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HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 


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OF THE 


MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 


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ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


PUBLISHED BY THE NEw YorK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


January, 1907 


THE MOUNTAIN GOAT 


HE mysteries in the care of wild animals 
in captivity are numerous and _ perplex- 
ing. By way of illustration, take the 

White Mountain Goat, (Oreamnos montanus). 
In August, 1905, we possessed four fine, healthy 
specimens, and kept them at the old Prong- 
Horned Antelope House. In September of that 
year, all of them died. In October, 1905, we ac- 
quired five more specimens from the same lo- 
cality as the original herd, but one year 
younger. We quartered them in the same spot, 
in care of the same keeper, who has fed them 
in precisely the same manner as the preceding 
bunch, except that their crushed oats have been 
prepared in the Park and are now known to be 
pure. The reason why we have made no other 


HERD 


change in the care of the second flock is, that 
the first was cared for to the best of our ability, 
and we knew of only one improvement to 
make. 

To-day the second flock of five is intact, and 
in excellent health and vigor. Its members 
seem to be as large and as vigorous as wild 
goats of the same age. They are not kept on 
Mountain Sheep Hill because for some un- 
known reason they never have thriven there. 
3y means of some very steep runways of 
planks, they have been given access to the roof 
of their rustic barn, and the snow-white flock, 
walking indifferently over the steep slope, or 
perching on the comb, is one of the most start- 
ling and amusing spectacles in the Park. 


. 
& 


eect TOE 
ed 


HERD OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOATS, 


THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR. 


AN ALMOST EXTINCT BIRD. 


Special Correspondence of the New York Evening Post. 


WasHInGton, November 14.—One of the 
recent acquisitions at the New York Zoologi- 
cal Park was the subject which attracted the 
attention and evident interest of the delegates 
attending the twenty-fourth annual congress 
of the American Ornithologists’ Union at to- 
day’s session. This was the California condor, 
“General,” one of the five specimens of this 
almost extinct bird which naturalists have been 
able to capture and nurture in captivity. The 
other four condors are in the Government zo- 
ological collection in Rock Creek Park here. 
The rarity of the bird and the fact that the de- 
scription of it was given by a young man who 
had spent three entire months in the San Ber- 
nardino Mountains in southern California in 
quest of the nest from which “General” came 
into the world, caused the audience of several 
hundred bird lovers to follow closely every 
point of the description. 

The speaker was William L. Finley, of Port- 
land, Ore., who had carried his long search to 
a successful conclusion, and had then trained 
the captive. It was on March 10, last, that he 
found a condor nest in the California moun- 
tains, with a single glossy egg and an adult 
condor sitting close by. For twelve days he 
and his companion watched the nest. After 
that time their vigil was rewarded by the dis- 
covery that a young condor had been born. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


How the. two 
young men made 
their first investi- 


gation was told to 
the Evening Post's 
correspondent this 
afternoon by Mr. 
Finley. He said: 

IN mls, ESE 
wide enough for a 
path, dropped steep 
into the gorge on 
both sides. For 
two miles we 
wound around a 
shaky trail, tracing 
the top rim of the 
basin. A great 
slab of gray stone 
barred the door- 
way of the con- 
dor’s home, and 
protected it from 
storms. Up a 
steep, narrow 
pocket we scram- 
bled, clinging to the scrubby bushes and the 
snaky roots, washed bare by rain, until we 
could peer through a crack in the rocks. An un- 
canny feeling went through me as I made out 
indistinctly the big black body of the condor, 
with its orange colored head and beady eyes 
watching me intently.” 


As Mr. Finley’s object was not merely to 
capture a specimen for a zoological collection 
and thus win one of the large rewards offered, 
but as his stronger wish was to study the habits 
of the bird in its mountain home, the nest was 
not then disturbed. Instead, the watchers 
quietly retired and made periodic trips back 
to the place. Eight such trips were made 
between March 10 and July 5. The many ob- 
servations made during this time yielded much 
information of great scientific value, and as 
soon as the news of the discovery became 
known attracted the attention of Director 
Hornaday in New York. It was due to the lat- 
ter’s prompt avowal of the importance of this 
work that the two young men continued their 
efforts and kept a detailed record of their ex- 
periences. 

It was in the beginning of July, when the 
young condor was 110 days old, that Mr. Fin- 
ley took the bird from its nest and carried it 
with him to his home in Portland. It weighed 
then fifteen and one-half pounds. In August, 
the condor was taken to a summer camp up the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Willamette River, and placed in an enclosure 
in the forest. For two months the bird was 
under the closest observation from day to day 
and was treated to a diet of a pound of raw 
meat twice a day and plenty of fresh water. 
Especial attention was given to the bird’s feed- 
ing in order to determine whether the natural 
propensity to live on carrion would manifest 
itself. It was found ultimately that it ate the 
fresh raw meat by choice and would never 
touch anything else unless driven to do so by 
the absence of any other food. 


This, however, was but one of the important 
observations jotted down. How the young 
condor began to master the use of his wings is 
best told in Mr. Finley’s own words: 

“When ‘General’ was 150 days old he was 
well fledged, except that his breast was still 
covered with gray down. His wing feathers 
were strong, but they were not yet able to sup- 
port his heavy body. If we did not let him out 
of his cage a part of each day, he became very 
restless. When the gate was opened he would 
stop a moment or two, look about and stalk 
slowly out. He did nothing without delibera- 
tion. Then, with several hops he would go 
half-way across the yard, clapping his big 
wings, and going through a regular dance, 
jumping up in the air several times in succes- 
sion. On his removal from his wild native 
haunt he had lost his wildness and had now 
become gentle and fond of those who cared 
for him. He loved to be petted and fondled, 
would nibble at my hand, run his nose up my 
sleeve, and bite the buttons on my coat. Every 
move he made was with care, as if afraid of 
being too rough. If scared or struck at he 
would strike back, but there was never the 
least inclination of savageness when well 
treated. 

“One would think there could be little at- 
tachment for a vulture, but there is nothing 
treacherous or savage in the condor nature. 
Contrary to expectation, he was cleanly in his 
habits. Becoming accustomed to fresh meat, 
he would take nothing else, and if it was the 
least bit dirty he would refuse it; while game, 
such as squirrel and rabbit, he would not touch 
if he could get fresh beef. When mixed with 
squirrel meat, the beef would be eaten and the 
other left. He would gnaw a good bone with 
as much eagerness as a dog until there was not 
a bit of meat left on it.” 

The ornithologists composing the audience 
gave frequent evidence of their appreciation of 
the splendid photographic illustrations of the 
young condor extending his wings and posing 


319 


in obedience to his captor’s wishes. Scientific 
men well know the aversion that wild birds and 
animals have to the camera, and “General” 
was in the beginning no exception to this rule. 
Mr. Finley attributed this dislike not only to 
natural causes, but to the fact that when the 
young condor was first taken out of his nest 
in his wild state he had hissed in defiance at 
being posed before the camera and fought like 
a demon. After having been in captivity for 
several months and having received considera- 
tion at the hands of his captors his attitude 
toward them changed, but remained as before 
toward any stranger coming to the camp. 


At times the young condor was as playful as 
a pup, Mr. Finley said, and after having his 
breakfast, would jump down from his perch 
and toy with a stick in true canine fashion, 
shaking it in his bill, and then dropping it only 
to jump upon it with both feet and toss it up 
again. He was extremely fond of pulling on 
a rope, and would strain at the guy lines of the 
canvas tents in a way that seemed to threaten 
their demolition. A rope dragged along the 
ground he would watch and follow like a kitten 
after a string. He learned to follow his owner 
about and to come when called. If a ladder 
was stood up against a tree, he would hop up, 
rung by rung, to the top, and then fly off, only 
to repeat the experiment again and again. He 
liked to be petted and amused, and showed 
great interest in any sign of activity about the 
camp. 

One of the novel characteristics discovered 
was the young condor’s fondness for bathing. 
He would go down to the creek near the camp 
and patter along in the water for an hour at 
atime. A piece of broken china or a little wad 
of white paper would attract his eye. He 
would get under a water spout and wallow in 
the pool. When thoroughly soaked, he would 
step out into the sun for a moment and then 
suddenly go back again. He would keep this 
up until almost exhausted by the exercise, and 
would then want to take a sun bath and sprawl 
in the sand. 

From all these observations Mr. Finley has 
come to the conclusion that there are many 
good characteristics in this bird, which has 
always been considered a degenerate and the 
incarnation of ugliness in the feathered tribe. 
The bird was not stupid, noticed everything, 
took human companionship not passively, but 
with evident appreciation, showed anger only 
when there was cause, and demonstrated his 
strong instinct for cleanliness and a diet of 
good food. Behind his rough exterior and 


320 


his appearance of savageness, there were these 
many good qualities. 


When the care of the young condor was re- 
linquished to Director Hornaday in New York 
the bird weighed twenty and one-half pounds, 
was forty-six inches in length, and had a wing- 
spread of eight feet. The fact that the bird’s 
history has been followed from the egg stage 
to the present time has made the present in- 
stance unique in the records of wild birds in 
this country. There are only forty-one condor 
eggs in the museums of the whole world, and 
as the species is now so nearly extinct it is not 
likely that this number will ever be largely in- 
creased. It is popularly supposed that the eggs 
of the great auk are the rarest of their kind, 
but between seventy and eighty of them have 
been preserved. None other of the raptorial 


birds has a range so restricted, and its range 
at the present time, so far as scientific men 
know, is from Monterey County, California, 
southward into Lower California. 


THE RHINOCEROS VIPER. 


In some other sections the extermination of 
the species was probably due to the habit of 
stock raisers in baiting carcasses with poison in 
order to kill off carnivorous wild animals such 
as panthers, grizzly bears, and prairie wolves. 
As the condors, soaring aloft, most easily es- 
pied these baits and were sociable in their habit 
of assembling wherever carrion was to be 
found, large numbers of them thus fell victims 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


to the trap intended for predatory wild beasts. 
As all the best authorities on wild bird life as- 
sert that the condor lays only one egg in a 
season, the rate of reproduction is at best very 
limited and when numbers fell victims to these 
traps the species was very rapidly thinned out. 
All these discoveries add interest to the case 
of the specimen which the New York Zoolog- 
ical Park now possesses and give added im- 
portance to the intricate and detailed life record 
of the bird, as kept by his captors from the 
time of their discovery of the egg, twelve days 
before the birth of “General.” 


THE AFRICAN VIPERS. 

F ALL the serpents exhibited in our 
Reptile House, the most gorgeous in its 
coloration is the Rhinoceros Viper, (Bitis 

nasicornis), while the most hideous in config- 
uration is the Gaboon Viper, (Bitis gabonica). 
Both of these specimens were captured in the 
Congo Free State, Central Africa, by Mr. S. P. 


Verner, of Montgomery, 
em Alabama, who has long 

To og . . 
Mee been engaged in African 
JS explorations, and who 


brought to America the 
Pigmy “Ota Benga.” 


The Rhinoceros Viper 
is not a large snake. Even 


when stretched out, it meas- 
ures only 38 inches, but it 
is two-and-a-half inches in 
diameter at the thickest 
part of the body. The head 
is rather small for a viper- 
ine snake. Though it is 
provided with two curious 
= horns upon the snout, im- 
. parting an eccentric profile, 
it is the coloration of the 
reptile that is most striking. 
. To any one who has not 
seen the specimen, an ade- 
quate and truthful descrip- 
tion is likely to seem like 
flowery extravagance in the 

use of terms. 

Owing to the roughly-keeled scales the en- 
tire upper surface has a velvety luster. Down 
the back is a series of large, oblong saddles, of 
a brilliant blue; and these are set in jet-black 
rhombs that are bordered with deep crimson. 
On the sides are large, upright blotches, like 
inverted V’s, which are dark green, bordered 
first with crimson, and externally with pale 
blue. The little “ground color’ showing be- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


tween the blotches is olive, thickly powdered 
with black, suggesting the richest of dark- 
green velvet. 

When this specimen arrived at the Park, it 
was of a dingy gray color, with but the faint- 
est suggestion of a pattern. This was due to 
its being covered with a very old, begrimed 
skin. As its eyes were quite lusterless, the 
writer decided to relieve the snake of its epi- 
dermis. Starting the skin backward from the 
upper and lower jaw with a pair of forceps, the 
snake did the rest, slowly emerging from its 
opaque coat. The display of startling colors 
and striking pattern caused those standing by 
to fairly gasp in astonishment. The impression 
upon the writer recalled the transformation of 
certain insects from a dull-colored grub to a 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 321 
beautiful imago, and not to him alone occurred 
this resemblance, for the keepers have since 
called the creature the “Butterfly Viper.” 

In the Gaboon Viper we may also note a re- 
markable pattern suggesting oriental tapestry, 
but attention is concentrated upon the sinister 
configuration, showing an incongruously thick, 
bloated body and the most cruel of heads— 
heart-shaped, with silvery-white, cat-like eyes 
that stare in a glassy, unwinking fashion that 
is ever alert. This snake is barely a yard long, 


though nearly three inches in thickness. Its 
head is as large as that of a big rattlesnake. 
The poison-conducting fangs are enormously 
developed, and if the fangs were fully im- 
bedded, its bite would be almost inevitably 
fatal. R. 


L. D. 


MOVING THE 


THE ALLIGATOR PROBLEM. 


SHORT time after the opening of the 
Reptile House, seven years ago, inter- 
ested visitors began to bring us small 

alligators as gifts——the proverbial ten or 
twelve inch “barkers” brought from Florida as 
souvenirs. Kept in an ordinary living-room 
temperature, in a pan of cold water, young 


ALLIGATORS TO 


WINTER QUARTERS, 


alligators feed sparingly or not at all, and re- 
main about the same size. In the warm tanks 
of the Reptile House, this collection of minia- 
ture crocodilians began to grow. From a small 
section of the turtle crawl they were removed 
to a lobby cage. After a season a panel was 
drawn and they were allowed the run of two 
lobby cages. Then they began exhibiting such 
vigor it was feared they would break the glass, 


322 


so they were transferred to the big tank on 
the main floor of the Reptile House that for- 
merly was occupied by the marine turtles. Here 
they looked dwarfed in the big basin of deep 
water, but soon evinced an inclination to in- 
crease prodigiously in size. Early last summer, 
some of the “babies” were large enough to 
crawl over the side of the tank, which they 
usually did at night. 

Our next resource was the old sea-lion pool, 
depopulated by the removal of the sea-lions to 
Baird Court. In this was placed the entire 
nursery colony, some of them now so heavy 
it was necessary to tie their jaws together 
with rope, blindfold them and transport them 
one at a time, on a wheel-barrow. In that big 
rock basin the colony thrived and grew. 

When our first frosty weather came this fall 
a most embarrassing situation was presented. 
What should we do with the “small” alligators ? 
They had outgrown all accommodations. Sev- 
eral of them were nearly seven feet long. There 
were over thirty in the lot and the big alligator 
pool contained the giant crocodilians that 
would murder any but the largest and strong- 
est. 

We solved the problem temporarily by giv- 
ing them a mezzanine floor of wire netting in 
one end of the big pool. A few of the strong- 
est (and best fighters) were placed with the 
big fellows, where they are holding their own 
fairly well. Reba: 


A NEW PYTHON. 


RECENT addition to the collection of 
ae is one of the largest pythons 
ever exhibited alive in this country. 
This is a female example of the Regal Python, 
(Python reticulatus), gorgeous in a rainbow 
coat of flashing irridescence, at least twenty- 
four feet long, thirty inches in circumference 
and weighing exactly two hundred and sixty 
pounds. This splendid specimen was captured 
in the jungles of the Malay Peninsula, and ob- 
tained at Singapore by Captain Henry Wilkes 
of the steamship “Indrasamha,”’ who sold it to 
the Society. We are not positive about the 
creature’s exact length as she is extremely 
nervous and vicious, and it is not advisable to 
handle her until she has commenced feeding 
regularly. Regarding her circumference and 
weight, we can explain that the former was 
estimated while the snake was yet in the crate, 
and the second was obtained by first weighing 
the crated specimen, and afterward the empty 
crate itself. 
In this serpent we were fortunate in pro- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


curing a python freshly captured. While cross- 
ing the Atlantic, so Captain Wilkes explains, 
the snake appeared uneasy, and finally dis- 
gorged the thigh bone of an animal of consid- 
erable size. After it had been placed in the 
largest of our Reptile House cages it disgorged 
a ball of coarse, bristly hair. This, on being 
examined, was easily identified as the bristles 
of an Indian wild boar (Sus indicus), and evi- 
dently a mature individual. As the Indian 
wild boar attains a weight of two hundred and 
sixty pounds, and is a fierce and powerful 
creature, the struggle between the snake and 
its formidable prey may be imagined. R. L. D. 


A COLLECTION OF TRINIDAD 
REPTILES. 


O MR. R. R. MOLE, of Port-of-Spain, 
Trinidad, the Society is indebted for 
many interesting specimens. It is from 

Mr. Mole we have received all our specimens 
of that most formidable of all South American 
poisonous snakes, the Bushmaster, (Lachesis 
mutus) ; also the greater number of our Lance- 
Head Vipers, (Lachesis atrox). Quite recently, 
this gentleman sent us two more very interest- 
ing shipments of Trinidad reptiles. Among 
the spginens was an adult female example of 
the La@ice-Head Viper—the Fer-de-Lance of 
the Crfole-French, (Lachesis atrox); a large 
Rat Snake, (Spilotes variabilis) ; two species 
of Water Snake, (Liophis cobella and 
Helicops angulata) ; a tree snake, (O-xrybelis 
acuminatus), and a curious subterraneous ser- 
pent, known technically as Glauconia albifrons, 
which spends most of its life in ant-hills, 
where it feeds upon the larve of the insects, 
or upon the soft-bodied “white ants’ them- 
selves (the termites). Besides the collection 
of serpents were several species of lizards. 
Among these were two strikingly pronounced 
types of the Family Teiidae—one represented 
by a series of powerful Tegus, (Tupinambus 
teguixin), the other by a degenerate, burrow- 
ing lizard, (Scolecosaurus cuvieri), which is 
worm-like, with diminutive legs. 

The Tegus are the most vicious lizards that 
ever have come to the Reptile House. When 
liberated in the big, sandy yards containing 
the iguanas and the monitors, they rushed into 
immediate combat. During the fighting, three 
large iguanas were killed, and a number of 
smaller examples had their tails chewed off. It 
was found necessary to place the Tegus in the 
pen with the powerful rhinoceros iguanas, 
where any individual on either side, with hos- 
tile inclination, could find a worthy antagonist. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Among evenly-matched cage associates, the 
Tegus soon evinced a less pugnacious dis- 
position. IRs ley DY 


THE END IN SIGHT. 
FTER ten years of diligent effort, two of 
A which were spent in planning and eight in 
active operations, the end of construction 
work in the Zoological Park is to-day actually 
in sight. With the completion of the Elephant 
House, the Zebra Houses, and the Administra- 
tion Building, all of which are measurably as- 
sured, we may contemplate a Zoological Park 
which is practically finished. We see no reason 
why the three structures named above can not 
be erected and occupied by December 31, 1908. 
The most important of these structures, the 
Elephant House, will be under contract within 
two months, and it should be finished in the 
spring of 1908. 

Of course it is to be understood that in an 
institution of this kind, an absolute end of all 
betterments never is found. By “practically 
finished’”” we mean—as complete as zoological 
gardens and parks ever are at any given period. 
Boundary walls and permanent entrance pavil- 
ions are very small matters in comparison with 
the large undertakings involved in the care 
and exhibition of animals, and the welfare of 
visitors generally. 

