck up with
its protruding mouth great quantities of sand
and mud, sifting it through the gills, and by so
doing finds many small organisms upon which
it feeds.
The Tilefish in the Markets—The United
States Bureau of Fisheries reports the quantity
and value of tilefish landed at the port of New
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
SEES
Bhotosranh by
SHARK SUCKER CLINGING TO GLASS
York during the months of August and Septem-
ber at 2,400,000 pounds, valued at $80,590.
The price per pound ranged from two to SIX
cents.
ZOOLOGICAL
Photograph by Elwin R. Sanborn
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1433
SHARK SUCKERS ON NURSE SHARK
THE ARMADILLO OR PILL-BUG.
A Favorite Food of Frog and Salamander.
By Ipa M. Me ten.
HE Armadillidium, commonly called “ar-
madillo,’ “‘pill-bug” and “sow-bug,” is
often seen near country roadsides and in
the woods, especially in the vicinity of fresh
or salt water.
Far from being a “bug,” it is a unique crus-
tacean, an isopod of the genus Oniscoidea, which
exhibits odd and interesting adaptations of a
water animal to land life. Like all true crus-
tacea, it possesses gills; but they are leaf-like
and curiously fitted for breathing air. These
strange gills, enclosed beneath the abdomen, are
provided with air-tubes not unlike the air-tubes
through which insects breathe all over their
bodies. The young do not pass through the
usual crustacean metamorphosis, but are hatched
in the form of the adult.
The pill-bug (Armadillidium vulgare) pur-
sues the tenor of its way—an even enough tenor
when there are no frogs, toads, or salamanders
about—on seven substantial pairs of legs.
Found in damp places, and under stones, boards
and roots, it is said by some to be a useful little
scavenger, subsisting largely on decaying vege:
table matter. Others declare that it destroys
the roots of plants.
The name “armadillo” was given it by rea-
son of its habit of rolling itself up into a ball
when disturbed, in apparent imitation of that
luckless creature of the South, the armadillo.
The latter, in the possession of its bony, outer
skeleton, in which it encloses itself for protec-
tion, is no less unique among mammals than is
its small namesake among crustacea. But the
crustacean is, in this case, shrewder than the
mammal; for, whereas the armadillo will allow
itself to be very roughly treated rather than
uncoil,—and its shell serves for its own roast-
ing pan in the ovens of Southern epicures,—
the pill-bug, after rolling itself up once or
twice and discovering that the enemy is still in
pursuit, will abandon the useless trick and seek
to escape.
ARMADILLO OR PILL-BUG.
143-4
Photograph by Elwin R. Sanborn
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
MOONFISH (SELENE VOMER)
THE MOON FISH (SELENE VOMER).
HIS silvery creature always attracts at-
tention in the Aquarium on account of its
vertically lengthened head and remark-
able thinness. It is so flattened laterally that
a specimen eight inches long and six inches
high, may be not more than half an inch thick.
The species is found along our coast in sum-
mer and three specimens are now in the Aqua-
rium. It reaches a weight of two pounds, but
is not of much value as a food fish. The ac-
companying photograph suggests its pearly or
silvery appearance quite well:
MORE ROOM FOR THE SEA LION.
HE large California sea lion which has
lived in one of the floor pools in the Aqua-
rium for nine years, has been moved to
the large central pool, having outgrown his old
quarters.
This active animal has taken full advantage
of the ample swimming space afforded in the
larger pool and goes merrily all day, sometimes
indulging in lively porpoise leaps.
He was purchased in October, 1907, when
about two years old. When moved to the large
pool, in August, 1916, his actual weight was
found to be 620 pounds.
Excellent Photography at the Aquarium—
The full-page photographs reproduced in this
Bu.vetin are each the result of flashlight work
by Mr. E. R. Sanborn. The frontispiece, show-
ing groupers and jewfish, could hardly be im-
proved upon as a photograph of objects under
water and behind plate glass. The difficulty
arising from the reflection of objects behind the
camera has been successfully met. Other equal-
ly good views of the exhibits of the Aquarium
are ready for future numbers of the BuLietin.
Mr. Chapman Grant, late of the Aquarium
staff, has re-entered the regular army, having
been commissioned First Lieutenant in the Sev-
enteenth United States Cavalry, now at El Paso,
Texas. Mr. Grant rendered excellent service
to the Aquarium during the summer, in connec-
tion with the work of enlarging certain exhibi-
tion tanks, as described elsewhere in this
BuLuetin.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organiza-
tion, who desire to contribute toward its support.
The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to
the Zoological Park on all pay days, when he may see the collections to the best advantage.
Members are entitled to the Annual Reports, bi-monthly Bulletins, Zoologica, privileges of the
Administration Building, all lectures and special exhibitions, and ten complimentary tickets to
the Zoological Park for distribution.
' Any Annual Member may become a Life Member by the payment of $200. A subscriber
of $1,000 becomes a Patron; $2,500, an Associate Founder; $5,000, a Founder; $10.000. a
Founder in Perpetuity, and $95, 000, a Benefactor.
Application for membership may be given to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoolesieae Park;
C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the Gora
Secretary, No. 111 Broadway, New York City.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK
The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thursday of
each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these days fall on a holiday no admis-
sion fee is charged. From April 15 to October 15, the opening and closing hours are from 9
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From O-tober 16 to April 14, the opening and
closing hours are from 10 o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset.
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
The Aquarium is open every day in the year: April-Octcber, from 9 o'clock A. M. to 5
o'clock P. M.; November-March, from 10 o’clock A. M. to 4 o'clock P. M. No admission is
charged.
Annual Report No.1....... cece. Paper $ .40 Official Guide to the New York
‘ e QU ME Anita Ms 15 Cloth $1.00 Zoological Park (Hornaday)..... Staveleliaus sie, chapereseverere oe Meee
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A) “ “9 “a9 « Be “ 1.95 ‘6 150 (By mail, postage 3 cents extra.)
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a a Bene ee eens ap 25 Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds (Townsend)...........- .20
oo Wl ks pq oe llaction bite oo oe 25 Chameleons of the Sea (Townsend) ...........0+-+ee0% 15
2 Pepa ane aon Oe jon a) 25 Northern Elephant Seal (Townsend)........-+++e+e+e0% 25
BP a and4..... sh ie Care of Home Aquaria (Osburn)... AAC ODIG OSIOS SAOS UOMO 25
oe ve yas oeotoeenoo a 125 Porpoise in Captivity ONVINSENG) oieielstenaraieucletevelate llsciotetate 25
: * Natural History of the Whale Shark Key: Sicusy aR yel aieware 30
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Publications for sale at 111 Broadway, Zoological Park and the New York Aquarium.
~
4 *
JANUARY, 1917
= il ao
CAR = = mmm a i i
ZOOLOGICAL
- SOCIETY
BULL
Publis h e a a yy
THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
m i mh
72 il anim MUM LMM
| um AMOUNT NANA MALTA a
| LANTERN ATA ESTOS TTT TTT
Wy rail saa PEPICPIRIL LUST PERTUT ETT UTA TT PN TNC) LT De CC (CEN Pe 0 000 Pe TURLATTNURINU EN UODATOOOO OTN TOUR CORT WCRDNNETU CON NOTH OUONIOO NTO PLO COM MOQON OOOO QDs ROOOOTT PN) WAY BOLD
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—
New York Zoulngiral Soriety
Generav Orrice, 111 Broadway, New Yorx Ciry.
Jiresident
Henry Farrrintp Osgorn.
Hivet Vice-President
Mapison GRANT.
Seroud Vice-President
Frank K. Srureis.
‘Asst. Creagurer
Tue Farmers’ Loan anp Trust Co.
Oreasurer
Percy R. Pyne, 20 Exchange Place.
Secretary
Mapison Grant.
Executive Comimitirr
Wn. Pierson Hamitton,
Frank K. Srurais,
Henry Farrrietp Osporn, ex officio —
Mapison Grant, Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
Witiiam Waite Nites,
LisPENARD STEWART
Watson B. DickERMAN,
AntHony R. Kusmr,
Board of Managers ;
&x offtvin: The Mayor and The Prusiount Department of Parks, City of New York.
Glass of 1917
Cuarues F. Dietericu,
James J. Hitz
Georce F. Baker,
Grant B. Scutey,
Henry FairFiELp Osgorn,
Wituiam C. Cuurcn,
LisPENARD STEWART,
H. Casimir pe Ruam,*
Wm. Pizrson Hamitton,
Rozsert S. Brewster,
Epwarp S. Harkness,
Wituiam B. Oscoop Fier.
Glass of 1915
Levi P. Morton, Henry A. C. Taytor,
Lewis RutHerrurp Morris,
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
Mapison GRANT,
WituiamM Wuirte Nites,
F. Aueustus SCHERMERHORN,
Percy R. Pyne,
Gerorce B. GrINNELL,
Georce C. Crark,
Frank K. Srurais,
Grorce J. GouLp,
Ocpen MILLs,
Glass of 1919
CLevELAND H. Dopes,
C. Lepyarp Bratrr,
Freperick G. Bourne,
W. Austin WapswortH,
ArcHer M. Huntineron,
Henry M. Titrorp,
E. C. Converse.
Emerson McMituin,
Antuony R. Kuser,
Watson B. DicKkERMAN,
Mortimer L. ScHIFF.
General Officers
Wituiam T. Hornapay, Director, Zoological Park.
Cuarues H. Townsenp, Director, New York Aquarium.
R. L. Cerero, Bursar. C. Grant La Fares, Architect.
H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. Grorce S. Huntineton, Prosector
Officers of the Zoological Park
Witi1am T. Hornapay, Director.
H. W. Merxen, Chief Forester.
W. Rew Buair, Veterinarian.
H. R. MircuHe tt, Chief Clerk.
Raymonp L. Ditmars, Curator, Reptiles.
C. Witu1aM Beese, Curator, Birds. G. M. Berreower, Engineer.
L. S. Cranpatu, Asst. Curator, Birds. WiviramM MitcuHe.t, Cashier.
Exiwin R. Sanzsorn, Photographer and Editor.
Officers of the Aquarinm
Cuarues H. Townsenp, Director.
Wasuineton I. DeNysse, Assistant. Rosert SutcuirFe, Clerk.
Louis L. Mowsray, Assistant. Tpa M. Metten, Secretary.
Grorce A. MacCautuivum, Pathologist.
*Deceased
PAGE
AV OUNITESYAGTEW ACAD) aL VANES jerseee = ee ae UE ee eer es 0) et We oe ee ee Frontispiece
Mane AIGATORS Ona GEORGE OW Nets ie te Je ee Ae William Beebe 1487
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BEE DIEN Gop SURI siueteeet eee sy nee tt, co Er le SNE rei hates Lee S. Crandall 1442
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DISAE PHAR AN CHOW eh WmnEE DN GR OUSH aia aes Ons nee ee W. T. Hornaday 1446
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S. H. Chubb 1449
Irems or INTEREST R. L. Ditmars 1454
COmUHCMTO NOR VB IR DS eH ON e AUIS) RAT WAN e oe nies Jee me ee eae ere Lee S. Crandall 1455
Nests or Souta American Brrps
W ALLAROO
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AGVd YAH GNV LVANOM
1436
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vou. XX
JANUARY, 1917
NumepBer 1
THE ALLIGATORS OF GEORGETOWN
By Witu1aM BEEBe
LOATING branches and logs are a com-
mon sight on the waters of the creeks and
rivers of Guiana, and about one in every
three of these logs is an alligator. Common in
many places and actually abundant in a few,
these great saurians are far less conspicuous
than their infinitely smaller relatives—the liz-
ards which everywhere scamper up tree-trunks
or barge clumsily through the fallen leaves.
Several negroes in Georgetown make a living
collecting and stuffing young alligators and one
man who had constantly followed this line of
work for twenty years had acquired a very
thorough knowledge of the ways of life of these
giant reptiles. Among the natives generally,
they are feared and avoided, and are (mistak-
enly) accredited with great longevity, of one or
two hundred years.
Caimans or crocodiles are not found on the
coast, and in fact live only above the first falls
or rapids on the rivers whence mythical giant
crocodiles are occasionally reported by the In-
dians.
Alligators occur in most of the rivers, creeks
and even trenches along the coast, and nests
are tound in Georgetown itself, about a hun-
dred eggs being gathered in the Botanical
Gardens each season. The female alligators
when full grown measure from three and a half
to five feet, while the males, in exceptional
cases, attain a length of nine feet.
The actual nesting season begins in May and
reaches its height in June. Nests and eggs are
still to be found in lessening numbers in July
and August, but no eggs have been taken either
in April or September. The number laid by each
1437
female varies from twenty to forty, each weigh-
ing about three ounces. They require at least
seventy-five days to hatch. The little ‘gators
are about eight inches long, a whole inch of
which is gained within a few hours after break-
ing the shell.
Three weeks before actual laying com-
inences, the female alligator gathers together a
pile of water-soaked or decayed vegetation,
pulling it up and carrying it in her mouth to
some secluded spot on the bank of a trench or
creek. Here she piles it and mats it down
rather firmly in a rough heap about two feet in
height. When alligators have been much
bothered or persecuted, they will often select
a pegass trench and make their nest on the
floating vegetation in the center, out of the
reach of any passing native.
When several weeks have passed, she tears
the nest open and lays her eggs in the center
of the hot steaming mass. Unlike the turtles
which lay their eggs in the sand banks of the
neighboring rivers, she does not desert the
nest, but remains most of the day somewhere
in the vicinity. She does not feed there, how-
ever, but daily swims to some more distant
place. Her food consists of fish, frogs and
snakes, with whatever small animals or birds
can be captured, while dead creatures and even
carrion are eaten without hesitation. If the
feeding ground is at a considerable distance it
is an easy matter to open the nest and examine
the eggs undetected, but if the alligator does
‘not have to go far, she will return at the slight-
est sound.
A TUBFUL OF BABY ALLIGATORS
Waiting to be stuffed.
Alligators differ considerably in their courage.
Some will leave the nest after a few weak pro-
tests, while others will obstinately remain
sprawled over their precious rubbish heap and
have to be killed before their nest can be
robbed. The mother alligator remains faith-
fully at her post until the time of hatching, in
which process she gives material assistance.
The two and a half months of alternate drench-
ing and baking by rain and sun often cakes the
nest mound with a hard-baked crust through
which the gatorlings would find it impossible to
force their way. So the parent bites into the
nest, tossing the outer shell to one side until the
pipped eggs or the newly hatched young are
exposed. When this is done she rolls out the
pipped eggs and pressing upon them with one
of her front feet, she cracks them and liberates
the young ’gator. The eggs which are still
whole she rolls back among the debris and
leaves until the low, nasal, squeaking grunts
announce that more are ready to emerge. The
young are able to hatch by themselves, but it is
usually a very long operation and many die in
the shells.
I examined one which had had his little pug-
nosed snout thrust through the end of the shell
for twenty-four hours and was just about to
break a bit away from the hole when the little
reptile shot forth like a jack-in-the-box, free-
ing himself completely except for his tail. He
sprang from my hands into a basin of water,
where he dived and swam frantically, the bang-
ing of the tail-suspended shell against the tin
frightening the newly hatched reptile, and con-
veying a first impression of the world as a
fearsome, undesirable place. He blinked, rose
to the surface, shook off the egg shell, and turn-
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ing sideways snapped at a spot of sunlight.
For a day and night, the past twenty-four
hours, only the snout had projected. In three
seconds more the whole being of the perfect
gatorling was functioning, fully launched on
what ould normally be a long and checkered
career.
The mother alligator goes to the nests with
the young, and while some swim away and are
lost, or forage for themselves, yet many female
‘gators are seen at other times of the year ac-
companied by small ones of two distinct sizes,
which the hunters believe are the remnants of
the breeds of the two past years, still more or
less attendant upon her.
The watchfulness of the parent is of course
a trait inherited through long past centuries,
and is in no way consequent upon the very re-
cent, desultory robbing of the nests by man.
But it is curious that their worst enemy at pres-
ent is that most terrible pest introduced by man
from India, the mongoose. The only autochthon-
ous foe is the big tegu known locally as salim-
penta. Both of these enemies wait until the
parent alligator has gone away and then dig
their way down to the eggs. The big yellow-
tailed snake has been seen trying to force its
way through the crust of the rubbish, but in
vain.
The mating season begins in April and is an-
nounced by the females calling the males. ‘The
proportions of sexes is very unequal, there
being twenty or more females to every male.
The cry of the female is a subdued but very
strong and penetrating grunt, often repeated.
The male’s voice is a bellowing or roaring, and
when this is heard in the trench, every female
within hearing rushes toward him, ten or fifteen
AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR CAREER
After being stuffed.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
1439
From a pen drawing by John Tee Van
NEWLY-HATCHED ALLIGATORS FROM THE COASTLANDS OF BRITISH GUIANA
Showing the three alleged forms: A, Goosway: B, Abary; C, Goomasaka.
sometimes surrounding him at once. After mat-
ing, each goes off to her respective nest, where
she deposits the entire number of eggs at one
laying, afterwards covering them carefully.
The male never goes near the nest, except
under very unusual circumstances, and it is in
this connection that my alligator hunter in-
dulged his belief in a romantic yarn, which he
was convinced was true. I recount it rather as
a pleasant bit of negro imagination, than as
an addition to reptilian psychology. My hunter
said that now and then he came across maimed
and crippled females which yet had well-built
nests full of eggs. One such was an animal
which had three feet bitten off, leaving only one
hind leg. She could not get up the trench bank
without support, and yet her nest was on the
top. After trapping her, the hunter concealed
himself and called, and was surprised to be
answered by a big seven foot bull-’gator which
came out of the water to the nest. In this and
several other instances, so my hunter argued, the
male must have built the nest, as well as help-
ing the female to get out of the water when-
ever she returned to it.
When an alligator is trapped or caught in
the hand it utters loud chirping squeaks, not un-
like the distress cries of some birds. By imi-
tating this, all the alligators within hearing will
answer and approach, most of them being fe-
males, with now and then an occasional male.
Every season my alligator hunter collects
more than three thousand eggs, of which some-
times only about eight hundred hatch. In every
*gator’s nest there are always a number of in-
fertile eggs, ranging from five to twenty per
cent. In a six weeks’ nest, these can already be
detected and thrown away, but in a nest where
the eggs have been deposited only three weeks,
the fertile cannot be told from the infertile
ones. The fertile eggs remain white but the bad
ones soon turn yellow, at first in spots and later
all over. In a healthy egg with a four weeks’
embryo, the two end thirds of the egg are pale
pink or flesh color. The surface of some eggs
is almost smooth, but usually the lime incrusta-
cens resemble the convolutions of brain coral.
The hunters recognize three kinds of alli-
gators, both young and adults of which they can
distinguish on sight. These are known respect-
1440
ively as the Abary, the Goosway and the Goom-
asaka. The principal distinguishing charac-
ters between the three are the black dorsal
markings. Between the front and hind legs there
are four, rarely five, transverse black bands. In
the Abary most of these bands are interrupted .
in the middle line of the back; in the Goosway,
they form solid, continuous transverse zones of
pigment; while in the Goomasaka, the bands on
each side of the back line alternate, the lateral
halves of one side being opposite the lighter in-
terspace of the opposite side. Every individ-
ual ‘gator of any one brood always conforms to
one or the other of the types, but breeds of in-
termediate types are occasionally found, and
these are considered as the result of inter-
breeding of two of the forms.
The Abary and Goosway are the common
forms and found over most of the coastal area.
while the Goomasaka is very much rarer and
confined chiefly to Berbice. These are also re-
puted much fiercer than the others, more ready
to attack any intruder, and to be able to stay
for a much longer time under the water. When
adult there are four long teeth in the lower
jaw which project through the bone and skin
of the upper. The Abary and Goosway on the
contrary, have teeth which are much more even.
Few living alligators are sold. The eggs are
gathered, sorted as to degree of development,
and kept until hatched in boxes filled with vege-
table debris. The alligators are confined in
tubs of water and within a day or two are killed
and stuffed, standing in absurd postures, erect
on their hind legs. Forever after they gaze
through shoebutton eyes, and hold their little
fore arms stiffly out to receive the card tray for
which their future destiny intends them. Tour-
ists, with unbelievable eagerness, purchase
these atrocities at a shilling each, doubtless to
repose beside wax flowers or to share some
dusty northern shelf with a conch shell or a
sandalwood box. In spite of this the ‘gators
of Guiana are holding their own. The toll of
infants to be metamorphosed into ornaments is
less hurtful to the race than the sacrificing of
the skins of the adults for satchels.
THE OVAL ANT FROG
By Ricuarp Deckert,
Department of Reptiles.
HE Reptile House in the Zoological Park
harbors many interesting creatures, espe-
cially among the amphibians, which the
average visitor scarcely honors with a casual
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
glance, or, owing to their burrowing and noc-
turnal habits, does not see at all.
It is the purpose of the writer to direct the
attention of the readers of the Buiietin to
some of the peculiar habits of these strange
members of an order of vertebrates that is little
known, and in consequence is but slightly ap-
preciated.
All of these creatures are insectivorous, and
many, like the common toad, are of great use
to man. A little enlightenment, therefore, re-
garding their modes of life and their appear-
ance should be desirable, if it were only to
serve the purpose of doing away with age-long
superstition and prejudice against these harm-
less members of the animal kingdom.
Every one with a mental picture of the out-
line of a frog expects when such a creature is
mentioned to behold an animal with short, squat
body, long limbs, large, wide head and prepor-
tionately large eyes. The Ant Frogs, however,
are quite different in structure. The body is
large and oval, the legs are short in proportion,
and the head is very small, with a sharply-
pointed snout, small mouth and tiny, bead-like
eyes.
These characteristics in frogs always denote
nocturnal, burrowing and ant-eating habits.
The mouth, instead of possessing the regular
dentition along the edges of the upper jaw as
in true frogs, has several curved, transverse
ridges on the palate, which are faintly ser-
rated, but do not bear teeth. This peculiar
structure is usually associated with a diet of
ants.
The habitat of these frogs, which are also
called narrow-mouth frogs, is southern North
America, Mexico, Central and South America.
southern Asia and many of the islands in the
Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia and Af-
rica. The three known North American spe-
cies inhabit most of the states south of Virginia.
They are dull of color, usually some shade of
gray or brown.
The Oval Ant frog (Engystoma ovale) is a
native of South America, the specimens in the
Reptile House having been collected on the
Island of Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela.
They are small, the adult frog attaining a
length of but one and one-eighth inches. Over
the neck region there is a distinct transverse
fold of skin, giving a turtle-like appearance.
The color is leaden gray, with minute black
specks on all the upper surfaces, while the
abdomen bears a pattern of large and small
bright yellow spots of irregular shape, inter-
spaced with black. On the inner side of the
A GIANT BUTTRESSED MORA TREE
Scene in the Tropical forests of British Guiana. From a photograph by Paul G. Howes.
1441
1442
thigh there is a broad orange or vermillion
band, from groin to knee; concealed except
when the frog is in motion.
The tropics of both the Old and the New
World have many species of frogs, plainly
colored above, but with bright yellow, red or
orange on the parts not seen when the frog is
at rest. What the reason may be for this con-
spicuous and ordinarily concealed coloration has
not been determined, although some writers
claim that for some species it serves as a warn-
ing to predacious animals.
During the day the specimens exhibited in
our Reptile House conceal themselves under
pieces of bark, but after dark they come forth
and prowl around their cage in search for food.