It is no secret that the Executive Commit- 
tee is laboring very diligently to reach what we 
may justly call “the finish.” Mr. Barney, Pro- 
fessor Osborn, Mr. Grant, and the other mem- 
bers of the Committee are not willing that the 
making of the ideal Park should drag on for- 
ever, and involve incalculable expense. But 
the pace set has been very rapid for all con- 
cerned, and the resting-place, when reached, 
will be greatly enjoyed. 


THE GUIDE-BOOK. 


NDER ordinary conditions, the Official 
[ Guide to the Zoological Park would 
have been revised and brought down to 
date one year ago. It was deemed advisable, 
however, to delay this work until the end of 
the present year, in order to include the last 
of the installations for animals, and make the 
volume substantially complete and permanent. 
The Director of the Park has now completed 
this revision and extension, and by April first 
the new volume will be ready. The future will 
be anticipated far enough to include the Ele- 
phant House and Zebra Houses, chiefly for 
the reason that half the living creatures neces- 
sary to fill them are already in hand, and re- 


BULLETIN 323 


quire notice. The new volume will be much 
larger than the current edition, its map will be 
brought down to date, and it will contain many 
new illustrations; but the price will not be 
advanced. As usual, all members of the So- 
ciety will receive the new issue as soon as it can 
be finished and mailed. 


WILD-ANIMAL PROTECTION IN 
AFRICA. 


HE ponderous blue-book of nearly four 
(3 hundred pages recently published by the 

British Government on “The Preserva- 
tion of Wild Animals in Africa” is evidence of 
the deep and practical interest of Great Britain 
in that subject. Even a brief inspection of the 
documents set forth is sufficient to show that 
already the game situation is well in hand, and 
that eventually every territory of the British 
possessions in Africa will have its game laws 
and game reserves. The measures that already 
are in force in territories whose names are yet 
unknown to Americans, are to us both an ex- 
ample and a reproach. In Africa, the white 
population is organizing to protect its lawful 
heritage of big game. In Alaska, both whites 
and natives seem to hate all game laws, and 
think only of destruction. 


DESTRUCTION OF ANIMAL LIFE IN 
ALASKA. 
LARMING reports have reached the Zo- 
A ciosical Society concerning the destruc- 
tion of moose, caribou, and mountain 
sheep in Alaska. It appears that hundreds of 
laborers on the Alaska Central Railway, and 
in various mining camps, are regularly sub- 
sisting upon the finest game animals in North 
America. The slaughter along the line of the 
above-mentioned railway is particularly ap- 
palling. 

It is charged by men who recently have ar- 
rived from Alaska that not only is game being 
slaughtered most ruthlessly, but that heads of 
moose, sheep, and caribou are being surrep- 
titiously shipped to the United States in large 
numbers. The situation seems to demand im- 
mediate action on the part of those who do not 
wish to see the large game of Alaska com- 
pletely exterminated in quick time. 


THE ANNUAL MEETING. 


The Annual Meeting of the New York Zo- 
ological Society will be held in the small ball- 
room of the Hotel Astor on January 8, 1907. 


324 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 
Elwin R. Sanborn; Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, rr Wall St., 
Jew York City. 
Copyright, 1907, by the New York Zoological Sociery. 


No. 24. JANUARY, 1907 
Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 
Single numbers, 15 cents. 


President: 
HON. LEVI P. MORTON, 


Executive Committee : 
CuHarvtes T. Barney, Chairman, 
Henry FarrFietp Oszorn, SAMUEL THORNE, 
Joun S. Barnes, Mapison GRANT, 
Percy R. Pyne, WILLIAM WHITE NILES, 


Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 
Secretary, Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, Percy R, Pyne, 52 WALL STREET. 
Director, WILLIAM Ty HornabDay, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK 


Board of Managers: 
EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. Georce B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. Moses HERRMAN. 


Class of 1907. Class of 1908. Class of 1909. 


F. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, 

A. Newbold Morris, Charles T. Barney, Andrew Carnegie, 
Percy R. Pyne, William C. Church, Morris K. Jesup, 
George B. Grinnell, Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, 
Jacob H. Schiff, H. Casimir De Rham, Philip Schuyler, 
Edward J. Berwind, George Grocker, John S. Barnes, 
George C. Clark, Hugh D. Auchincloss. Madison Grant, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, Charles F. Dieterich, William White Niles, 
. Ledyard Blair, James J. Hill, Samuel Thorne, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Nelson Robinson, Grant B.-Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Frederick G. Bourne, Payne Whitney, Wm. D. Sloane, 


AS OTHERS SEE US, 


In view of the studious ‘manner, in which 
English naturalists are now comparing and 
criticizing the zoological gardens of Europe, a 
recent critique on the New York Zoological 
Park is of special interest. Since the appearance 
of a noteworthy volume by C. V. A. Peel, en- 
titled “The Zoological Gardens of Europe,” and 
a later survey by Capt. S. S. Flower, director 
of the Cairo Zoological Garden, some American 
zoologists have regretted the fact that their 
vivaria were not being considered and criticized 
with those of Europe. 

Mr. F. G. Aflalo, a very competent critic, re- 
cently visited the Zoological Park, and in the 
London Outlook there has appeared an article 
by him, which we reproduce entire in this issue. 
We have no doubt that the members of the 
Zoological Society will be interested in the 
opinions of a man who is a critical naturalist, 
and also a prominent and loyal member of the 
Zoological Society of London. Mr. Aflalo has 
written several very interesting books, one of 
which is entitled “A Walk Through the (Lon- 
don) Zoological Gardens.” M. G. 


; ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


THE NEW YORK ZOO. 
By F. G. Arvato, F.Z.S. 


From the London OUTLOOK. 


OT more than fifteen or twenty miles 
N can lie between Bronx and the Bowery. 
You cover the distance for a five-cent 
fare on the up-town subway, which takes you 
out to the West Farms terminus, as my recol- 
lection goes, in less than the hour ; but so brief 
a journey is a link between one of man’s most 
crowded hives and a replica of the wild, with 
an ibex at gaze on the skyline, a herd of buffalo 
lying in the snow, a bear playing hide-and-seels 
behind a boulder. Within the two hundred and 
fifty acres of land and water comprised in the 
Bronx Zoological Park the visitor finds at once 
the expression of American ideals and the re- 
proach of European Zoos. 

Perspective, immensity, a middle distance 
that would measure the furthest limit of Old 
World menageries, to which it is as New 
York’s flatiron buildings to mud hovels in Con- 
nemara; these are the keynote of Bronx. It 
owes its present achievement and its yet greater 
promise to its freedom from the trammels of 
tradition and immunity from the handicap of 
obsolete ideals of architecture, as well as to 
that liberal policy of progress which is the com- 
fortable equation of public subsidy and private 
generosity. Multi-millionaires among its 
founders put their hands in their pockets when- 
ever some unusually expensive alteration is im- 
perative, for New York is a city in which the 
man who is not in want of it has only to ask for 
money and it pours into his lap. If Washing- 
ton had control of such funds, its more beau- 
tiful park might prove a dangerous rival, but 
outside of that continent I doubt if Bronx will 
ever have its peer. If Mr. Hornaday’s life’s 
work is to be eclipsed, it will be by one of his 
own countrymen. 

Granite ridges, scraped bare at their summits 
by early glacial action, run north and south 
over most of the area between East 182d Street 
and Pelham Avenue. Itis wild Nature, so cun- 
ningly adapted to the semi-artificial require- 
ments of a menagerie that the eye of the casual 
visitor without any special knowledge of such 
operations will have some difficulty in discrim- 
inating between the original landscape and the 
work of the Director. As recently as three 
years ago, for instance, what is now a pond for 
aquatic mammals was a moving peat-bog, and 
other bogs have with equal skill been trans- 
formed into useful ponds that gleam in setting 
of gneiss, quartz, and granite. In no orthodox 
“Zoo"’ should we look for the wild effect of the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


forest background, the acres of oak, maple, and 
cedar that hide the skyline, the sheen of thirty 
acres of water dotted with wild fowl, some of 
which, free of the air, fly to and fro and lend 
yet more natural effect to the scene. 

The permanent buildings will in all proba- 
bility be enlarged until they are stupendous. 
Nothing less than record houses for the lions, 
snakes, and monkeys will ultimately satisfy 
New York, and it is too much to hope that the 
architectural programme of an institution so 
richly endowed will escape infection by the sky- 
scraping microbe. Yet the admirers of Bronx 
will pray that outdoor space may keep first 
place in its ambitions. It is to the open-air 
features of this remarkable collection that the 
visitor from Europe turns with envious eye. 
Where much is excellent, praise in detail is 
laborious, but there are notes of individuality 
that can not be ignored in eulogy of the whole, 
Right at the entrance a buffalo range, dotted 
here and there with the shaggy remnants of a 
herd, strikes the note of the prairies, vastness, 
desolation, above all a reminder of the extinc- 
tion of a fine type that Mr. Roosevelt has 
likened to the destruction of all the works of a 
classic author. From almost any point of view 
the huge Flying Cage is sure to catch the 
curious eye; and this mammoth aviary, with its 
hundred feet of water, appreciated by the pon- 
derous pelican and rosy flamingo, and its trio 
of trees for the comfort of smaller perching 
fowl, is an extraordinary advance on even the 
flying cages of our own and other gardens. 
Another ideal of the open life for these hon- 
ored captives is found in the grassy ranges, a 
thousand feet of them, partly overgrown with 
oak and cedar, on which the restless sheep and 
deer of America and other continents can, after 
their fashion, wander as they graze. Lastly, 
the playground of the bears, a group in which 
America is more blest, or otherwise, than all 
the rest of the world, affords those massive yet 
delicate brutes unequaled opportunities of in- 
dulging in healthful frolic in the public eye. 

The view that the permanent buildings will 
eventually be permitted to dwarf the open 
spaces is, it must be admitted, not based on 
their present dimensions. So far, they are 
agreeably subordinated to the outdoor accom- 
modation. The lion house, though it will, when 
completed, have cost no less a sum than £30,- 
000, can not, certainly, be regarded as superior 
to that at Regent’s Park. Indeed, it is question- 
able whether on the whole it makes even so 
solid an impression. Its one advance on the 
lion houses of Europe is the flexible wire net- 
ting used in place of rigid bars, with a result at 


BULLETIN 325 


once pleasing to the eve and comfortable to the 
captive animals, which are thus unable to in- 
jure themselves during the paroxysms of rage 
that often accompany their arrival in new quar- 
ters. An annex of the Bronx lion house in 
the form of a well-lighted studio, with a special 
cage to enable painters and sculptors to work 
from the living model, marks an advance in a 
different but not less important direction; but 
this innovation, though welcome on other 
grounds, does not call for notice in a criticism 
concerned only with the park as an animal 
home. If the Bronx lion house is in no way 
superior to our own, the reptile house is, to my 
way of thinking, inferior, although in certain 
accessible groups, notably the rattlesnakes, the 
collection is more representative, and the 
Florida alligators grow rapidly as the result 
of direct sunlight on the tanks. The monkey 
house is chiefly notable for the open-air system 
provided, as the result of which it is claimed 
that death from phthisis, so fatal in the ma- 
jority of European monkey houses, is all but 
unknown. Other epidemics at Bronx are in- 
frequent, though a strange and mysterious mal- 
ady carried off all but one of the Californian 
sea-lions during a recent mild winter, but did 
not affect another of the herd that had been 
sent to the Aquarium, another admirable in- 
stitution under the control of the same society 
and most ably conducted by Mr. C. H. Town- 
send. On first reaching the Aquarium the sea- 
lion barked night and day until the Director, 
after a surfeit of sleepless nights, ordered 
extra rations of fish until, as he expressively 
put it, the brute “quit barking or burst.” The 
desired silence followed, but ever since the ani- 
mal has moved unceasingly around its tank, 
which the Director attributes to permanently 
heated blood as the result of its orgy. 

The memories of Bronx are of mingled envy 
and contentment. Animal lovers should be 
free from small jealousy, and as one who has 
long taken deep interest in our own Zoological 
Gardens, I know no rancor over the greater 
achievements of New York. Nay, if their 
park is broader, their library is insignificant, 
and there is not one of their officials who does 
not speak with reverence of the splendid litera- 
ture published by the London society. Their 
own publications, including the guide, which so 
keen a sportsman as Mr. Hornaday has been 
able to make more interesting than the majority 
of such books, and periodical bulletins copiously 
illustrated with photographs from the camera 
of Mr. Sanborn, are wholly popular in their 
conception. The good work in the direction of 
investigating disease in captive animals which 


326 


is being done by the medical staff is not yet 
available in print, but should one day prove a 
valuable addition to our knowledge of a study 
in which our. European Zoological staffs have 
been a little remiss. The literature of such 
societies is the growth of generations and will 
doubtless come in good time. Meanwhile the 


THE FRIGATE BIRD. 


Park, which approaches completion, is already 
a marvelous achievement ; and when Mr. Horn- 
aday rests from his labors, the science of the 
outdoor menagerie, conducted on lines at once 
popular and humane, will know no higher ex- 
pression than it will find in the glades and 
valleys of the Bronx. 


THE FRIGATE BIRDS. 
A MONG the rarest and most interesting 


birds received this year at the Zoological 

Park are the Frigate Birds, which were 
collected in Mexico for the Society, and placed 
on exhibition late in November. 

These birds render complete the six families 
of the order Steganopodes, or aquatic birds 
with webs connecting all four toes. The other 
five families, including the tropic birds, gan- 
nets, snake birds, cormorants, and pelicans 
have all been on exhibition in the Park before, 

The Frigate Bird, (Fregata aquila, Linn.), 
is in some ways the most interesting of all its 
congeners. Structurally, as well as in habits, 
the Steganopodes are closely related to the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


more terrestrial birds of prey, the hawks and 
eagles, and the Frigate Birds are the nearest 
to a connecting link between the two great 
orders, : 

They are, however, extremely specialized 
for an aerial life and in comparison with the 
weight of the body, the spread of wing exceeds 
that of any other birds. 
Frigate Birds inhabit the 
tropical oceans, and though 
often keeping near the 
shore, they are more inde- 
pendent of the land than 
any other sea bird, except 
the albatrosses and petrels. 
They can not dive, and 
they walk or swim with dif- 
ficulty, and in accordance 
with these habits, the feet 
and legs are small and the 
webs between the toes very 
deeply incised. While the 
tarsus measures less than 
an inch in length, the 
spread of wing is some- 
times eight feet! 

With all these apparent 
handicaps, their marvelous 
power of flight ensures 
prey in abundance. When 
a school of flying fish 
breaks from the water, it 
is often because of some 
fierce aquatic pursuer, but if a Frigate Bird is 
soaring high overhead, a sudden headlong dive 
and the snap of a hooked beak sends the flut- 
tering little fish back in terror to the water, 
minus one of their number. 

The Frigate Birds, or Man-o’-War Hawks as 
they are called, also rob gulls and terns of their 
hard-earned fish. The birds in the Zoological 
Park are young, and the heads and necks are 
white. As the birds attain adult plumage this 
white color is lost, and finally the entire head 
becomes a glossy black hue. This is the re- 
verse of what takes place in the bald eagles, 
where the dark immature head plumage is re- 
placed by white in the full-grown birds. 

When the young birds at the Park first ar- 
rived they were very thin and weak, due to the 
severe sea-sickness from which they suffered 
on their journey north. Remarkable though it 
is, this malady attacks many sea-birds, such 
as the albatross, when they are carried on the 
deck of a vessel. 

The graceful, long-pointed wings and the 
deeply forked tail are indicative of the won- 
derful aerial ability of the Frigate Bird, and 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 327 


afford characters for easy identification when 
these birds are seen from a steamer’s deck. An 
impressive sight is when a number of these 
birds are seen driving ahead of a storm of 
wind and rain until, becoming tired of sport- 
ing with the raging elements, they swiitly rise 
until they reach calm and sunlight high above 
the tempest. 

Frigate Birds are gre- 
garious, and large numbers 
build their rough nests of 
sticks on the low mangrove 
bushes of some small “coral 
key, or isolated tropical 
shore. One to three large 
white are laid, and 
hatch into fluffy white 
chicks, which never leave 
their rough platforms until 
able to follow their parents 
on the wing, to begin at 
once the use of those won- 
derful pinions which will 
carry them through their 
life, thousands upon thou- 
sands of miles over stormy 
seas and calm. 


POrO'S 
eggs 


GaaWiee eae 


THE IRREPRESSIBLE AMERICAN 
IBEX!” 


HROUGHOUT the Rocky Mountain 
region from El Paso to Dawson City 


belief in the existence of an undis- 
covered American Ibex springs eternal in the 
human mind. Again and again has the crea- 
ture been seen and reported, with positiveness 
and particularity. From the State of Washing- 
ton, one man sent a very good drawing of its 
head and horns, and from Colorado came a 


photograph, an ‘admirable description, and 
measurements, of a specimen which had 


actually been shot and mounted. Two really 
distinguished sportsmen of our acquaintance 
were with some difficulty convinced that a 
journey in pursuit of the horned mystery 
would be a waste of time. 

The spirit of investigation which prompts 
the pursuit of a mysterious animal, is highly 
commendable. Without it the scientific world 
would lose much. At the same time, it is un- 
fortunate that all Rocky Mountain hunters can 
not know that there really is not the faintest 


ROCKY 


o-/ 


probability of the discovery in America of any 
living representative of the genus Capra, and 
that it is useless to pursue the phantom “Ibex” 
of the West. 

The specimen shot in Colorado, and sub- 
mitted to us, was a domestic goat, presumably 
of Spanish breed, that had escaped from cap- 


MOUNTAIN SHEEP HORNS 


tivity and become wild and _ self-supporting. 
Such animals account for some of the “‘ibexes” 
that have been observed. A pair of horns and 
a pelt recently sent to us by Dr. D. T. Mac- 
Dougal, from the Desert Botanical Laboratory 
at Tucson, Arizona, illustrate another source 
of honest belief in the existence of an Ameri- 
ean Ibex. Dr. MacDougal, who is himself a 
keen naturalist, had no difficulty in naming at 
sight the species which these specimens repre- 
sent, but he kindly elected to afford us another 
practical demonstration of an “Ibex”’ story re- 
duced to its lowest terms. The animal shot as 
an “Ibex” in the Santa Catalina Mountains of 
Arizona proves to be a big-horn mountain 
sheep, female, (Ovis canadensis), about four 
years old. As in all horns of female mountain 
sheep, these describe only a quarter of a circle, 
and in their lack of curvature they are slightly 
goat-like. 

Beyond doubt, the many “Ibex” stories and 
queries that have so frequently arisen during 
the past fifteen years, originated in honestly 
made but wholly erroneous observations of 
domestic goats running wild, of mountain 


328 


sheep ewes, whose horns always are short and 
rather straight, and of young mountain sheep 
rams. 

In this connection, it may also be noted that 
in many instances female white mountain sheep 
seen at a distance have been mistakenly identi- 
fied as mountain goats. WwW. T. H. 


THE YEAR’S PROGRESS. 