This is procured for them in the following man-
ner: Small pieces of wet bread or raw beef
are deposited in corners known to be infested
with black ants, and are left there until they
are covered with those insects. The ant-
covered bread or meat is then placed in the
vivarium with the frogs which soon emerge from
their hiding places, and slowly crawling, instead
of hopping like ordinary frogs, approach the
“bait,’ when the feast of ants begins. An
almost incredible number of ants can be as-
similated by one of these tiny frogs. Small
flies, which I had tried to feed to them in the
beginning of their captivity were not eaten, the
frogs taking no notice of them, and thus it seems
that their diet consists exclusively of ants.
BREEDING BIRDS.
Resutts Durine 1916 InN THE Park.
By Ler S. Cranpatu,
Assistant Curator of Birds.
LIMATIC conditiens during the spring
and summer of 1916 were decidedly ad-
verse to the successful rearing of birds in
captivity, and throughout the Eastern states, at
least, unsatisfactory results have been general.
The collections in the Zoological Park were not
exempt, and a rather depressing list of disap-
pointments is no more than balanced by the few
successes. Severe snow storms and continuous
low temperatures during February and March,
followed by interminable cold rains, were
enough to discourage even the most persistent
of prospective avian parents.
The devotedness of the male emu to his off-
spring of 1915, caused him to ignore his mate
entirely this year, until after the breeding sea-
son had passed. As the normal laying time ap-
proached, and the birds gave no indications of
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
EMU CHICK
mating, we realizcd the situation, and separated
the too-fond parent from the cumbrous chick.
Both birds, however, strenuously objected, and
when the male finally became reconciled to the
change, there was no hope of breeding.
The seasonal balance of the cereopsis gecse,
which year after year have bred regularly, was
disturbed by the inclement weather, so that al-
most as soon as they were placed in their breed-
ing quarters, the birds fell into a heavy molt.
This, of course, precluded all possibility of
nesting.
~ Roseate spoonbills, black-headed ibises and
snowy egrets, all succeeded in hatching young
in the Flying Cage heronry, but in each case the
chicks mysteriously disappeared. It is evident
that we never shall be able to achieve any satis-
factory degree of success with these birds under
the present conditions, and we hope that some
means may be found for providing a breeding
cage in which a few mated pairs may be segre-
gated. There is no reason to doubt that we
should then be able to breed many of the birds
of this interesting group.
The necessary alterations of the Wild-Fowl
Pond, which has now been placed in excellent
condition, naturally prevented any breeding
among the waterfowl quartered there. We were
fortunate, however, in being able to preserve the
bulk of this collection in excellent condition
through more than a year of vicissitudes. We
expect next season to resume our work in the
propagation of these birds.
Because of their value as game birds, the
many species of wild pigeons have received more
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
or less attention from propagators. We are
particularly glad, therefore, to be able to add
to the list of these birds that have been bred
in captivity in this country, the picazuro pigeon,
(Columba picazuro). This is a fine, large
species, found in southern South America, and
as it is indifferent to the cold, it might be intro-
duced with success in northern countries.
Our breeding pair came to us from Brazil in
January, 1910, and since that time they have
been kept in one of the runs at the Pheasant
Aviary , living out of doors throughout the year.
For six years, they gave no evidence of a desire
to nest, although facilities were always provided.
This spring, however, they appeared to have
become thoroughly reconciled to captivity, and
after several futile attempts succeeded in hatch-
ing and rearing a young bird. ‘They are now
again engaged in incubation. But one egg has
been laid in each case, and it is probable that
this is the normal clutch with this species, as it
is with most of the larger pigeons.
A pair of engagingly tame red-billed pigeons
(C. flavirostris), from Mexico, are nesting, and,
like the picazuros, have but a single egg. These
birds are favorite pets of the Mexicans, and the
squabs often are taken from the nest and reared
by hand. Such birds retain their lack of fear,
even when adult, and if a true pair can be ob-
tained, will breed freely.
The mourning doves, that have absorbed a
good share of our attention, have reared more
than twenty youngsters. Several of these birds
killed themselves by dashing about their cages
when alarmed by an escaped ring-tailed “‘cat,”
but enough remain to provide a good stock of
breeders for next year. A pair of adults is now
at liberty in the Park, the male having been
free for more than a year.
In 1914, a pair of laughing gulls hatched two
young ones in the Flying Cage, and in spite of
the ever-ready maws of pelicans and herons,
succeeded in rearing one of them. The follow-
ing year, two pairs made the attempt, but in
spite of a hedge of branches which was placed
around them, all of the young disappeared.
Early this spring, large stones were arranged
to form tunnels in which each pair could find
seclusion. The pile was then surrounded by a
circle of heavy wire netting, six feet high and
eight feet in diameter. Numerous small aper-
tures were cut at the bottom, large enough to
admit the gulls, but excluding everything larger.
The birds did not enter the sanctuary at first, .
although they evidently desired to do so. It
was then noticed that the entrance holes were
of such a height that it was necessary for the
1443
gulls to lower their heads in order to pass
through. As this is an act which many wild birds
consistently refuse to perform, two inches were
clipped from the top of each space, and next
morning the gulls were inside.
Three pairs immediately selected sites and
soon were incubating their eggs. Each pair
safely hatched a single youngster and all were
doing well, when one was killed by a large rat.
This depredator received swift justice, and the
remaining two young birds were safely reared.
We have reared a number of golden pheas-
ants, several bob-whites and also at least one
scaled quail, with several more still in the bum-
ble-bee stage. ‘The last species may have been
bred previously, but no record of this event has
come to the writer's notice.
Last year, while removing the birds from the
Flying Cage, we found two large white eggs in
a small cavity in the top of a ten-foot stump.
They evidently were those of curassows, and
this spring we selected the only true pair that
had been in the cage the year before, and with-
held the others. A close watch soon disclosed
the female sitting in the cavity, and after a
short wait, her two white eggs were removed
and placed wnder a bantam hen, since young
birds of that character could not survive in the
midst of such a crowd of doubtful characters as
is found in the Flying Cage. Unfortunately,
however, the eggs proved infertile, as was the
case with a second pair which appeared shortly
afterward. This species, the banded curassow,
(Crax fasciolata), appears never to have been
bred in captivity, and it is disappointing to have
been so near success without achieving it.
A Reckless Peafowl.—There is no account-
ing for the tastes of people, as the old proverb
says, and this is equally true of wild creatures.
When Mr. Charles Snyder prepared the fang
of a rattlesnake to present to a friend, he did
not suspect its ultimate destination. It required
considerable delicate manipulation to separate
the fang from the skull and properly clean it,
and after this had been accomplished Mr. Sny-
der placed it on a window ledge of the Reptile
House to dry. The peacocks have a habit of
perching on these window ledges to bask in the
sun, and one of them passing at this moment,
selected that same ledge and settled himself
down. Then discovering what he suspected to be
a delicate morsel, he seized it, raised his head in
the air, after the manner of a fowl, and swal-
lowed it. The rightful owner passing across
the yard, saw the act of the peacock, too late
to save the fang.
“1ey] SI UO Zulzoo1y St 19}BA OY} PUB [OOd JurUIUTIMS sIY ye, ysnf svy Ivsq OL
ONIM WHATS ‘AVA UVIOd AIVW UNO
1444
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1445
THREE RARE SPECIMENS FROM ALASKA
Skull of musk-ox, and fossil teeth of mammoth and mastodon.
THREE RARE SPECIMENS FROM
ALASKA.
HE SOCIETY’S esteemed correspondent
at the most northerly point of Alaska,
Mr. Charles D. Brower, has again con-
tributed substantially to our knowledge of the
mammalian life that inhabited that region in
prehistoric times. In Buxtuntrin No. 45 (May,
1911), we published a letter from Mr. Brow-
er, proving the existence of the Barren Ground
musk-ox as far west as the longitude of Point
Barrow, within comparatively recent years. A
little later on, Mr. Brower sent to the Society a
musk-ox horn, and a piece of musk-ox skin coy-
ered with hair.
In 1915 Mr. Brower sent to the Zoological
Park collection of Heads and Horns, a masto-
don tooth in an excellent state of preservation,
from the Kooloogama River, about ninety miles
southeast of Point Barrow. It is so fresh and
recent that it appears to be post-glacial.
In December, 1916, the Society received from
Mr. Brower another gift consisting of a musk-
ox skull, and a mammoth tooth of large pro-
The smaller tooth is that of the mastodon.
portions, very well preserved. The latter was
found in the same locality that produced the
mastodon molar, proving that the mammoth and
mastodon lived at the northern limit of land in
Alaska practically at the same period of geo-
logic time. We are in the habit of thinking of
the mastodon as an animal of the United States,
and not of the far north, and it requires an ef-
fort of the imagination to locate it in the frozen
north, on the shore of the polar sea, beside the
great hairy mammoth, who was quite at home
in the abode of snow and ice.
The musk-ox skull is quite as fresh-looking
as any of the American bison skulls that still
are found at rare intervals in the western bad
lands, foothills, and even upon some of the
mountains bordering the Great Plains. Its low-
er jaw is missing, but the horns are intact save
for one tip that has been sawn off with a very
blunt instrument. The operator made a start
toward sawing off the terminal half of the other
horn, but changed his mind and his work, very
opportunely for our specimen.
This skull appears to have been weathering
for not more than thirty years.—V. T. H.
1446
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
eee
Departments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. HornapDay. C. H. TownsEND.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE.
LEE S. CRANDALL.
Raymonp L. Dirmars.
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1917, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELWwin R. SANBORN,
Editor and Official Photographer
WOrby 20365 INO 1 JANUARY, 1917
RR SA NECK RMOR os heh le ne
EE
H. CASIMIR DE RHAM.
EE I
We announce with great sorrow, the death of
one of the Society’s most valued members and
staunch supporters, H. Casimir de Rham, who
passed away on December 15, 1916. Mr. de
Rham was an Associate Founder and had been
a member of the Board of Managers since 1899.
He devoted his whole energy to the work of the
Society in its various fields, and it was greatly
due to his efforts that the Heads and Horns
Collection at the Park developed into a perma-
nent exhibit.
DISAPPEARANCE OF RUFFED GROUSE
IN NEW YORK
Until about two months ago the great ma-
jority of the sportsmen and game protectors of
the State of New York had rested confidently
in the belief that the four-bird bag limit law
on ruffed grouse, and the difficulty found in
shooting the birds in brush and timber, had
really been saving the ruffed grouse species on
a continuing basis. Very suddenly, and most
unexpectedly, the fallacy of this belief was re-
vealed during November, 1916; and today the
sportsmen of New York are in a state border-
ing upon consternation.
One remedy for this deplorable decrease of
our finest upland game bird will be found in
giving it immediately a six-year close season.
This can be accomplished by petition to the
State Conservation Commissioner, Mr. George
D. Pratt. It goes without saying that such a
petition should cover the entire state. The law
provides that on the petition of a satisfactory
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
number of citizens for a long closed season for
any species of game, or for wild life threatened
with extermination, the Commissioner may hold
hearings in order to ascertain the facts, and
then, if conditions warrant it, he may close any
district for any species that it may contain.
This method is much more simple and possible
of accomplishment than an appeal to the legis-
lature for a special act.
The previous State Game Commission was
averse to granting close seasons in this way,
but it is believed that Commissioner Pratt will
view the matter differently. W.T. H.
A GREAT “DRIVE” -FOR BIRD
PROTECTION.
The furious destruction of all killable game
still continues, and the struggles that the con-
servationists are making to save as much as
possible from annihilation each year partake
more and more of the methods of practical war-
fare. For example, the Permanent Wild Life
Protection Fund and the Stokes’ Bird Fund of
the Zoological Society now are making literally
a “great drive,’ covering eighteen of the states
west of the Mississippi River, designed to save
from extermination and bring back the sage
grouse, other species of grouse, and the quail.
At the same time, this is also an effort to
save legitimate sport from becoming an extinct
pastime, and to protect the rights of the small
sons of today and the grandsons of the future.
On account of the rapid increase of destruct-
ive agencies, and laws that are fatally liberal
to hunters, the upland game birds of all North
America are fast disappearing. Particularly is
this true in the West, where good roads and
automobiles now carry loads of gunners into ev-
ery locality wherein grouse and quail still may
be found. Usually the hunters are armed with
the deadly pump and automatic guns. Dr. Horn-
aday estimates that already automobiles and
good roads have increased the perils of upland
game birds by 300 per cent; and New York
and North Dakota have prohibited the use of
automobiles in hunting.
In the hope of arousing the legislatures and
the people of at least some of the western states
to the point of effective action, Dr. Hornaday
has written. and the Permanent Fund has pub-
lished, 10,500 copies of an illustrated bulletin
of forty-eight pages entitled “Save the Sage
Grouse from Extinction: A Demand from Civil-
ization to the Western States.” The text covers
all the grouse, ptarmigan and quail of the West,
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
but the case of the sage grouse is taken as a
special text. The tragic fate of the Eastern
pinnated grouse, or heath hen, is held up as a
fearful example.
This drive is made now for the reason that
the legislatures of all those western states con-
vene for their biennial sessions next January.
Coincident with the issue of BuLLEetTIN No. 5,
there was sent to Texas 2,500 copies of a large
illustrated poster, showing in most striking
fashion how the birds and deer and other game
of that state are being slaughtered. With this
exhibit a strong demand is made for sweeping
reforms. All the illustrations are from Texas
sources.
It is to be noted that even a bag limit of
four birds per day has not been sufficient to
maintain the ruffed grouse of New York on a
continuing basis; and now the sportsmen of the
state are thoroughly alarmed and are them-
selves looking for a way to prevent the extinc-
tion of their finest game bird.
It would seem that there is only one way to
save the upland game birds of America on a
continuing basis, and that is by immediately
giving all of them six-year close seasons; and if
that is not sufficient, carry absolute protection
still further. After that, when the birds come
back sufficiently to render shooting possible,
the open season should be only one week of
each year, and the daily bag limit should be
two grouse and five quail.
Unfortunately, in thousands of localities,
both in the East and the West, the upland game
birds are now either gone forever, or else have
been shot down to such pitifully small remnants
that even with long close seasons they can not
recover. In thousands of places, local extinc-
tion already is an accomplished fact, and the
boys of those localities can learn of their local
grouse and quail only by looking at mounted
specimens in museums.
NEW MEMBERS.
July 1-December 31, 1916.
Live Memsers.
Condon, T. G., Harkness, Mrs. Edward S.,
duPont, Mrs. Wm. A., Harvey, Eli,
Hepburn, A. Barton.
ANNUAL Memsbers.
Bliss, Mrs. Walter P., Garrard, Miss Margaret H..,
Bowdoin, George Temple, Halsey, Charles W.,
Boyden, Dwight F., Hungerford, Richard S.,
Brengle, Lawrence J., Johnson, Gilbert H.,
Chapman, Miss Fanny, Kellogg, J. Prentice,
Cutting, R. Fulton, Kennedy, Mrs. H. ~~
Deane, W.B., Rensselaer,
Ewing, Joseph Grant, Lane, Miss Annie E.,
1447
Lawton, Mrs. James M.,
Loewi, Dr. Karl J.,
Low, William Gilman, Jr.,
Marckwald, Albert H.,
Marshall, Mrs. Chauncey,
Meyer, Eugene, Jr.,
Miehling, Charles,
Mitchell, John R.,
Palmer, Edgar
Proctor, Mrs. Charles E.,
Reisinger, Curt H.,
Roberts, Owen F.,
Rodewald, F. L.,
Roenig, Walter,
Saunders, Alfred H.,
Saunders, Mrs. Virginia,
Stickels, Edward H.,
Tiers, Mrs. Alexander H.,
Virgin, Dr. Frederic O.,
Whitney, Richard.
WILD BIRDS BRED IN CAPTIVITY IN
THE UNITED STATES.*
Compiled by Ler S. CRANDALL,
Assistant Curator of Birds.
In the Butierin for October, 1909, appeared
a list of “Wild Birds Bred in Captivity in the
astern United States,’ compiled by Mr. Wm.
Beebe and the writer. ‘he species then record-
ed numbered eighty-two, and may be summar-
ized as follows:
Galliformes (Pheasants, Ct.) .ceecccsessnrscssccersesenene 26
Columbiformes (Doves and Pigeons)...
Lariformes (Gulls)
Gruiformes (Cranes)
Ardeiformes (Herons)
Anseriformes (Water-Fowl)
Pelecaniformes (Pelecans and Cormorants)... 1
Acccipitriformes (Hagyes) eee cecesseceesescereenee 1
Psittaciformes (Parrots) ccc ccccccccccsseneeeneeeceneneeee 4
Passeriformes (Perching Birds) 0000 15
Since the publication of the first list, a very
considerable number of species have earned a
place, and other records not then available
have come to light. These are enumerated in
the present list. The gratifying growth of in-
terest in aviculture which has occurred during
recent years makes it desirable that the record
of birds which have been bred successfully be
brought up to date. It is very difficult, of
course, in the absence of any organized cooper-
ation, to secure all data, and there is no doubt
of the omission of some species which should
have been included. Any corrections or addi-
tions will be received with gratitude by the
writer. Precedence has been given, whenever
possible, to the first known breeder of each
species.
Although the globose curassow and the can-
vasback duck were included in the previous list,
later investigation has shown that in neither
case were the young birds fully reared, thus in-
validating the records. Since that time, how-
ever, both species have been bred, so that they
retain their positions, with different authorities.
*The specimens named in this list are additions
to the ones printed in the Zoological Society Burie-
gin for October, 1909.
“AQ 2100S
ayy Aq BILRAASNY Woy paatovodl A[JUa0II SUBUIOads JYy JO ZUC
OOUVONVA AUUVd
1448
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
The breeding of the curassows is of particu-
lar interest, because of the possibility of the do-
mestication of the species. It is a strange fact
that while curassows become very tame in cap-
tivity, it is seldom that they can be induced to
breed. Mrs. Thompson’s birds laid in 19138,
using an artificial nest of sticks, built by Mr.
Watts, and placed on the ground. After the
two white eggs had been deposited, the male re-
fused to allow his mate to incubate, so the
clutch was removed and entrusted to a domestic
hen. After twenty-nine days, one egg hatched,
the other proving infertile. The young bird
was reared without difficulty, being fed much as
young pheasants are.
Mr. Rockefeller’s canvasbacks, three in num-
ber, are the progeny of birds hand-reared in
Manitoba. The eggs were incubated and the
ducklings reared by a domestic hen, as is cus-
tomary with wild ducks in captivity.
Following is the list:
Bred by
STRUTHIONIFORMES
South African Os-
irichywesesse ees Struthio australis................... Several
North African Os-
HH. Godbadoosoe Struthio camelus....................Several
CASUARIIFORMES }
Emule ese aa Dromiceius novaehollandiae........ Zoo. Park
TINAMIFORMES
Rufous Tinamou... Rhynchotus rufescens............. Rockefeller
GALLIFORMES
Globose Curassow. .Crax globicera.................. Thompson
Temminck TragopanTragopan temminchi......-........ Warner
Siamese Fireback
Pheasant........ Diardigalius diardt................- Warner
Black-breasted
Kalij Pheasant...Gennaeus horsfieldi..................Kuser
Formosan Pheasant. Phasianus formosanus............ Zoo. Park
Prince of Wales
Pheasant........Phasianus principalis......... . Worthington
Mongolian Pheasant. Phasianus mongolicus........... Worthington
Elliot Pheasant ....Calophasis ellioti..................... Kuser
Common Peacock
Pheasant........ Polyplectron chenquis...........+.++.. Kuser
Curacao Creste
Qn soscogaaue Ewpsychortyx cristatus............ Zoo. Park
Colombia Crested
Qi, oceccoocse Eupsychortyx leucopogon.............Kuser
Sealed Quail....... Callipepla squamata.............. Zoo. Park
COLUMBIFORMES
Picazuro Pigeon... .Columba picazuro................ Zoo. Park
Cape Dove........ Oenoncapensismeerr rr ee Noack
Nicobar Pigeon....Caloenas nicobarica................. Noack
Red-Billed Pigeon.. Columba flavirostris................ Painter
Bleeding-Heart
IPigeontaer pee Phlogoenas luzonica............ . Rockefeller
RALLIFORMES
Pectoral Rail...... Hypotaenidia philippinensis
UIGTHIS San donokon pan oaenceoe Zoo. Park
SPHENISCIFORMES
Black-Footed Pen-
eqiuinls ectsisend Gomes Sphensicus demersus.............- Zoo. Park
LARIFORMES
Laughing Gull..... TOR LUSMCLUGT CL! Cpe ee ey Zoo. Park
GRUIFORMES
Paradise Crane.....Tetrapteryr paradisea...........Mackensen
Japanese White-
Necked Crane....Pseudogeranus leucauchen.......... Zoo. Park
ARDEIFORMES
Snowy Egret....... Egretta candidissima............ MclIlhenny
ANSERIFORMES
Cereopsis Goose... .Cereopsis novaehollandiae.......... Zoo. Park
Egyptian Goose....Alopochen aegyptiacus...............Kuser
Canvasback Duck. .Marila vallisneria............... Rockefeller
White-Eyed Duck. .Marila nyroca................... Zoo. Park
PELECANIFORMES
Brown Pelican... ..Pelicanus occidentalis............. Zoo. Park
1449
Bred by
PASSERIFORMES
TURDIDAE -
European Blackbird. Turdus merula.....................Kuser
ARTAMIDAE
White-Browed Wood
Swallowaree ene Artamus superciliaris.............. Painter
FRINGILLIDAE
Melodious Grassquit.Tiaris canora.................... Ibbeken
Yellow-Faced Grass-
CUlindierd ae ones TEwoliaccanoliiaccoe ee Ibbeken
European Goldfinch. Carduelis carduelis................. Campini
Mexican House
iBinchasneeee ere Carpodacus mexicanus mex-
CONUSH Sa ee Zoo. Park
PLOCEIDAE
Strawberry Finch...Sporaeginthus amandava.... . Cine. Zool. Gard.
Long-Tailed Grass
inches eee Poephila acuticauda............... Ibbeken
STURNIDAE
Black-Headed Myna.Termenuchus pogadarum........... Ibbeken
CorvIDAE
BluekJayanenee eer Cyanocitta cristata.......... Cine. Zool. Gard.
The full names and addresses of the authorities cited above are as
follows:
Cincinnati Zoological Gardens......S. A. Stephan, Gen. Manager
@ampini, (Caadoes sec ae ee 153 East 33rd St., New York
IibbekensevAt Geek sue Baer 27 West 124th St., New York
Kuser, Colonel Anthony R.................... Bernardsville, N. J.
MiackensenhaWinnkodheci i hee ace eee Yardley, Pa.
MicIihennyag irae Aso. neces can hese ne een eee Avery Island, La.
New York Zoological Park........ Dr. William T. Hornaday, Director
Noack eHarry (Re oisas i is Oe aero ae eco Oakland, Cal.
IPAim ters INEM y.GM Via: cee een Soe eee Cleveland, Ohio
RockefelleraaWailliameeree reese eee oe ene: Tarrytown, N. Y.
(Arthur M. Barnes in charge)
Thompson, Mrs. Frederick Ferris.............. Canandaigua, N. Y.
(E. A. Watts in charge)
Warn er SR ery. sce cst nine Ge Ges crane Geen es Nashville, Tenn.
(Clare Lovett in charge)
Whitman, Prof. C. O.*
Worthington ©. Caen ae eenercr Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa.
j (John McCarthy in charge)
* Deceased.