URING the year 1906, development 

work in the Zoological Park has been 

prosecuted with the usual degree of in- 
dustry, and the program of the Zoological So- 
ciety is rapidly nearing completion. The series 
of installations for mammals was increased by 
the erection of an important building, known 
as the Small-Deer House, designed to contain 
a collection of small tropical deer and ante- 
lopes, such as are not provided for elsewhere. 
This building is situated near the southern 
boundary of the Zoological Park, midway be- 
tween the large Antelope House and the 
Pheasants’ Aviary. It is built of buff brick of 
the standard color in use in the Park, and is 
surrounded by an extensive series of outdoor 
yards. It will contain between thirty and forty 
species of animals. Its interior is particularly 
pleasing in its proportions and light effects. 

The accommodations for birds were in- 
creased by the erection of what is known as the 
“Glass Court,” which is really an annex to the 
Large Bird House. This addition has been 
specially designed for American song-birds, 
and was completed last summer. It is now 
well stocked with the species most dear to the 
hearts of American boys and girls, and is a 
favorite spot for teachers and classes from the 
public schools. 

In the line of general improvements, the 
most noteworthy feature of the year has been 
the erection of the western boundary wall and 
the northern front of Baird Court. The latter 
constitutes a very imposing composition of 
stone stairways, sculptured fountains and orna- 
mental balustrades. These two sides of Baird 
Court have been completed. To-day work is 
progressing on the Concourse, by which visi- 
tors will enter the Park and drive from Pelham 
Avenue to the northern stairways of Baird 
Court. When finished this feature will form 
an imposing approach to the finest group of 
buildings in the Park. 

Near the Service Building a large Feed Barn, 
of buff brick and concrete, was erected for the 
storage of large quantities of grain, hay, and 
straw, and the temporary sheds formerly oc- 
cupying that site were torn away. The barn 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


has been surrounded by a brick wall, capped 
with green tiling, and the interior of the yard 
thus created has been properly paved. 

Other improvements now in progress are 
to be found in the new Boat-House and 
Restaurant, at the lower end of Bronx Lake, 
near West Farms, and a new entrance at the 
intersection of 182d Street and the Southern 
Boulevard—to which walks were constructed 
last year. Immediately south of this entrance, 
the Zoological Society has planted an extensive 
group of cedars, ranging in height from twenty 
to forty feet, planted very close together, for 
the purpose of screening the Park at that point 
from the buildings at West Farms. 

A new service road was constructed from 
the Rocking-Stone past the Buffalo House, to 
the Buffalo Entrance on the Boston Road, and 
in connection with this construction the Buffalo 
corrals were completely remodeled and rebuilt. 

The attendance of visitors at the Park dur- 
ing the past year has exceeded that of any 
previous year by about 100,000. While the 
figures for the whole year will not be known 
until January first, the total number will not 
fall short of 1,300,000. A large portion of this 
increased attendance is due to the great num- 
ber of pupils from the public schools who have 
been brought to the Park by their teachers, in 
order to utilize the collections as object lessons 
in nature studies. While no attempt has been 
made to record the number of school pupils 
who have visited the Park for purposes of 
study, the total number can not have been 
much less than 20,000. 

While it is impossible to forecast with cer- 
tainty the date of the practical completion of 
improvements in the Zoological Park, it is safe 
to say that the end is not far distant. Important 
additions to the series of buildings will be made 
during 1907, and as rapidly as new animal 
buildings are completed, the Zoological Society 
will fill them with animals. The number of 
living creatures on exhibition in the Park is 
far greater than ever before, having gone be- 
yond 3,000. 


COLLECTING FOR THE AQUARIUM. 


N THIS number of the BULLETIN are sev- 

eral illustrations showing the manner in 

which fishes are taken with the seine or 
drag-net for the use of the Aquarium. 

Nearly all of the commoner fishes on exhi- 
bition at the Aquarium are obtained from local 
waters within an easy day’s journey of the Bat- 
tery, and the bulk of the fresh-water fishes 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


SEINE-BOAT STARTING OUT. 


come from the Bronx River and the lakes of 
Central and Prospect parks. Occasional fish- 
ing trips are made to ponds on Long Island or 
convenient places in New Jersey. Nearly all 
of the following species are readily obtained 
from the Bronx River, within the limits of the 
Zoological Park, and from Central and Pros- 
pect parks: Common carp, mirror carp, com- 
mon roach, small-mouthed bass, large-mouthed 
bass, white perch, yellow perch, sunfish, rudd 
or pearl roach, brook 
sucker, chub sucker, long- 
eared sunfish, _ bullhead. 
pickerel, fresh-water killi- 
fish, gold fish. 

For the longer trips the 
wagon is off with the big 
fifty-foot seine and the fish 
tanks by daybreak, the col- 
lector, with two or three 
men from the Aquarium, 
starting later and reaching 
the seining ground by the 
time the wagon arrives. 
After the seine has been 
stowed in the stern of any 
convenient boat, the haul 
rope of one end is passed 
ashore. The boat then 
makes a wide sweep, while 
the collector is paying out 
the seine. The haul rope at 
the other end is then car- 
ried ashore and the net is. 


329 


slowly dragged toward the 
beach, where the fishes 
wanted are carefully lifted 
with dip nets into the tanks 
of fresh water. 

During the long drive 
back to the Aquarium, it is 
not usually necessary to 
change the water in the 
tanks or to aerate it by lift- 
ing with a dipper and pour- 
ing back. The motion of 
the wagon seems to splash 
the water sufficiently for 
the time being. Care is al- 
ways taken that the speci- 
mens are not so crowded as 
to exhaust the oxygen in 
the water or to make it 
slimy. The collecting of 
fresh-water fishes is done 
chiefly in the spring and 
late in the fall. 

Occasionally the seine 
brings to shore desirable specimens of turtles, 
crayfishes, fresh-water mussels, newts, frogs 
and tadpoles. Some of the lakes of Central 
Park abound in the so-called pearl roach or 
European rudd, which was placed there many 
years ago. Gold fishes are easily obtained in 
the park lakes. Very fine specimens of pickerel 
and black bass can, at times, be had in the 
Bronx River. 

As the park lakes are not fished except for 


THROWING OUT THE SEINE, 


HAULING IN THE SEINE. 


the purpose of securing specimens for the 
Aquarium, most of the species originally placed 
in them have become extremely abundant, in 
fact, some of the lakes have gradually become 
so overstocked that the fishes are rather stunted 
in size from lack of food. Frequently the col- 
lector after making his selections throws back 
one end of the seine and allows hundreds of 
fishes to swim away. 

As far as the lakes are concerned, it would 
perhaps be better if the in- 
crease from year to year 
could be removed syste- 
matically. In the rivers, 
overstocking does not take 
place, as predatory fishes, 
such as bass and pickerel. 
devour great numbers of 
the young of other species, 


thus checking their  in- 
crease. 

When a haul of small 
fishes is made from an 


overstocked lake, quantities 
are often turned over to the 
keepers of the bird houses 
at the Zoological Park and 
Central Park Menagerie as 
food for sea birds. 


Aquarium received from 
Key West, Florida, a 


green turtle which weighed 


Ee SEPTEMBER the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 
five hundred and forty 
pounds. Its total length 


was five feet nine inches, 
and the length of its top 
shell was four feet and six 
inches. This is the largest 
green turtle ever brought 
to the Aquarium. 

The writer has seen noth- 
ing as large in any museum 
in America and does not re- 
member having seen any- 
thing approaching it in Eu- 
rope. 

It died from injuries re- 
ceived during shipment and 
was sent to the American 
Museum of Natural His- 
tory. 

The Key West turtle 
shippers claim that they get 
at least one turtle a year 
weighing as much as six 
hundred pounds and an order has been placed 
with them for another specimen. 

The green turtle ranges the Atlantic from 
Long Island to Brazil, but is rarely seen far 
north. 

The four hundred pound loggerhead turtle, 
the three hundred and thirteen pound green 
turtle, and the sixty pound hawksbill turtles, 
which have been in the Aquarium for several 
months are in fine condition. 


LANDING THE CATCH. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


N OCTOBER last, the Aquarium received 
from a market in New Orleans, fine speci- 
mens of the giant snapping turtle, (Wacro- 

chelys temmincki), inhabiting the lower Miss- 
issippi River and its tributaries, varying in 
weight from fifty-five to eighty-two pounds. 
This species is the largest ot the fresh-water 
turtles. There is a specimen in the United 
States National Museum, five feet and four 
inches in length, which weighed one hundred 
and fifty-five pounds, its top shell being twenty- 
nine and one-half inches in length. 

The Aquarium had a specimen in December, 
1902, which was four feet seven and one-half 
inches in length and weighed one hundred and 
six and one-half pounds, in an emaciated con- 
dition. Its top shell measured twenty-four 
inches in length. 

This species is sold for food in the New 
Orleans markets and is sometimes shipped to 
New York. 


VERY summer the Aquarium procures 
E a number of tropical fishes from the 

numerous pound nets located in the 
southern end of New York Bay. These fishes 
appear late in the season when the water has 
reached its highest temperature and, recogniz- 
ing them as rarities, the fishermen usually 
place them in floating fish-cars and inform the 
Aquarium. 

Among the fishes taken in October was a 
specimen of the flasher or triple-tail, (Lobotes 
surinamensis). It is a large food fish, some- 
times attaining a length of three feet. There 
are a few records of its occurrence as far north 
as Cape Cod. 


HE year 1906 has proved to be a record 
aii year at this institution, the total num- 
ber of visitors having been over two 
millions, an average of six thousand a day. 
The attendance for 1906, taken with that of 
preceding years, makes the total for ten years 
over seventeen millions, an average of over 
five thousand a day for that period. 


A WISE ELEPHANT. 


Our fine Indian Elephant, “Gunda,” has not 
only grown stouter and taller, but he has also 
developed in intelligence and sagacity in a man- 
ner that is bound to make him famous. The 
greatest care has been exercised with his train- 
ing, food, and every-day life, and thus far it 
appears to be labor wisely expended. Ii actions 


331 


speak for themselves, he appreciates the atten- 
tion bestowed upon him. In numerous ways 
he indicates his complete satisfaction as to his 
bill of fare and the kindness of the keepers. 
He kneels at command, salutes, shakes hands, 
and has lately become a banker. Some of the 
devious methods he employs in his particular 
bank indicate that there will be serious trouble 
unless he mends his ways. 

If one throws a penny on the floor, he picks 
it up and drops it into the box above his head, 
after which he rings a bell with his trunk. Then 
he looks for a reward. If it is not forthcoming, 
in the shape of forage biscuits or peanuts, he 
rings the bell until it does come. 

It was soon apparent that although the de- 
posits were heavy, there was also a correspond- 
ingly heavy shortage. Upon inspecting the 
books it was learned that the teller dropped 
the cent into the box, but afterward very deftly 
picked it out and put it into his mouth. When 
the keeper was away he put it on the floor until 
a visitor came along, when he went through 
the form of dropping it in again, and ringing 
the bell. To prevent this fraud small staples 
were driven in the bottom of the box, so that 
the penny fell between them. He simply 
elongated the tiny tip at the end of his trunk, 
and therewith lifted the cent. It was only by 
using long nails in place of the staples that the 
trick was prevented. 

But “Gunda”’ was equal to the occasion, and 
developed another trick which easily rivaled 
the former. One morning while standing near 
by, his keeper heard a penny drop into the 
bank, then another, until he counted four. 
Stepping quickly to the front, he saw the wise 
old fellow reach to the top of the partition wall 
with his trunk. When detected “Gunda” slyly 
walked away. On looking into the hiding- 


place, nine pennies were discovered. E.R. S. 


During the past months the Aquarium has 
received numerous specimens of starfishes and 
Holothurians from the new steam trawler 
Spray, of Boston. This vessel, built on the 
lines of the British steam trawlers, is one of 
the pioneers in this method of fishing in Amer- 
ica, and her work is being watched with great 
interest by the fishing firms of New England. 
Having been dredged from deep water on the 
Western Bank, none of the specimens sent to 
the Aquirium lived more than a week. It was 
demonstrated that they can not endure the re- 
duced water pressure of aquarium tanks, and 
shipments have been discontinued. _c. H. T. 


332 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


YOUNG MALE HIPPOPOTAMUS BORN IN CENTRAL PARK. 


Purchased and presented to the Society by Mr. Samuel Thorne 


GUNDA COMPLAINS OF THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WHO RIDE ON PASSES, 


AQUARIUM NUMBER 


397 


PREPARED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


PUBLISHED BY THE NEw YorRK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


April, 1907 


THE CARE OF GOLDFISHES. 


S THE care of goldfishes is a subject of 
constant inquiry at the New York 


Aquarium, the following information 
has been compiled from the best authorities for 
the benefit of correspondents. 

The general principles of aquarium man- 
agement, so far as they relate to the form of 
the aquarium, its plant life, water supply, tem- 
perature, position with reference to light, and 
the feeding of its inhabitants, will apply to 
many other kinds of fishes. 

An aquarium holding eight or ten gallons of 
water will be easier to maintain in good condi- 
tion, than one of small size, and will contain a 
larger number of fishes with a greater degree 


of safety. An aquarium of rectangular shape 
is by far the best for permanent use. It should 
be of strong clear glass—preferably plate glass 
—set in a metal framework, and with a slate 
bottom. Its corners, however, accumulate dirt 
which is not easily removed. 

Aquaria of rectangular form, made wholly 
of glass, can be purchased and are cheaper, 
but the glass is never quite clear, and they 
crack more readily from changes in tempera- 
ture. Cylindrical, glass aquaria are still cheaper, 
but they distort the forms of the objects they 
contain to some extent, and are also liable to 
crack from water pressure. However, aquaria 
made wholly of glass have the advantage of 


FANCY JAPANESE GOLDFISH. 


Presented to the New York Aquarium by Mr. Henry Bishop of Baltimore. 


334 


ROUND GLASS AQUARIA. 


being absolutely water-tight, while they re- 
main in sound condition, whereas the joints of 
metal-framed aquaria may leak. 

Globes are worthless. Good results can not 
be expected with them. The restricted surface 
of a globe at the top lessens the amount of 
water surface exposed to the air. The more 
surface exposed for the absorption of air, the 
better. 

The aquarium should be placed where the 
amount of light reaching it can be well con- 
trolled. A north window is best, an east win- 
dow will do, but exposure in other directions 
will make its care more difficult. If large, the 
aquarium should be located before it is filled 
with water. 

Sunlight should not often be allowed to fall 
directly on it, as it stimulates the growth of 
alge, and is liable to overheat the water, the 
temperature of which should be kept steady, 
not rising above 70 degrees or falling below 40 
degrees. A temperature of 50 degrees to 60 
degrees is best, and it should not be allowed to 
vary. Warm water holds less air than cold 
water, so that a high temperature is more to be 
guarded against than a low one. 

Water plants are necessary in the aquarium 
for the aeration of the water, since under 
proper conditions of light and temperature 
they give off oxygen which animals require, 
while the latter exhale carbonic acid gas. A 
balance between the animal and plant life of 
the aquarium is essential for success. Too 
much plant growth can be checked by reducing 
the amount of light, which may be shut off by 
the use of a screen or shade. A greenish film 
of alge or confervee will at times develop rap- 


idly on the glass and obscure the contents of 
the aquarium, It will have to be rubbed off 
occasionally, but it is just as well to let it grow 
on the side next the window where it will serve 
to restrict the light and also aerate the water. 
The growth of algze is lessened by placing the 
aquarium in a more shaded position. Snails eat 
alge rapidly and should be introduced for that 
purpose, and also because their eggs serve as 
food for small fishes. 

Allow the aquarium to absorb air from its 
plant life and from the surface of the water 
for a day or two before putting in the fishes. 
The latter should be few in number at first. 
Snails may be added later. Dealers in aqua- 
rium supplies usually keep plants, snails, tad- 
poles, newts, and other small creatures as well 
as fishes. 

With running water, plant life can be dis- 
pensed with. A collection of large goldfishes 
in the New York Aquarium has been kept in 
good condition for many years in flowing Cro- 
ton water, standing its low temperature in 
winter very well. The fish are, however, 
much more active in summer and feed more 
freely. 

The following named water plants are those 
most frequently used by aquariists; milfoil 
(Myriophyllum), hornwort (Ceratophyllum), 
fanwort (Cabomba), water-weed (Anacharis), 
tape-grass (Vallisneria), arrow-head (Sagit- 
taria) and pondweed (Potamogeton). Many 
other species will serve the purpose. Plants 
may be anchored by pressing them down into 
the sand or gravel. Thin strips of lead wound 
loosely about their roots will hold them se- 
curely. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


GOLDFISHES REARED 


In a well-balanced aquarium the water 
should not be changed at all. It is in fact bet- 
ter without any additions, other than that re- 
quired to replace what is lost by evaporation. 
Water should never be added until it has been 
kept in the same room with the aquarium long 
enough to acquire the same temperature. 

In siphoning out water from the bottom of 
the aquarium to clear off sediment or refuse, 
the water should be saved and strained back. 
The supply of water may be aerated at times 
by lifting it with a clean dipper and letting it 
fall back slowly. A sprinkling can will also 
serve for this purpose. All vessels and appara- 
tus used in connection with the aquarium 
should be perfectly clean, and it is well not to 
put the hands into the water at all. Assistance 
in the way of keeping the aquarium clean may 
be had by introducing a few tadpoles and 
small newts to act as scavengers, but the latter 
should be of very small size. 

The bottom of the aquarium should be cov- 
ered to the depth of a couple of inches, with 
fine gravel, or clean white sand in which fishes 
may tub themselves; it is also essential for the 
rooting of plants. 

There should not be too much animal life in 
the aquarium. The fewer and smaller the 
fishes the less likely is the air in the water to 


AMONG WATER-PLANTS., 


become exhausted. Two or three small gold- 
fishes to each gallon of water is a safe rule to 
go by, if the aquarium is large. If small the 
proportion must be reduced. The question the 
aquarium presents, when it has been supplied 
with water and plants, is simply, how many 
fishes or other air consuming creatures can 
be accommodated in the quantity of water 
available? Overstocking may disturb the bal- 
ance within an hour. 

It is probably safe to say that a little neglect 
in the matter of feeding is better for the per- 
manence of the aquarium than over attention. 
It must not be presumed that because fishes will 
live for months without feeding, it is right to 
treat them in that way. Fishes left without 
food are simply fishes kept hungry and in a 
condition of slow starvation, which can only be 
described as cruelty. When there is a large 
supply of plants in the aquarium the fishes hold 
out longer, the very small ones especially get- 
ting some nourishment from the young shoots 
of Anacharis and other plants. 

Many aquariists feed every day, carefully 
removing all uneaten food, which soon decays 
and fouls the water. Wafer food, made of rice 
flour, and other prepared foods kept by aqua- 
ria dealers are safe, and should be supplied at 
least every other day. Finely crushed vermi- 


336 


SS Hyta 


= ) ae 


AQUARIUM IMPLEMENTS. 


2. Forceps. 3. Stick for Feeding. 4. Swab for 
5. Tube for taking up Refuse. 


1. Net. 
Cleaning. 


celli is also good. Some of the ordinary house- 
hold cereals are available as goldfish food, but 
the beginner should experiment with them cau- 
tiously. Other foods are, however, desirable at 
times: Once a week, pieces of very small earth 
worms, or bits of fresh beef should be fur- 
nished. If they can be given to each fish on 
the tip of a broom straw the chances of con- 
taminating the water by waste food will be 
lessened. All uneaten food must be picked, 
dipped, or siphoned out, or foul water and a 
disturbance of the delicate balance of the aqua- 
rium will be the result. A milky appearance of 
the water is usually a warning against careless 
feeding. Nearly all diseases which appear 
among goldfishes indicate that the aquarium 
needs looking after. The unsightly growths 
of fungus on fishes, caused by the plant para- 


ZOCLUGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


sites, Saprolegmia and Dewvoea, indicate care- 
less handling of the fishes, or bad conditions 
prevailing in the aquarium. When the condi- 
tions are right, diseases are not likely to ap- 
pear. Too high a temperature favors the 
growth of fish fungus. 

This disease is hard to deal with and infected 
fishes should be removed at once and kept by 
themselves, where, under proper conditions, 
they may possibly recover. A pinch of salt put 
in the water with them may arrest the disease, 
but when in bad condition a teaspoonful of salt 
to each gallon of water will be necessary. If 
other fishes are obtainable, it is just as well to 
kill diseased specimens, since the fungus roots 
penetrate well into the flesh and can not be de- 
stroyed if the growth is far advanced. Ani- 
mal parasites on fishes should be picked off 
after the fish has been carefully lifted in the 
dip net. 

One of the first indications of trouble in the 
aquarium, is the presence of the fishes at the 
surface with their mouths out of the water, 
showing that they are suffering from lack of 
air. The water may be dipped up and allowed 
to fall back slowly, but the relief afforded will 
be merely temporary. The temperature of the 
aquarium should be observed and some of the 
fishes removed. It may be necessary to in- 
crease the quantity of plant-life or stimulate its 
growth by admitting more light. If the 
weather is not cold and the window can be 
opened, air blowing across the surface of the 
water will be helpful, since it may only be 
necessary to aerate the water and lower the 
temperature somewhat. There may be refuse 
on the bottom which should, of course, be re- 
moved. 

In taking care of the aquarium, a few sim- 
ple implements such as a half-inch rubber tube 
for siphoning out the water, a glass “dip 
tube” for removing small particles of dirt from 
the bottom, a shallow dip net of cheese cloth 
for lifting fishes and a cloth-covered pad or 
rubber scraper, with a long handle for clean- 
ing the glass, will be necessary. The dip tube 
is operated by closing the top opening with 
the finger to admit or exclude the water as de- 
sired. A pair of long wooden forceps and 
a slim stick are also useful for moving plants 
and other objects without putting the hands 
into the water. The accompanying cut shows 
some of the implements used by Mr. Spencer 
of the Aquarium staff. 

One other aid in the management of the 
aquarium should not be overlooked: A reliable 
book on aquaria and their care is essential, and 
the amateur will need to refer to it frequently. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A list of such books was published in the 
BuLvetin for April, 1906. Any of the fol- 
lowing, for sale by booksellers generally, will 
be found useful: 

The Home Aquarium, and How to Care for 
It.—A. guide to its fishes, other animals, and 
plants; with many illustrations. By Eugene 
Smith. Duttons, New York, 1902. 

The Amateur Aquarist—How to equip and 
maintain a self-sustaining aquarium.  Illus- 
trated. By Mark Samuel. Baker & Taylor 
Co., New York, 1894. 

The Goldfish, and its Systematic Culture.— 
A thorough guide for goldfish keeping and 
goldfish breeding in the house and out of 


337 


doors. The construction and care of the par- 
lor aquarium and ponds for breeding. T[llus- 
trated. By Hugo Mulertt, New York, 1902. 
The Book of Aquaria.—Being a practical 
guide to the construction, arrangement, and 
management, of fresh-water and marine aqua- 
ria. Illustrated.. By the Rev. Gregory C. 
Bateman, A.K.C., and Reginald A. R. Bennett, 


M.A. Part I—Fresh-water Aquaria. Part 
IJ—Marine Aquaria. Scribner’s, New York, 
1902. 


The small aquaria in the laboratory of the 
New York Aquarium will be shown to visitors 
making inquiry about them, and their manage- 
ment in detail explained by those in charge. 


WOOD-“TURTLE.” 


CARE OF TURTLES AND SMALL 
ALLIGATORS. 


IHESE animals do not thrive in the hands 
[ot the amateur, especially in winter, if one 

may judge by the number of emaciated 
specimens annually presented to the Aqua- 
rium. 

The returning Florida tourist usually has 
some baby alligators, which refusing to feed 
in our chilly northern climate, are brought to 
the Aquarium, perhaps during intensely cold 
weather, in nothing warmer than a pasteboard 
box. Ii this last thoughtless act does not finish 
them at once the attendants may be able to pull 
them through. Cold-blooded reptiles such as 
turtles and alligators must have warm quar- 
ters. They should be kept in aquaria or other 
vessels into which sunlight can enter, and the 


vessel placed where it will not become cold. If 
kept near a window for the benefit of the sun- 
shine, which is life to them, care should be 
taken that they are also near a heater. 

The temperature of the ordinary living-room 
in winter is scarcely high enough to keep alli- 
gators active, since they need a warmth of 75 
to 85 degrees. They require not only warm 
water, but a place where they can crawl out at 
times. The water need not be more than a few 
inches deep, and the platform or small log on 
which they rest should be placed in such a way 
that they can climb upon it easily. Alligators 
in captivity are most comfortable and active 
when they have access to water that is nearly 
tepid, and it is their habit to float much on 
the surface. Turtles require not only warm 
water, but also the heat of the sun. For that 
reason turtles do not flourish as well in the 


338 


MUHLENBERG'S TURTLE. 


New York Aquarium as they would in a build- 
ing more accessible to sunshine. The tem- 
porary warming of torpid alligators or turtles 
in boxes set near a heater is useless. If they 
can not be kept where both air and water are 
permanently warm, they should be dispensed 
with. 

The numerous chilled and weak alligators 
sent to the “Zoological Park” each year, are 
placed in the sunny Reptile House in a tank of 
water with a steam pipe in it. 
After a thorough warming 
up in water of 80 to go de- 
grees temperature, they begin 
to feed, and in three years 
will be a yard long, and 
weigh twelve or fourteen 
pounds. The State of Flor- 
ida is making a mistake in 
allowing the present heavy 
export of young alligators, 
which are practically all lost 
by being carried north. 
Large alligators are now 
scarce, and the supply of 
alligators for leather is al- 
most exhausted. 

Since alligators and turtles 
do not feed unless kept per- 
manently warm, it is nec- 
essary to first provide them 
with quarters where they will 
have a temperature of cer- 
tainly not less than 75 de- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


grees of both air and water. 
They should also have the 
benefit of sunshine. Forc- 
ing cold alligators to eat by 
cramming food into their 
mouths is admissible only 
temporarily. They will eat 
freely when the water and 
air are warm enough, and 
will grow amazingly. They 
eat such a variety of foods 
that it is easy enough to pro- 
vide for them. 

Alligators and snapping 
turtles are flesh eaters and 
may be provided with small 
minnows, frogs, tadpoles, 
worms, grubs, crayfish, 
shrimps, and small crabs, 
either dead or alive. When 
these can not be had, they 
will eat fresh chopped meat, 
fish, clams, and _ oysters. 
Many kinds of turtles will 
eat all of the above named foods, as well as 
snails, small aquatic mollusks, and insects. 
Others like very tender, green vegetables, such 
as tomatoes, lettuce, celery, and various water 
plants. The food of some species consists 
largely of the bulbs of sedges, (Cyperus), 
while with others it is chiefly small water- 
mollusks. 

Some of the turtles are active fish eaters, and 
will do well 1f supplied with live minnows. The 


1 


BOX TORTOISE. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SNAPPING TURTLE. 


wood-‘turtle” and other species which forage 
on land as well as in the water, are fond of 
berries, mushrooms, and many kinds of fruits 
and vegetables, while nearly all kinds will eat 
grubs. The tortoises eat berries, mushrooms, 
and some garden vegetables as well as grubs 
and worms, 

Turtles should be provided with a variety of 
foods until the kinds suited to each species are 
ascertained. Many species of turtles feed only 
under water, consequently it is absolutely nec- 
essary for them to have access to it when fed. 

lf their surroundings 
can be made to approach 
natural conditions—that is 
if they can have access to 
a compartment in their 
quarters where there is 
dry sand, earth and sods, 
where grubs, worms, and 
other food can be thrown 
in abundance, success in 
keeping them will be more 
likely to follow. And it is 
remarkable, how quickly 
they learn the exact loca- 
tion of food and drink. 
Once fed in a certain 
location, they will invari- 
ably seek that place when 
urged by hunger. 

The illustrations show 
some of the land and 
fresh-water turtles found 
in the vicinity of New 
York. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 339 


Opening Hours.—Sum- 
mer opening hours at the 
Aquarium begin on April 
15, when the building will 
be open to visitors from 9 
A.M. to 5 P. M. daily. The 
building is closed Monday 
ltorenoons. 


Fishes of New Jersey— 
The New Jersey State Mu- 
seum at Trenton has re- 
cently issued, in connection 
with its annual report, a 
work of 436 pages on the 
Fishes of New Jersey, by 
Henry W. Fowler. It is 
fully illustrated and about 
the same size as that issued 
in 1903 by the New York 
State Museum at Albany, 
on the Fishes of New York, 
by Tartleton H. Bean. These two works, taken 
in connection with the illustrated List of the 
Fishes of Rhode Island, by Henry C. Tracy, 
cover very thoroughly the fish life of the re- 
gions about New York City. The last named 
paper is from the 36th Report of the Com- 
missioners of Fisheries of Rhode Island. Other 
papers on the natural history of aquatic ani- 
mals found in the region about New York 
City have been published by the American 
Museum of Natural History, the Zoological 
Society and the Linnean Society of New York. 


SPOTTED TURTLE. 


340 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 11 Wall St., 
New York City. 
Copyright, 1907, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 25. APRIL, 1907 
Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 


Single numbers, 15 cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Officers of the Society. 
President : 
HON. LEVI P. MORTON, 


€xecutive Committee : 
Cuartes T. Barney, Chairman, 
Joun S. Barnes, Mavison GRANT, 
Percy R. Pyne, Wiiiiam WHITE NILES, 
SAMUEL THORNE, Henry FartrFiELD OsBorN, 
Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 
Secretary, Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, Percy R. Pyne, 52 WALL STREET. 
Director, Writ.1am T. Ilornapay, ZooLocicaL Park. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK 


Board of Managers : 
EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. GEorGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep't of Parks, Hon. Moses HERRMAN. 


Class of 1908. Class of 1909. Class of 1910. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
Charles T. Barney, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 
William C. Church, Morris K. Jesup, George B. Grinnell, 
Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, Jacob H. Schiff, 

H. Casimir De Rham, John S. Barnes, Edward J. Berwind, 
George Crocker, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss. William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
Charles F. Dieterich, Samuel Thorne, c, Ledyard Blair, 
James J. Hill, Henry A. C. Taylor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
George F, Baker, Hugh J. Chisholm, Nelson Robinson, 
Grant B. Schley, Wm. D. Sloane, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Payne Whitney, Winthrop Rutherfurd, © W. Austin Wadsworth. 


THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AQUA- 
RIUM BUILDING. 


The three old prints re-published in this num- 
ber of the BULLETIN, seem to be appropriate, 
since this appears to be the Centennial year of 
the Aquarium building, the construction of 
which was begun in 1807. They will doubt- 
less be welcomed by all readers who are in- 
terested in the early history of New York, 
and the preservation of historic landmarks. 

The Director of the Aquarium recently re- 
ceived from the War Department a letter, rela- 
tive to the construction of this building, from 
which the following notes are extracted: 
1. ‘Many of the letters and reports of the pe- 
riod during which the building was under con- 
struction are missing.” 2. “A foundation 
should be made around the Bastion of the Old 
Battery, where the flagstaff is placed, extend- 
ing forty or fifty feet from the present, and 
upon this foundation a Battery should be con- 
structed in such manner, that the gun upon the 
right will take the North River, while that 
upon the left will range along the Courtine of 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


the old Battery.” (Instructions of the Secre- 
tary of War to Lieut. Col. J. Williams, July 
21, 1807, 58510-115). 

Col. Williams in a letter to the Secretary 
of War dated August 28, 1807, replied: “I find 
that I must go at least two hundred feet out 
from the Battery to have any command of the 
north river.” 

The deed from the Mayor, Aldermen, and 
Commonalty of the City of New York to the 
United States, conveying water lot, etc., is 
dated November 17, 1807. 

The records do not show just when con- 
struction was begun, but the building was evi- 
dently not completed until three or four years 
after. 

It might be appropriate for the Zoological 
Society to celebrate the Centennial of the 
building sometime in the autumn of the present 
year, perhaps by opening the Aquarium at 
night, as it is now being wired for additional 
electric lights. 

The following from the Aquarium Circular 
of Information is reprinted as explanatory to 
the pictures showing the exterior and interior 
of the building, when it was known as Castle 
Garden: 

History of the Buwilding.—Vhe Aquarium 
building was erected in 1807 by the United 
States Government as a fort, called Southwest 
Battery and after the war of 1812 was called 
Castle Clinton. It had a battery of 30 guns, the 
embrasures for which still remain in the outer 
wall, which is 9 feet thick. The old ammuni- 
tion rooms are surrounded with walls of ma- 
sonry 15 feet thick. In 1823 the building was 
ceded by Congress to the City of New York 
and used as a place of amusement called Castle 
Garden, which had a seating capacity of 6,000. 
It was connected with Battery Park by a 
bridge, the intervening space having since been 
filled in. General Lafayette was received here 
in. 1824; President Jackson in 1832; President 
Tyler in 1843; Louis Kossuth in 1851. Pro- 
fessor Morse, inventor of the telegraph, dem- 
onstrated here in 1835 the practicability of 
controlling the electric current. Jenny Lind 
began singing here in 1850 under the manage- 
ment of P. T. Barnum. Among other notables 
received here were President Van Buren and 
the Prince of Wales. The building was used 
as a landing place for immigrants from 1855 
to 1890, during which period 7,690,606 immi- 
grants passed through its doors. It was opened 
as an aquarium by the City on December Io, 
1896, and on November 1, 1902, its manage- 
ment was transferred from the Department of 
Parks to the New York Zoological Society, a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


INTERIOR OF THE AQUARIUM BUILDING IN I85I. 


Kossuth addressing the military. From an old print. 


41 


342 


JENNY LIND. 


From an old music sheet published in New York in 1847, 
shortly before she began singing in Castle Garden. 


private scientific association with a member- 
ship of 1,644. 

The number of persons who entered the 
building while it was called Castle Garden 
must have been very great. As an Aquarium 
the attendance for the to years ending Decem- 
ber 31, 1906, amounted to 17,103,328,—an 
average of 4,085 visitors a day. The at- 
tendance for the year 1906 was 2,106,569,—an 
average of 5,771 a day. 


A WHALE ENTANGLED IN A SUB- 
MARINE CABLE. 


ARLY in November, last, an officer of the 
E Central and South American Telegraph 
Company called at the Aquarium with a 
letter from Mr. Kingsford, the electrical engi- 
neer of the company, in regard to the interrup- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


tion of the sub-marine cable between Iquique 
and Valparaiso, Chili. 

The interruption, which occurred on the 
14th day of August, was caused by a large 
whale, that was afterward drawn to the sur- 
face by the repair steamer “Faraday,” from a 
depth of 400 fathoms. 

The engineer desired to know to what depth 
a whale can descend, and whether an air- 
breathing mammal could stand a water pres- 
sure of nearly half a ton to the square inch, 

The cable in which the whale was entangled, 
weighed in air, while wet, 1,715 tons per nau- 
tical mile, and had a breaking strain of 6.06 
tons. The cable’s weight in salt water was 
1,005 tons per nautical mile. If the whale 
came to the surface to blow, he must have held 
two or three miles of cable in suspension. 
This, however, is unlikely, since it had four 
turns of the cable around its body, one being 
in its mouth. 

When the trouble with the cable was discoy- 
ered, tests from Valparaiso and Iquique placed 
the break about thirteen miles from the latter 
place. On August 16th the “Faraday” left 
Iquique for the position of the break, and 
commenced grappling in 342 fathoms with 500 
fathoms of rope out. 

The cable was “hove up,” cut and tested to 
Iquique. The end was buoyed, and the ship 
grappling farther out, picked up the cable, 
which came in badly twisted and with increas- 
ing strain. A large whale was brought to the 
surface completely entangled in the cable. The 
stench being unendurable, the cable was cut 
close to the whale and the vessel moved to 
windward. Tests were made and Valparaiso 
spoken. The ship made four soundings in 
the vicinity which showed a depth of 415 
fathoms (2,490 feet, nearly one-half mile). 

It is extremely doubtful whether an air 
breathing animal can go as deep as 400 
fathoms, and as that depth is much below the 
limit of pelagic life on which most whales feed, 
it is not likely that the whale would penetrate 
such a depth. Total darkness, moreover, pre- 
vails in depths of 400 fathoms. 

According to the records of whalemen, 
whales have been known to stay under water 
over an hour, and after being harpooned, to 
have carried out a mile of line before reappear- 
ing at the surface, although this does not nec- 
essarily mean that the line was carried down 
vertically. 

During the work of the Bering Sea Com- 
mission, when an exhaustive study was made 
of the food of the fur-seal in Bering Sea, we 
found that seals fed almost exclusively on 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


small surface life, although the seals dissected 
were taken at points where the depth was less 
than 100 fathoms, and where codfish were 
abundant at the bottom, 

The Valparaiso-Iquique cable was laid on 
January 27, 1906. At first sight it seems un- 
likely that the whale entangled in this cable 
could have remained eight months without 
complete disintegration or being gradually 
consumed by small forms of life on the bottom. 
The deep sea, however, is intensely cold, the 
temperature being close to the freezing point of 
fresh water, and the carcass, unless actively 
attacked by bottom life, might be expected to 
last longer than in the warmer surface waters. 

Since, from what we know of air-breathing 
animals, it is unlikely that the whale would 
descend 400 fathoms of its own accord, and as 
a deep-sea cable is not laid very slack, it is 
doubtful that the whale could have fouled it at 
the bottom. 

The logical conclusion is, that it became en- 
tangled during the laying of the cable, eight 
months before, when there was a considerable 
length of it in suspension. The twisted con- 
dition of the stiff and heavy cable about the 
animal shows that the energy expended in the 
vain effort to free itself must have been enor- 
mous. 

There are several well authenticated in- 
stances of sub-marine cables interrupted by 
whales, one having been described by Gen. 
Greely in the Alaska cable between St. 
Michaels and Nome. In this case the whale 
fouled the cable in comparatively shallow 
water. Cables can not always be laid perfectly 
flat on the bottom, since they are probably sus- 
pended for short distances between sub-marine 
ridges. 


FISHES WHICH DEFEND THEIR 
YOUNG. 


MONG the native fresh-water fishes now 
yak in the Aquarium, which have the habit 
of making nests and caring for their 
eggs and young, are the black and rock-basses, 
several species of sunfishes, crappies, catfishes, 
sticklebacks, and the bowfin or mudfish. The 
marine species which exercise guardianship 
over their progeny are at present represented 
by the sea-horse, pipefish, and sea-catfish. 
Fishes were long credited with indifference 
to the fate of their young after the eggs had 
been deposited, but we now know that the 
number of those which actively protect their 
nests, and for a time at least keep their young 
together, is very great. 


343 


Since the care of eggs and young is prac- 
ticed by the fresh-water species mentioned, 
which happen to be food fishes, it appears that 
we are indebted to the modern fish-culturist 
for much of what we know about them. The 
keeping of such fishes in ponds has resulted in 
a closer observation of their habits, than was 
practicable before fish-culture became a com- 
mon industry. It is in fact, only a few years 
since it was demonstrated that in the case of 
the black basses, the male fish is the protector 
of the nest, rather than the female. 