CELTIC AND NORSE HORSES
New Accessions to the Equide Collection.
By S. H. Cuuss.
NE of the greatest sources of satisfaction
() to the Zoological Society and the staff of
the Zoological Park is the superb col-
lection of Hquidew, numbering nineteen individ-
uals and representing no less than eight differ-
ent species.
Seven zebras, including four distinct species,
make this the best collection in the country of
that wonderfully decorated equine.
The Przewalsky wild horse is represented by
a thriving little herd of six* While all of these
are of Mongolian extraction, four of the family
may boast of being Park-born.
The Przewalsky, while not greatly admired
by breeders of fancy stock, is of zoological im-
portance as being the only true wild horse now
known. The so-called wild horses of the
prairies, so abundant a few years ago, became
wild only after escaping from domestic herds.
To the Park collection, there has been added
recently two interesting horses, the Celtic horse,
(Equus caballus celticus) from Iceland, and the
*Since writing this article two have been sold.
1450 ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE CELTIC AND NORSE HORSES
The Celtic horse (side view) is specially adapted to severe climates. The small head suggests relationship to the Arab,
Norse horse, (quus caballus typicus) of Scan-
dinavian descent. They were obtained by Pro-
fessor Henry Fairfield Osborn from J. Cossar
Ewart, of the University of Edinburgh, who
has devoted much study to the Equide.
The peculiar importance of these horses is
due to the fact that they represent ancient wild
types that roamed over Europe long before the
industry of domesticating animals began. In
this connection Professor Ewart has for many
years studied the fossil ancestors of the horse,
the paleolithic evidence as shown in the art,
implements and life history of the men of the
Stone Age, and the facts collected from early
history. He has also made a study of mod-
ern strains, as well as of experimental breed-
ing, and is convinced that the Celtic horses now
under domestication in Iceland are the direct
descendants of a very hardy northern species
that has come down to us through the ages in
an almost pure state, having been changed but
little either by artificial selection or by cross-
breeding with other strains.
It seems highly probable that this species
branched off at an early period from the
Arabian or North African stem and spread
northward, becoming smaller in stature and
more adapted to a severe climate, but retaining
many characteristics in common with the pres-
ent Arabian horse. In both species we find a
high degree of intelligence, an extremely docile
temperament, and a similarity in the eyes and
in the shape of the head. In both Celtic and
Arab the hind chestnuts (leg callosities) are
absent, and all four ergots (fetlock callosities)
are either very minute or entirely absent.
In growth of hair the two species do not
widely differ in the summer coat, but the heavy
winter pelage of the Celtic is in striking con-
trast to the sleek-coated Arab. When the
horses arrived at the Zoological Park on Octo-
ber 16, the short, summer coats had grown con-
siderably in anticipation of the approaching
season, though they were still far from being a
winter's garb.
The Celtic, which has been named Celt, is a
horse about twelve and one-half hands in
height, but rather short-limbed. The coat, in
effect a brownish gray, is a fine mixture of pure
white hairs with brown, with a greater per cent.
of white hairs on the sides and under parts.
Along the ridge of the back, black hairs take
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE NORSE HORSE
Showing dorsal strip and mane falling on one side.
the place of brown, making a well-defined dor-
sal stripe. Suggestive of an ancestral type are
the very faint horizontal stripes on the knees
and hocks. A heavy mane, falling on both sides
of the neck, and a very full forelock, the long-
est hairs of which reach down to the nostrils,
add to his shaggy appearance.
The most highly specialized character of the
Celtic horse is the tail-lock. Unlike the de-
ciduous body hair, the mane and tail of most
horses are persistent and grow continuously at
a rate sufficient to counteract the ordinary wear.
With the Celtic, the hair on the lower two-
thirds of the tail is of the usual sort, while that
of the upper third is deciduous and compara-
tively short during the summer, but in winter
reaches a length of five or six inches, spreading
laterally and sloping downward, forming a
thatch to protect the hind quarters. With this
tail-lock, a thick coat of body-hair five inches
long, and a heavy mane protecting both sides
of the neck, we expect Celt to thoroughly en-
1451
joy our coldest weather. During the first hard
snow storm, if he lives up to his reputation, we
will find him standing tail to windward, the
head somewhat lowered so that the very small
ears are buried between the mane and forelock,
a beard protecting the throat, and the tail-lock
spread to the gale, lodging a small snow-drift
which thus forms a double thatch. So pro-
tected he will wait quite unconcerned for the
storm to abate when, with a vigorous shake, his
accumulation of snow will be unloaded.
Although a stallion, Celt is of the gentle dis-
position so characteristic of his race, and was
broken to the saddle and harness by a twelve-
year-old boy.
The Norse horse, (. caballus typicus) is a
much coarser type than the Celtic, and in many
respects is similar to the wild Przewalsky horse
of Mongolia, though really quite distinct. As
in the wild horse, all of the eight callosities are
present. Dorsal and leg stripes suggest a re-
lationship, but an essential difference is found
THE CELTIC HORSE
The tail-lock of winter hardly noticeable, photograph
having been taken in October.
1452 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
NORSE HORSE
Showing fall coat. Photograph made in October.
Our Norse horse, which
has been appropriately
named Viking, is a very
typical specimen, about thir-
teen and one-half hands
high, a yellow dun in color,
with dark dorsal stripe
strongly, defined. The hori-
zontal striping of the knees
and hocks is much more no-
ticeable than in his Mongo-
lian relative.
In temperament Viking is
almost gentle, though per-
haps not quite so intelligent,
as his companion Celt.
Both seem perfectly ac-
climated, and happy in their
new environment, and now
that the prescribed period
of quarantine is past, they
are ready for inspection on
the knoll just west of the
Zebra House.
The Government re
quirements are very exact-
between the upright mane and entire absence of ing regarding the quarantine of hoofed animals
forelock in the wild horse, and the falling mane from the Old World, on account of the varicus
and full forelock of the Norse horse. Another diseases that they might carry. The period of
point of difference is in the character of the quarantine in the Park is about thirty days.
tail. While in this respect
the Norse horse is not un-
like the average cart horse,
the caudal appendage of the
wild horse is quite distinct-
ive, supporting long persist-
ent hair on the lower third
only, the hair on the upper
two-thirds of the tail being
deciduous and not more
than four or five inches long
even in winter.
It is believed by Ewart,
Osborn and others that
these two species branched
off from a common stem
many thousand years ago.
During historic time, prob-
ably about the 12th century,
the Norse horse was intro-
duced into Scotland from
Seandinavia. It was this
species which the great nat-
uralist, Linneus, in the year
1766, called Equus caballus,
though the name was after-
ward applied to all domes-
tic horses.
THE CELTIC HORSE
Winter coat only beginning to develop. Photograph made in October.
HEAD OF NORSE HORSE HEAD OF CELTIC HORSE
Nose heavier, ears much larger and forelock less Note the heavy forelock and extremely small ears.
developed than Celtic.
HOCK JOINT OF NORSE HORSE THE CELTIC HORSE
Horizontal stripes on hocks and knees suggest relation- Thick mane falling on both sides of the neck.
ship to Przewalsky horse.
1453
1454
EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR CUBS
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Australian Mammals—tThe collection of
mammals has been materially strengthened by
the addition of a valuable series of specimens
from Australia. These animals were brought
direct from their home country by Mr. Ellis S.
Joseph, an up-to-date collector of, and dealer
in, wild animals. Mr. Joseph made the trip
from Sidney, N. S. W., stopped at Honolulu,
and went thence to Victoria, British Columbia.
From there he crossed the continent to New
York. In all this long journey his losses were
trivial and his animals arrived in excellent
condition.
The new animals necessitated some shifting
and rearrangements in two buildings, and in
consequence we are now exhibiting a splendid
series of kangaroos. Of these, the following
were brought by Mr. Joseph: pair of red kan-
garoos; a pair of Parry’s kangaroo; a pair of
Island kangaroos; a pair of tree kangaroos; a
pair of wallaroos a pair of agile wallabies; a
pair of black swamp wallabies and a pair of
rock wallabies. Among other interesting mar-
supials received in the same shipment were
three pairs of Tasmanian devils; one Tasmanian
wolf; a pair of gray phalangers; three flying
phalangers and two adult wombats. One of the
latter animals is carrying an alert and active
youngster in her pouch.
The shipment also included a pair of sloth
bears, one Himalayan black bear and two Cape
lyrax, of which the Park stock is greatly in
need.
South African Reptiles—In the Joseph Aus-
tralian collection were a number of reptiles that
represent the first foreign additions of conse-
quence to the Reptile House since the outbreak
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
of the war. Among these new specimens were
eight water lizards, two frilled lizards and ten
snake-necked turtles. A collection of South
African reptiles arrived soon after. These came
from Mr. J. Alden Loring, who has been on an
extensive purchasing trip for the Society. Mr.
Loring shipped us a black cobra, three speci-
mens of the boomslange or tree snake, eighteen
puff adders and fifteen mole snakes. The lat-
ter species receives its name from its habit of
entering the burrows of small animals.
Avis Deer Herd.—The increase of our axis
deer herd is worthy of note. Nine perfect fawns
have been added during the present year. These
beautiful deer are in much demand for private
collections and we have sold many specimens.
We endeavor to maintain this herd at twenty
head, or more. Demand from many sources
early in 1915, reduced the number to eleven in-
dividuals. There are now twenty-seven deer in
the herd.
Our elk herd also has materially increased in
numbers, and we are much interested in noting
the development of several fawns born during
the latter part of October. Whether or not
these late-comers will acquire enough strength
to endure the winter cold, is a problem. Nor-
mally elk fawns are seldom born later than
July, and should attain a good growth by the
arrival of the cold season.
Rare Baboons.—We have been fortunate in
obtaining young specimens of the mandrill and
the common drill, and the Primate House now
contains good understudies of the spectacular
baboons that we have kept in the past. The
young specimens are gentle and playful, in
marked contrast to the very savage and power-
ful adults of the species named.
A Crafty Polar Bear.—Silver King, the sullen
polar bear, has developed a stubborn dislike to
housecleaning, and by his sly antics renders it
extremely difficult for the keepers to enter his
den. This bear is too savage to share his den
with the men while they are at work, as do the
other bears, and therefore his den is provided
with a shifting cage with sliding door. The
regular procedure is to place some meat in the
shifting cage, and when Silver King enters, the
sliding door is closed. That cage is of small
size, and the bear of huge proportions.
Of late Silver King’s strategy has been to
stretch a hind foot backward across the track
of the door, to prevent its being closed. We
have tried tying his meat at the outer end of
the shifting cage, but Silver King renders this
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
procedure unavailing by lying almost prone,
with one hind foot stretched backward, and
tearing away the meat with a much extended
forelimb. By exercising patience we sometimes
catch him unawares—and it is then that the
gate-chain is quickly pulled, after which the den
may be thoroughly cleaned.
The Bears’ Winter Diet—With the approach
of cold weather, the load of bread, meat and
fish going to the bear dens is steadily reduced.
All of the bears are now very fat, and ap-
proaching the time when many of them seek a
snug den in which to spend much of the winter
in a condition of sleep or drowsy wakefulness.
While none of our bears here actually hiber-
nate, all of them sleep much during the winter,
and consume not more than a quarter of the
amount of food that is eaten during the summer
months. Several of our Alaskan bears have
been observed to remain from two to three days
in their dens, while their food remained un-
touched.
Pachyderm Recreation—Owing to the mild,
dry weather of the present fall, the elephants,
hippopotami, rhinoceros and tapirs roamed in
their yard until well into December. These ani-
mals are now in winter quarters, indoors, al-
though even in winter they will be permitted
an hour or so exercise on mild and sunny days.
Visitors remark upon the darker hue of the
elephants, as well as the Indian and African
rhinoceros. This results from scrubbing them,
and when the skin was well cleaned, giving the
animals a thorough oiling. This is done with a
large brush, and about five gallons of oil is
consumed in treating all the inmates of the Ele-
phant House. After oiling them it is necessary
to exclude all draughts, and keep the building
well warmed for several days, until the heavy
skin has absorbed the softening mixture.
Mammal House Repairs——The work of re-
newing the old cages in the Small-Mammal
House has been two-thirds completed. The new
cages are of ideal construction, and are much
more satisfactory than were the cages of the
original series, even when new. With them it
is possible to maintain a more wholesome at-
mosphere than in the past. With the new con-
struction, the floors are non-absorbent, wood-
work and sliding partitions have been elimin-
ated, the fronts are more open, and a series of
cement gutters form perfect drainage. A num-
ber of new cages are already occupied by the
miscellaneous small carnivores.
1455
Active Beaver Colony—This has been a busy
fall for our colony of beavers. They have spent
much time plastering the outside of their big
house with mud to render it cold-proof, and in
building what appears to be an elaborate levee
extending some twenty feet northward from the
house. They are yet busily working on the lat-
ter structure, the object of which we hope will
be revealed. There have been many trips with
mouthfuls of leaves and twigs to the dam.
These beavers are the first ones we ever have
had that freely exhibit themselves in the day-
time, and work busily when visitors are looking
on. 15, 1G, 10),
A COLLECTION OF BIRDS FROM
AUSTRALIA.
By Ler S. Cranpatu,
Assistant Curator of Birds.
HE birds of Australia and the neighbor-
ing islands always have been rare in
American collections. Especially has this
been true of late years, the passage of pro-
tective laws prohibiting the shipment of live
birds from Australia almost completely shut-
ting off the meagre supply. These laws re-
cently have been somewhat modified, however,
and this action, in conjunction with the Euro-
pean war, has brought about an unusual con-
dition in the bird market.
In pre-bellum days, whatever shipments were
made from Australia invariably went to Eng-
land, where the most desirable specimens were
disposed of, the balance being sent to America.
The present almost total lack of demand in
Europe, and the recent prohibition of the im-
portation of live birds into England, have de-
flected to this country quantities of Australian
birds. The great majority of arrivals are
through San Francisco, and California dealers
are usurping much of the business formerly
transacted in New York.
Of greater importance than this rather casual
trade, however, is the attraction of experienced
travelling dealers, who handle live animals in
large numbers. Mr. Ellis S. Joseph has spent
the greater part of his life in collecting and
transporting specimens. Most of his work has
been done in Australia, Africa and Asia, so that
he has seldom visited America, even then never
reaching New York.
Abnormal conditions affected him as well as
other dealers, and in August, 1916, a cable
message announcing the coming arrival of a
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1456
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
large consignment of Australian fauna, was re-
ceived by Dr. Hornaday. This was followed by
a more complete list, which showed the col-
lection to be an uncommonly rich one. Tenta-
tive orders were placed at once, but it was not
until early November that the specimens finally
arrived at the Zoological Park. All were in ex-
cellent condition, for which Mr. Joseph merits
congratulation. The birds were numerous,
some being of such unusual interest as to de-
serve special mention.
The gem of the lot is a New Zealand giant
petrel, (Macronectes giganteus albus). This
bird, a brobdignagian cousin of the Mother Ca-
rey s chicken, is the largest of the petrels, ex-
ceeding in size many of the albatrosses. It is a
wanderer about the seas of Australia and New
Zealand, breeding on the rocky ledges of small
sea-bound islands. It is carnivorous in habit,
feeding on such fleshy carrion as it can find,
and not hesitating to attack any living creature
weaker than itself. Two color phases are
found, one smutty brown, of which our speci-
men is a representative, and the other pure
white, with intergrading intermediates of every
degree.
An account of the capture of the petrel is
given by Mr. D. le Soeuf, in the Emu, the or-
gan of the Royal Australian Ornithologists’
Union, for October, 1916. Two fisherman,
sailing in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, observed
a strange bird floating nearby on the water. A
hook was baited with bread and thrown toward
the waif, which readily took it. The hook caught
in the bill without injuring it, and the bird was
easily secured. Needless to say, it was a cap-
ture worth making.
Two kea parrots, (Nestor notabilis) are
easily worthy of second place. Interesting
enough for their rich olive plumage, with a
touch of red, and the strong feet, adapted to
a life chiefly terrestrial, the kea recently has
developed a habit which gives it a sinister at-
traction.
According to Mr. G. R. Marriner,* in 1867
the shepherds in northwestern Otago, South
Island, New Zealand, noticed that their sheep
appeared to be affected with a strange disease,
which left severe scars on the loins. It soon
became obvious that these scars were the re-
mains of wounds made by some creature, the
identity of which was obscure.
Many theories were advanced, but investi-
gation soon disclosed the kea as the culprit. It
was found that the bird settled on the rump of
the living sheep, and tenaciously retaining ‘its
*The Kea: A New Zealand Problem, p. 73.
1457
grip, tore away and ate the flesh of the un-
fortunate creature, usually causing its death.
Most observers declare that the fatty capsule of
the kidney is the ultimate object, but others
believe that these organs are attacked because
they are most readily accessible, and not from
any special preferment.
This curious change from a mainly vegetable
diet to a fiercely carnivorous habit is no more
remarkable than the perfect manner in which
the bird is fitted for its sanguinary work. The
long, slightly curved upper mandible, special-
ized for uncovering seeds, roots and grubs, is
admirably suited to its new-found gruesome
task; the strong claws find no difficulty in fast-
ening themselves in the wool of the victim.
The offering of liberal bounties quickly led to
the Jiestauction of the birds in large numbers.
The slaughter still goes on, but ity is believed
that the kea will continue to persist in the
fastnesses of the mountains which form its
home.
The fowl-like birds are represented in Aus-
tralia only by a variety of quail and several
large species known as megapodes. The latter
are aberrant in several characters, the most in-
teresting of which is the habit of depositing
their eggs in large mounds of jungle debris, and
leaving them to The hatched by the heat gener-
ated iy the decaying vegetation. The young
birds emerge with ces well developed, and
are quite competent to care for themselves.
Two species of these birds were brought by
Mr. Joseph —the brush turkey, (Catheturus
lathami) and the much rarer ocellated mega-
pode or mallee fowl, (Alectura ocellata).
A pair each of the Australian white ibis,
(Ibis molucca strictipennis) and the straw-
necked ibis, (Carphibis sninicollis), are wel-
come additions to the Flying Cage group.
Neither species has previously been exhibited
in the Zoological Park. > a) > SEP Giekete aldeke mektamamnuas |
Vou. XX. No.3 c) | MAY, 1917
ALIN |
SOCIELY
BULLETLN
iia
| Mi Published by
| : | . | iB THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
SOS Sema ei Se Pa ny en STITT STAT TT TTTRTITTVF TU, HIE i Eee
bbe ae ni eT Ue ae TE TE tide da APES quae sata Sea ~ 7 : : ; , ;
TuUUR FREUND 1912
Hirst Wice-Preatdent
Mapison GRANT.
Oreagsurer
New York Zoological Society
General Orricr, 111 Broadway, New York Ciry.
President
Henry FairFieLp Ossorn.
Second Vice-President
Frank K. Srurais.
Asst. Creasurer
Percy R. Pyne, 20 Exchange Place.
Secretary
Mapison GRANT.
Executive Commiticr
Wm. Pierson HamittTon,
Frank K. Srureis,
LISPENARD STEWART
Mapison Grant, Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
WivuiaM Wuirte NILes,
Board of Managers
Tue Farmers’ Loan anv Trust Co.
Watson B. DickERMAN,
AntHony R. Kuser,
Henry FarrFieLp Osporn, ex officio
Ex ofticia: The Mayor and The Presioent Department of Parks, City of New York.
Glass of 15918
E. C. Converse.
Henry A. C. Taytor,
Frank K. Sturais,
Gerorce J. Goutp,
Levi P. Morton,
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
‘Mapison GRANT,
Wituiam Waite NI ss,
Glass nf 1919
C. Lepyarp Buair;
FrepEerIcK GILBERT BourNeE,
Wma. Austin Wapswortu,
Emerson McMittuin,
_ Percy R. Pyne,
GrorGce Brrp GRINNELL,
GrorGe C. CiarkK,
CrieveLtanp H. Dopes,
Class of 1920
George F. Baker,
Grant B. ScHLEy,
Wm. Pierson Hamitton,
Rosert S. Brewster,
General Officers
Henry FairFiecLp Osgorn,
Witiiam C. CuHurcH,
LisPENARD STEWART,
Cuartes F, Dierericu,
Ocpen MILLs,
Lewis RurHerFurRD Morais,
ArcHuer M. Huntineron,
Henry M. Titrorp,
AntTHony R. Kuserr,
Watson B. DickERMAN,
Mortimer L. ScuirFr,
Freperic C. Watcort.
Epwarp S. Harkness,
Wituiam B. Oscoop Fie,
A. Barton HeEpgurn,
Wizt1am Woopwarb.
Witiram T. Hornapay, Director, Zoological Park.
R. L. Cerero, Bursar.
H. De B. Parsons,
H. R. Mitcuett, Chief Clerk.
Raymonp L. Ditmars, Curator, Reptiles.
WituraM Beese, Curator, Birds.
L. S. Cranpatu, Asst. Curator, Birds.
Wasuincton I. DeNvysez, Assistant.
Louis L. Mowpgray, Assistant.
CuarLes H. Townsenpn, Director, New York Aquarium. .
C. Grant La Farce, Architect.
Grorce S. Huntineton, Prosector
Officers of the Zoulogical Park
Wituiam T. Hornapay, Director.
H. W. Merkeu, Chief Forester.
W. Rew Buarr, Veterinarian.
G. M. Berrgeower, Engineer.
Witiram MircuHe.t, Cashier.
Exiwin R. Sanzorn, Photographer and Editor.
Consulting Engineer.
Officers of the Aquarinn
CHarues H. Townsenp, Director.
Rozsert SutcuiFrrFe, Clerk.
Ipa M. Me ten, Secretary.
Grorce A. MacCatuivm, Pathologist.
Photographed at Laredo, Texas.
GREAT SEIZURE OF PARADISE PLUMES
At Laredo, Texas, on January 29, 1916, Abraham Kallman was caught smuggling into the United States 527
skins of the Greater Bird of Paradise, worth at least $52,700, for which he paid a fine of $2,500 and
spent six months in jail. The skins were turned over to the New York Zoological Society, for educa-
tional purposes. The seizure was made by Deputy Collector of Customs Ed. Cotulla, and Inspectors
Robert Rumsey, Jr. and John C. Chamberlain.
CONTENTS FOR MAY, 1917.
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1480
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BULLETIN —n
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vou. XX
MAY, 1917
NumBer 3
WHITE PATCH
(The Biography of an Elk.)
By S. N. Leek.
E WAS born on Slate Creek near Mount
Lydia in Jackson’s Hole very early in
the morning of May thirtieth, a small,
weak and helpless body mounted upon long, un-
gainly legs. He made several ineffectual at-
tempts to get up, but was forced to lie still and
rest. After several more attempts he succeed-
ed, but with legs spread far apart. In attempt-
ing to take a step, he fell to the ground. Sey-
eral times he tried before he successfully stood.
He braced himself for a few minutes, then took
several wabbly steps, and again fell. He then
lay still for some time.
In the meantime the sun appeared over the
eastern hills, and its warmth revived the fawn.
After a few attempts, he got to his feet, and the
cow elk stood by his side and let him lean
against her body. He tried a few, feeble steps
and a short time later he took a little breakfast.
This gave him renewed strength, and he was
able to wallx some little distance in a hesitating,
wabbly way, finally to fall over a log, where
he lay utterly tired out. The cow lay down by
him for a few minutes, then got up and went to
a spring not far away, for a drink. As soon
as the cow had gone, a coyote appeared to
search for the fawn that instinct told her was
not far away.