The nest-building tendency of fishes is not 
often manifested by them in the tanks at the 
Aquarium. Their quarters are necessarily re- 
stricted and the crowding of specimens makes 
the conditions unnatural. Occasionally, how- 
ever, mature sunfishes make attempts at nest 
building, one or two fishes settling down to the 
bottom of the tank where they soon work out 
a saucer-like depression in the gravel. Their 
constant excitement, caused by the driving off 
of other fishes which may descend too near 
them, soon breaks up the attempts at pairing. 

The care of the eggs and young by stickle- 
backs of different species is well known, as 
these fishes have long been under observation 
as aquarium pets. The nest of the stickleback 
is an unusually elaborate one constructed by 
the male, who also protects the eggs and 
young. 

It is believed that the nests of the basses, 
crappies, and sunfishes are hollowed in the 
sand or gravel by the male fish. After 
the female has spawned she deserts the 
nest, the male fish remaining on guard many 
days fanning the eggs with his fins, keeping 
them clear of sediment, and actively driving 
away intruders of all species. When the young 
rise from the nest they are herded together for 
some days until active enough to strike out for 
themselves. 

Our native sunfishes are so abundant every- 
where and lay their eggs in such shallow water, 
that their nest-protecting habits are well 
known. 

A good account of the sunfish and its nest, 
written nearly seventy years ago by Thoreau, 
may be found in the second chapter of “A 
Week on the Concord and Merrimac River,’ 
and will prove to be pleasant reading. 

Several species of our native catfishes are 
known to care for their eggs and young, and 
it is not unlikely that all of them do so. The 
common catfish or bullhead, (Ameiturus nebu- 
losus), makes a depression in the ground not 
unlike that formed by the basses and sunfishes, 
the male being sometimes the only active party 


344 


in the construction of it. With all of these 
species the diameter of the nest is considerably 
greater than the length of the fish excavating 
it. Sand is moved by the fanning action of the 
fins and tail, while the larger gravel is carried 
to the rim of the nest in the mouth. Like the 
basses and sunfishes, the catfishes also protect 
the nest and lead away the schools of young 
fishes, the parent, as Thoreau says in the book 
above mentioned, seemingly “caring for them 
as a hen for her chickens.” 

The bowfins, (Amia calva), are hardy fishes 
in captivity, and there are specimens in the 
Aquarium which have lived there many years, 
but they have never shown any tendency to 
make nests or deposit eggs. Under natural 
conditions the male bowfin excavates a shallow 
nest under the shelter of water plants, digging 
more or less with the snout. The female may 
deposit eggs in more than one nest, or two of 
them may spawn in the same nest. There 
may also be several thousand eggs laid in one 
excavation. When the male assumes guard, 
intruding fishes are driven off with great ac- 
tivity, his work lasting more than two weeks 
before the young are ready to leave the nest, 
and probably for a still longer period before 
the young scatter. 

The catfish and the bowfin have frequently 
been observed to take the eggs and young 
in their mouths in working about the nest, and 
to eject them uninjured. 

Among the sea-horses and pipefishes also the 
male is responsible for the care of the eggs, 
receiving them directly from the female into 
his abdominal pouch, where they are carried 
until the development of the young gradually 
crowds them out to shift for themselves. 

The male of the sea-catfish, (Galeichthys 
felis), takes the eggs, which are large and 
few in number, in his mouth where they are 
carried until hatched. ; 


POISONOUS FISHES. 
WE ee kinds of fishes are provided with 


poison-glands in connection with the 
spines on the gill covers and fins. This 
is especially true of the group of catfishes 
found in tropical America. In some cases the 
poisonous spines are barbed or serrated, as in 
that of the sting-ray. The spine in this 
species is located on top of the tail, and severe 
wounds are sometimes received in the leg by 
persons stepping on the fishes, the tail being 
thrown forward with considerable force. 
There is more or less poisonous matter about 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


the head and dorsal spines of some of the scul- 
pins, and irritating wounds are often received 
in handling them. The writer's hands have 
been made very sore at times by the spines of 
South American catfishes. 

The spines of the common catfishes of the 
United States are poisonous enough to injure 
the hands severely, in fact the family of fishes 
called scorpeenoids are so named because of 
their scorpion-like stings. Poisonous spines 
are in most cases a means of defense to the 
fishes possessing them. Most injuries received 
from them are caused by wading bare-footed in 
waters where such species are abundant. Even 
the mucus of many fishes is irritating if it 
gets into cuts on the hands. 

The flesh of some fishes is also poisonous, 
especially in tropical regions, and many edible 
species are known to be dangerous at certain 
seasons. 

This is believed to be caused by the fishes 
feeding on mussels, sea-cucumbers, coral po- 
lyps, and jellyfishes at their spawning seasons, 
when alkaloids are developed by eating such 
foods. Poisons of this kind may be encoun- 
tered in eating mussels and clams at the spawn- 
ing period, but while serious illness may fol- 
low, death from this cause is rare. In the 
case of fishes suspected of being occasionally 
poisonous, it is a desirable precaution to re- 
move the head and viscera at once after the 
fish is caught. 

Among the fishes whose flesh sometimes be- 
comes dangerous, are the barracouda, filefish, 
globefish, moray, lancet-fish, toadfish, some 
of the herrings and wrasses. In Cuba more 
than seventy species have been catalogued as 
occasionally injurious. When the flesh of 
fishes is poisonous it may often be recognized 
by its reddened coloration, caused by the food 
they have been eating. The roe and eggs of 
some fishes are also definitely poisonous at 
times. 

The writer observed, while in Polynesia, that 
the islanders often would not eat fishes from 
the lagoons, but they had no hesitation about 
using those taken in outside waters. Natives 
often remove the spines of fishes before cook- 
ing to avoid the danger of scratches from them. 


THE DRUM-FISH. 


HIS large fish, (Pogonias cromis) is 
“toa on our coast from Cape Cod to 
Florida, coming to the north in summer. 
It is said to reach a weight of 140 pounds. 


The size of the largest specimen now in the 
Aquarium does not exceed fifty-five pounds. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


The flesh of the large 
drum-fish is not eaten, being 
rather coarse, and having at 
times a disagreeable smell. 
There is no demand for them 
in the markets, and when 
seen there are for show only. 
The young drum-fishes, those 
not weighing over four or 
five pounds are, however, 
marketable. Their flesh is 
firm, of a good flavor, and 
they are often sold for 
sheepshead to those who do 
not know the difference. 

Drum-fish are very de- 
structive to oysters. When 
a large school of them get 
on an oyster-bed they devour 
great quantities of them. To 
drive them away, oystermen 
sometimes summon all who are interested in 
protecting the beds, and in numerous boats 
over the oyster-grounds, they make a vigorous 
commotion in the water, thus frightening the 
fishes away. This has been observed in Pel- 
ham Bay, N.Y., by Mr. J. B. De Nyse. The 
large drum-fishes with their strong jaws and 
pavement-like teeth have no difficulty in crack- 
ing the shells of good sized oysters. Those 
kept at the Aquarium easily crush small hard- 
shelled clams. 

Some years ago large drum-fishes were plen- 
tiful in Gravesend Bay and Upper New York 
Bay, but for the past fifteen years, only occa- 
sional large ones have been taken. They are 
however, taken in large numbers in the Lower 
Bay, and in the pound nets along the New 
Jersey coast southward. 

The larger drum-fishes, not being used for 
food, and being so destructive to oysters are, 
when caught by pound net fishermen whose 
nets are not in the vicinity of factories where 
the fish are converted into fertilizer, killed and 
thrown away. Those caught by the men- 
haden fishermen, are carried to the factories 
and disposed of. 

The drum-fish thrives in captivity. There 
are now in the Aquarium six large specimens 
weighing about fifty pounds each, and numer- 
ous smaller ones averaging about four pounds. 
One specimen of this fish placed in the Aqua- 
rium when it was six inches in length and 
weighing half a pound, lived four years and 
three months. At death it was twenty-four 
inches in length and weighed twenty and one- 
half pounds, showing an increase in length of 


DRU M-FISH. 


four and one-half inches, and in weight about 
five pounds per year. If this rate continued 
until the fish reached the weight of seventy 
pounds, it would require fourteen years to do 
so, and the length would be four feet, eight 
inches. The food given the drum-fishes in the 
Aquarium, consists of soft and hard-shelled 
clams, occasional oysters, rock-crabs, fiddler- 
crabs, shrimp, minnows, and herring, the lat- 
ter being cut in strips of a suitable size for 
the fish. Drum-fish, however, prefer mollusks 
and crustaceans.—From the Notes of W. I. 
De Nyse. 


Bluefish in Captivity.—In September, 1904, 
six bluefish were placed in one of the large 
wall tanks at the New York Aquarium. Of 
this number one lived until 1907, break- 
ing the Aquarium record for a_ bluefish 
in captivity. When placed in the tank it 
was six inches long and weighed only a few 
ounces ; at death it was twenty inches in length, 
five and one-quarter inches in depth, and 
weighed three and one-half pounds. Its growth 
for the first year was very rapid and was per- 
ceptible from week to week. Its food consisted 
of herring, menhaden and codfish, cut in strips 
of suitable size, with occasional live minnows 
and shrimps. 

During the second year of its captivity it 
became restless and swam around the tank 
with considerable speed. The bluefish might 
possibly be retained in captivity for years in 
large salt water ponds in the South—From 
the Notes of W. 1. De Nyse. 


346 


BLIND FISHES. 


N USING the term “blind” fishes it should 

| be explained, in so far as the fresh water 
kinds are concerned, that the fishes are not 

without eyes, but have practically lost the use 
of them through long-continued subterranean 
life. The eyes are very small and are so thickly 
covered with skin as to be useless. Blindness 
of this kind is found not only among cave 
fishes, but cave salamanders, crayfishes, and 
other crustaceans as well. 

Blind animals are usually obtained by col- 
lecting from streams which flow through cav- 
erns such as that of the Mammoth Cave, and 
most of the species known have been described 
from caves in Kentucky, Tennesse, Illinois, 
Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. 

Blind fishes and crustaceans are often 
brought to the surface through the agency of 
artesian wells. One genus of salamander, 
(Typhlomolge) is known only from an arte- 
sian well in Texas, where blind crustaceans 
also frequently appear. 

Blind cave fishes are usually small, seldom 
reaching a greater length than five inches. 
Some of the species are known only from 
caves or underground streams, while others 
are found in the same regions in surface waters 
with eyes better developed. The origin of 
some of these fishes is unknown, their ances- 
tors having entered caves a very long time ago, 

The principal genera are Chologaster, Typh- 
lichthys, Amblyopsis and Troglichthys, the eye 
in the last named genus being the most de- 
generate. It has probably lived in caves and 
done without the use of its eyes longer than 
any other vertebrate. It inhabits underground 
waters in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. 

Three different genera and species are 
known to live in the Mammoth Cave in Ken- 
tucky, and specimens from there have at dif- 
ferent times been brought to the New York 
Aquarium. One of these (Typhlichthys sub- 
terraneus), has been in the building two years. 
It is a very small fish, less than three inches in 
length. It is fed in summer on mosquito 
larve, when it can be obtained, and in winter 
on Gammarus, a small crustacean, two species 
of which are readily obtainable about New 
York Harbor, both in salt and fresh-water. 
Changes of light produce no effect on it, but it 
1s extremely sensitive to disturbances of the 
water, 

Another fish, nearly blind, lives in the dark 
water of the Dismal Swamp in Virginia and 
southward. Its eyes are well developed, but 
small. Two other species of blind fishes are 
found in caverns in Cuba, and a nearly blind 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


species of catfish is found in caves in Penn- 
sylvania. 

Some of the deep-sea fishes are totally blind, 
with no external appearance of eyes whatever. 
In such fishes the organs of touch are highly 
developed. Some of the deep-sea species also 
possess phosphorescent organs. ‘The strictly 
cave animals are usually colorless, having the 
appearance of albinos, but the blind fishes of 
the deep-sea are dark or black. 


AQUARIUM NOTES. 


Aquari:in Improvements.—With new boil- 
ers, ventilating plant, and thermostat attach- 
ments to heaters, the Aquarium has been de- 
cidedly more comfortable to visitors during the 
past winter. The more equable temperature 
has doubtless been helpful in keeping some of 
the air-breathing animals in better conditions 
of health than heretofore. 

Since the last Aquarium number of the 
BULLETIN appeared, the exhibits have been 
slightly increased, by the introduction of three 
very large table aquaria, to hold the collection 
of small alligators, some of the fresh water 
turtles, and the sea-horses. The last have 
done much better in their tank of stored sea 
water than in the wall tank supplied with water 
from the harbor. The refrigerating machine 
used in summer, the aerating plant and the 
pump and tank rooms—with their apparatus— 
have been thoroughly overhauled and painted. 

The building is being wired for additional 
electric light, which is much needed on dark 
days. Some of the balcony tanks have been 
put out of commission for the introduction of 
new piping. Otherwise the exhibits are as 
large as the amount of tank space in the build- 
ing will permit. 

The Aquarium Fish-Hatchery.—The fish- 
hatchery has been kept in constant operation, 
the eggs of several species of fishes having 
been supplied, as heretofore, by the United 
States Bureau of Fisheries from Government 
hatcheries. The crop of young fishes has been 
large, and has been turned over to the State 
Fish Commission as usual. 

The Manatee—The small manatee pre- 
sented by Mr. A. W. Dimock last September 
still feeds freely, and is doing well after six 
months of captivity. The bruises it received 
during transportation are healing slowly. 

Game Fish—Mr. A. B. Davis of Wading 
River, Long Island, presented to the Aquarium 
the collection of pickerel exhibited by him at 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


the Sportsmen’s Show in March, permission 
for their transfer out of season having been 
granted by State Fish Commissioner Whipple. 
The yearling black bass and yellow perch 
raised artificially, and exhibited at the same 
show, by Mr. H. W. Beeman, of the Wara- 
maug Black Bass Hatchery, at New Preston, 
Conn., were also presented to the Aquarium. 

Sewage Tests——The Metropolitan Sewerage 
Commission has been granted the temporary 
use of one of the laboratories at the Aquarium 
and is at work on the study of the water and 
bottom deposits of the harbor. A launch has 
been engaged and samples of water and mud 
are being brought in for examination. Mud 
samples from different levels are obtained by 
boring, and all samples are tested chemically 
and bacteriologically. 

Deposits of the heavier sewerage matter lie 
on the bottom of the harbor in some places 
many feet in thickness. The work is most 
important and the results should demonstrate 
the danger of emptying the sewage of Greater 
New York and vicinity into the harbor. 

Sea-Turtles—rThe measurements and 
weights of large sea turtles are so seldom 
given with exact figures that the following, 
relating to the largest specimens received at 
the New York Aquarium, should be placed on 
record: Green Turtle, (Chelonia mydas), from 
Key West, Florida. September, 1906. Ex- 
treme length 5 feet 9 inches. length of top 
shell 4 feet 6 inches, length of under shell 3 
feet 4 inches, width of top shell 3 feet 5 inches, 
male, weight 540 pounds. Loggerhead Turtle, 
(Thalassochelys caretta), male, captured in 
New York Bay, June 20, 1906. Extreme 
length 5 feet 9 inches, length of top shell 3 
feet 10 inches, length of under shell 2 feet 8 
inches, width of top shell 2 feet 10 inches, 
weight 395 pounds. 

Indian Visitors—Mr. E. W. Deming, the 
artist, with three of his Indian acquaintances 
from the southwest, to whom he had been 
showing the sights of New York, visited the 
Aquarium one day last summer. 

Indians are stoical, and usually do not say 
much to white men about their impressions, 
but at the Aquarium they began to unbend. 
The big sea-turtles and the brilliantly colored 
tropical fishes were animals of a character so 
unexpected, that their interest at last found 
expression, and they came nearer an animated 
discussion than at any time during their trip. 
Mr. Deming afterward reported that the Aqua- 
rium, and the Winchester Arms Co.’s exhibit 
were the attractions which made the deepest 
impression on the Indians. 


S407 


THE USES OF THE FINS OF FISHES. 


By Raymonp C. Ospurn. 


HE fins are the most obvious organs of 
[ine fish, and although a great deal has been 
written about their structure, the knowl- 
edge of their functions seems to have been 
largely left unwritten, probably because it seems 
so evident that their uses are those of propelling, 
balancing, and steering the body in locomotion. 
While in a general way this is true enough, 
it is our purpose here to inquire how the vari- 
ous fins are applied to the performance. of 
these functions. The writer has recently con- 
firmed some observations made a number of 
years ago, by experimental work and many 
careful observations on the uses of fins of the 
fishes at the New York Aquarium, and this 
communication is written with the hope that 
it will call the attention of visitors at the Aqua- 
rium to the various uses of the fins, and to the 
varied and complex movements which fishes 
are able to perform. The general results of 
this work may be briefly stated as follows: 
A. The pectoral fins have four distinct 
uses: 

1. They are used for steering and steadying 
and for changing the course in swimming. 
They are usually held against the side of the 
body when the fish is swimming straight 
ahead rapidly. 

2. When the fish remains suspended quietly 
in the water these fins are the principal ones 
used in keeping the equilibrium, and they are 
then constantly in motion. 

3. When the fish is moving and wishes to 
stop, the pectoral fins are thrown out at right 
angles to the body, thus very greatly increas- 
ing the resistance to the water and acting as a 
brake. 

4. These fins are in most fishes capable of 
being used to propel the body. Most fishes 
can swim either forward or backward by the 
movements of these fins and occasional forms 
can move quite rapidly. For this use of the 
fins the doctor-fish, (Teuthis hepatus) and the 
tautog, (Tautoga onitis) in the Aquarium are 
worthy of study. 

B.. The ventral or pelvic fins are less impor- 
tant than the pectorals and are largely used to 
supplement them. In many short-bodied fishes 
they are situated directly or nearly beneath 
the pectorals, and are used in conjunction with 
them. They may be said to have the same 
functions as the pectoral fins, although to a 
less degree, and they may be seen to work in 
harmony with, although not always to move 
synchronously with them. 


348 


SPINOUS DORSAL 


CAUDAL 


VENTRAL 
OR PELVIC 


YELLOW PERCH. 


Giving the names of the different fins, and showing the pectoral fin in motion, 


C. Of the vertical or unpaired fins the use 
of the caudal is most evident, since this fin in 
conjunction with the caudal end of the body 
furnishes the propelling force in swimming. 
It is also the chief fin used in steering, acting 
like a ship’s rudder, and its use as such may be 
easily observed when the fish is swimming 
slowly.. The caudal fin may be used also in 
maintaining the equilibrium, in this respect 
supplementing the efforts of the paired fins. 
This use is best seen in very deep-bodied fishes 
such as the butterfly-fish, (Chaetodon). 

The principal use of the dorsal and anal 
fins in the ordinary type of fish seems to be 
to prevent the body from slipping sidewise 
through the water when the stroke of the cau- 
dal is made. When these fins are removed the 
fish wriggles very noticeably while swimming. 
These fins may have also a direct use in pro- 
pelling the body, and may aid the pectorals in 
equilibration. It is not within the scope ot 
the present paper to discuss the varied special 
uses of fins by which certain fishes are enabled 
to fly, crawl, skip, attach themselves to stones 
or seaweeds, etc. 