White Patch (for, henceforth, that is to be
his name), lay near the prostrate tree, his white
spots blending with the spots of sunlight that
filtered through the foliage above. The brick-
red color of his blend with the dry pine needles
and grass carpet made his outline hard to dis-
cern, even by a practiced eye.
lay outstretched not a movement could be ob-
served. Suddenly he heard a slight rustling
As White Patch.
of the grass, and then the coyote stepped upon
a fallen tree scarcely ten feet away, and looked
about. Her sensitive nostrils sniffed the warm,
damp air, and her ears were alert for the least
sound. Although she was on a hunt for food
for a hungry family, even with three senses
alert she failed to locate the helpless fawn, and
finally passed on.
Soon the cow elk returned from the spring
and coaxed White Patch to his feet. He again
nursed, and as his mother fed on the tender
grass, he followed, gaining strength each min-
ute. ‘The next day when his mother went to
the spring White Patch went with her. He
could now walk about without staggering, and
could even run a short distance in awkward
play.
For a week they remained in this quiet re-
treat. Once more during that time White Patch
saw the skulking coyote, but now he was strong
and swift, and his mother was near, so he felt
no fear.
One afternoon as the shadows of the trees
began to lengthen on the ground, the cow elk
started off into the dark woods, and White
Patch followed after. The plain, well beaten
path led them among prostrate logs and great
trees. As they were passing beneath a large
tree he noticed a strange smell. Among the
branches overhead there was a slight movement
and a great animal sprang toward him. He
leaped nimbly to one side, and ran with all his
might. Long he ran, without trail or sense of
direction.
Finally he saw many animals like his mother
that allowed him to approach, but did not ca-
ress him as his mother did. He felt very lonely
1481
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
WHITE PATCH LAY CLOSE TO A FALLEN TREE
and hungry. He called and called for his mo-
ther, but she failed to appear. He feared to
hunt for her in the great forest where he had
seen the strange animal. It soon grew dark
and the weird noises of the coyote’s mournful
call frightened him very much.
Then, away off in the dark woods he heard
a mother’s voice calling her lost child,—it was
his mother’s voice calling to him. He answered,
as loud as he could, and when at last she ap-
peared in the opening, he ran to her. She had
given him up as lost, but her mother love urged
her to hunt and call. Her pleasure was great
as she caressed him.
No more they ventured into the thick wocds,
but remained with the herd. Nearby was an
alkali lick where they went nightly to sip the
brackish waters. White Patch had many com-
panions of his own age, and happy times they
had as they raced about among the herd. Often
he lost his mother, and called wildly until she
answered. Once he heard a booming sound not
far away, and they all ran through the woods
and over the hills, to get away from the terrible
sound. They ran for miles, and White Patch
saw one of his playmates washed away and
drowned in a swollen mountain stream. In the
mad rush White Patch lost his mother. Each
little spotted fawn soon found its parent, and
finally he heard her voice and went to her. But
until dark, and all that night at intervals, the
poor, distracted mother whose baby was
drowned in the river, called and called in vain.
As the weeks passed White Patch grew lusty
and strong. His spots had faded and gone, and
he could keep up with his mother in a race.
Her red coat had turned gray and he was be-
ginning to look like her. Although quite tall,
he was slenderly built, and his legs seemed very
long for his body.
One never-to-be-forgotten morning he heard
a shrill bugle-call that frightened him very
much. Again he heard the strange, thrilling
sound, and a great bull elk walked out of the
woods, and passed among the cows and calves.
He feared, yet he admired that huge creature
with those massive antlers. In the herd there
was none other so noble as this new-comer.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE FAWNS, UNABLE TO STAND THE RIGORS OF WINTER, DIED ONE BY ONE
The great head was held high, his antlers lay
along his back, and his shrill bugle-call rever-
berated over the mountain side.
Later on White Patch ceased to dread the
dark woods, and he became used to the bugle-
call. He learned that in mad flights from dan-
ger it sometimes served to keep the herd to-
gether:
One day the bugle-call from the herd of
White Patch was answered just as fiercely, and
another great antlered king walked from the
woods. ‘The challenge of the monarch of his
herd had been accepted. Warily the two bulls
appreached, for each knew the other’s prowess
and strength. Their horns met with a crash.
Back and forth through the herd they fought,
their sharp hoofs and great weight tearing up
the ground, while cows and calves quickly made
way for them. Gradually the new-comer was
pressed back. In vain he tried to gain the up-
per hillside. Suddenly he sprang away, wheeled
and ran, but not before a cruel thrust from one
of the tines of the victor had torn a deep fur-
row along his unguarded flank.
It was now early autumn, and from many di-
rections were heard strange booming sounds,
and frightened herds were seen madly fleeing
from one mountain to another. Very early one
morning that awful roar was heard close by,
and instantly it sent the whole herd flying in
wild panic for the green timber. At first White
Patch was so terror stricken that he could not
flee. Fear held him spell-bound. He had seen
the great antlered monarch of the herd stag-
ger, and fall with a crash. He saw two men
run from the wocds, rush up to the fallen king,
and clasp their hands over him in congratula-
tion! How different were the feelings of White
Patch, who, could he have spoken, would have
said:
“By what right do you enter God’s sanctuary.
and desecrate it by destroying one of His most
magnificent creatures?”
And yet, they were not altogether bad, or
they would have shot and killed the fawn which
stood within easy range. But now, awakened
from his trance, terror lent wings to the feet of
White Patch, and madly he fled to overtake the
herd. The next day the herd was joined by
another antlered elk,—the vanquished bull with
the wounded flank.
T1d4a GNV GHYADOVLS HOUVNOW CHUYAILNV LVAYS AHL
1484
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
1485
THAT SUMMER, WHITE PATCH ASCENDED TO THE SUMMITS OF THE MOUNTAINS
Soon after the first snow came, at first light
and feathery, and beautiful. White Patch and
his companions had great sport racing through
it. Later on the clouds became more dense, and
the snow storms increased until all the grass
was buried out of sight. Very soon the snow
was a foot deep. Up to that time the elk had
remained far back and high up in the moun-
tains, but now, under the wise leadership of
the mother of White Patch they began to de-
scend. In single file, they toiled downward,
through the glistening snow-field until they
passed below the snow, and again came to where
grass, only, covered the ground.
White Patch marvelled much as he looked
back from whence they had just come, and saw
all the mountain tops glistening white with
snow. As they continued to descend they fell
in with other elk, and their herd became many
times larger than when they were in the higher
country. In the greater company there was
much excitement and confusion. Many more
large bull elk had appeared and they were fight-
ing continually, their great horns rattling to-
gether at frequent intervals. Added to this,
was the incessant bugling, and the constant call-
ing of the cows and calves to locate each other.
Then more snow fell, piling up deeper in the
higher mountains and extending far down to the
valley, as the long lines of elk descended. More
ellk appeared and joined the moving masses un-
til they formed a tremendous crowd, all steadily
moving down to the lower country.
White Patch, in his dreams during the bright
sunshine of summer, had foreseen that they
must leave their beautiful summer home because
of intense cold and much suffering for food, and
now the snow and winter were upon them. The
male elk seemed to lose all interest in the herd
and went on ahead, as though they knew and
dreaded the high mountains in winter. Soon
the main bunches of elk overtook the males and
joined the great herd that were already scat-
tered over the wind-swept mountain slopes.
The cold was now intense; and in their search
for food they spread apart, breaking up into
small bands. With White Patch and his mother
there were scarcely twenty-five elk.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE ANTLERS, OF WHICH WHITE PATCH HAD BEEN SO PROUD, DROPPED OFF
During the day they rested, or roamed over
the wind-swept hills, and during the night they
descended to the creek bottoms among the wil-
lows. They could no longer get the alkali
salt to keep them healthy. Grass was scarce,
and hard to find. The willow twigs they ate
along the creek caused them to “‘lose their cud” ;
as the cattlemen say. The cows were no longer
able to nourish their calves, and White Patch
saw his late companions, one by one, grow thin
and weak, and succumb to hunger and the cruel,
winter weather. But his robust condition given
him by his prime-conditioned mother enabled
him to withstand the long winter, though only
a shadow of his former self.
As the snow began to go and he got a little
green grass, he gained in strength. When the
herd he was with got to the first alkali-lick on
the way to their summer home, he improved
very fast, and his old and faded winter coat
of hair began to fall off. But what concerned
him most, however, was the throbbing in his
head, where a small knot began to appear over
each eye. He remained with the herd, and as
spring advanced cows began to join, each with
a little spotted fawn as he remembered the com-
panions of his youth. And though they played
the same games and ran just as swift races, he
had no inclination to join them.
His old gray coat was all gone, he had a new
red suit, and his horns were growing a curving
spike with one point, each covered with short
red hair, and he was very proud and took good
care of them. His red coat began to turn a light
cream trimmed with brown in the flanks, and
his “tusks” were grown to considerable size.
Again he heard the bugle-call, and a great
male elk joined the herd. This fellow White
Patch thought very cruel. Several times he
barely escaped being gored by him, and he was
not sorry when, a few days later, another bugle
was heard and another antlered king came from
the woods. The new-comer advanced and of-
fered to give battle, but the cruel male was a
coward, and seeming to see the battle going the
wrong way he discreetly withdrew.
One day when all seemed peace and content-
ment, and the elk were lying in the green tim-
ber, busily chewing their cud, like a lightning
bolt from a clear sky, four gray animals sprang
among them. In a moment all was consterna-
tion and flight. As if by prearranged plan, the
gray intruders fell upon a yearling female and
quickly pulled her to the ground. Thus was
one of the few remaining young companions of
White Patch snatched away. The gray wolves
had taken toll from the herd.
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY BULLETIN
JUST BEFORE SUNSET THE GREAT ELK AND HIS HERD APPEARED ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
The early snows again drove the elk down
from the high mountains, and now White Patch
had to look out for himself. Early in the win-
ter he had shed the two middle incisor teeth
from his lower jaw in the front, and with no
front teeth on the upper jaw, he was in a poor
way for rustling.
When the snow got so deep that it covered
all the grass, and he had to depend solely on
willow browse, he grew very thin, and spring
found him emaciated and weak. Among the
cliffs on the hillside, he hunted out and cropped
the earliest green grass, and this gave him
strength. Then the horns of which he had been
so proud, dropped off. He soon fell in with a
few more about his age, and together they went
back toward the summer range. They visited
all the salt licks as they came to them, and this,
with spring grass, gave them health and vigor.
The new horns of White Patch grew rapidly
and in place of one plain spike, each horn de-
veloped four points. In the fall, when the vel-
vet began to loosen and hang in long strips, he
worked diligently, rubbing the horns in the.
brush to get the velvet loose and to polish them.
He felt very proud of his new horns, and felt
anxious to show them to the other elk. Boldly
he walked toward the herd, until he saw a great
pair of towering antlers coming toward him.
He faltered, then turned to flee, he was almost
too late, for those great horns nearly reached
his flank. At another herd he got the same kind
of a reception from the leader, and he felt him-
self an outcast; doomed to wander alone.
With his late companions who had been no
more successful than himself in joining the
herds, he wandered about the summer range
until the snow began to fall. They were then
strong and rugged, and went farther back in
the mountains. With his strong hoofs White
Patch pawed away twelve inches of snow in
the mountain parks, down to the rich grass
beneath.
Occasionally he heard rumblings on the steep
mountain sides as the great weight of the upper
layers of snow crashed in avalanches through
to the bottom. He paid no attention to this
till one day, as the snow settled, he heard a
great roar on the mountain side above him. His
wild instinct told him of great danger, and he
sprang forward and ran with all his might.
A great mass of snow, filled with shattered trees
1488
and rocks, rushed toward him. The mighty
mass swept past him, and he looked about for
his late companions. Only eight were in sight.
Seven had been carried away by the avalanche,
and now were buried beneath hundreds of feet
of snow and ground-up trees in the gulch below.
Early in the spring they started for the sum-
mer range; wading the great snow drifts, to get
to the alkali salt. In March, White Patch lost
one horn by the regular shedding process, and
he caught the other in the sage brush and pulled
it off. This summer White Patch and his few
remaining companions went higher in the moun-
tains, almost to their summits, where the snow
drifts lay on the ground nearly all summer.
Here they spent an inactive summer. They ate
the rich grass, drank the pure, sparkling water,
and made regular trips to the lick. His new
horns had commenced to grow and they were
now much heavier. There were five points on
each. His body was filling out, and he was get-
ting much stronger, and his tusks were nearly
mature.
During the early fall, White Patch heard
again that terrible booming sound which every
elk fears and dreads. It was repeated; and
two of his companions fell. In his mad rush
from the place, White Patch got separated from
his companions and wandered alone for days.
White Patch spent the winter in the snow;
and in the spring his old horns fell off and new
ones came. This time there came a pair of six
points, and they were also massive, and heavy.
With them he went forth in the early fall, no
longer a stripling.
When he joined the herd he was met by an-
other bull elk, seemingly his equal. After a
fierce struggle, he conquered his adversary and
drove him off into the woods with a terrible
wound in his side. For the remainder of the
season he was supreme. He kept all other
males from his herd and when a cow started to
wander away he promptly and firmly herded
her back.
White Patch spent the next winter near his
old place in the canyon, at the head of the lower
valley, where the grass grew rank on the north
slope. Here, by pawing the snow down hill, it
was easy to uncover grass and eat his fill. In
the spring, when his old horns fell off his new
horns had seven points each. They were mas-
sive, of great length, and spread widely, such
as now are rarely seen; and when he joined the
herd in the fall his great size and grand wea-
pons commanded respect. He had no battles to
fight. All made way before him.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
At a certain camp-fire one night late in Sep-
tember, a guide remarked: “I saw old Broad-
Horn and his bunch again today. They are up
on Bike Mountain.”
“Is he really as big as you say?” queried one
of the sportsmen.
“Big!” exclaimed the guide, “He’s a mon-
ster! His horns have seven points on each side,
and the spread will measure fully 65 inches.”
ce . . . 9?
Tomorrow morning we will go for him,
said the sportsman.
The next morning as the sun rose over the
eastern hills, the hunters reached the top of
Bike Mountain. It was a large table-land, with
pine and spruce timber in varying stages of
maturity. As the sun rose, they heard old
Broad-Horn bugle. There was no mistaking
that harsh, gruff voice.
The hunters saw a swaying tree, and so lo-
cated the great elk, in the act of polishing his
horns.
“Bang! bang! bang!” went the high powered
rifle.
At one of the reports the big bull was seen
to stagger, but on his trail no blood could be
found. In fact, the bullet had gone through one
horn, cutting a clean hole at the entrance, and
knocking out a big piece.
Several days later, on the north slope of Mt.
Lydia, that elk bunch was again seen by the
same guide, who had trailed it the entire dis-
tance. Camp was moved nearby, and just be-
fore sunset the great elk and his herd appeared
on the mountain-side above. It was in an
easy place to approach, and it looked bad for
old Broad-Horn; but just at that moment a
snow squall came up, and behind the thick cur-
tain of the storm the big bull again escaped.
That night his bunch of elk descended the
mountain below the snow, and there was no trail
to follow.
That winter was very severe on the elk in
Jackson’s Hole. A snow storm of considerable
depth, followed by rain, locked the elk’s winter
range beneath a coating of ice. Sufficient hay
could not be procured to feed the starving ani-
mals, and the loss and suffering among them
was fearful. This unusual condition drove the
big bull from his favorite canyon into the feed-
yard with the other elk.
Old Broad-Horn was king of the feed-yard,
as he was monarch of the woods and mountains.
He feared nothing but the author of that ter-
rible booming sound, and he could not help but
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
flee whenever he heard it. Once it had killed
his ideal of an elk, once it had killed two of his
companions at his side, and near the base of
one of his horns was the hole made by the bul-
lets that had sought his life.
This made him very shy and wary, and
though he was often seen for several hunting
seasons, no hunter succeeded in laying him low.
The experiences set forth above are such as
happen to every perfect male elk that reaches
full maturity. It shows the dangers that beset
them on every side, and the gauntlets they must
run for existence.
Through it all the plan of nature is plain:
First, the males will not breed till the new
horns are fully matured. This causes the calves
to be born about June first. One month earlier,
the calves would perish during the cold spring
storms; and one month later, the calves would
succumb the following winter, because they
would be too immature to stand both the sever-
ity of the weather and the shortage of food.
Naturally the strongest, most robust males keep
the decrepit bulls and the immature males from
the herd during the mating season.
The physically weak and imperfect animals
are culled out by the rigors of winter, and thus
the deteriorations of the herd is prevented. The
young and helpless fawns are endowed with
protective coloring to blend with their surround-
ings, and born without scent, to save them from
predatory animals.
Bonding Company Pays.—The members ot
the Society will recall, no doubt, the serious
damage by water to the walls of the Elephant
House through the faulty construction of the
roof, shortly after the building was completed.
It was found necessary to replace the flat,
tarred roofs entirely, and to remove over one-
half of the tiles from the main building, tar that
portion and lay the tiles again, at a cost to the
City of $2,250 which was paid for by a special
appropriation. It is interesting to note that the
City at last has received this sum from the
Surety Company that was on the bond of the
contractor.
This is the only instance within our knowl-
edge wherein a bonding company or bondsman
has made good to the city a loss incurred
through imperfect work on the part of a con-
tractor.
Crossbreeding American Bison in Sweden.—
The Director of the Government Museums Eth-
nographic Department, Professor C. V. Hart-
1489
men, has secured from Germany, for the Muse-
um, a herd of nine American Bison, recently
landed in Stockholm.
Experiments are to be made in crossing them
with native cattle so as to create a hybrid form,
valuable for draught purposes and as_ beef
cattle.
The herd has, during the period of one
month, been housed in a suitable spot near
“Hassel backen” assigned by the Government;
thence, in the spring to be conveyed to a wooded
island off the coast, rich in hill and meadow
land and well inclosed by stout fencing.
This place has been allotted to the herd by a
prominent personage belonging to Sweden’s
castled gentry.—Swedish Nordstjernan, New
York. Translated by Palmyre de C. Mitchell.
Wanted! An Automobile—For the use of
the Zoological Society in the Zoological Park,
a medium sized five or seven passenger open
touring car is much needed. The Society’s car-
riage horse is no longer living, and it is not ad-
visable that the former arrangement of horse-
and-coupe shall be continued.
On account of its many obligations and ex-
penditures, the Society cannot be asked to pur-
chase an automobile of a size and kind suitable
for the needs of the Park. The fund once avail-
able has been spent in arousing and equipping
Company A of the Zoological Park Guards.
In this extremity, the very least that we can
do—and possibly the most, also,—is to inform
the members of the Society of the existing
need, in the hope that some good friend will dis-
cover himself, or herself, in possession of a
“used” Cadillac, a Studebaker, a Hudson, a
Reo, or some car of similar size and cost, which
could without too great a sacrifice be bestowed
upon the Society.
A large and heavy car would not be quite the
thing for our needs; because we are forced to
practise economy in the cost of maintenance.
Weeeelva Ele
WAR STOPS TROPICAL STATION WORK
The work of the Tropical Research Station
will be abandoned temporarily.
Because of the uncertainty of maritime travel,
the Society does not deem it wise to risk the
lives of any of the men necessary to the con-
tinuance in the wilderness of the Station duties.
Funds are available, and at the first oppor-
tunity the activities of the Tropical Laboratory
1490
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Bepartments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. Hornapay. C. H. TownseEnpD.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE. Raymonp L. Dirmars.
LEE S. CRANDALL.
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1917, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELwin R. Sanporn,
Editor and Official Photographer
Vou. XX, No. 3 INOENC., IG ey
will be resumed. Subscribers to the fund for
this work are as follows:
Mortimerpies,Schittes= se 5s = $1,000
Cleveland@h Dodve == 1,000
Cap WedijardeB aires oes ee 1,000
FAURE War CALM CCl Crm e ma eee 1,000
Geaoncemda7 Golde 1,000
Dio baleieesentree net amelie $5,000
ANIMAL FUND SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Board of Managers of the Society have
donated the following sums for the purchase of
animals:
i koreinmonvere Je SON se ee $1,000.00
Eredericke Grab Ourne pene ree 1,000.00
Obert Sse brewster: <-ssse center meen 1,000.00
eRe: ess MEVANe yo a at Se mareere sa 0 1,000.00
evenmyg Vice ui tongs pct ot ete ee one 1,000.00
Georger ie ake. nea ee ee 1,000.00
Weispenarde Stewart jest eee 500.00
diwandiSs, scliemikaes senses eeeete co ee 500.00
inlay (Cenaneei@- le sa a 500.00
A\- Jelena JS Weyol Owe ee 500.00
Charles hs Dieterich. 2) see 300.00
Georsen@s Clarks] SPER AE Saloec tiene a 250.00
$8,550.00
In response to a letter to the members of
the Society, the following amounts were sub-
scribed to the same fund:
Jina Mion garantie ein See eee 250.00
Th ouis sie Ouray tema uae renee stare 200.00
New bold hiding mes ateamenas meemnennine 100.00
Jz Santordse ares ee ee eee eee 100.00
William Ace DnB coisa eee 100.00
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Muss Katharine DirBoist2 ee 100.00
SHH GAOL Lees, PASTE OE coer tees ctedencym bier 100.00
James pO one lacie: ee eee eran 100.00
Nii; Sea Gre or Sem Vemdlibiatc hier, eee 100.00
Mircea Wane GaNicliol guess >. ae enn 50.00
aliases Wola AUS ING | epee et eect 50.00
Georce se Gould eee ene 25.00
Eranizpibio lini ett ct ee eae 25.00
1 (a liber Dip = ea nc pe es ce ean om eh 25.00
Rachar diving Eo ewes. teem cone enne 25.00
ChanlesmWalsie rsa te eae neat 25.00
WSSP SV lili a. 3.00) 4s: 2a cae ene ree ane 25.00
Oscar Diresslem = 5. eS 20.00
Mrs. Catherine D. Vernon ......................... 15.00
Marsh. Po aR ayaie se oe eee 15.00
Wowitses Flan ee se ee eer ee en 15.00
Wimls ei Roclkewood = sre as mes 10.00
elise Bye iseaiyornn Onl Pee pee oe eee 10.00
Cale C arp emit emirates sek oe eesti eat eae 10.00
Manele lentclxenus eee 10.60
Miitiss mannan layers laisse eee ee 10.00
IOI Sia! SOOO Oo eee eu 10.00
James WAew LO Coe ee eee 10.00
Ered iSauten unseen e 2G tes Reece ee 10.00
Eleniys Mehl O ies 2. os ek ee oe oe 10.00
dwardel Parkers sss Soe ee 2s 10.00
Georgegil ea entissee. see eee 10.00
Molara, JES IO)5 1BeNSON a 5.00
Berd JOCtIN Ge ries sm el eet nee oes 5.00
[One Vaile aAcChkSOns steer een eee 5.00
Miss Marion Scofield 22a ~ 5.00
WPojball’ 402 Raa eS Goi 5s ee see oe ae $1,595.00
Miamiato ens ae sees Gr Gi ots view Re ores 8,550.00
$10,145.00
The Society will require about $4,000 addi-
tional for the purchase of animals during the
current year.
THE SALARY BONUS FUND
By W. T. Hornapay.
Every year, for the past fifteen years at
least, we have labored with the Board of Esti-
mate and Apportionment to secure for our low-
salaried employees all the pay increases that
there seemed to be the faintest hope of obtain-
ing. Each year a very small number of trifling
increases have been secured, but the annual
total has been painfully small.
It is worthy of remark that with the sole ex-
ception of the Assistant Curator of Birds, more
years than we can accurately remember have
elapsed since the pay of any staff officer of the
Park has been augmented.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Late in the year 1916, it was reliably re-
ported that the Mayor, the Board of Estimate
and the Board of Aldermen proposed to in-
crease the salaries of all city employees re-
ceiving less than $1,200 per year to the extent
of ten per cent. Without a moment’s loss of
time we entered an urgent claim that in that
wholesale increase the employees of the Zoolog-
ical Park should participate. ‘The needs and
the claims of our 154 men and women, who came
within the twelve hundred dollar limit, were set
forth in the strongest terms to the Mayor, the
Comptroller and others.
Finally, it came to pass that the Board of Es-
timate and the Board of Aldermen really did in-
crease by ten per cent the pay of 18,448 city
employees; but our own force was penalized
by being left out in the cold.
That such a force should be so treated was
not only disheartening, but positively demoral-
izing. ‘The situation as it stood meant for the
families of scores of our men actual privations
by deprivation of such prime necessaries of life
as food, clothing and medicine.
In this emergency, an appeal was made to the
Board of Managers of the Zoological Society,
for a subscription fund of $11,600 with which
to give to each Park employee, during the year
1917 only, a monthly gift or bonus in cash
amounting to ten per cent. on all salaries under
$1,300 per year. It was stipulated that if done,
this action would carry no promise for any fu-
ture year, for the simple reason that the Society
could not be expected to repeat this effort.
The response of the Board of Managers was
prompt and generous. At the annual meeting of
the Board, this matter was given first consider-
ation, as being the most important business.
The sum required was subscribed by the Man-
agers named in the following list:
Emerson McMillin (20%) ........... $2,280
i diwardaioem llaxkniessi essen 2,000
Cleveland EleeD odveie se eae 1,500
Mortimer 1. Schitt) (10%) 2. 1,140
Wm. Pierson Hamilton 0. 1,000
CRU C OniViers ego een esc Melua 1,000
Jayna bRENGY (CAMA ENS: cel charmer crrencscrceh hearer 1,000
Ocenia Minch a eens ese see Caen eee 1,000
Giraiiaites ses S.ClNG Ny ge ere ee mee es
$11,420
The first payment from this fund, for the
month of January, was made on the pay-day of
February 2; and never was a systematic gift
toward the cost of living more gratefully and
thankfully received.
beneficiaries, the staff officers of the Park are
In addition to the direct:
1491
profoundly grateful, first because of the relief
to the families of the men, and also because it
saved the morale of the force from a crushing
blow.
There are reasons for the hope that for the
future the city will grant to our men an in-
crease similar to that bestowed upon the fortu-
nate 18,448 last December.
DEFENSE MEASURES AT THE
ZOOLOGICAL PARK.
WAR with a great nation always is a leap
in the dark. No one can say to what it
will lead, or the total extent of its effects.
Realizing that the Zoological Park now must
be placed on a footing of self defense against
all internal disorders, and also realizing the
duty of every citizen to do his bit, the Zoological
Park force has made a beginning in taking up
the general burden of civilization.
The first step was to erect two tall flag poles,
one at the north end of Baird Court fifty-five
feet high, another on Rockingstone Hill forty-
five feet high. On Saturday, March 31, at 4
oclock, on a fine afternoon, the flag on Baird
Court was raised, with an appropriate cere-
mony. The occasion was improved by the Boy
Scouts of the Bronx for a general mobilization,
and the Boys turned out in battalion formation,
900 strong, with their fife, drum and bugle
corps, company colors and a Red Cross field
unit of five tents.
The Band of the Catholic Protectory, at Van
Nest, rendered valuable co-operation through-
out, and played the patriotic airs very accept-
ably.
A patriotic and inspiring address was de-
livered by Hon. Douglas Mathewson, Borough
President, which was followed by an address
from Dr. Hornaday.
Having been asked by the Bronx Branch of
the American Red Cross to aid the work of that
organization, the Park officers, with the ap-
proval of the Zoological Society and the Mayor,
erected a raised floor in the north half of the
Lion House, ninety feet long and twelve feet
wide, to be occupied as a “Zoological Park
Working Base.” Sixteen sewing machines were
installed, and a suitable outfit of worl tables.
The officers of the Park formed a Zoological
Park Defense Committee, and at once set out
to raise funds by subscription, to finance all the
Red Cross work done in the Park. In view of
the great quantity of materials required, es-
pecially in woolen cloth, this is no trifling mat-
1492
ter. At least $5,000 will be required, and that
sum must be raised. Subscriptions are urgently
invited; and checks may be sent to William I.
Mitchell, Treasurer, Zoological Park. Thus far
the subscription list stands as follows:
William Pierson Hamilton 0.
Five Friends of Mr. Hamilton 250.00
Nally les tellormeadays 2 eee eee 100.00
Cleveland eit Dod ge os eee 100.00
cispenardm@stewanrk =e sue ee 100.00
Brenig bur wish. 1.) nace eee 100.00
Miortiment is Schitis. - a. oe seen 100.00
Kredenick Go ourmes 2 ees 50.00
eeaR eS Nii tele lilt cote aren enn enact aeons 50.00
Geoy Noo Remhardt. . Sand 4,each.. | -40 Fe -60 (By mail, postage 3 cents extra.)
5 5 a5 «15 1.00 ‘ 5 Seen
oe 06 al REIL ae ea a 1.00 oo 1.25 Animals in Art Stamps: Album of 82 Pages, providing
0 cc SQ est OMe se 1.25 ss 1.50 space for mounting 120 art stamps in four colors
2G of “ 11, 12, 18, 14, 15. made from selected photographs of animals taken
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, each....... oa 1.00 ot 1.25 in the Zoological ee complete will stamps ae ‘ Bae AEE:
Our Vanishing Wild Life (Horna- FE ee ae ore eee
day) postpaid... sorte estes 1.65 Wild Animal Stamp Primer: 96 page cloth bound book
Destruction of Our Birds and Mam- és containing 49 animal stories, illustrated by 50 four-
mals (Hornaday)............. 15 color stamp reproductions....... fe rode eeateoaeteye ate taoes .85
Notes on ee ee of North (By mail 7 cents extra)
America (Hornaday).......... 40 a : : :
: “ Photogravures: Series of 12 subjects in sepia. Animals
The Caribou (Grant)............ a flu and views in the Zoological Park. Sold in sets
The Cnet and Hele tionsiip me the of 2 subjects. Per set, postpaid................. 25
Lar, ammals o or mer- :
a *(Grant) Ye Se a Ramee Maen en oe 1.00 SOC ene ig Bam A combined fan and map of the
A F o OOlOLICRI MP ATK aie shea etsicheqetencn ae aie toe eee 10
The Rocky Mountain Goat (Grant) 1,00 (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
doolonice Wiel 2, NOs tM nelusixe; or 2.80 Panorama of the Zoological Park: Reproduced in colors
perce srias Wings cebeea teamicdnas ot aya ot ee 3 from an original drawing in perspective. Sold
Zoologica Vol. 1. Nos. 12,18 and14. +25 filatrorninetoldenstonnce rnin mens een 10
“ poe NSE fe patina ne men “s a (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
“ Mtn Let amet ae oUt hast 95 Enlargements: ee X14 inches. 12 subjects in black and
as gS Sine ara SSS SE Ry ah Cae ast ae 30 Whe rea estar tr 2 one ea lceeseteuatee meen enere cole caeoaa hate tans 25
oo MERA nee Uenatonccenecese oe os 95 IDIOMA, IK PIGEONS nbn Sc ona seGmeeemeG one 35
me erst JE Ft mate) (ener mene *s 25 Hand Colored (10 Subjects), each................ 15
: irate Ate ea set eie z 2 Photo-Letter: (folding) 18 pictures, photograyure... 2 for .10
“ Used Care ereqaile eames ee aH “ 5 7h i. sf Rees As @OlOYS iniviex esate 2for .10
Pepe ies elem it aey, aie 8 25
Zoopathologica Vol. I. No.1...... i 25 ner Mork Aquarium Nature Series ¢
ine cf We Bbrowares i 25 Seay Shorevunfe (Mayer) in cas. cictete oan te arebeed eke cueratanas oes 1.20
Bulletin Nos. 1, 6, 8, 35, 48 and 46... Out of Print | Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds (Townsend)............ .20
letins—Bi thl 9 Weaveatiek ‘1 1.00 | Chameleons of the Sea (Townsend) -15
Bulletins—Bi-mon v Bes sin oe 0c. each; Yearly by mail 1. Northern Elephant Seal (Townsend) 95
Bulletin Nos. 5 to 28 inclusive, set, cloth bound,........ 5.00 | Care of Home Aquaria (Osburn)...............2.+-08- 125
sf “24 to 60 POT ce een fee Metre EN Mane: tga es 10.00 Porpoise in Captivity Gtovensend) fe Gi oe : Sto ere moerener ae 25
Official Guide to the New York Natural History of the Whale Shark (Gudger).......... -30
qaclenieal Parke (Ord Gay) caiciecenes emeiakpenievevacs aciie .25 | The Gafi-Topsail Catfish (Gudger)..... Nace doieleteh ket een eaesanst .30
Souvenir Postal Cards: Series of 75 subjects in colors, Inmates of the Aquarium (a book of views)............ 25
sold in sets of 25 cards, assorted subjects......... 25 i Toa
(By mail, postage 2 cents per set extra.) Aquarium Post Cards: Colored. In sets, each.... ea 5O5
Publications for sale at 111 Broadway, Zoological Park and the New York Aquarium.
New York Zoological Society
GeneRAL Orricr, 111 Broadway, New York Ciry.
President
Henry Farrrirtp Osporn.
Hirst Vice-President
Mapison GRANT.
Second Vice-President
Frank K. Srureis.
Asst. Greasurer
Tut Farmers’ Loan anp Trust Co.
Oreasurer
Percy R. Pyne, 20 Exchange Place.
Secretary
Mapison GRANT.
Executive Committee
Wm. Pierson Hamitton,
Frank K. Srurais,
LisPENARD STEWART,
Watson B. DickermMan,
Antuony R. Kuser,
Hanry Farrrintp Oszorn, ex-officio
Mapison Grant, Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
Witiiam Wuite NILes,
Board of Managers
£x offcin: The Mayor and The Presipenr Department of Parks, City of New York.
Levi P. Morton,
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
Mapison GRANT,
Witiram Wuirer NILEs,
Percy R. Pyne,
Georce Birp GRINNELL,
GrorGcE C. Criark,
CieveLtanp H. Dones,
Henry FarrrieLtp Osporn,
*Wirttiam C. CuurcH,
LIisPENARD STEWART,
Cuartes F. Dietericyu,
Wittram T. Hornapay, Director Zoological
Glass of 1918
Henry A. C. Taytor,
Frank K. Srureis,
GerorGeE J. GouLp,
Ocpen Mitts,
Glass of 1919
C. Lepyarp Brair,
Freperick Ginpert Bourne,
Wm. Austin Wapswortu,
Emerson McMituin,
Glass of 1920
Georce F. Baker,
Grant B. Scutey,
Wo. Prerson Hamitton,
Rosgert S. Brewster,
General Officers
Lewis Ruruerrorp Morris,
ArcHrEeR M. Huntineton,
Henry M. Trvrorp,
E. C. Converse,
ANTHONY R. Kuser,
Watson B. Dickerman,
Mortimer L. Scuirr,
Freperic C. Watcorr,
Epwarp S. Harkness,
Witiiam B. Oscoop FIeLp,
A. Barton Hepspurn, ~—
Witi1am Woopwarp.
Park.
Cuartes H. Townsenn, Director, New York Aquarium.
C. Grant La Fareer, Architect.
R. L. Cerero, Bursar.
H. Dr B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. Grorce S. Huntineron, Prosector.
Officers of the Zoological Park
Witiram T. Hornapay, Director.
H. W. Merket, Chief Forester.
W. Reiw Brat, Veterinarian.
H. R. Mircue tz, Chief Clerk.
Raymonpv L. Ditmars, Curator, Reptiles.
WituiaM Berse, Curator, Birds. G. M. Bresrsower, Engineer.
L. S. Cranpatu, Asst. Curator, Birds. WitiiamM Mitrcwrery, Cashier.
Exwin R. Sansporn, Photographer and Editor.
Officers of the Aquarium
Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director.
Wasuincton I. DeNysz, Assistant. Rosert Sutcuirre, Clerk.
Louis L. Mowsray, Assistant. Ipa M. Metten, Secretary.
GrorGe A. MacCatuium, Pathologist.
* Deceased.
BAO Ow O- GAG Ate 3s OC LEAN BULL he se
CONTENTS °
SEPTEMBER, 1917 = ee
PAGE
IRANI PAUN DNA OWEN; Pree tert, pA ee tene ed te nea DERI ee UN a ee, ee. AS OE a Frontispiece
Oi Evie Leann ayeioee: See een aetna Bee ee ee Lee S. Crandall 1521
IDaras,; Teena WY louise cs, (Ocenia eee ee area ee Illustration 1522
LOR TION MO EI HNO EeE © Cig ee: Sak ale Way te EY Sea AWARE ys 8 SelM EA a aie Illustration 1523
SIAN IN Wem V UO G NEON WEI ein a eee ee PEN een Reet ICO ae See el Cee ee Illustration 1524
SSEINEDE AUC IMIV ACTED ip Gri Sogo corel res Pence ne eg ee olen eee Ph ee eee Illustration 1525
PANUWISAIVRYAIE TAGNTn Ess TERI) a © OMTUiUAE TNT ON aes meee mae se eee ieee ee ke ele Lee S. Crandall 1525
OP AS ref Crp SON ENG eva ane oe in eae air alias ate Celt Mclean et Bea es oa, an 8 a te Illustration 1526
ANRABIRANTETUART. IMAI (CO sea U NOTATIONS ce ee ee etn cee a lee R. LE. Ditmars 1527
ZS OF OG TOINE pally ARKO NGOSISE'S|y rel wate ede er alee wl ant SNE LR LEO ies MN ee a R. L. Ditmars 1528
IFUTeN GM W AUTRE oe VVEANIGTNAVES 1) See nae Unser nat Uy SBA ev eh 2 ee aed Illustration 1529
REE OWS SIS HN NEDA FASE AB DE Ge eet ere ot ear Ie Wa) ee eee ee Illustration 15380
\Wrosie Avronsyantervaneiney DRNa VRS CUNO) eccepeecdentnscet ech enceaeete eee le cg tet ceeten ete fllustration 1581
NO OMAR DE sIGAINIGIANR OO!) he Oe an Maho aed Pent near atl, tin Cory eM te Ate, eae Se Illustration 1531
RUST MWAUIA DERN AUNT. AUB Ven eee tet ree Fhe eT el eas a ee eee Illustration 1582
SUELO Roos ANCI HID RAN\ MAUI LAU Vapreen nts oe ieritIin Se ren bd) i Dual od ec ee ee een eee Illustration 1533
IB IGAUC Kee ACRE ICAUN GIA OOM ee a cae steele ee oe A Win Je RN ee! eh ie Illustration 1588
(GARIACN IED AEN AWEAUNTIID VCO WANT Getler Aer re 0s as OR eee nea he oe Illustration 1584
FESTA BEAUNITD BAY COILING Bete PA int eee eae ake Oy Sm al Nee VIE ore ieee he Illustration 1586
(SBIASG a CUE GATE IIN ACH DN DN ak aan ie EAL 9 ae IE eer Oo BRC Soe ener wotehe ane Oh Illustration 15387
SOE. ARR C Atta) SIRTC Elcwme ew vee eeae sec Ne TN AE LN ie ee ee Illustration 1588
Cover
‘ladaay oY} Aq [[@YS OY} WI, paswa[ot SYM PIG JSO[[VUIS OYJ, “Plo syaom
ONNOA AONV OWE YIVN LINGV
dail} JNogeE a1¥ Syolt[o oy,
1520
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vou. XX.
SEPTEMBER, 1917
NuMBER 5
OUR EMU FAMILY
By Lee S. Cranpatv.
HEN our devoted male emu first became
a father, his inexperience in rearing emus
was equalled by our own. Young
parents are proverbially foolish, and when a
mother with advanced ideas refuses to accept
the responsibility of caring for her offspring,
a domestic calamity threatens.
But feminine slackers are quite the usual
thing in emu families. Ages before the first
lady of our own race conceived the idea that
she was much too busy to be bothered with the
care of babies, Mrs. Emu had turned over to
her mate the drudgery of the nursery. She
felt that the production of eight or nine deli-
cately-tinted green eggs, artistically etched over
with a darker shade, was burden enough for
one who wished to be more than a mere house-
hold slave.
In Australia, emus at liberty breed from
April to November. Just why our birds should
decide that, in New York, January offered the
most suitable conditions, still is a mystery. Ai
any rate, our first emu egg appeared on a frosty
morning early in 1915. Its advent caused little
excitement in the emu colony. The prospective
father appeared unsuspicious of impending
fate. The mother was indifferent concerning
the future. Their combined intelligences were
unequal to the task of protecting the egg from
frost, and instinct had had no experience with
such an emergency. The egg froze and burst.
Birds are actuated chiefly by instinct. Since
this influence, unaided, seemed insufficient to
cope with 10° Fahrenheit, reason, in the form
of a rounded stone coated with green paint,
1 In Australia the summer month of January is the equivalent of our July.
2 BULLETIN, Vol. XVIII, No. 5, September, 1915.
15
9
al
1
came to its assistance. The female emu was
persistently watched by her keepers and the in-
stant the next egg appeared, the stone was
substituted for it. Not that it really mattered,
for neither bird was at all interested.
By this means, six perfect eggs were accu-
mulated. When instinct suddenly convinced
the male that nothing could be more attractive
than reclining on a bed formed of three large,
hard stones, the six eggs were entrusted to his
care. As already recorded, after many difh-
culties, caused by the untried state of all the
principals, one baby bird was safely hatched
and finally reared.
After this successful experience, we all felt
that emu broods would become a matter of
yearly routine. But we had planned without
proper consideration of father-love. The emu
was fond of his chick. There could be no doubt
of that. So deep was the mutual attachment
that neither bird could endure life beyond the
sight of the other. As autumn approached, we
viewed the strength of this feeling with some
misgivings, for the period of courtship was ap-
proaching, and there was no indication that
filial affection would tolerate encroachment.
In November, it became evident that father
and son must be separated if the mother was
to be restored to her rightful position. The
chick, now well grown, was driven into an ad-
joining corral, separated by a wire fence. An
emu’s method of combatting material obstacles
is to kick, hard. A wire fence is a dangerous
antagonist, because it is too springy to be af-
fected by a blow, but is very likely to enmesh
M. G.
*plO SYUOUT daIl[y YNogV are spllq SUNOA OT,
ATINVA ONY ONIMOW WNO
1522
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 1523
A PORTION OF THE EMU FLOCK
The peaceful appearance of the Emus in the illustration is not a true index of their normal state.
the trip-hammer feet. The distress of both
birds took such a violent form that only a quick
reunion prevented damage to property and
limbs.
But, however distressing it might be, the fam-
ily bond had to be severed. After a struggle,
the young bird was seized and carried bodily
to a large stall inside the Yak Shelter. Here
were only smooth, discouraging walls to kick
against, and the prisoner soon became recon-
ciled.
In spite of our well-meant efforts, a connu-
bial reconciliation did not take place. The
male finally came to tolerate his erstwhile mate,
but that was all. Autumn chilled to winter,
and with the coming of spring, the young bird
emerged from his indoor imprisonment and re-
joined his parents. He was now nearly as large
as they, and distinguishable only by the prac-
ticed eye.
Early in the next winter, there were evi-
dences of renewed affection between the old
pair. In February, 1917, matters had so well
progressed that a frozen egg was found one
morning in a corner of the corral. Now came a
demonstration of the value of experience. A
stone egg was quickly produced and placed on
the floor of the indoor shelter. The bird
showed the deepest interest in the substituted
egg, and covered it carefully with straw and
debris, which was rearranged daily. The in-
difference of callow youth had been replaced
by the solicitude of maturity. Our emu had
become a professional father.
The female was, if possible, even more ir-
responsible than ever. Her eggs were deposit-
ed in every corner of the enclosure, at inter-
vals varying from four days to a week. Only
the vigilance of her keeper prevented the loss
of every one. As each egg was laid, a wooden
or stone imitation was placed in the shelter.
Here they were received, covered and duly
inspected in good faith by the male.
After six had accumulated, the bird became
broody and spent much of his time in sitting
about on the ground. He continued to look af-
ter the eggs, but made no effort to begin incu-
bation.
Twe vestibules lead to the inner room occu-
pied in winter by the emus. We had wished
the bird to make his nest in the smaller one,
for its dimensions were more suitable for ar-
ranging the nest. But the vagaries of instinct
again became evident. The bird refused to
brood there. A lovely nest of fresh, green sod.
occupied by five attractive dummy eggs, could
not lure him. He often peeked in at the door
of the proposed nursery, but although the eggs
had been there from the first, he now refused
to enter.
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“Aep oY} SULINp Job sureutat pu JIGVY Ul [VUINJOOU S14 ‘S[AVO OY} PUB SYMBYZYSIU oY} UoIMJoq YUL] SULQOUUOD BV SI PIG sulreodde-ppo sit,
HLONOWDOUN ANMV.L
1524
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 1525
SEMIPALMATED GEESE
The reduced webbed formation between the toes indicates an adaptation to terrestrial life.
This Goose is
becoming very rare in Australia; its native habitat.
Fearing that the fatherly impulse might pass,
we removed the nest from the first vestibule
to the one of the bird’s choice. It evidently
accorded with his notion, for he lost no time
in taking up his eight weeks’ vigil.
Three eggs, perhaps frosted, later had to be
removed, but eventually three beautifully-
striped chicks appeared. The third had dith-
culty in extricating itself, and was saved by
the efficiency of the keeper. The young birds
have grown beyond expectation, and are much
brighter and more active than the one of two
years ago. Perhaps it is not surprising, for
their father is now a model foster mother.
THE AUSTRALIAN BIRD COLLECTION.
By Lee S. Cranpatu.
HEN Ellis S. Joseph arrived from Aus-
tralia in November, 1916, with a largé
assortment of live birds and mammals,
we were quite amazed by their diversity. Our
enthusiasm served as a stimulus, and Mr. Jo-
seph was moved to assert that later on he would
show us something new and surprising. On July
7, 1917, he again reached New York, prepared
to make good his promise.
Two seventy-foot horse cars were required to
transport the huge collection from Victoria, B.
C., to New York. Cages of all shapes and
sizes were piled high, and even a hasty exam-
ination revealed many rarities not previously
imported. Mammals and reptiles were well
represented, but of birds there was a truly
amazing display. All were in excellent condi-
tion, Mr. Joseph being a much harassed, but
uncommonly efficient modern Noah.
An attempt to describe all of the birds of
the collection would involve a review of Aus-
tralian ornithology that would strain the capac-
ity of the Butitetrn. We must confine our-
selves to a notice of a few of the more striking
species.
From a zoological viewpoint, the two tawny
frogmouths, (Podargus strigoides) certainly are
1526 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
CAPE GANNET
Although birds of strong flight, none of the Gannets can rise from the ground. They are helpless on land
unless they can project themselves from some elevation.
the most important. To native Australians, the
bird is known as the “frog-mouthed owl,” a
term which, like many colloquial names, is sin-
gularly apt. The bird’s exact position in sys-
tematic zoology is still a matter of some doubt,
but by most authorities it is considered to be
related closely to the goatsuckers and the gua-
charo or oil-bird, and more distantly to the owls.