A glance at the results of experiments on 
the removal of fins may be interesting. . When 
one of the pectoral fins is removed the fish 
tends to turn on its side. In thé short deep- 
bodied type of fish this is very pronounced. In 
the killifish, (Fundulus heteroclitus) it is not 
very noticeable excepting at first, for in a short 
time the fish learns to keep its balance with the 
other fins. When both pectorals are removed 
in a deep-bodied form, such as the scup, (Sten- 
otomus chrysops), the fish becomes quite un- 
able to keep its balance properly, though it can 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


- swim as rapidly as ever. 
A In the killifish the re- 
' moval of the pectorals, 
or even of all the paired 
fins, is not so serious a 
matter; the only evi- 
dences of difficulty are 
seen in the lack of ability 
to make the more accu- 
rate movements, and in 
the fact that at first the 
fish runs into things ow- 
ing to its inability to stop 
quickly. The fish learns 
in a few days to over- 
come this latter trouble 
by a strong sweep of the 
tail. When the unpaired 
fins alone are removed 
the swimming move- 
ments become labored 
and progress is much slower although in the 
killifish the caudal portion of the body is able 
to accomplish a fair stroke. If all the fins, 
both paired and unpaired, are removed the 
killifish is still able to swim by wriggling, and 
is able to retain its balance by the same 
method. Naturally all of the movements in 
such a case are extremely labored. The ex- 
periment shows, that in some fishes at least, 
fins are not necessary, though certainly very 
useful organs. 

In conclusion it must be noted that the fins 
of fishes are very strongly adaptive structures, 
and that probably in no two species will ex- 
actly the same uses and the same combinations 
of fins to perform the various duties assigned 
to them, be found to occur. The whole sub- 
ject will well repay any one who cares to ob- 
serve the habits and movements of animals. 


Publications on Aquatic Life-——Among the 
publications on aquatic life (referred to on 
page 339), may be mentioned, Sea Shore Life, 
by Mayer, The Reptiles and Batrachians by 
Ditmars, The Reptiles and Batrachians by 
Eckel and Paulmier, the Salamanders, Frogs 
and Toads by Sherwood, The Fishes, Turtles 
and Lizards, by Smith, and The Higher Crus- 
tacea by Paulmier. With this list to select from 
we need not remain unacquainted with the 
aquatic creatures in the vicinity of New York. 


The cuts in this number of THE BuLLetIn, 
are from photographs by Mr. Spencer and 
others, and from a number of old lithographs 
and prints made during the early history of the 
Aquarium Building, then called Castle Garden. 


\DA\\ 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 26 


PuBLISHED BY THE NEw YoRK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


July, 1907 


NEW AFRICAN ELEPHANTS. 


T WAS about four years ago that we began 

our efforts to secure specimens of the co- 

lossal Sudan African Elephant, (Elephas 
oxyotis), of the Blue Nile country—the spe- 
cies which attains the largest size, and grows 
ears of enormous area. By a curious turn of 
fortune, the first elephant to come to us from 
Africa was one which represented the small- 
sized and small-eared West African species, 
known as Elephas cyclotis, which in captivity 
is exceedingly rare. 


At last, on June 25th, there arrived at the 
Zoological Park a fine young pair of Sudan 
elephants. They came by way of Hamburg 
and Carl Hagenbeck, and have been nearly 
three months in transit. Both animals are in 
fine condition, and may justly be regarded as 
a notable accession. At present they are 
about two and one-half years old, with six 
months seniority in favor of the male. The 
male is four feet nine and one-half inches in 
height at the shoulders, and weighs 1225 


THE NEW AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, KARTOOM AND SULTANA. 


S52 


pounds, the female four feet eight inches, 
weighing ro80 pounds. At present the tusks 
of the male project only three inches beyond 
the lip, and those of the female are even 
smaller. The male is particularly well pro- 
portioned, and has the deep chest and mus- 
cular forelegs which mark a_high-caste 
elephant. 

Naturally, in the ears of Sudan elephants 
we expect much; and these are perfectly satis- 
factory. Those of the male are particularly 
enormous. They overlap each other on the 
neck, they cover almost the entire shoulder, 
they descend to a point three inches below the 
lower line of the jaw, and both are without a 
flaw. 

In view of the fine qualities of the male 
specimen, and the great future that seems to 
be in store for him, he has been named “Kar- 
toom,” while the female has been christened 
“Sultana.” 

Incidentally it may be added that they are 
yet to be paid for, and therein lies a fine op- 
portunity for the making of two grand gifts, 
each in the sum of $2500, wherewith to pay 
for these animals. To-day their cost is very 
reasonable. “In a few years they will be the 
most gigantic and awe-inspiring beasts in 
Greater New York, and eventually they will 
be worth at least $8000 each. If no ill for- 
tune should befall Kartoom, he should attain 
a shoulder height of eleven feet and a weight 
of 12,000 pounds. Such a gift would do 
credit to any donor, and he will be accredited 
to the first person who sends $2500 as his pur- 
chase money. His mate costs the same 
amount, and is equally eligible. 


AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL 
COLLECTION. 


ROM the standpoint of teaching young 
pupils the rudiments of the classification 

of mammals, the Small-Mammal House 
has become the most important building in 
the Park. In arranging the collection in this 
building it was realized the considerable num- 
ber of Orders of Mammals represented, and 
at once it seemed desirable to increase the 
number of Orders by a judicious selection of 
characteristic species. Naturally, the next step 
was to so label the collection as to make it 
a helpful center for teachers and classes in 
viewing various mammals grouped collectively. 
With the Small-Mammal House once fully 
stocked, a condition brought about a year ago, 
the first step in gaining the desired result was 
to arrange the specimens in the form of a syn- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


optic collection. New labels were prepared, 
each having a band of color at the top, thus: 
Gray—Primates; Red—Carnivora; Blue—Ro- 
dentia; Green—Edentata; etc. In conjunction 
with the labels, a large key-label was painted 
and hung at each end of the building, fully 
explaining the system employed. To further 
aid the understanding of the younger students, 
long labels bearing the respective bands of 
color, and the name of each order, were hung 
in parts of the building over the living speci- 
mens representing them. 

Our next step in increasing the educational 
value of the Small-Mammal House will be to 
prepare a large wall chart showing in simple 
terms the classification of mammals. This 
work goes hand in hand with the popular lec- 
tures delivered to the school children. For- 
tunately, our ideas in labeling were matured, 
and the labels all in place, when the request to 
deliver lectures to the children of the Public 
Schools was finally considered. 

Not alone are these labels both striking and 
instructive; but they impart a well-finished 
aspect to both the interior and exterior of the 
building, adding an element of value to a 
miscellaneous collection of mammals that 
really forms one of our most important install- 
ations—and also one of the most difficult to 
keep in good condition. 

At the present time six Orders of Mammals 
are represented in the Small-Mammal House. 
These are the Primates, Carnivora, Rodentia, 
Ungulata, Marsupialia and Edentata. During 
the summer we shall endeavor to establish 
cages of bats, harbor seals and hedge-hogs, 
thus representing the Orders Chiroptera, Pin- 
nipedia and Insectivora. From the keen in- 
terest thus far manifested, we anticipate that 
the contents of this building will be very help- 
ful to teachers and students of Natural His- 
tory, generally. ReeeeDs 


THE ITALIAN GARDEN OF BAIRD 
COURT. 


N THE center of the north end of Baird 
Court there is a rectangular plot of ground, 
with an area of eighty-five hundred square 

feet. From the broad terrace connecting the 
first landings of the two main stairways, it 
rises with a grade of a little over ten per cent., 
to the level of Baird Court. It is flanked on 
either side by flights of steps with highly orna- 
mental balustrades of limestone and_ terra- 
cotta, and forms, with these steps, the con- 
necting link between Baird Court and the 
Grand Concourse, now under construction. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


nw 
on 
i) 


THE ITALIAN GARDEN IN BAIRD COURT. 


Three flights of broad steps on the south, 
east and west, lead into the garden proper, 
each being connected with the others, and also 
with the entrance in the center of the lower 
terrace, by grass walks, forming a cross within 
a diamond. This purely formal treatment of 
the garden was demanded by the surrounding 
cut-stone work, and indeed it is the only one 
that could have given satisfaction in a situa- 
tion such as this. 

Of the eight triangular beds thus formed, 
those on the outside of the diamond are relied 
upon to give strength and character, and the 
four central ones have been planned to fur- 
nish color. To accomplish this idea, great 
masses of evergreens, from stately cedars, 
eighteen feet high, to trailing junipers of half 
as many inches, have been thickly planted, 
forming an irregular, serrated slope from the 
outside toward the center, and merging, so to 
say, into the box margins, with which all the 
walks are defined. These evergreens are of 
many sizes, forms, and hues, and compose 
groups, any one of which would make a brave 
showing, even if standing alone. Combined 


as they are, they make a beautiful setting for 
the four flower-beds, which with their box 
edgings and bright masses of color, add to the 
garden another feature of interest and life. 

It is the intention to have an uninterrupted 
display of flowers in these central beds, be- 
ginning with crocuses, tulips, and other 
early spring flowering bulbs, and continuing 
through summer bedding-plants, to late asters 
and dwarf chrysanthemums. For this season 
the beds have been planted with a double ge- 
ranium of a glowing dark red color, named 
the S. A. Nutt. These bedding-plants will be 
supplied by our own nursery green-houses at 
Bronxdale. 

Of evergreens, five hundred were used, con- 
sisting of such varieties as red cedars, green 
and gold Japanese cypresses, mugho pine, 
various dwarf arborvitees and yews, a number 
of junipers and the small-leaved Japanese 
holly. Thirty-two hundred twelve-inch box 
bushes were used for the edgings, and in the 
flower beds eighteen hundred geraniums were 
planted. H. W. M. 


S02 
RAIDING A RATTLESNAKES’ DEN. 


IRST-KEEPER SNYDER of the Reptile 

House and Mr. DeLos Hicok have just 

returned from an expedition, involving 
lively work and considerable danger, to the 
boundary line between Massachusetts and New 
York. The purpose of the trip was to secure 
a cageful of specimens of the banded or tim- 
ber rattlesnake, the only species of rattlesnake 
found in this portion of the United States. 
The result of this expedition, despite unfavor- 
able weather, is an exhibit of eighteen fine 
rattlers, all captured within three days’ time. 

In line with our aim to stock the Reptile 
House with a liberal number of representatives 
of the North American serpents, it was de- 
termined that the local species of poisonous 
snakes, the rattlesnake and the copperhead 
snake, should be well represented. It was de- 
cided to construct in one of our larger cages 
a high section of rock-work with several 
ledges, and in this cage to display a number 
of timber rattlesnakes. To make that kind of 
an exhibit attractive a considerable number of 
snakes was needed. Though we had made 
repeated efforts to buy timber rattlesnakes, our 
success had been unsatisfactory. Hence the 
special expedition to the Taconic Mountains, 
toa “den” from which we have obtained rattle- 
snakes once before. 

Three years ago, Mr. DeLos Hicok, a civil 
engineer who is much interested in serpents, 
called at the Reptile House and informed the 
writer that surveyors working along the 
Massachusetts-New York boundary, where it 
passes through the Taconic Mountains, had 
been both hampered and alarmed by encoun- 
tering numerous rattlesnakes. Acting upon 
Mr. Hicok’s suggestion for an experienced 
man to accompany him in making an investi- 
gation, the writer dispatched Keeper Snyder, 
of the Reptile House staff. Investigation re- 
vealed the fact that the state boundary runs 
parallel with extensive rock-ledges and stone- 
slides. Following up the ledges on the Mass- 
achusetts side of the line, the investigators 
came upon rock formation so seamed, fissured 
and strewn with flat fragments as to offer 
ideal wintering quarters for snakes. It being 
spring, the “den” was well inhabited. Eleven 
large snakes were captured alive. A con- 
siderable number were seen to glide into shel- 
tering crevices, while the search elicited a 
sonorous and steady rattling from fissures of 
indefinite depth. 

The specimens obtained by this first expedi- 
tion were exhibited in the Reptile House, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


where they thrived for nearly two years, after 
which a number of them died from a parasitic 
infection. This year’s expedition was more 
carefully planned, as the route lay direct to 
the “den,” without the necessity of discover- 
ing it. The start was to have been made 
early in May, but the unseasonable and pro- 
longed cold weather seemed likely to keep the 
snakes below ground. It was not until May 
15th that Messrs. Snyder and Hicok started 
for the “den.” 

When they arrived they found one condi- 
tion much against them. In spite of the cool 
weather, the undergrowth had sprung luxuri- 
ously into leaf, making the search for serpents 
not only exceedingly difficult but dangerous. 
In breaking through the tangled mass, Mr. 
Snyder explains that he took desperate chances 
of being bitten. Hidden snakes suddenly 
buzzed almost from under his feet. When the 
men reached the ledges, or open ground, they 
found the snakes exhibiting a peculiar degree 
of caution. They were either coiled close to 
the edges of heavy undergrowth or at the 
mouths of deep clefts in the rocks. And they 
were quick to take advantage of cover, glid- 
ing into thickets or among rocks as soon as 
the human intruders came into view. The 
trail of most of the specimens could be fol- 
lowed by the whirr of their rattles. 

Mr. Snyder says that the fissures on the 
ledges must extend inward for great distances, 
as the rattle of an escaping snake could be 
heard to grow gradually fainter until, barely 
distinguishable, it continued its tireless mono- 
tone, the owner evidently having drawn itself 
into an angry coil in some distant subter- 
raneous retreat. 

Several groups of snakes were found coiled 
in the sunshine, displaying a really sociable 
spirit. From each of these groups, however, 
the catch was seldom more than two. After 
a quick decision by the collector, and an assault 
on the specimens chosen, the other snakes 
lost no time in beating a retreat. From one 
group of five individuals but a single example 
was obtained, a fine sulphur-colored rattler 
that fought viciously, grinding its fangs 
against the stick used to hold its body to the 
ground, and finally biting itself in an hys- 
terical exhibition of rage. 

After two days spent on the ledge Messrs. 
Snyder and Hicok succeeded in capturing 
eighteen large rattlesnakes. Some of these 
are marked by a rich, sulphur-yellow colora- 
tion, while a few are jet black. The largest 
specimen is five feet long and two inches in 
diameter at the thickest part of the body. Its 
rattle is made up of thirteen segments. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 353 


THE RARE ST/JLOSOMA EXTENUATUM. 


All of the snakes were caught by pinning 
the head to the ground under a curved stick, 
after which the reptile was picked up by the 
neck—by hand—and dropped into a canvas 
bag. The entire catch is now on exhibition 
in one of the large cages on the main floor of 
the Reptile House. I i, iD), 


A RARE FLORIDA SNAKE. 


MONG the North American reptiles there 
Ae several strikingly distinct species of 

serpents, each represented in the collec- 
tions of all our museums by a total of from 
one to, possibly, six specimens only. With 
several of these, however, the apparent scarc- 
ity of examples may be traced to the inac- 
cessibility of the habitat. There are several 
localities in the southwestern portion of the 
United States, which, if well worked by sys- 
tematic collectors, would undoubtedly yield an 
interesting harvest of these supposedly rare 
creatures. 

We have an exception to the conditions 
cited, in a small snake known technically as 
Stilosoma extenuatum. This reptile was orig- 
inally described by Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown, 
Director of the Zoological Gardens, in Phila- 
delphia. The original description was made 
in 1890, and the type specimens were taken 
in a part of Florida (Marion and Orange 
Counties), well investigated by collectors. 
Yet, since that time, the total number of speci- 
mens known to have reached museum collec- 
tion has been only ten. Mr. Brown explains 
the distribution of these specimens as follows: 
Seven specimens are in Philadelphia, in the 
Academy of Sciences and Mr. Brown’s collec- 


tion, one is in the National Museum, another 
is in the British Museum and another prob- 
ably is in the museum at Upsala, Sweden. 

In a shipment of snakes from Orlando, 
llorida, received a month ago at the Reptile 
House, two specimens of the rare Stilosoma 
extenuatum were discovered. They are ap- 
parently mature, and in perfectly healthy con- 
dition. Owing to their degenerate make-up, 
this being especially evident by their small 
eyes and the simplified scalation of the head, 
they were placed in a cage containing a layer 
of wood pulp, affording them a medium in 
which to burrow. They appeared continually 
uneasy and very active, boring their way out 
of sight to soon reappear some distance away, 
when they would ascend the branches of a 
small bush within the cage with a suppleness 
of motion surprising for burrowing reptiles— 
yet natural enough owing to their strangely 
elongated bodies. When handled these little 
snakes show none of the stiffness usually char- 
acteristic of burrowing serpents, but coil about 
one’s fingers, or draw the body into a compact 
ball. Such actions point to powers of con- 
striction, and may enable the species to over- 
power and eat other small snakes, such as 
Diadophis, Cemophora, Virginia and Haldea, 
as well as the ground lizard, Lygosoma. Thus 
far neither specimen has been induced to feed. 
Both appear strikingly similar in coloration 
to yery young specimens of ihe corn snake, 
Coluber guttatus, for which they were for a 
moment mistaken, as the writer went hur- 
riedly over the contents of the shipment. In 
distributing the various reptiles composing the 
shipments, the writer was attracted by the 
small heads of the present specimens, and an 
examination at once disclosed their identity. 

IR, Thy, 10) 


BOBBING FOR EELS. 


OBBING for eels commences about the 
B middle of April in the vicinity of New 

York. Eels are generally out of the mud 
by that time, roaming over the flats looking 
for food, being very hungry after their long 
winter hibernation. They afford good sport for 
those who know how to get it, and this is the 
method of procedure: The “bobber” digs a 
quart of sandworms out of the “flats” at low 
tide, which he strings on linen thread with a 
long needle, running it through the entire 
length of each worm. After the thread, which 
is ten or fifteen feet long, is full of worms, and 
the ends are secured, it is wound around the 
hand, forming a “hank,” through which a fish- 


354 


ing line is passed and secured. Thread is then 
wound around the hank, securing it in a com- 
pact bunch four or five inches long and two or 
three inches thick. This makes the “bob.” 

Eel bobbing may be done anywhere about 
the shores of New York Bay in water five or 
six feet deep, or in fact over the very sand- 
flats from which the worms were obtained. The 
time for fishing is from the first of the flood- 
tide to high-water. After the boat is anchored, 
the “‘bob,’”’ with a two-ounce sinker attached, 
is dropped overboard and kept close to the 
bottom by sounding. If eels are about, the 
fun will commence immediately. 

The eels seize the “bob” and hang on until 
they are lifted into the boat. The thread 
wound about the “bob” holds it together a long 
time. Sometimes four or five eels are lifted 
from the water at once, and a bobber may 
catch a bushel of them, varying in size from 
six inches to two feet, at one tide. 

Bobbing for eels is wet work, and it is well 
for the fisherman to wear oilskin overalls and 
rubber boots. A low boat is best, as the eels 
do not hang to the “bob” very long. 

Bobbing is also done from the shore with a 
fishing-rod, the eels being thrown out onto the 
bank. Then the spectators have the fun of 
seeing the bobber catch the slippery creatures 
and put them in the basket. Half of those 
tossed ashore may wriggle into the water be- 
fore they are captured. 

Eel-bobbing parties are often formed in 
localities where eels abound and the sport is 
lively. The best time to bob for eels is at 
night, but good catches are also made by day. 
—From the notes of W. J. De Nyse. 


THE CENTENIAL OF THE AQUARIUM. 