In appearance, the frogmouth is a huge night-
hawk, the cavernous gape being armed with a
strong, horny beak. Appetite and capacity are
well co-ordinated, for this weird creature is able
to bolt mice and sparrows in numbers that
would discourage any other bird of similar size.
Outside a few groups, white birds are scarce;
consequently, the white goshawk, (Leucospiza
novae-hollandiae), is of peculiar interest. Cer-
tain other accipitrine birds, such as some of the
gyrfaleons, are mainly white, but all carry
markings of one sort or another. The white
goshawk is truly white. The only bits of color
upon it are found in the yellow legs and black
beak, which serve to intensify the purity of the
bird’s plumage. cS
Such conspicuous coloration in a predaceous
bird, by warning intended victims of its ap-
proach, might be expected to interfere with its
success in life. But the great multitudes of
white cockatoos found in Australia make the
snowy coat of the goshawk an asset. Small
birds are said to view its approach with little
concern, doubtless mistaking the marauder for
a harmless cockatoo—an avian wolf in a sheep’s
skin of feathers.
Few white goshawks have been kept in cap-
tivity, and the species may rightly be consid-
ered one of the rarest of the birds of prey.
Australia abounds in brightly-colored parra-
keets, many of which are represented in our
collection. Probably the most brilliant of ali
is the red-capped or pileated parrakeet, (Pur-
pureicephalus pileatus). It is green above, with
red crown, greenish yellow cheeks and rump,
and violet breast. This splendid bird is becom-
—s
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 1527
ing rare and, Mr. Joseph says, ours is the only
specimen he has seen in fourteen years of active
collecting. He found the bird in a bushrang-
ers hut in the forests of the southwest. It
quickly changed hands for the modest sum of
five shillings, with “three bob for the cage.”
The histories of our birds, before they reach
us, if they could be wholly known, would re-
veal much of interest.
Among so many celebrities, the birds of para-
dise are still conspicuous. The arrival of our
first specimens, not many years ago, created a
sensation; but now we are seldom without at
least one species. Still, adult males in fuil
plumage remain the most wonderful of our
birds, and consequently the fine pair of Count
Raggis bird of paradise, (Paradisea raggi-
ana), are decidedly welcome. The male ap-
pears to have acquired the ornamental flank
plumes this year for the first time, so we may
look for a further increase of glory. It is sel-
dom that two birds of paradise will share a
cage, but these are as affectionate as love-birds.
Ordinarily, one thinks of pigeons as quiet
birds, occasionally possessing ornamental mark-
ings or appendages, but usually dull in general
color. This is quite true of most of the mem-
bers of the family Columbidae, which furnishes
the majority of the species commonly seen in
captivity. But there is another great group,
the Treronidae, or fruit pigeons, which rivais
the parrots in the brillianey of its greens, reds
and purples. The fruit pigeons, as a whole,
are not easily kept in captivity and, moreover,
are exceedingly rare, a combination which am-
ply explains the infrenquency with which they
are exhibited. Mr. Joseph has brought us two
beautiful species, the painted fruit pigeon, (Ptil-
opodiscus coronulatus), and the purple-crowned,
(Lamprotreron superba), the former from the
Aru Islands and New Guinea, the latter from
Australia. So far, they have belied their repu-
tation for delicacy, and now are in the best of
health.
THE AUSTRALIAN MAMMAL
COLLECTION.
By Raymonp L. Dirmars.
OR the second time since the annihilation
of the European animal market by the war,
we have received a large and varied con-
signment of mammals, birds and reptiles from
Australia, as well as a number of particularly
interesting South African species. This is the
second demonstration of the skill and perse-
verance of Mr. Ellis S. Joseph, of Sydney, Aus-
tralia, in successfully gathering and transport-
ing large collections of animals, and journeying
with them practically half way around the
world, during times when extraordinary ship-
ping difficulties are to be encountered.
Mr. Joseph's two trips have resulted in mak-
ing our collection of kangaroos and other Old
World marsupials probably the most extensive
ever exhibited in the United States. In fact
we are now exhibiting as many species of kan-
garoos as are listed in the Royal Zoological
Society's Gardens, at Victoria, Australia, where
all sources of supply are immediately available
for the gathering of kangaroos, and which main-
tains the best collection in the world.
In the imposing series of marsupials that
we are exhibiting, are forms that parallel in
development, size and appearance the repre-
sentatives of various widely different orders of
mammals. The strictly carnivorous and wolf-
_like thylacine is a striking example. It is the
largest of the carnivorous marsupials. Another
is the wombat, in form like a huge woodchuck,
but precisely like a rodent in habits. The phal-
angers are remarkably like lemurs in form, ac-
tions and habits, while the flying phalangers
in becoming adapted to long, scaling leaps, have
undergone development like the flying squirrels
and so closely resemble those types that an ex-
pert might be deceived upon a superficial exam-
ination of them.
A series of photographs is herewith presented
to show the striking forms of our new acces-
sions. This number of the Buttetin also con-
tains a descriptive article of the collection of
birds that were part of Mr. Joseph’s consign-
ment.
A number of the species in the latest aggre-
gation of Australian arrivals are new to our
collections. There are several species that have
never before been exhibited alive in the United
States. Among the kangaroos, the most remark-
able type is the West Australian rat kangaroo,
(Boettongia campestris). When sitting upright
this animal is only fourteen inches high. It is
particularly interesting and remarkable because
of the strange development of the tail. It is
one of the smaller types, in which the tail is
of no use as a support, as with the larger and
typical kangaroos. The appendage is of marked
importance, however, from two points of view.
The tail appears almost naked, much swollen,
corrugated, and apparently segmented into rings.
It is actually a reservoir for the storage of fatty
nourishment and enables the animal to pass
periods of several weeks within the burrow
without eating. After a period of such fasting,
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Departments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. Hornapay. C. H. TownsEND.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE.
LEE S. CRANDALL.
Raymonp L. Ditmars.
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1917, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELwin R. Sanzsorn,
Editor and Official Photographer
Vou. XX, No. 5 SEPTEMBER, 1917
the diameter- of the tail is so greatly reduced
by the absorption of fatty nourishment that the
appendage is of the normal size of other small
species of rat kangaroos that lack the charac-
teristic described. Four species of the genus
Boettongia are known, and all are remarkable
in another use of the tail, which is employed
for seizing and carrying grasses with which the
animal makes its nest. A hollow is scooped in
the ground, and the entrance being thus on a
level with the surrounding herbage, is closed
up with grass which the rat kangaroo drags af-
ter it. This skillfully designed lair is extremely
difficult to detect.
Another particularly interesting species is the
short-tailed wallaby, (Macropus brachyarus).
Here is another of the smaller species, in which
the tail is not used as a prop or support in
assuming a sitting posture. Moreover, the ap-
pendage is so short it appears as if half of it
had been lost. This species has, proportion-
ately, the shortest tail of all of the kangaroo
species, and may be immediately recognized by
this unique development.
Other of the new kangaroos are interesting
from their large size and rarity in collections.
Among them is a huge example of the black
wallaroo, (Macropus robustus), that stands ful-
ly five feet high, and is very savage. There
are two specimens of the exceptionally rare
ring-tailed wallaby, (Macropus ruficollis), and
an example of the tree kangaroo, (Dendrolagus
bennettianus). No more incongruous type of
animal than a kangaroo in a tree, can be imag-
ined, but this animal has become adapted to an
arboreal life by acquiring elongated digits,
which grasp like a hand. Curiously enough, its
tail has not become prehensile, and while it is
a sure climber, and ascends lofty trees, its prog-
ress is slow and not at all graceful.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
The elaboration of our kangaroo collection
results in a splendid series of these animals oc-
cupying the long row of cages on the easterly
side of the Small-Deer House. ‘This collection
is especially interesting just now, as five mem-
bers of the collection are carrying young in the
pouch, thus illustrating the characteristic meth-
od of caring for the progeny among the marsu-
pials. Within a short time they will be seen
leaving the pouch, and again entering the re-
ceptacle as they become tired.
Two species in the new collection that appear
to have arrived alive in the United States for
the first time, are the curious rabbit-eared ban-
dicoot and the opossum mouse. The former,
known technically as Perogale lagotis, is of the
size and form of a rabbit as regards body and
limbs, but possesses an extremely long and
pointed snout, minute eyes and a long, tufted
tail. It is insectivorous. The opossum mouse
(Phascologale calura), is one of the smallest
known pouched animals, similar in form and
size to a field mouse. It is nocturnal and the
food largely consists of insects. The latter spe-
cies is exhibited in the Reptile House, together
with the delicate flying phalangers, which re-
quire special care and even temperature.
Among miscellaneous mammals brought by
Mr. Joseph is the Australian water rat, (Hy-
dromys chrysogaster), a fish-eating species, and
several of the smaller carnivora of South Africa.
The cages in the Reptile House also contain
specimens of the Australian collection. Here
were added a number of species of turtles, liz-
ards and snakes. Among the latter are several
of the more deadly types, with which Australia
is so plentifully provided. These are the pur-
ple death adder, the brown snake and the bandy
bandy snake. The venomous serpents of Aus-
tralia are close allies of the cobras, and the
greater number of them flatten the neck in co-
bra fashion, although they do not rear upward
or assume such spectacular positions in threat-
ening an enemy as do their formidable allies of
Asia and Africa.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES.
Park Military Work.—Company A of the
Zoological Park Guards continues drilling and
improving in military discipline and precision.
The company is incorporated in the battalion
of the Home Defense League attached to the
68th Precinct of the Police Department. The
growth and increasing efficiency of the League
has been particularly gratifying, and the vari-
RING-TAILED WALLABIES
It is quite obvious that the alternate bands of black and white around the tails suggest the common name.
‘THUARh gg
TH
RING-TAILED WALLABY AND YOUNG
The well-grown baby Wallaby is barely able to squeeze into the mother’s pouch.
1529
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‘SULIG SIU UL PUNOI YI ALO 07 Loda90¥ OY} FIUWAod | [LAN JI BUY 9[]US Os SI soIqeI[BAA BS9Y] JO OUO
SHIAVTIVM GHITTHa-Snodne
1530
WEST AUSTRALIAN RAT KANGAROO
A conspicuous feature of this animal is the thick tail, which serves as a food supply in cases of necessary fasting.
WOODWARD KANGAROO
A large animal with delicate, tawny gray pelage.
153]
*HOTJOUIODO] §,.1OYJZOUT VY} OF JUSUILpedut OU SIayo Aquq oY} JO YSIOM OUT, “UOpURGR JSOWYN ay YILA Yonod syq Jo yo ssuvy [VUIUY SUNOA oY L,
AGVTITVM GATIVI-ASNYE
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1532
SHORT-TAILED WALLABY
This animal is characteristic in having a tail proportionately much shorter than any other Wallaby.
BLACK-FACED KANGAROO
When angered, this specimen stands erect, and while supporting itself on i!s powerful tail, strikes out savagely
with its hind feet, and fairly may be called a dangerous animal.
1583
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—— our shag area
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GRANT ZEBRA AND HER YOUNG OFFSPRING
After long hesitation, the little animal took the hay from the keeper’s hand.
Both animals are quite gentle, but like most of the Zebras, very timid.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ous units frequently are assembled for regi-
mental drills in the city armories. A regimen-
tal review of fourteen hundred men of the
Bronx took place on August 14, at the 22nd
Regiment Armory, and the balconies were
thronged with the men’s relatives and friends.
Company A of the Zoological Park was given
honor place in the line, owing to smart appear-
ance during preliminary evolutions. The com-
pany was assigned to lead in both regimentai
review and parade. The 23rd Regiment Band
and the Police Drum and Fife Corps officiated.
Company A has been drilled in rifle practice
at an excellent range near Nepperhan, N. Y.
The men visit the range in squads, and are in-
structed in the use of the United States Army
rifle, and the operation of standard targets. At
first the work consisted of operating the panel
targets from the pits, and preliminary practice
at 100 yards. When the work settled down to
firing at 200 yards, a number of our men made
excellent scores. Application has been made to
have the men of the Company listed in the
National Rifle Association, when this work on
the target range will include firing for scores
for which the Government awards medals for
sharpshooters and marksmen.
Australian Reptiles—Among various other
zoological eccentricities, the snakes of Australia
rival the strange mammals and birds of that
country. In most countries the majority of the
species are non-venomous. In Australia the
great majority of the snakes are poisonous.
Moreover, they are most deceptive in appear-
ance. Some of the most deadly among them
look precisely like the harmless snakes of other
regions. Several species of these strange and
interesting types are on exhibition in the Rep-
tile House. The deadly black-snake appears
much like the perfectly inoffensive black racer
of the United States. The brown snake, an-
other of the cobra allies, might readily be mis-
taken for the common coachwhip snake of the
southern United States. Another is the tiger
snake. It resembles a small, harmless water
snake.
cently so deceived in a collection of Australian
serpents that he declared the tiger snakes to be
nonvenomous, and expressed his willingness to
handle them. Before he could be prevented
from doing so, he endeavored to pick up a docile
appearing specimen, by the tail. The snake
turned like a flash and bit his finger; and he
died a few hours later.
Two-tailed Lizard—A curious lizard has ar-
rived from California. It possesses two per-
fectly formed tails. This remarkable develop-
A showman in San Francisco was re-—
ment has been previously illustrated in the Rep-
tile House, and attracted much interest. The
abnormality is produced by the characteristic
of lizards to grow an entirely new tail if the
original member is lost in fighting or escaping
from an enemy. ‘The appearance of a second
tail is brought about by the original appendage
being nearly severed, but finally becoming firm-
ly attached by tissue developing about the in-
jury. The near loss of the tail excited the
growth of a new appendage, which persisted in
development, despite the retention of the orig-
inal tail. The second appendage grows from
the seat of injury, and has pushed the first tail
to one side, producing a decorative and forked
appearance.
Communal Swans and Beavers.—An interest-
ing sight may be enjoyed any sunny afternoon
at the Beaver Pond. In cur colony of nine
flourishing beavers there is a large female that
is particularly tame. A pair of mute swans
has been living in the beaver enclosure during
the past summer, warily guarding a lone young-
ster. The little swan is clad in soft, gray, downy
plumage in strong contrast to its parents. Its
several brothers and sisters were killed by large
snapping turtles that unknown to us lurked in
the beaver pond, but now lurk there no more.
When the swans are fed upon the shore, the large
female beaver joins the group. The incongru-
ous gathering of the snowy adult swans, their
woolly, gray youngster and the big beaver, form
an unusual sight.
Climate Affects Deer Antlers—It appears
that the abnormal spring, with its long con-
tinued cold and rain, and the long dry period
in August, sensibly affected the antlers of our
native deer. The ultimate effect, however, has
been to hasten the development of the antlers,
and most of the big bucks were “out of velvet’
by the latter part of August. The antlers usu-
ally continue growing through the month of
August, and the “velvet” is rubbed off about
the middle of September. This year our elk
were in fighting trim a month too early. The
condition brought discomfort to the deer as the
season of biting flies was still at its height, and
it was necessary to place the bucks in smaller
yards where their fighting propensities could
be kept in safe bounds.
Elk Herd Bests Flies—During the summer,
the elk herd enjoyed especial protection from
the biting cattle flies by bathing in a pond ad-
joining their range. This lake is rightfully in
the range of the white-tailed deer. We tried
the experiment of permitting the elk to run
with the smaller deer, and perfect harmony
‘g0R|d SI} Ul U10g JJVO PUOaS OY} SESIYL ‘A[pPoe}UeyzUOd OAT] PUL OATIYY STRUTLU OUT,
AGVd GTO AVG-YNAON WHA ANV GNVTH
*[Wapl sl Yoopped purly oy,
1536
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
1537
AUSTRALIAN GRAY PHALANGER
This Phalanger and several related species are often called Australian opossums.
prevailed. The elk were turned out early each
morning, after feeding, and at once they trotted
to the pond. This body of water is quite broad,
but shallow, and after splashing about for a
time the entire herd would lie in the water, and
doze or ruminate in defiance of the flies.
Wild Babies.—A beautiful male specimen of
Grant’s Zebra was born at the Park on the 24th
of June. This gorgeously striped youngster
and his mother are on exhibition in one of the
big yards immediately west of the Zebra House.
Among other hoofed animals that were born
during the summer are an eland, a yak, and
several each of American bison, elk, white-
tailed deer, red, fallow, axis and sika deer.
Nature Scorns Artifice—In one of the num-
bers of the BuLLeriIn mention was made of a
curious horned rattlesnake on exhibition, that
was actually a reptile with a grafted horn that
had undergone an ingenious surgical operation.
The Indians often thus decorate the big rat-
tlers of the Boundary Region. Our specimen
excited much comment, as the horn protruded
fully an inch from the head, and we were in-
terested to learn what might happen when the
snake shed its skin. That important event has
taken place and the results were quite different
from our anticipation. Several days before the
shedding, the snake’s head swelled to great ex-
tent and when the reptile emerged from its
skin it crawled away hornless. A large circu-
lar sear on the reptile’s head indicated Nature's
refusal to abide by the artificial adornment.
“Toto’s’ Clown Days Are Passing.
several years the orang-utan “Toto” has been
the clown of the Park’s collection. This ani-
mal’s extremely amusing capers have delighted
many thousands of visitors, particularly chil-
dren. ‘Toto has now outgrown the infant class,
and is developing a hint of the sullen demeanor
characteristic of the adult orang-utan. He is
far less affectionate and confiding with Keeper
Engeholm. Of late he has evinced a habit of
“making faces,” which is, in a way, a threat.
Toto is about seven years old, and has been on
exhibition with us nearly five years.—R. L. D.
For
OSTRICH
f the nuptial dance, performed by the male Ostrich during the breeding season.
SOUTH AFRICAN
An unusual picture of a phase o
The upper picture shows the bird just before the curious performance was started.
15388
GENERAL INFORMATION
MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organiza-
tion, who desire to contribute toward its support.
The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to
the Zoological Park on all pay days, when he may see the collections to the best advantage.
Members are entitled to the Annual Report, bi-monthly Bulletins, Zoologica, privileges of the
Administration Building, all lectures and special exhibitions, and ten complimentary tickets to
the Zoological Park for distribution.
Any Annual Member may become a Life Member by the payment of $200. A subscriber
of $1,000 becomes a Patron; $2,500, an Associate Founder; $5,000, a Founder; $10,000, a
Founder in Perpetuity, and $25,000, a Benefactor.
Application for membership may be given to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park;
C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the General
Secretary, No. 111 Broadway, New York City.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK
The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thursday of
each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these days fall on a holiday no admis-
sion fee is charged. From April 15 to October 15, the opening and closing hours are from 9
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From October 16 to April 14, the opening and
closing hours are from 10 o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset.
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
The Aquarium is open every day in the year; April 15 to October 15, 9 A. M. to 5 P. NE
October 16 to April 14, 16 A. M. to 4 P. M. Open free to the public every day in the year.
PUBLICATIONS
Annual Report No.1...:........ Paper $ .40 Souvenir Books: Series No. 3, 48 pages, 7x9 inches, 78 -
is s Gh ag aa orca “ 15 Cloth $1.00 illustrations from four color plates. .......... -50
mt i > 3 and 4 each.. |, a 3 fe (By mail, postage 3 cents extra.)
“ “ Rae aterm ee ai os Gaye 1.00 “1.95 | Animals in Art Stamps: Album of 32 Pages, providing
“ ob Segawa TO; Sanches a 1.35 0 1.50 space for mounting 120 art stamps in four colors
“ “ “* 11, 12, 18, 14, 15. made from selected photographs of animals taken
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,each....... - 1.00 vs 1.25 in the Zoological Park, complete with stamps....... 75
Our Vanishing Wild Life (Horna- (By mail, postage 6 cents extra.)
day) postpaid ................ ene 1265 Wild Animal Stamp Primer: 96 page cloth bound book
Destruction of Our Birds and Mam- af containing 49 animal stories, illustrated by 50 four-
mals (Hornaday)...........-. 15 color stamp reproductions....... Staci: Skee Slayers ciety
Notes on Pape acer of North (By mail 7 cents extra
America (Hornaday).......... 40 : : : : :
2 “ Photogravures: Series of 12 subjects in sepia. Animals
The Caribou (Grant). OC ia oe 1) and views in the Zoological Park. Sold in sets
The Origin and Relationship of the of 2 subjects. Per set, postpaid................. -25
Large Mammals of North Amer- ‘ :
{eno (Grantee es ae ne 1.00 Bonu Es A combined fan and map of the
6 “ oological Par Ebel ead ial otek iptena enone uaaenel ph costae hcote sien te -10
The Rocky ee Goat ee nD (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
poe Nal te Nose inclusive, “ 2.30 FONG, of the Zoological Park: Reproduced in colors
GARDE SEAR Toe Beet IR ag eR TY a Mt Se OETA ‘ie : rom an original drawing in perspective. Sold
Zoologica Vol. 1. Nos. 12, 18and14. ~ +25 flat or in fader form... aay EAN atin chan nse ast se 10
* Pah he NO: ie Fetes xi ee (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
a fey eo cand AB) ee wet te 25 Enlargements: 11x14 inches. 12 subjects in black and
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“ OO Nidal Saa Sat gi) icana nel aia) gatas ts 95 Duotone *Browm neaehim servis ldieute wield ys yore 35
i bees Ban sential Yay rave lie es S83 my 95 Hand Colored (10 Subjects), each................ 75
y if i a arate ge ie +29 Photo-Letter: (folding) 18 pictures, photogravure... 2 for .10
Z8and4..... 25 “ec sé 4“ ss 4
“ tL fea SINC gene aN “ ‘95 A COJOTS(t7s, lencier's 2for .10
Zoopathologica Vol, I. No.1 ...... ay 25 New York Aquarium Nature Series
ea ION Ee rae nay Sea Shore Life (Mayer) aie heise tubcpadte Runs Tener ee MSEC ee Glove eves ate $1.20
Bulletin Nos. 1, 6, 8, 35, 43 and 46... Out of Print Cun aed of Hishes pa Ponts AVavensene) aldetettahs sake gatevona 20)
: é ? : ameleons o EFSEar CROWNSENG)) iso leis cic srsiciela sielsnuers 15
Bulletins; Bi-monthly..- +" ies te: each, Yearlysby mail'1-00" |’ Norther Blephant Seal (Townsend)......-.-. sss oc.0 25
Bulletin Nos. 5 to 28 inclusive, set, cloth bound, ........ 5.00 | Care of Home Aquaria (Osburn)...........-eeeecceeee 125
rs 24 to 60 A hie aba LU ata ee neap te 10.00 Porpoise in Capt Ibyy (Townsend). . Ae eae Ma eeicien 25
Official Guide to the New York Natural History of the Whale Shark (Gudger).......... -30
Zoological Park (Hornaday).............--22-.+00- 25 | The Gaff-Topsail Catfish (Gudger)..... altel Se oxeas an Kahane pep 30
Souvenir Postal Cards: Series of 75 subjects in colors, Inmates of the Aquarium (a book of views)............ 125
sold in sets of 25 cards, assorted subjects......... 25 ; FT MORE
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Publications for sale at 111 Broadway, Zoological Park and the New York Aquarium.