N THE evening of May 23 a reception 
O was given at the Aquarium by the New 

York Zoological Society, to the New 
York Academy of Sciences, in commemoration 
of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
of Linnaeus. Advantage was taken of this 
occasion to celebrate the centennial of the 
Aquarium building, the construction of which 
was begun in 1807. 

Additional electric lights having been put 
in the building, the first view was afforded of 
the collections by night, 450 guests viewing the 
novel spectacle. The Aquarium was decorated 
with many plants and Japanese lanterns and 
a large orchestra was provided. The palms 
and other plants were kindly supplied for the 
evening by the Department of Parks through 
Commissioner Moses Herrman. 


. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


The Aquarium building lends itself admir- 
ably to decoration, and many expressions of 
approval were heard from visitors. In view 
of this fact it may be desirable to hold future 
meetings of the Zoological Society in the 
building, and the Executive Committee is con- 
sidering the advisability of opening the 
Aquarium to the public on two or more even- 
ings of each week. 


THE JUNGLE WALK AND BRONX- 
DALE ENTRANCE: 


ISITORS to the Zoological Park will 

find open to them a new walk leading 

through a particularly beautiful tract of 
virgin forest, and also a new entrance. Here- 
tofore, the area situated between the Beaver 
Pond and Lake Agassiz,and formerly called the 
beech woods, has not been open to the public, 
for the reason that improvements around the 
Bronxdale entrance were not completed. Now, 
however, the walk along the river from that 
entrance up to the Beaver Pond, has been fin- 
ished. On Sunday, June 8th, the new entrance 
at the Bronx River Bridge on the Boston 
Road, and known as the Bronxdale entrance, 
was opened to the public for the first time. It 
renders accessible to visitors the waterfall, 
Lake Agassiz, and the most beautiful woods in 
the whole Zoological Park. 

With infinite pains, a board walk has been 
constructed through the virgin forest, between 
Lake Agassiz and the Beaver Pond, without 
in the slightest degree disturbing the tree roots 
and the ground along its borders. In order 
to avoid the destructiveness of teaming 
through those woods, all the materials for the 
board walk were run in by hand, and not one 
team has ever passed over that course. The 
natural beauties of the forest have been most 
jealously preserved, and every lover of nature 
will be delighted with the untouched condition 
of the beech forest, and the beauty of the 
ferns, mosses and wild flowers which em- 
bellish the earth on every side. 

The brook coming down from the Beaver 
Pond constitutes a pleasing feature. This 
tract of forest has been named “The Jungle,” 
and the walk leading through it is called “The 
Jungle Walk.” Lake Agassiz, the waterfall 
and the glen below them must be seen to be 
appreciated, and those who love the quiet se- 
clusion of an untouched forest, as found in 
spring, will undoubtedly find this region a 
charming resort. Seats have been placed 
along the Jungle Walk, and they are well 
patronized. Of course the public is not per- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A BIT OF LAKE AGASSIZ FROM THE JUNGLE WALK. 


mitted to wander through the woods, away 
from the walk, to the destruction of the deli- 
cate forest plants that, when once trampled 
into the earth, never can be renewed. 

As soon as possible a small rustic bridge 
will be thrown across from the main shore to 


the island that divides the southern fall, in 
order that visitors may obtain a fine view of 
the falls as a whole. 

The Bronxdale entrance will be kept open 
each year from May ist to November Ist, but 
in winter it will probably be closed. 


356 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 

Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 

Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 11 Wall St., 
New York City. 

Copyright, 1907, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 26. JULY, 1907 
Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 


Single numbers, 15 cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Officers of the Society. 
President : 


HON. LEVI P. MORTON. 


Executive Committee : 
Cuartes T. Barney, Chairman, 
Joun S. Barnes, Mapison GRANT, 
Percy R. Pyne, Wiiiam WHITE NILES, 
SaMUEL THORNE, Henry FairFIELD OSBORN, 
Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Jreasurer, Percy R, PyNE, 52 WALL STREET. 

Director, WitL1Am T. Hornapay, ZooLocicaL Park. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H, TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK 


Board of Managers: 
EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. GeorcE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. Moses HERRMAN. 


Class of 1910. 


F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
Percy R. Pyne, 
George B. Grinnell, 
Jacob H. Schiff, 
Edward J]. Berwind, 
George C. Clark, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, 
c. Ledyard Blair, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Frederick G. Bourne, 
W. Austin Wadsworth. 


Class of 1908. Class of 1909. 


Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, 
Charles T. Barney, Andrew Carnegie, 
William C. Church, Morris K. Jesup, 
Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, 
H. Casimir De Rham, John S. Barnes, 
George Crocker, Madison Grant, _ 
Hugh D. Auchincloss. William White Niles, 
Charles F. Dieterich, Samuel Thorne, 
James J. Hill, Henry A. C. Taylor, 
George F. Baker, Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Grant B. Schley, Wm. D. Sloane, 
Payne Whitney, Winthrop Rutherfurd, 


A STATE BISON HERD. 


- The initial effort of the officers of the 
American Bison Society to bring about the 
establishment of a state herd of American 
bison, to be permanently located on state lands, 
and owned and maintained by the state of 
New York, has been thwarted. The bill 
introduced and vigorously pushed by Assem- 
blyman Frank H. Hooper was by Senator 
Armstrong kindly translated into an item of 
the annual supply bill, where it met the ap- 
proval of Speaker Wadsworth, Assemblyman 
Moreland, Chairman of the Assembly Com- 
mittee on Ways and Means, and all the mem- 
bers of the Conference Committee. It is a 
pleasing fact that the measure encountered no 
determined opposition, and all the leading 
Senators and Assemblymen have cordially fav- 
ored it. The only necessity for the strenuous 
efforts in behalf of this measure that were put 
forth by Professor Franklin W. Hooper and 
the President of the Bison Society, ably as- 
sisted by Mr. Harry V. Radford, was by rea- 
son of the fact that the initial appropriation 
necessary is $20,000, and there were calls for 
state money beyond the amount available. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


For a time it seemed that the proposed bison 
herd was desired by every citizen of this state. 
The item passed both houses of the legislature, 
practically by unanimous consent, and went to 
Governor Hughes in the supply bill. Without 
the slightest warning, and to the profound 
surprise of everyone, Governor Hughes picked 
out the item for the state bison herd, and 
vetoed it. 


WICHITA BUFFALO RANGE. 


We are advised by the Bureau of Forestry, 
of the Department of Agriculture, that the ful- 
filment of the contract for the erection of the 
fences, corrals, barn and sheds of the Wichita 
Buffalo Range has been satisfactorily carried 
out. By July 15th, the work will be completed, 
and the range will be ready. For several ex- 
cellent reasons, it is not best to send the herd 
southward in midsummer, but at the earliest 
satisfactory date the shipment will be made. 
It is the opinion of those most interested that 
October will be the best month for the trans- 
fer of the nucleus herd, and arrangements will 
be made accordingly. 


THE ZOOLOGICAL CONGRESS. 


Every two years the zoologists of Europe 
and America meet in an International Con- 
gress. One week is devoted to a series 
of meetings embracing fifteen sections, or 
branches, of zoological work and _ interest. 
These sections cover the whole range of 
human activity as concerned with animate na- 
ture, and they also cover the zoology of all 
extinct forms of life. During past years, ses- 
sions of the International Congress have been 
held, as follows: Paris, 1889; Moscow, 1892; 
Lyden, 1895; Cambridge, 1898; Berlin, 1901; 
and Berne, 1904. 

At Berne, the Congress received an invi- 
tation from the zoologists of America to hold 
its seventh session in Boston, in 1907. That in- 
vitation was accepted, and the Congress will 
convene in Boston on August 19th. It will 
close its sessions there on August 23d, and 
after that date, both the American and foreign 
members will journey to Woods Holl, New 
York, Philadelphia and Washington. To New 
York City and vicinity will be devoted the en- 
tire week beginning on Monday, August 26th. 
Thursday, August 29th, has been specially set 
apart as “The New York Zoological Society 
Day,” and on that date, the members of the 
Congress will visit the New York Zoological 
Park and Aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Up to this date sixty distinguished foreign 
zoologists have registered as members of the 
Congress, and expressed their intention to 
attend. The number of American guests will 
probably reach 200. Naturally, the visit of 
the Congress to New York is of interest to all 
persons who in any way are connected with 
the zoological institutions of this City, and 
the zoologists of New York have formed a 
local committee to provide for the entertain- 
ment of the members of the Congress during 
their visit here. 


THE AUTOMATIC SHOT-GUN. 


Mr. G. O. Shields and his supporters in the 
campaign against the automatic gun have won 
a victory in an important engagement. The 
State of Pennsylvania has recently enacted a 
law, and it has been signed by the Governor, 
prohibiting in hunting the use not only of the 
automatic shot-gun, but also of the well-known 
“pump-gun” which has been in use for several 
years. The battle was fought hard on both 
sides, but the longer the subject was illumin- 
ated the stronger grew the feeling that auto- 
matic guns of all kinds should no longer be 
used against wild life; and the final majority 
was overwhelmingly against those weapons. 

At first Governor Stuart was _ inclined 
against the measure, but the arguments against 
the deadliest guns soon convinced him that 
the interests of wild-life preservation war- 
ranted his approval of it; so he signed it, and 
sent the pen to Mr. Shields, to hang alongside 
the one with which President McKinley signed 
the admirable “Lacey Bird Law.” 

Seven of the provinces of Canada have en- 
acted laws against the automatic gun, but it 
was left to Pennsylvania to show the way to 
other states on this side of the international 
boundary. All honor to Pennsylvania, and 
the grand army of her citizens who worked 
for and voted for the new measure, and to the 
Governor who signed the bill. We congratu- 
late Mr. Shields upon this signal testimonial 
to the correctness of his judgment regarding 
the mechanical shot-guns. 


THE ELEPHANT HOUSE SCULPTURE 
COMPETITION. 


In response to the request of several sculp- 
tors of wild animals the work involved in 
providing the animal sculptures for the Ele- 
phant House, was thrown open to competi- 
tion. After a careful consideration of the 


357 


whole subject, the Executive Committee de- 
cided to invite six sculptors to compete, and a 
suitable amount was appropriated for the ex- 
penses of each competitor. The following per- 
sons were invited to compete: A. P. Proctor, 
Eli Harvey, F. G. R. Roth, Miss Anna V. 
Hyatt, Charles R. Knight and B. C. Rum- 
sey. Owing to her departure for a prolonged 
stay in Europe, Miss Hyatt was unable to 
enter the competition. 

The models of the five competitors were de- 
livered on Saturday, June 8th, at the Lion 
House, and were displayed in the studio of 
that building, where the light was well adapted 
to the purposes of the occasion. All models 
were submitted without signature or sign save 
a distinguishing mark, under seal. In entire 
ignorance of the origin of any of the models, 
the Executive Committee of the Society made 
its official inspection at a special meeting held 
at the Zoological Park on June 19. The de- 
cision was awarded to the models which it was 
presently discovered were submitted by Mr. 
Proctor and Mr. Knight; and finding it ex- 
tremely difficult to choose between these two 
sculptors, the work was divided, and one-half 
of it awarded to each. 


THE LION HOUSE MURAL 
DECORATIONS. 


For a considerable period the six smaller 
outside cages of the Lion House have lacked 
their mural decorations. The three large 
cages were so successfully decorated, by Mr. 
Carl Rungius, the well-known painter of wild 
animals, that the completion of the original 
scheme has only awaited a reasonably conven- 
ient season. 

At no small sacrifice to his own plans and 
work, and solely because of his keen interest 
in the general work of the Zoological Society, 
of which he has long been a member, Mr. Run- 
gius has taken time to complete the original 
design. During the spring months, with ex- 
cellent assistance from Mr. E. A. Costain, of 
the Zoological Park force, he decorated the 
rear walls and all partitions of the six smaller 
cages, and brought the whole work together 
in one continuous panorama, stretching from 
end to end of the outside cages. 

As the members of the Society already 
know, the combination of rocks and painted 
background behind them in the three large 
cages proved an unqualified success, but the 
completion of the scheme has more than 
doubled the effectiveness of the three isolated 
panoramas. 


358 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A PORTION OF BRONX LAKE 


LECTURES TO SCHOOL PUPILS. 
AST April, in response to urgent appeals 


from the Bronx Borough Teachers’ Asso- 

ciation, represented by Professor Hugo 
Newman, and many other teachers of the 
Borough of the Bronx, the Zoological Park 
staff hurriedly converted the Shelter Pavilion, 
at the Wolf Dens, into a lecture hall, and 
prepared a course of illustrated lectures. The 
Director of the Park delivered a series of lec- 
tures entitled “An Introduction to the Study 
of Mammals,” Curator C. William Beebe lec- 
tured in a similar vein on the bird world, and 
Curator Raymond L. Ditmars lectured on the 
four Orders of Reptiles. A good stereopticon 
was purchased and operated by Mr. Sanborn, 
and Chief Clerk Mitchell provided the black 
drop-curtains by means of which the pavilion 
was darkened. 

The teachers of the Bronx Borough 
Teachers’ Association vigorously undertook 
their share of the work. They printed and dis- 
tributed to teachers a very complete syllabus 
of each lecture, secured the services of about 
twenty teachers to act as demonstrators, and 
arranged a program by which forty different 


NEAR THE NEW BOAT-HOUSE. 


schools of Bronx Borough were allowed to 
send delegations of children from their 5A 
grades. It was reported that more than twice 
as many children applied for the privilege as 
could be accommodated. 

At each lecture, about 400 children and 
twenty teachers were present, filling the make- 
shift lecture hall to the limit of its seating ca- 
pacity. Each delegation was conducted by its 
own teacher, and the universal promptness of 
arrival at the hall was very noteworthy. 
The most perfect discipline was maintained 
throughout and Professor Newman impressed 
upon the minds of the children the important 
fact that the whole afternoon’s work repre- 
sented regular school exercises, as prescribed 
by the Board of Education. He said, “You 
are to remember that you are now actually in 
school, and under all the rules that apply to 
attendance in your respective public school 
buildings.” 

The ages of the pupils were supposed to 
range from eleven to thirteen years; but a 
great many of the children were so small that 
they seemed to be younger than nine. They 
were all so bright- looking, so alert, so neat in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


dress and so eager to know about animals that 
it was a pleasure to talk to them. Through- 
out the whole course of lectures there never 
was the least disorder, or break in discipline, 
and each lecture was listened to with close 
attention, 

Naturally, the subject matter of the lectures, 
and the illustrations, were most carefully 
chosen to meet the age and understanding of 
the pupils, and to set forth only facts which 
could be understood and remembered. At the 
close of each lecture, the classes were taken 
out in sections, with about fifty pupils in each 
section, and guided to the living creatures 
which specially illustrated the lecture. On 
reaching each. collection, a demonstrator 
pointed out the specimens of special interest 
to the pupils. 

It is not going too far to say that by the 
teachers, principals and district superinten- 
dents who either saw this work in progress, or 
participated in it, the experiment was pro- 
nounced an unqualified success. An earnest 
appeal has been made to the Zoological So- 
ciety that it provide a permanent lecture hall 
in the Zoological Park, capable of seating 
1,000 school children, in order that the chil- 
dren of Manhattan may enjoy the privilege 
of practical zoological instruction in the Park 
that now is available only to those of Bronx 
Borough. 


THE BATELEUR EAGLE. 


HERE is now living in the collection of 
the birds of prey a splendid specimen 
of the bateleur eagle. This bird is re- 

markable for its magnificent bearing, the bril- 
liant uneaglelike colors of its plumage and its 
absurdly short tail. It is found over the 
greater part of the African continent, south 
of the Sahara, and is especially characteristic 
of the southern part. 

The long crest adds much to its martial ap- 
pearance, and this, together with the head, 
sides of the neck and the under parts, are 
glossy-black. The back, tail-coverts and tail 
are rich maroon-chestnut, while the shoulders 
and most of the wing-coverts are of a silvery 
hue. The flight feathers are black and the 
beak is parti-colored yellow, orange and black, 
while the feet and legs are bright coral-red. 
Although the bird measures a full two feet 
in length, yet the tail is only four and a quar- 

. ter inches long, producing the effect of a bird 
with a tail only partly grown out. 

The French name bateleur, synonymous 
with the terms harlequin and mountebank, was 


359 


given to this eagle because of its curious and 
inexplicable habit of turning somersaults in 
mid-air. It also occasionally swings from side 
to side while in full flight, with the wings 
rigid and held slantingly upward. To com- 
plete the tale of its remarkable aerial habits, 
when hunting for prey, instead of watching 
the ground before or immediately beneath it, 
the bird draws its head downward and close 
to the body, apparently looking backward be- 
tween its legs to the ground over which it has 
passed. 

The diet consists of small reptiles and mam- 
mals, and this eagle feeds frequently on car- 
rion in company with the true vultures. It is 
said to attack poultry, but a specimen which 
was kept in a henhouse did no damage except 
to devour some of the eggs. A nest of sticks 
is built near the top of some high and thorny 
acacia where the large creamy-white egg is 
laid. Cc. W. B. 


NESTING OF THE BIRDS IN THE 
COLLECTION. 


AINY and cold though the spring has 
been, many birds in the collection have 
nested. The sand-hill cranes built their 

nest and laid two eggs as usual, and the mal- 
lard ducks began to incubate almost before the 
frost was out of the ground. There were 
seventeen of their nests around the Wild-Fowl 
Pond alone, although so well hidden that they 
were invisible until the sitting bird was flushed. 
Many broods of ducklings of various ages are 
now on the several ponds and foraging for 
themselves among the grass. As usual, on 
the appearance of the first broods, a crow or 
two developed a sudden fancy for ducklings 
and six or eight unfortunate youngsters were 
carried away before the black marauders were 
shot. Soon afterward a stray cat was shot 
while stalking a brood, but since that time no 
enemy has interfered with the young mallards. 

The griffon vulture laid a large white egg 
in the corner of her cage and savagely re- 
sented its removal. The brown pelican, white- 
breasted guan, Egyptian goose and Himalayan 
jay-thrush laid eggs for the first time, but 
none of these built nests. 

Considerable excitement was caused one day 
in the big central flying cage of the bird house 
by the sudden appearance of a young saffron 
finch. When first observed it was squatting 
on the sand with an admiring, or at least in- 
terested, circle of birds—terns, quails, pigeons, 
gallinules, larks and orioles—gathered about 
it. Where it had been reared was for a long 


3600 


time a mystery, but when it was old enough 
to care for itself the secret was discovered, as 
the parents built a second nest deep within one 
of the old crowns of a palm tree. 

At the present time a half dozen species of 
doves and pigeons are sitting on their eggs, 
while the young of bluebirds and robins are 
already hatched. There are seven robins’ 
nests in one cage, a fact which leaves little 
doubt as to their happiness and contentment. 
Although these birds were all nestlings when 
placed in the collection last year yet their 
first attempts at nest-building, far from being 
awkward or abortive, have resulted in well- 
thatched, mud-lined structures, strong and 
well built. Common as is our robin, its entire 
history is far from thoroughly worked out, 
and here, where the nest-building, laying and 
incubation is all accomplished within a yard 
of the cage wires, a wonderful opportunity is 
afforded for careful observation at close range. 
Pans of mud are provided and the robins may 
be seen filling their beaks with this soft black 
building material, carrying it to the half- 
finished nest and molding it into shape with 
beak and breast. 

On cold days the parent sits so close that 
only her head and tail are visible above the 
rim of the nest, while on hot days she half 
stands with partly lifted wings, as a shield 
against the intense heat of mid-day. 