Vou. XX. No. 6 Dy, NOVEMBER. 1917
SOCIELY
BULLETIN
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THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
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‘TWUR FREUND 1012
New York Zoological Society
GENFRAL OrFice, 111 Broadway, New York Ciry.
Hirst Vice-President
Mapison GRAnvT.
Greasurer
Percy R. Pyne, 20 Exchange Place.
Mapison Grant, Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
Witiiam Wuire Nes,
Ex offirin: The Mayor
Levi P. Morton,
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
Mapison GRANT,
Wiviiam Wuire NILes,
Percy R. Pyne,
Georce Birp GRINNELL,
Greorce C. Ciark,
CLEeveLAND H. Dopee,
Henry FarrrieLtp Ossorn,
*Wittiam C. Cuurcu,
LisPENARD STEWART,
Cuarurs F. Dietericyu,
Wm. Pirrson Hamitton,
Frank K. Srureis,
LisPENARD STEWART, —
President
Henry Fairrintp Osgorn.
Second Vice-President
Secretary
Mapison GRANT.
Executive Conunitice
Board of Managers
Class of 1918
Henry A. C. Taytor,
Frank K. Srureis,
GerorGE J. GouLp,
Ocpen Miu,
Glaze of 1919
C. Lepyarp Buair,
FREDERICK GILBERT BouRNE,
Wn. Austin WapswortH,
Emerson McMiItuin,
Glass of 1920
Grorce F. Baker,
Grant B. ScHLey,
Wo. Pierson Hamitton,
Rosert S. Brewster,
General Officers
Frank K. Srurais.
Asat. Greasurer
Tot Farmers’ Loan anp Trust Co.
Watson B. Dickerman,
AntTHONY R. Kuser,
Henry Farrrietp Ossorn, ex-officio
and The Present Department of Parks, City of New York.
Lewis RutHerForD Morris,
ArcHrer M. Huntineron,
Henry M. Titrorp,
E. C. Converse.
AnTHONY R,. KuseEr,
Watson B. DickerRMAn,
Mortimer L. Scuirr,
Freperic C. Watcort,
Epwarp S. Harkness,
Wiuiiam B. Oseoop Fiero,
A. Barton Herpurn,
Witi1am Woopwarp.
Witiram T. Hornapay, Director Zoological Park.
Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director, New York Aquarium.
C. Grant La Fares, Architect.
Grorce S. Huntineton, Prosector.
R. L. Crerero, Bursar.
H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer.
Officers of the Zoological Park
Wixiuiam T. Hornapay, Director.
H. W. Merxet, Chief Forester.
W. Rew Buair, Veterinarian.
H. R. Mircuery, Chief Clerk.
Raymonp L. Dirmars, Curator, Reptiles.
WitiraM Beese, Curator, Birds. G. M. Berersower, Engineer.
L. S. Cranpvatu, Asst. Curator, Birds. Witiiam Mircurpy, Cashier.
Euiwin R. Sansorn, Photographer and Editor.
Officers of the Aquarinm
Cuarurs H. Townsenp, Director.
Wasuineton I. DeNyse, Assistant. Ropert SutcuirFe, Clerk.
Louis L. Mowsray, Assistant. Ipa M. Metten, Secretary.
Grorce A. MacCautuivum, Pathologist.
* Deceased.
REE
ater
ZOO ZGOGeCAL SOC TE LY BULLE DIN
AQUARIUM NUMBER
CONTENTS FOR NOVEMBER, 1917
PAGE
GuUILEDMOTS ON DOGOSLOF VOLCANO, BERING SHA 222 ee Frontispiece
BR pe ene E KON ee AGS IAC DV Ol CIAUN Oler =) eo women ee eee glee ae Nee ee ee C. H. Townsend 1541
ATT eva oe DATO Ya wid RCV. DY es ese ee am 090 Neue NO a oa UC a Re ee Ida M. Mellen 1544
(COmoRne GEONNGES “OR MIsHieSace sent hoo ty eats an) ee Se UTE eh eee C. H. Townsend 1545
AMS DIAUIneAlY OB STR aioe ee ete Pie ee DED ae Nor imite tet eee ee) C. H. Townsend 1547
FS OMS NOME EG OINGCISEUEVVEVA KOC Elareeenn: ane se ee eee W. I. De Nyse 1547
GENER IY MGA 0 AD 5 eS eek A mF Re gM ga aD DR alee eae W.I. De Nyse 1548
SYACB IE HITISI: Wee petite se Ones MM Meabnetee eee kN cornnt elt ed de a ee ce C. H. Townsend 1549
POR AUG WA SE eV IPAUNT = OVER Breede sts ice ee Real Ue et Ae ee ees C. H. Townsend 1550
Miri MER MIG CRABL oe se 8 nel Wa Oe ae a I le eRe NE UREN tt ct L. L. Mowbray 1551
BENE MBN PACK Regt KAR Ae tek tptretas 1 Sere ae) 2 ae ee eae Smt ne eee eae. Ida M. Mellen 1552
TER EMISMIOR MeN DORE Site ecteetes stn in Colleen ioe i ah | a ae eee C. H. Townsend 1558
A New Book on SMALu AQUARIA
Larcer Exuisition Tanks
Youne Orance FILEFISH
REFRIGERATING PLANT
Fisues From FuLoripa
Fur Seat Herp in 1907
An AguartumM oF Forry Yrars AGO
Huee Snarrine TurtTiLes
TWENTy-FouR Ways oF SPELLING A FisuH’s NAMB ooo. ec ceccceccccseeecenceeneeeeeeeeoes Ida M. Mellen 1558
Vas
ONIMAD ‘ONVOTOA
AHOTSODOE
NO
SLOWATIIND
1540
ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
BULLETIN
Published by the New York Zoological Society
Vou. XX.
NOVEMBER, 1917
NuMBER 6
BIRD LIFE ON A SEA VOLCANO
By C. H. Townsenp
Illustrated from photographs made on the U.S. S. Albatross, 1891.
T HERE is no reason why pictures showing
animal life in out of the way places
should not be published by the Zoologi-
cal Society, even if they do not relate directly
to the work of the Zoological Park and the
Aquarium.
The photographs of sea birds reproduced in
this Butuetin, have been brought to light be-
cause they deserve a better fate than to remain
buried in a private photograph file. They were
made by the writer and his assistants in 1891
while serving with the Fisheries Steamship
Albatross.
Bogoslof Volcano in Bering Sea, where the
photographs were made, has had a century-long
struggle with the sea for its existence and is of
alluring interest quite aside from its ornitho-
logical wonders. It rose from the sea on May
7, 1796, and its birth was accompanied by earth-
quake. Volcanic rocks were hurled as far as
Umnak in the Aleutian Islands, thirty miles
away. It has changed in height and form many
times since then. In 1806, lava flowed from it
into the sea. In 1888, its voleanic ashes fell on
Unalaska Island forty miles away.
The ever changing form of Bogoslof has been
recorded by many vessels. During recent years,
beaches connecting the newer and older parts
of Bogoslof have appeared, disappeared and re-
appeared. The writer has observed marked
changes during successive visits.
Bogoslof has been a stronghold of the sea
birds from the beginning, but the bird tenants
must have been ejected often with great vio-
lence. On the rough volcanic pile the birds nest
almost anywhere. While there are portions of
nest builders.
the voleano from which they are excluded by
clouds of steam and sulphurous vapors, they
nest so close to such areas that the eggs in some
places are doubtless warmed as much by the
voleanic heat of the rocks as by the sitting
birds. I have climbed among nesting guille-
mots where the rocks were heated enough to
warm my chilled fingers. There are enough
dead birds in some places to show that they
often fly too close to the danger zones, not al-
ways being able to discriminate between hot
steam or poisonous vapors, and the dense fog
banks that drift about the island. Nevertheless
they multiply amazingly and their numbers can
only be described as myriads.
The guillemot makes no nest, laying its large
single egg on any ledge wide enough to hold it,
so that the egg comes in direct contact with the
rock. The great mass of the birds of Bogoslof
are guillemots, (Uria lomvia arra), but there
are a few puffins and kittiwake gulls. Perhaps
the scarcity of nest-building birds can be ex-
plained by the total lack of nest-making mate-
rials such as grasses and dry seaweeds. Bogos-
lof has neither land nor sea vegetation and is
unique in this respect as compared with other
bird islands. The guillemots hold almost undis-
puted possession, while on other bird islands of
the region they share the cliffs with puffins, ful-
mars, kittiwakes, auklets, cormorants and other
Birds like puffins, fulmars and
auklets, seeking deep crevices for their nests,
would have a hard time on Bogoslof where
deadly vapors may ooze forth almost anywhere.
The numbers of guillemots to be seen on the
rocks at a given time do not indicate the actual
1541
HOTSO9Od AO SLHDIGH AHL NO SLOWATTIIO
oe
a : : : g SR Sy ‘ 7
: _
oS
LOE
154
RING SEA
r]
A STEAM-SWEPT BIRD ROOKERY ON BOGOSLOF VOLCANO, BE
1544
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
GUILLEMOT FROM BOGOSLOF VOLCANO
bird population. There are such numbers on
the wing, or on the surface of the sea, at the
same time, that the observer visiting the island
soon decides that most of the guillemots are not
at home.
They cover the adjacent waters everywhere
and keep flying off shore in bands so great that
the island seems to be encircled with a wide belt
of swiftly moving birds. They meet the ap-
proaching ship when still miles away, and are
so numerous in the water that they scarcely
keep clear of the oars of the landing boats.
The guillemot is a staple in the food supply
of the Aleutian and Pribilof natives. The thick,
meaty breasts are wholesome and palatable, and
one soon gets used to eating them. As the sup-
ply of birds is large, it could be drawn upon for
war time food in case of necessity. It ought
not to take long to load a refrigerator ship with
guillemots at Bogoslof.
THE SPADEFOOT TOAD
By Ipa M. Me.uien
HE spadefoct, though one of our common
toads, is least often seen because of its
habit of spending a large portion of its
life—perhaps a couple of years together—un-
derground, and coming forth, as a rule, only
during the night. Great humidity is required to
DISTANT VIEW OF BOGOSLOF VOLCANO
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
1545
SPADEFOOT TOADS
draw the spadefoot out of the ground by day-
light for better air, and then it protrudes only
its round, sleepy head with the eyes closed,
looking more like a dirty red pebble than a live
animal.
Its eyes, being vertically pupiled like a cat’s,
are fitted for seeing better in the dark, and it
appears blinded by day. It troops forth in
great numbers in the springtime, however, and
takes to the ponds like other toads, to breed.
Though the spadefoot is even a trifle smaller
than the common toad, it is said at this time to
make more noise than the bullfrogs.
For purposes of observation at home, the
hardy tadpoles of the spadefoot toad are most
interesting. The under surface being transpar-
ent, reveals the beating of the heart, the long
intestinal coil, and nearly the whole physiology
of the animal, without need of dissection or
magnification. In a few weeks after hatching—
which generally occurs the day after the eggs
are laid—the legs, beginning with the hind
ones, push gradually through the skin, and the
tail is absorbed when the tadpoles are about
five weeks old. Beg
The pollywog eats nothing during *the few
‘days when its tail is being dissolved by blood
and lymph and phagocytes, for the tail thus
taken into the body serves to nourish it while
the little creature is losing his round, sucking
mouth and acquiring a new large one with teeth
in the upper jaw and otherwise getting ready
for the approaching, wonderfully different life
on land. His auburn jacket is exchanged for
.a brown land coat, preparatory to assuming the
reddish aspect of the adult. ;
Most of the tadpoles are content to wait till
their tails are gone before seeking the new
world, but a few—about one in seven—are so
eager for terrestrial life that they set out, tails
and all.
The name spadefoot is derived from small,
bony protuberances on the hind feet, that are
thought to assist like a spade when the toad
burrows. A few digs with his-hind feet, and
back he slides into the earth as though sinking
in quicksand.
The eggs of the spadefoot are laid like those
of frogs in jelly-like clusters or masses, and
not in the polka-dot strings peculiar to most
toads.
NEW PAINTINGS SHOWING THE
COLOR CHANGES OF FISHES.
N an article published in the Report of the
Zoological Society, in 1909, the director cf
the Aquarium described the instantaneous
changes in color practiced by many of the trop-
ical fishes exhibited there. It was illustrated
by such photographs as it was possible to make,
showing the changes that take place, but these
were few in number and in no case presented
more than two or three of the color phases
which the fishes are capable of assuming.
A few months ago the Executive Committee
provided a fund for the painting of some of the
species conspicuous for their changes in color
and markings.
One of the fishes much given to masquerad-
ing in different guises is the spade fish, (Chae-
todipterus faber). Although without brilliant
colors of any kind, its three shifts from black
to white are very striking and are well shown
in the accompanying photographic reproduction
of Mr. Murayama’s painting. The change from
one phase to another may occur at any moment.
A tropical fish may exhibit all of its various
garbs within an hour, or may do nothing inter-
<
En eam
a
We
Z
<
COE
aN
rE aerrrerrren ornate
aAY AMA
HioMur
THE SPADE FISH, (CHAETODIPTERUS FABER)
From a painting by H. Murayama.
Showing three phases of color, any one of which it can assume instantly.
1546
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
esting for several hours. In order to keep the
record of the brush going without waste of time,
the artist keeps two or three species under ob-
servation at once, using a separate canvas for
each. When one species refuses to perform,
another in an adjoining tank may be more ac-
commodating, and the artist has merely to turn
to the other easel.
In this way the finny masqueraders are all
caught eventually at their tricks. Sixteen
species have already been painted in the vari-
ous transformations which they are capable of
making, in one case eight changes in color being
shown.
It is proposed that these pictures be pub-
lished in color by the Zoological Society, to-
gether with the results of recent observations
on the color changes of fishes——C. H. T.
A BLUE LOBSTER
HE Aquarium has a specimen of the
American lobster which is so remarkable
that it would attract instant attention
anywhere. It is not only a giant among its
kind, weighing over thirteen pounds, but has a
brilliant blue color.
It has been intimated that the color of our
specimen is a forgery, but the lobster was re-
ceived alive on June 30, and has been seen by
thousands of persons. When it died an artist
was engaged to make a painting of it before
any change in color could take place. It has
been handsomely mounted, and whatever color
was lost in the process has been restored from
the original color sketch.
This lobster as mounted, with the large claw
in a curved position, is twenty-nine inches long,
and must have been at least thirty-two inches
before mounting. It will be exhibited beside
another mounted lobster which died in the
Aquarium, having a length of thirty-eight
inches and a weight of twenty-one pounds.
Incidentally the largest known lobster,
weighing thirty-four pounds and now in the
American Museum of Natural History, died in
the Aquarium.
Blue lobsters have long been known, but are
of quite rare occurrence. There are a few de-
scriptions of such specimens in the literature of
the lobster, and the Aquarium has received blue
lobsters at different times, some of them sent
from distant points as great rarities.
Our large blue lobster is, like most of those
described, of an intense indigo blue above, shad-
ing into a clear blue on the sides and under
1547
parts. The color is merely the result of some
unusual condition of the shell pigments.
It was presented by Mr. Edward B. Tuthill,
of Montauk, Long Island, and presumably was
captured in that region.—C. H. T.
SOME NOTES ON THE WEAKFISH
(Cynoscion regalis )
By W. I. DeNysxr
HE weakfish is one of our most common
food fishes, and is caught in far greater
quantities than the bluefish. It makes its
appearance in this locality about the first week
in May and remains until the beginning of No-
vember, when it leaves for the south. It ar-
rives in scattered numbers, only a few being
caught by the fishermen until about the first of
June, when large catches are made and this con-
tinues until the fish migrate in the fall, although
there may be weeks of poor fishing between
their coming and departure, owing to weather
conditions.
In its feeding habits, the weakfish is nearly
as voracious as the bluefish, and the larger
specimens, weighing from fifteen to twenty-five
pounds, are very destructive to young fish.
They even will eat the young of their own spe-
cies, a trait that I never have known the blue-
fish to display. Very large specimens seldom
frequent the shallow water bays, though those
of small and medium size do so. They enter
the bays with the flood-tide in search of food,
and swim among the beds of eel grass, feeding
on shrimps, small fish, worms and small crabs.
Many blue crabs just out of the shell and in
the soft stage, are eaten by them. Often, I
have found the stomachs of medium-sized weak-
fish to contain shrimp, small blue crabs, rock
crabs, minnows, spearing, tomcod, blackfish, sea
bass, striped bass, mullet, herring, menhaden,
bluefish, anchovies, sand lance, marine worms
of different species, and on several occasions,
young weakfish.
Though the weakfish is quite as much of a
gormand as the bluefish, I never have seen it
destroy fish after its appetite had been satiated
as the bluefish do. It is a well-known fact that
when bluefish have eaten till they can hold no
more, they will swim among schools of small
fish and cut them to pieces with their strong
teeth and jaws.
In the fall of 1886, I had the pleasure of
seeing schools of large weakfish on the surface
of the water off the Sandy Hook Light Ship, so
1548
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
Departments :
Mammals Aquarium
W.T. Hornapbay. C. H. TownsxEnp.
Birds Reptiles
WILLIAM BEEBE.
Lge S. CRANDALL.
Raymonp L. Dirmars.
Published bi-monthly at the Office of the Society,
111 Broadway, New York City.
Yearly by Mail, $1.00.
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS.
Copyright, 1917, by the New York Zoological Society.
Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy
and the proof reading of his contribution.
ELwin R. Sanporn,
Editor and Official Photographer
Vout. XX No. 6 NOVEMBER, 1917
gorged with food that they were scarcely able
to move or swim beneath the surface. We
sailed among them, towing squids astern, but
they failed to bite, only one being hooked in
the stomach and brought aboard.
We then launched a small boat from the
yacht, and went among them, armed with two
gaffs, succeeding in gaffing twenty-five that
weighed on an average twelve pounds each. Our
small boat, with the combined weight of two
men and the fish, had aboard about six hundred
pounds, and we were compelled to return to the
yacht and unload for safety.
We then made grapples by tying three long-
shanked bluefish hooks together and attaching
a bluefish line and an eight ounce sinker to each
grapple. Again we cruised among the fish and
caught thirty by casting our grapples and haul-
ing the line in rapidly, hooking them in various
parts of the body. Every cast did not reward
us with a fish, but with four men casting the
returns were frequent. We were two hours
among the weakfish before they sank, and ob-
served about four acres of them on the surface
at one time.
THE MULLET
(Mugil cephalus)
By W. I. DeNyse
HE common mullet is found on the Atlan-
tic Coast from Cape Cod southward and
generally moves in very large schools.
The first mullet make their appearance in
this locality about the fifteenth of June and are
usually young specimens traveling in small
schools of two or three hundred. About the
first of September larger mullet are seen asso-
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
ciating with the smaller ones, and the schools
also increase in size, comprising several thou-
sand. The mullet is much sought after by the
local seine netters, for when a catch of them is
made, it is always large, several tons being
taken; and they sell very well in the market.
The mullet caught in this vicinity are small fish,
running three to the pound. Occasionally
larger ones are taken, weighing two or three
pounds. Fishing for mullet with a seine is very
exciting work. The seiner must be quick with
his boat and row fast to circle a school, and
after the school is surrounded, the mullet will
escape the fisherman unless he gets the ends of
the seine ashore quickly. Then, too, after the
net is well up to the shore, the fish commence
to jump over the cork line, sometimes leaping
in such numbers that the eye cannot count
them; yet a great many are saved from the haul
by the net. If a second seine is placed around
the one containing the fish, no mullet will es-
cape over the second, and many a fisherman, by
this maneceuver, has scored a good day’s work.
The mullet is a very oily fish, and only a
small quantity can be eaten at a meal by most
people. Immense numbers are salted in the
south, and sold in the Southern and Middle
States.
“It is the most generally popular and most
abundant food-fish on our southern sea-board.
Its abundance puts it within the reach of every-
body, blacks as well as whites.
“The mullet is a bottom-feeder, and prefers
still, shoal water with grassy and sandy or
muddy bottom. It swims along the bottom,
head down, now and then taking a mouthful of
mud, which is partially culled over in the mouth,
the miscroscopic particles of animal or vegeta-
ble matter retained, and the refuse expelled.
When one fish finds a spot rich in the desired
food, its companions immediately flock around
in a manner reminding one of barn-yard fowls
feeding from a dish.”
The mullet makes good bait for catching
almost all kinds of fish, and is much sought
after by anglers. In this locality they often
hibernate, and are caught in winter by fisher-
men spearing for eels beneath the ice. They
lie on the bottom in the soft mud from twelve
to fifteen inches below the surface, just above
the eels that always go deeper. The writer has
taken mullet with the eel spear through holes
cut in the ice in Hog Creek, Sheepshead Bay,
Long Island. One winter, in particular, large
catches of them were made at this place by eel
spearers.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
1549
SABLEFISH, (ANOPLOPOMA-FIMBRIA)
Photographed by C. H. Townsend.
Taken on the U,S. Fisheries Steamship Albatross.
THE SABLEFISH
A New Name on THE Bitw or Fare
By C. H. Townsenp
OMMENCING with the exploitation of the
C tilefish in 1915, the Bureau of Fisheries
has continued to render an important
service to the country in making known the
good qualities of several fishes that have long
been overlooked in the fishing industry.
The list includes the tilefish, grayfish, burbot
and sablefish. The last being a Pacific Coast
species, is not yet well known in eastern mar-
kets; but it has commenced to figure in official
statistics of the fisheries.
During the six months ending June 30, 1917,
there were landed at Seattle, Washington,
1,033,980 pounds of sablefish valued at $39,-
697. This is making remarkably good progress,
considering that the campaign to popularize
the consumption of sablefish was inaugurated in
January.
Readers of the Butietin will be interested
in seeing what this fish looks like. Its cod-like
appearance is well shown in the accompanying
photograph made by the writer on board the
U. S. Fisheries Steamship Albatross in 1891
when attached to that vessel in the investiga-
tion of our northwest coast fisheries.
The thirteen fishes shown had an average
weight of twelve and one-half pounds—the
largest weighing twenty-eight pounds and hay-
ing a length of fifty-one inches. They were
taken on trawl lines set in the Straits of Fuca,
at a depth of 125 fathoms. We met with sable-
fish at many points between Oregon and the
Alaska Peninsula, and a few specimens have
been taken as far south as Southern California.
It has been taken by fishing vessels west of
Queen Charlotte Island in 250 fathoms of
water, which is rather deeper than American
fishermen care to operate, although the Japan-
ese fish habitually in even greater depths.
ZOOLOGICAL
PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR, (PHYSALIA ARETHUSA)
The picture shows the animal feeding on an anchovy.
Photographed by L. L. Mowbray.
The sablefish is one of the best of food fishes,
as the writer can testify from many months’
personal experience with it. Judging from the
number consumed by the eighty men compris-
ing our ship’s company, it is a safe fish for
anyone to buy if it should appear in our eastern
markets.
The attendance at the Aquarium to Novem-
ber 1, was 1,457,244.
The minute stinging
cells are visible as small dots on the more thread-like tentacles.
SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE PORTUGUESE
MAN-OF-WAR
By C. H. Townsenp
HIS Portuguese man-of-
T war, (Physalia arethusa)
is an inhabitant of the
warmer parts of the Atlantic,
but is carried far northward
by the Gulf Stream and often
drifts ashore along our coast.
It is the most conspicuous cf
the jelly-fishes, as its air-filled
float is sometimes more than
six inches in length, and has
along its top a highly colored
crest or sail which can be low-
ered at will. Beneath are many
tentacles and protruding mouth
parts.
According to Mr. —E. L.
Mowbray of the Aquarium
staff, it appears about the Ber-
muda Isiands in vast numbers
in February, March and April,
after prolonged southerly
winds, the sea being literally
covered with them. Great num-
bers are driven by winds into
the bays and stranded on the
beaches. East of the Bermu-
das, he has sailed through areas
that were thickly covered with
them for 150 miles.
The tentacles of the Man-
of-war can hold fishes over six
inches in length, although
usually taking those of smaller
size. It of course takes hold
of anything with which its long
tentacles come in contact, and
as the tentacles can stretch
down forty or fifty feet, all
sizes of fishes may be entan-
gled. The largest fishes doubt-
less break away. The tenta-
cles are covered with stinging
cells which soon weaken and
disable its prey. They are then gradually
drawn closer to the body, where the numerous
protruding and dise-tipped stomachs seize and
absorb the soft parts, leaving the bones and
scales almost intact. The sting of the tentacles
is instant and painful to the human hand.
There is a species of small fish, (Nomeus
gronovii) known as the Man-of-war _ pilot,
which is apparently immune to the paralyzing
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
touch of the tentacles, as it
lives habitually under their
shelter. Several of these
fishes may accompany a
single Man-of-war. When
disturbed by larger fishes
they seek refuge among the
trailing tentacles, where
pursuing fishes often meet
their fate. The remarkable
immunity of the pilots may
be due to some secretion of
the fish which actually pre-
vents the adherence of the
stinging cells of the tenta-
cles, as the fishes dart
freely among them for pro-
tection.
The writer has taken many
of them with a long-handled
dip net when cruising with
the Fisheries Steamer Alba-
tross in the Gulf Stream.
As many as ten of these little fishes have been
secured in lifting a single Physalia from the
water. G, 78, IP.
THE HERMIT CRAB
(Petrochirus bahamensis )
By L. L. Mowsray
From some primitive kind of crustacean which
discovered the advantages of a portable shelter
has been derived the hermit crabs. The larg-
est of the marine hermits is found in Bermuda,
Florida, and the West Indies.
The name hermit or soldier crab is of ancient
date and is applied to this ensconced crustacean
MAN-OF-WAR PILOT, (NOMEUS GRONOVII)
From alcoholic specimens. Photographed by L. L. Mowbray.
HERMIT CRAB OF THE WEST INDIES
1551
cs
Photographed by L. L. Mowbray.
as it resembles a hermit in his cell or a soldier
in armor. It was long doubted if the hermit
would actually attack an animal in its shell for
the purpose of obtaining a suitable dwelling.
This fact has been well established, and after
the animal has been killed the hermit will eat it.
One of the most interesting things in the her-
mit’s life is to watch it examining an empty
shell before entering it. A short while ago I
made some moving pictures of the life of the
hermit crab and after showing the crab in its
shell I removed it and showed the animal walk-
ing about in an aquarium without its house. An
empty Strombus shell was then placed in the
aquarium and the hermit approached it with
caution, circled it and then turned it over so
that the lip was up, and with the greatest cau-
tion crawled over it inserting its large biting
claws into the shell and gradually going in fur-
ther and further until it was perfectly satisfied
there was nothing therein. Making a quick
turn of the body, it thrust its tail into the shell,
moving about three or four times to the right
and left, and after satisfying himself that the
shell would answer the purpose, proceeded to
move away, of course, dragging the shell with
it. It is necessary for the hermit crab to change
its shell frequently. As it grows it must have
a larger covering, and sometimes it so happens
that it cannot find a suitable shell and will
ake anything that it can get into and carry
away. I have seen them carrying an enamel
ean, the bowl of a clay pipe or a small bottle-
1552
While writing this article two hermit crabs
were fighting in the aquarium tank where there
are a dozen or more specimens. The victor lost
his right biting claw in the fray and without
showing the least concern drew the body of the
victim out of the shell and ate the softer parts.
It was impossible to get a picture of the fight
owing to the lateness of the hour.
THE WATER BEAR
By Iva M. MELLEN
HE most elusive animal in the world, and,
fl if we omit the horse shoe crab, (Limu-
lus) and the headless fish, (Amphiozus),
perhaps the most remarkable, is the water bear,
Tardigrade.
The horse shoe crab and the headless fish
are not so difficult to obtain and place under ob-
servation, but a microscopist may look for a
water bear many moons ere his search will be
rewarded; and then, though he give it but a tea-
spoonful of water to roam in, he may not find it
a second time—so extremely minute is the
alluring creature.
After several years of intermittent micro-
scopy, I found a water bear. She favored me
with her presence two days and on departing
left a souvenir of inestimable value,—her old
skin with two eggs inside, and these hatched.
She measured not more than 16/1000 of an
inch, and her offspring were, of course, consid-
erably smaller.
Tardigrada, meaning slow walker, is not the
most appropriate name that could have been be-
stowed. It does not convey the impression of
perpetual motion which one receives on viewing
the animals. The eight tiny feet never rest,
their long claws grasping at everything near
them as their owner incessantly works his way
about.
Except for twice too many feet and no tail,
the Tardigrade slightly suggests the bear in its
aspect and is therefore commonly called water
bear and bear animalecule. Some of its early
describers—a popular notion then prevailing
that bears lick their cubs—hazarded the guess
that it resembled an unlicked bear cub. As a
matter of fact, no one knows whether bears lick
their cubs or not, since the she-bear (as I am
informed by Mr. Hollister of the Washington
Zoo) retires into complete seclusion for six
weeks when the young are born and would kill
them if disturbed, at least during the first few
days; and there is really no known animal to
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
THE WATER BEAR
From a drawing by Ilda M. Mellen.
which the Tardigrade may be likened with cer-
tainty.
In the matter of classification, it has been
called an animaleule, a crustacean, a worm, and
a spider. While it lives amicably with proto-
zoa, flat worms, rotifers and snails, it is zoo-
logically evasive and something of an aristo-
erat, refusing to be closely associated with any
other animal, yielding to no real grouping at
all, but occupying a separate heading all by
itsel{f—at present near the spiders—under the
large order of jointed-footed animals. This is
rather awkward, because there are no joints
whatever in its feet, and latest rumor is that it
will next find itself back among the worms,
from which group of animals it is now thought
to be an offshoot.
The Tardigrada are remarkable creatures;
not only remarkable to look upon, but wonder-
fully put together. They are male and female.
Besides head, feet and claws, they possess a
mouth, pharynx, cesophagus, teeth, stomach,
muscles, and sometimes eyes—but never any
tail. The body is composed of beautiful, regu-
lar cells that delight the physiologist, especi-
ally the student of histology, the science of the
tissues; yet the Tardigrade possesses no con-
nective tissue. It has a brain, a nerve cord, a
chain of ganglia, and optic nerves, and an or-
ganism that exhibits no signs of degeneration ;
yet the animal boasts neither lungs, gills, kid-
neys, heart, nor blood vessels.
Certain bacteria and other vegetable organ-
isms have been observed flourishing in its body
fluid, but work no apparent injury to their busy
host. Outwardly it appears defenseless. Its
teeth are used only on the plants it eats, and its
claws are never set in the hide of, friend or foe,
so far as we can ascertain, but serve only to
grasp surrounding objects to help the tiny crea-
ture over his watery ground; but the salivary
glands are said to secrete poison.
Europeans first recorded the Tardigrades and
described species that live in salt water as well
as fresh. The fresh-water species has generally
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
been found in plankton—the floating matter of
the water—in wet moss, and other small plants
of the rivers, swamps and ponds. Low temper-
ature is evidently pleasing to the water bears,
for, rare at all times, they are still more rarely
found in summer than during the cooler
months.
In Illinois they have been observed from Oc-
tober to May. The one here pictured was
found toward the last of May in a balanced
aquarium where she had probably been all win-
ter, having taken up her abode for the time
being with various other minute animals in the
dead egg of a red ramshorn snail. There it was
that she cast her skin and left her progeny.
The latter's small feet traveled around and
across the egg a great many times. An egg
1/32 of an inch in diameter was, of course, a
little world in itselfi—a microcosm—to such in-
finitesimal creatures. They showed no haste to
leave it and seek their fortunes in the deep, ex-
pansive lake wherein the egg reposed—in a
watch crystal.
Another specimen, since discovered in Au-
gust, was groping among the stems of some
stalked protozoans attached to the shell of a
Potomac snail.
Some of the bear animalcules live on land,
and on the roofs of houses, others in moist sand.
Some live only in temporary pools, others in
the seething ocean; and far removed from civ-
ilization, still others dwell high up in the Arc-
tic mountains. Some travel about in tiny coats
of mail. One species—that which lives in moss
—suffers no permanent injury from drying up,
surviving terrible heat and drought. It is said
that even after years of dessication, a drop of
water will bring it to life. Without heart or
blood vessels, the fluid in the body which serves
as blood need not necessarily be peculiar to this
Tardigrade; and perhaps that is the queerest
thing about him. When it has dried up, a touch
of moisture will replace it and serve quite as
well. During drought, therefore, the members
of this species remain like invisible particles of
dust. A drop of rain, and back to life they
come.
The restlessly active little water bear has his
place somewhere in the great scheme of life on
earth, self-intent and self-content, and quite un-
aware that he has been found out by giants
studying zoology, whose infinitely larger brains
than his are so severely taxed to discover what
manner of beast he is. “Solicit not thy thoughts
with matters hid.”—Little did Milton know the
temptations of the microscope.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
By C. H. Townsenp
A New Book on Small Aquaria.—In Gold-
fish Varieties and Tropical Aquarium Fishes,
Mr. William T. Innes presents a useful guide
to aquaria and related subjects. Among the
subjects dealt with are the fresh-water aqua-
rium, goldfish varieties, hardy native fresh-
water fishes, tropical aquaria, marine aquaria,
terraria, fish foods, diseases, plants, construc-
tion of aquaria, etc.
The author is equipped jby long experience
for his task, and has performed it so well that
the book will take an important place among
manuals devoted to the subject.
The following quotations contain the essen-
tials of aquarium management:
“The main causes for failure, in the order of
their importance, are overcrowding, overfeed-
ing, sudden temperature changes, lack of proper
plant life, insufficient lighting.”
As to overcrowding, the rule given is:
“One inch of fish to one gallon of water—
that is, in a ten-gallon aquarium of the usual
oblong shape, well planted and in a good light,
one could successfully keep ten one-inch, or five
two-inch, or two five-inch fish.
“Fish should never on any account be fed
more than will be consumed at once.
“Do not subject the fishes to any sudden
change of temperature, either higher or lower
.... A sprinkling pot is excellent for adding
water to the aquarium.
“Tf oxygenating plants are not used the fishes
become restless, come to the surface to breathe
air, and may finally die of suffocation unless
the water is changed.
“Select for the aquarium a place close to a
window with a good strong light, preferably one
where it will get two hours of direct sun a day.”
In conclusion, the author gives a list of very
sensible Dont’s, which, if well considered by
the amateur, ought to carry him far on the way
to success.
The book is well printed, well illustrated, and
its matter is well presented. Undoubtedly it
will introduce many to the pleasant art of keep-
ing aquaria.
Larger Exhibition Tanks——The picture of
sturgeon and dog shark shows the effect that
can be produced in the enlarged exhibition
tanks that have been constructed in the Aqua-
rium during the past two years. The work of
enlarging tanks will be resumed soon and it is
(ItHd
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1554
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
hoped that all of the glass-fronted tanks on the
ground floor will be large enough to hold really
large fishes. The number of fishes that can be
kept in such tanks is greater, as there is’ more
swimming space.
Young Orange Filefish—The young of this
species are quite different in appearance from
the adults, having oblique, broad black bands,
while the adults lack the bands and are con-
spicuously yellow. The photograph of the
young filefishes presented herewith may be com-
pared with one published in this BuLietin in
November, 1912, showing the large adult fishes.
_ This species usually maintains an oblique po-
sition both when quietly poised in mid-tank and
when moving in its slow fashion. It is com-
mon all along our coast in summer and autumn
and is often found in large schools.
Refrigerating Plant.—One of the most im-
portant improvements in the mechanical depart-
ment of the Aquarium has been the recent in-
stallation of the refrigerating engine and con-
denser in new quarters.
To comply with Fire Department require-
ments for the separate enclosing of such ma-
chinery, it became necessary to remove the re-
frigerating plant to a position where the acci-
dental liberation of ammonia gas would not be
dangerous to visitors. This was accomplished
by the construction of a room outside of the en-
gine room, on top of the broad outer wall of
the building. Advantage was taken of the
change, to abandon the bulky tank and coil sys-
tem and install a condenser of the more modern
double-tube pattern, which requires less space
and gives better results.
The accompanying photograph shows the ex-
terior of the new structure. The area made va-
cant by the removal of this machinery permit-
ted the enlargement of two exhibition tanks and
the consequent increase of space to be devoted
to exhibits.
Fishes From Florida.—On September 12 Mr.
Mowbray of the Aquarium staff, went to Key
West for the purpose of making a cooperative
collection of fishes for the New York and De-
troit aquariums.
The collection was made under very trying
conditions, owing to stormy weather. About
600 specimens were collected and were loaded
on the steamer in a gale of wind and rain. The
ship was delayed several hours, owing to the.
weather, but sailed that night. The gale reached
its height about midnight and the fishes in the
shipping tanks were subjected to uncommonly
1555
NEW QUARTERS FOR THE REFRIGERATING PLANT
rough treatment. Some 160 succumbed or were
too badly bruised to be of any exhibition value
and were thrown overboard; but 447 specimens
finally landed at the Aquarium.
Fur Seal Herd in 1917.—The preliminary
census of the Alaska fur seal herd for 1917, as
reported from the Pribilof Islands on August
16, totaled 463,374 seals of all classes.
A steady increase in the herd has been re-
corded each year since ocean sealing was dis-
continued by international agreement in De-
cember, 1911. The catch made at sea that
year was 12,700, mostly breeding females, and
the herd on the islands was numbered at
123,600, although it was subsequently an-
nounced that this figure was too low. In 1912,
with no losses of breeding females from ocean
sealing, and no losses of pup seals by starva-
tion as a result of being left motherless, the
herd numbered 215,738; the census having
been made with greater care than ever before.
1556
iets GREAT N NEW WOR Mn uM,
W.G.Gou
ia
Rete e Gi we:
MOP AIXTORE.
: BOSE LIVING WONDERS OF THE vidios FROM EVERY SEA, EXHIBITED IN TRON B GLASS TANKS,1T0 60 FEET IN LENGTH,
ONSTANT STREAM OF WATER BROUGRT FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN & KFPT IN CIRCULATION BY POWERFUL STEAM ENGINES AT ENORMOUS EXPENSE
AN AQUARIUM OF FORTY YEARS AGO
From an old print owned by the N. Y. Aquarium.
The total for 1917 shows that the herd has
more than doubled in five years, and the half
million mark is almost in sight.
The number of breeding females is ascer-
tained each year by actual counting of pups
born, the number of which for 1917 is an-
nounced as 125,712.
In five years more the seal rookeries of the
Pribilofs will begin to look like old times.
An Aquarium of Forty Years Ago.—The pic-
ture of the “Great New York Aquarium,”
shown herewith, is from a large lithograph now
in the library of the Aquarium in Battery Park.
The Aquarium, located on the corner of
Broadway and Thirty-fifth Street, was found-
ed by W. C. Coup, and was opened to the pub-
lic on October 11, 1876. Shortly after the
project was set on foot, Messrs. Charles Reiche
& Brother, dealers in animals, became associ-
ated with Mr. Coup, who later withdrew and
was succeeded by Dr. H. Dorner, of the Ham-
burg Zoological Garden and Aquarium, who
became manager.
The Aquarium contained 16 large glass-
fronted wall tanks, and 12 large table aquaria
for marine exhibits. In addition to 14 table
aquaria for fresh water exhibits, there were a
large trout tank and two fish-hatching troughs.
The fresh water supply was derived from the
City system, and the sea water was circulated
by a steam pump from a reservoir under the
floor.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
A guide to this Aquarium by
Dr. Dorner, published in 1877,
“describes nearly all the ani-
mals that have been or are on
exhibition.” It enumerates 132
species of fishes, a small num-
ber of invertebrates, and a few
aquatic vertebrates such as tur-
tles and salamanders. There
were three floor pools usually
devoted to seals and alligators.
One of the pools was occupied
for a short time by a white
whale, (Delphinapterus leu-
cas).
Mr. W. I. De Nyse, now ot
the staff of the Aquarium, was
connected with the Broadway
institution for three years. He
states that at first the Aquari-
um was successful financially,
but later its exhibits were not
well kept up and the interest
of the public declined. The
central floor space was finally cleared of aquatic
exhibits to make room for vaudeville attrac-
tions; but the favor of the public was not re-
gained, and the Aquarium soon ceased to exist.
Huge Snapping Turtles—The Aquarium has
received from Louisiana three specimens of the
alligator snapping turtle, (Macrochelys lacer-
tina), one of them unusually large, weighing
10114 pounds.
Their weights and lengths are as follows:
1.—1011% pounds, carapace 24 inches, total
length 4 feet 9 inches.
2.—87 pounds, carapace 27 total
length 4 feet 9 inches.
3.—70 pounds, carapace 21
length 4 feet.
A very large mounted snapper of this spe-
cies from Memphis, Tennessee, that died in the
Aquarium some years ago, weighed 106 pounds.
Its total length was four and one-half feet, and
the length of carapace twenty-three inches.
inches,
inches, total
These large and vicious turtles inhabit the
lower Mississippi and rivers of the Gulf States.
They are the largest of the fresh water turtles
with the possible exception of the Podocnemis
expansa of the Amazon River.
The greatest known weight of a Macrochelys
lacertina is 140 pounds. It is used as food and
often sold in southern markets. The powerful
jaws can break a stick the size of an ordinary
broom handle.
ONE OF THE NEWLY ENLARGED EXHIBITION TANKS
Showing common Sturgeon, (Acipenser stwrio) and smooth Dogfish, (Mustelus canis).
_ ; Sah \ ae
GIANT SNAPPING TURTLES FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI
Photographed by Elwin R. Sanborn.
1557
1558 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN
SECTION OF A FUR SEAL ROOKERY
Photograph made twenty years ago by C. H. Townsend.
TWENTY-FOUR WAYS OF SPELLING A
FISH’S NAME
ORMERLY a man was not considered ac-
complished unless he could spell his
name several different ways. Even in
his will his utmost versatility was displayed in
this respect—a procedure which would, in all
likelihood, invalidate the document under mod-
ern process of probate. Sometimes each of the
children spelled the name a different way, and
in some of the old New England graveyards
several variations occur in the stones of a fam-
ily plot. The irritation of people nowadays
when their names are not spelled in precisely
one way, is an amusing illustration both of the
reversal of fashion and the hold that fashion
has upon us.
In the naming of a certain fish, however, the
old custom still prevails, and our ancestors are
quite outdone in the case of this giant pike
whose name is spelled in at least twenty-four
different ways:
Ways beginning with Ma
Maskallonge
Maskalonge
Mascalonge
Mascolonge
Maskalunge Maskinoje
Maskanonge Maskinongé
Maskenonge Mask-Kinongé
Mas Kenosha Masquallonge
Maskenozha Masquinongy
(Of these, Mas Kenosha, Maskinongé and
Mask-Kinonge are names given to the fish by
the Ojibway Indians.)
Way beginning with Mo
Moska longe
Ways beginning with Mu
Muscalonge Muskallunge
Muskalinge Muskalonge
Muskallonge Muskellunge
Way beginning with an N
Noscononge
And it is written in French Masque longue,
also Masque allongé—that is to say, “long
face.”
The question of a settled form for spelling
the name of this fish was considered at the
Aquarium several years ago, and Muskallunge
was decided upon. This spelling has been
used ever since in Aquarium publications.
I. M. M.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organiza -
tion, who desire to contribute toward its support.
The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to
the Zoological Park on all pay days, when he may see the collections to the best advantage.
Members are entitled to the Annual Report, bi-monthly Bulletins, Zoologica, privileges of the
Administration Building, all lectures and special exhibitions, and ten complimentary tickets to
the Zoological Park for distribution.
Any Annual Member may become a Life Member by the payment of $200. A subscriber
of $1,000 becomes a Patron; $2,500, an Associate Founder; $5,000, a Founder; $10,000, a
Founder in Perpetuity, and $25,000, a Benefactor.
Application for membership may be given to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park;
C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the General
Secretary, No. 111 Broadway, New York City.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK
The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thursday of
each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these days fall on a holiday no admis-
sion fee is charged. From April 15 to October 15, the opening and closing hours are from 9
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From October 16 to April 14, the opening and
closing hours are from 10 o’clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset.
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
The Aquarium is open every day in the year; April 15 to October 15, 9 A. M. to 5 P. M;
October 16 to April 14, 10 A. M. to 4 P. M. Open free to the public every day in the year.
PUBLICATIONS
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ss “ ho tte eee sees we 15 Cloth $1.00 illustrations from four color plates. ............. 50
i fs iV and each. . ie ae e aon (By mail, postage 3 cents extra.)
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day) postpaid....-........... 1.65 | Wild Animal Stamp Primer: 96 page cloth bound book
Destruction of Our Birds and Mam- = containing 49 animal stories, illustrated by 50 four-
mals (Hornaday)............. 15 color stamp reproductions. ..................002. 85
Notes on oa sucey of North (By mail 7 cents extra)
America (Hornaday).......... 40 i F é F igs
s “ Photogravures: Series of 12 subjects in sepia. Animals
The Caribou (Grant)............ at “60 and views in the Zoological Park. Sold in sets
ube Origin ne Heconousiy oe tue of 2 subjects. Per set, postpaid................. 25
a i
ica “(Grant) Poet BT eT a aes Neund SE E % 1.00 Souvenir Map-Fan: A combined fan and map of the
het occnininiarieG oat (Grip) “s 1,00 Zoological Park Gennee aes pee SEA, er 10
eee er : : ae : ae epee A 2.80 Eanor cana: of the Zocvavical Park: Reproduced in colors
: ze rom an original drawing in perspective.
Zoologica Vol. 1. Nos. 12,18and14. -25 flat or in folder form... = aes ad e De +e got Seer
it fest NO: iz ere Ihe it 2 (By mail, postage 2 cents extra.)
" eueencen trandessz: 2 25 Enlargements: 11x14 inches. 12 subjects in black and
“ SER AGES cai Setar Pyar mee 0 30 Midis Cervo ibecrposseecie Cae eee Faso 5 So eee 25
e japanese eee emencrcictaycee ‘A 25 Duotone; Brown; eachecae ic cicuidenieree - soc cs 35
CS iki Hing ecerssn) Baek cia Mapa + 125 Hand Colored (10 Subjects), each................ 15
3s Rie ive nc ee pita © i 2 Photo-Letter: (folding) 18 pictures, photogravure...2for .10
if UE RE SIAR rig gree ema “ On f 2 = i ATCOIONS): «.s «is« ave afor .10
Zoopathologica Vol, I. No.1...... br 25 New York Aquarium Nature Series
2 see, -25 Sea Shoreyinites (Mayer) ronuciclertaeteaiste) =. «ois nicole mratel $1.20
Bulletin Nos. 1, 6, 8, 35, 48 and 46 .. Out of Print eure ton pe eles oe onde ay ayneend) Lancs steve eee 2
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Bulletins—Bi-monthly....-'. « 2 goe, cach. \Wearly by rnaill.00- | nerthern: Elephant Seal (Townsend).....-<.>.-