In another cage a grackle is sitting on a 
great bristling mass of straw and twigs, 
whose outside gives no hint of the smooth 
interior which holds the beautifully marked 
eggs. A European wood pigeon has the 
flimsiest nest of all, merely a handful of 
straws, laid one over the other in a crotch. 
How her two white eggs manage to stay on is 
a miracle. A yellow-billed cuckoo sitting on 
three eggs is an interesting sight, as this bird 
has never before been known to lay in cap- 
tivity. In another corner of the cage are six 
others which she has laid. A white peahen is 
incubating a half dozen eggs, and rarest of 
all, a pair of trumpeter swans has built a nest 
on an island in the Beaver Pond. These birds 
are all but extinct, and if they succeed in rear- 
ing young it will be a notable event. 


AMERICAN WOOD WARBLERS IN 
THE LARGE BIRD-HOUSE. 


HE American wood warblers, (Mniotil- 
i. tidae), are perhaps the most interesting 
of our smaller native birds. There are 
about 155 species all told, ranging from 
Alaska and Labrador south to Argentina. Of 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


these, fifty-five species and nineteen sub- 
species are found within the borders of the 
United States. Every spring our woods and 
groves are thronged with these brilliant- 
plumaged little birds, whose colors reveal a 
great variety in hue and in pattern. In spite 
of their name, they do not take high rank as 
vocalists, their warbling, as a rule, being mo- 
notonous and of limited musical range. 

Some species linger through the summer 
and nest with us, but the majority push on to 
the coniferous forests of the northern States 
and Canada. In the fall they return south- 
ward, some in entirely altered attire, the young 
birds frequently exhibiting still another pat- 
tern of colors. They thus tax to the utmost 
the skill of the amateur ornithologist, delight- 
ing him with their colors and simple ditties, 
and yet confusing him by their very numbers. 
Every aid to their identification is welcome. 
Mr. Frank M. Chapman has recently published 
a book, illustrated with many colored plates, 
devoted solely to this Family of birds, which 
will be of great value when used with the 
field-glass and notebook. 

But better than either books or pictures can 
be, are the living birds themselves; and in the 
Large Bird-House of the Zoological Park 
there is, without doubt, the finest collection of 
live American warblers which has ever been 
gathered together. “hese birds are all insect 
feeders, and as such, are most difficult to keep 
in health in confinement. It is safe to say 
that the ordinary canary lover could not keep 
one of these birds alive for forty-eight hours. 
By means of most careful study of the habits 
and food of the birds, and by continually ex- 
perimenting with diet, and ways and means 
for accustoming these delicate little birds to 
their new conditions of life, Keepers Stacey 
and Durbin have assembled and established 
a collection of no less than eighteen species. 
These include all of the common, and also 
some of the rarest, forms found near New 
York City, either as summer residents or as 
transient migratory visitors in spring and fall. 

The warblers which have been in the col- 
lection for two or more years have passed 
through their annual moult on time, and as 
thoroughly as if in a state of freedom; so there 
seems no reason why they should not all live 
out their span of life—indeed, a much longer 
span than would be theirs if exposed to the 
vicissitudes of their wild life. 

So varied are the eighteen species that all 
of the interesting adaptations of the Family 
are represented, radiations from the typical 
wood warbler, arboreal, seeking food under 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


361 


AUDUBON COURT, TAKEN FROM THE MAMMAL HOUSE. 


The elliptical plot in the center is filled with a profusion of rhododendrons and mountain laurel, 
forming one of the most pleasing features of plant life in the Park. 


leaves and on the twigs of the higher trees, 
toward specialization as creepers, flycatchers, 
marsh-haunters, and, strangest of all, toward 
a sandpiper life. 

Eight of the species in the collection are 
among those which remain to nest near our 
city, more or less commonly as the case may 
be. Perhaps the best known of these in the 
spring is the yellow warbler, or wild canary, 
as it 1s called from its color. This is the bird 
which is so often imposed on by parasitic cow- 
birds, and which sometimes builds a second or 
even a third story to its nest to avoid hatching 
the parasitic egg. Of different pattern of 
plumage, but almost as conspicuous, is the 
American redstart—a warbler with the habits 
and actions of a flycatcher, dashing through 
the trees in rich orange and black dress, in 
pursuit of flying insects. 

Near the stream borders or marshy places 
we are almost sure to hear the Witchity! 
Witchity! Witchity! of the northern yellow- 


throat, with its wren-like actions and black 
mask over its eyes. In the collection it is one 
of the most active of all the warblers, running 
about on the ground, or flying from branch 
to branch. The blue-winged is represented by 
a number of specimens, and the well-named 
black-and-white creeping warblers are forever 
going up and down the tree-trunks and 
branches in their cage. 

A pair of worm-eating warblers, with hand- 
somely streaked heads, will be a new sight for 
many amateur bird-lovers, for these birds are 
far from common, and their prompt accept- 
ance of the conditions of confinement, and 
their tameness, is very fortunate. The oven- 
bird and Louisiana water-thrushes are the last 
of the resident species, and stand for the most 
aberrant type, one which has actually taken 
to a life on the ground, a walking gait, a 
teetering motion, and a fondness for wading 
in the shallows of brooks. In fact, although 
true warblers, these have become, to all in- 


362 


tents and purposes, sandpipers in appearance 
and in choice of haunts! The ovenbird is one 
of the easiest of our summer birds to identify 
by its song—a loud, ringing crescendo, 
sounding like TEACHER! TEACHER! 
TEACHER! TEACHER! 

Of the ten species of warblers living in the 
Large Bird-House which are only migrants 
with us, eight are more or less common. These 
are the northern parula, the black-throated 
blue and the black-throated green, the myrtle, 
the magnolia—perhaps the most beautiful of 
all, the blackpoll, the northern water-thrush— 
noted for its wild ringing song, and the dainty 
Canadian warbler, with a necklace of black 
beads upon its yellow breast. 

These are all interesting, the more so, per- 
haps, because of the mystery which surrounds 
their nesting home, tiny air-castles built 
among the giant spruces and firs of the far 
north. The pine warbler is rather rare, but 
the gem of the whole collection is the mourn- 
ing warbler. This is one of the latest of all 
the migrants, passing north in late May and 
early June, and never stopping with us more 
than a day or two, but seeking the wild regions 
of the cool mountains farther north. A day 
which brings the mourning warbler within 
range of our glasses is a red-letter one, 
indeed. 

One of the easiest of these birds to identify 
in the field is the male black-throated blue, but 
the female is one of the most difficult. In her 
olive dress with a thin white line over the eve 
and a patch of similar color at the base of the 
primaries, she is as different as can be 
imagined from her blue, black and white 
spouse. But when one can watch the dull- 
colored female at arm’s length, flying, feeding, 
bathing, for hours at a time, the faint char- 
acters of color and movement are readily 
learned. The usefulness of such a collection 
of warblers as ours is then apparent, and the 
facts will remain fixed in the mind much more 
certainly than if conned from a dried skin or 
from a written description, no matter how 
accurate the latter may be. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES. 


Owing to the unseasonable and protracted 
cool weather, the outside Lizard and Tortoise 
Yards were not occupied until the first week 
in June. Then the doors were thrown open, 
and the various reptiles quartered in the east- 
ern room of the Reptile House trooped forth 
to the open air and sunshine. Among the liz- 
ards there was a great amount of frisking and 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


dashing about. Later on, all the specimens in- 
dulged in “‘sun-baths,” assuming the character- 
istic sprawling attitudes that point to a general 
contentment with their lot. 

ok K * 

Our collection of anthropoid apes has been 
diminished by the death of “Dohong,” the 
male orang-utan, who lived here four years; 
but the loss has been made good by the recent 
purchase, from Captain Percy Watson, of the 
steamer “‘Indrasahma,” of another male orang 
of about the same size as “Dohong.” The 
newcomer has been named “Captain.” His 
hair is unusually long and thick, and of a rich, 
dark-red color. As seen in action he is ex- 
ceedingly picturesque. At present he is sus- 
picious of everybody, and it will be several 
weeks before any attempt can be made to learn 
his susceptibility to training. In addition to 
“Captain,” the ape collection has acquired two 
small female orang-utans, and a small chim- 
panzee, named “August,” who is exceedingly 
lively and droll. The latest arrival of all is 
a young bald-headed chimpanzee, (Pan pyg- 
maeus), which has just been brought to us 
by Mr. Gustave Sebille from the small bit of 
territory north of the Congo that is known as 
Portuguese Congo. These additions bring the 
total number of our man-like apes up to seven, 
all of which are in excellent health. 

In addition to the chimpanzee noted above, 
Mr. Sebille brought us a fine lot of white- 
nosed, mustache, patas and other monkeys be- 
longing to the genus Cercopithecus. They 
make a striking and attractive exhibit. 

oe 


The strange combination of an African 
meerkat and a ground squirrel living in the 
same cage in perfect harmony continues in the 
Small-Mammal House. Both of these animals 
were caught when very young, and were 
reared together. The meerkat is closely allied 
to the Indian mongoose and is by nature the 
deadly enemy of all small rodents. At feed- 
ing time, these little animals appear to become 
confused in their natural and respective diets 
The squirrel may often be observed to eat raw 
meat, and the viverrine to paw over the vege- 
tables that are supplied for its cagemate. 

2 


The big and richly-colored Indian squirrels, 
represented in the Small-Mammal House by 
the Malabar squirrel, the white-headed squirrel 
and the black Indian squirrel, are about as 
playful and amusing in their antics as 
monkeys. They stand upon their hind feet 
and box with each other, swing head down- 
ward from the branches in their cages, and go 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


through other agile manoeuvers. These hand- 
some rodents are among the most docile, in- 
telligent and hardy of our squirrels—a combi- 
nation not always to be found among the 
showy tropical animals. 

of 


While referring to the squirrels it is inter- 
esting to note that our fourteen cages of these 
animals form an instructive display in the 
Small-Mammal House. Among the species 
exhibited are the following: Eastern chip- 
munk, western chipmunk, Parry’s spermophile, 
Richardson’s spermophile, red squirrel, golden- 
bellied squirrel, Columbian fire-backed squirrel, 
southern fox squirrel, white-nosed squirrel, 
Carolina gray squirrel, together with the black 
and the albino phases of the latter species. 
Among the Old World species are Prevost’s 
squirrel, African striped squirrel, Malabar 
squirrel, white-headed squirrel and the Indian 
black squirrel. 

ae a 

A pair of large and lusty beavers has been 
placed on exhibition in an outside cage on the 
eastern side of the Small-Mamma! House. 
The animals are supplied with a large tank and 
plenty of food-wood, and are thriving. While 
our examples in the Beaver Pond are seldom 
to be seen on account of their nocturnal habits, 
this is certainly not the case with the present 
specimens. They are continually about, and 
when annoyed rush for their tank, from which 
they send the water flying by violent blows 
from their broad, flat tails. 


While the average spider monkey is a timid, 
delicate and generally unsatisfactory animal 
for exhibition, we have been fortunate in se- 
curing three exceptionally good examples of 
the black species, (Ateles ater). They are con- 
tinually on the move, demonstrating the great 
value of the long, prehensile tail. Moreover, 
they are in the best of health, and on thor- 
oughly satisfactory terms with their keepers, 
who carry them about in their arms in a fash- 
ion seldom possible, except with baby chim- 
panzees or orang-utans. 

The leopard cubs and jaguar cub now quar- 
tered in the Small-Mammal House have at- 
tained a size to almost belie the name cub, and 
they will soon graduate from their present 
quarters to cages in the Lion House. The 
leopards are still as playful as kittens, but the 
jaguar, in keeping with the reputation of his 
species, is becoming savage and not to be 
trusted. The keepers have discontinued their 
practice of daily entering the jaguar’s cage. 


363 


This specimen came from Central Mexico, as 
a gift from Mrs. Arthur Curtiss James, and if 
his very thick limbs and heavy head are typical 
indications, he promises to develop into a fine 
animal. 

The amusing antics and fuzzy coats of the 
two European brown bear cubs have earned 
for them a warm spot in the hearts of our 
youthful visitors, who, as in duty bound, call 
them “Teddy Bears.” They have a droll habit 
of strutting about on their hind feet and cuff- 
ing each other, besides doing a long series of 
other laughable tricks which only young bears 
can display. The mother is at all times watch- 
ful and suspicious, and wisely prevents them 
from spending too much time in close prox- 
imity to the visitors. 

* Ok O* 

Rather an amusing incident occurred in the 
Park during the early part of June. The 
weather had been steadily cool with no hint of 
summer, when there came a sudden warm day 
and an incipient thunder shower. Without 
warning, there was a general chatter of tree- 
toads. It seemed as if those lively little crea- 
tures had been patiently awaiting a warm 
rain, and when it came felt called upon to wel- 
come it with prompt enthusiasm. 


During the cool weather our Indian elephant 
“Gunda” was necessarily kept indoors, and 
felt much bored by the general postponement 
of the outdoor life. With few visitors from 
whom to beg, and nothing in particular to do, 
he turned his attention to the heavy plaster 
moulding or cornice work around the top of 
his stall. Rearing high on his hind legs, he 
succeeded in removing several sections, weigh- 
ing about ten pounds each. A severe repri- 
mand from his keeper stopped his tricks during 
the day, but one night his suppressed energy 
again broke loose, and he tore down a section 
of plaster as large as a man’s head. He has 
since been punished for his wanton destruc- 
tiveness, thus far with a satisfactory result. 

ei sok ck 

Among recent arrivals in the Small-Mammal 
House is an exceptionally fine pair of Mala- 
bar squirrels. This East Indian species is 
the largest of all known squirrels. It is at- 
tractively colored and very docile. Another 
interesting rodent is a tailless tree-rat from 
Jamaica, while on the eastern side of the 
building, in an outside cage, is a pair of large 
and lusty beavers. Among the flesh-eating 
animals is a new clouded leopard from Singa- 
pore, a big ocelot from Texas, and a young 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


AMERICAN BISON CALVES BORN IN 107. 


On June 15 a very 
fine specimen of the rare and beautiful large- 
spotted genet, of South Africa, was brought 
to the Park and presented by Mrs. A. Ven- 
turini. This animal is a very agile climber, 
and at times is almost serpent-like in its 
movements. 


Malayan paradoxure. 


Beaver Valley Walk between the Beaver 
Pond and Baird Court is now very beautiful. 
To pass over it in the morning hours, espe- 
cially after a rainy night, is a particularly de- 
lightful incident. At such times, the air is 
heavy with the perfume of the forest, and the 
foliage is immaculately fresh. This is not the 
year for the universal flowering of the rhodo- 
dendrons, but for all that many clumps of 
pink blossoms are to be seen. Up to date 
neatly all the rhododendrons have grown six 
inches, and the new leaves make the masses 
of dark green look as if they had been washed 
over with a lighter color. The beds of ferns 
along the brook are springing up handsomely, 
and are a delight to the eye 


No sooner was the Small-Deer House com- 
pleted and turned over to the Society than it 
was filled with an odd mixture of small deer, 
antelope, mountain sheep and goats, which up 
to that time had been temporarily housed. 
The yards of the eastern series are now fully 
complete and occupied, and in another fort- 
night the animals in the western half of the 
building can be let out into the open. 


* * x 


The five Rocky Mountain goats continue in 
excellent health, notwithstanding the ragged 
and very unsatisfactory appearance they pre- 
sent during their shedding period. The glands 
behind their horns began to appear in January, 
and on July 1 they were quite large. They 
have grown satisfactorily, and from ‘their gen- 
eral vigor we are led to hope that they “will 
breed next year. Although they properly be- 
long on Mountain Sheep Hill, their present 
quarters, near the Pheasant Aviary, seem so 
perfectly adapted to their wants, it is inad- 
visable to move them. 


str vo 


req \\ 


Special Number 


For the Visit of the Seventh International Zoological Congress, 1907* 


ZOOLOGICAL... 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 27 


PUBLISHED BY THE New YorRK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


August, 1907 


ZOOLOGY .IN NEW: YORK. 


CIENCE follows in the wake of Com- 
S merce. Having long ago reached commer- 

cial supremacy in the western hemisphere, 
the City of New York is now developing as a 
scientific center. Its progress in the last fifteen 
years has been remarkable. In respect to its 
enlightened and liberal system of support of 
public institutions of science and art it is now 
one of the leading cities of the world.  Al- 
though supported by the city alone, its institu- 
tions begin to compare favorably with the 


ereat state institutions of Great Britain, 
France, Germany and Belgium. 

There has been especially developed here a 
system with four great features, namely: 
maintenance by taxation, free admission of 
the public, management by committees of citi- 
zens entirely independent of the politics of 
city government, and munificent private gifts. 

The Museums of Art and of Natural His- 
tory, the Zoological Park and the Aquarium 
are all built and maintained at public expense, 


POLAR BEAR DEN IN THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


* Prepared by C. H. Townsend. 


366 


but enjoy the benefits of non-political adminis- 
tration and of almost boundless liberality in the 
matter of gifts, such as becbmes a city of rich 
merchants and men of affairs. The city buys 
no specimens for its natural history museums, 
no animals for its zoological parks, no works 
of art for its galleries—these are all the per- 
sonal gifts of its citizens. 

In connection with the visit of the Interna- 
tional Congress of Zoology it is interesting to 
show how an almost ideal interrelationship 
between the public and private institutions is 
being established, how the most advanced re- 
searches and instruction of the university are 
related by a graded system to the earliest steps 
in popular education, how the public school 
system, with its 600,000 pupils, is taking ad- 
vantage of the rare opportunities for nature 
study which the museums, zoological park, 
and Aquarium afford. 

The Universities, entirely supported by the 
gifts of citizens without any aid from the city 
or state, are the centers of pure research, and 
of the training not only of university, but of 
high school teachers. They are, to a certain 
extent, also engaged in exploration and in the 
administration of special departments in the 
museums and in seashore laboratories. They 
take advantage of all the research and teach- 
ing opportunities afforded by the museums, 
the zoological park and the aquarium. Their 
staffs take some part in the system of public 
free lectures which are given throughout the 
city under the Board of Education. | 

The Museums, supported by public and pri- 
vate funds, have taken the function of the 
collection and exhibition of specimens in all 
branches of natural history. The American 
Museum is the center of active research and 
publication. It sends expeditions to explore in 
all parts of the world. The halls are open tor 
nature study classes from the high schools. 
Special courses of lectures are given to stu- 
dents from the grammar and high schools. 
Conveyed by an electric vehicle small travel- 
ing museums are sent to schools in all parts of 
the city. 

The Museum of the Brooklyn Institute is 
also active in research and publication and 
maintains extensive zoological exhibits. 

The Zoological Park is a great popular re- 
sort, also the center both of research and more 
serious popular education. The publications 
of the Director and the chief curators, who 
are all scientific men, touch all branches of the 
natural history of the field. Courses of free 
lectures are given to great numbers of school 
children to enable them better to understand 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


the relation of the animals in the park to 
systematic zoology. 

The Aquarium is also a great popular re- 
sort. It administers to the public school sys- 
tem by distributing well regulated aquaria to 
more than 150 schools, and by opening its 
laboratory to classes of pupils. Its labora- 
tory is also open to investigators in experi- 
mental zoology, in fish embryology and in the 
habits of fishes. 

The Public and High School system of the 
city under the Board of Public Education is 
rapidly extending its connection with the mu- 
seums, zoological park and the aquarium. It 
is estimated that 500,000 youths and children 
took nature study courses during the past 
year. Ninety-one thousand children attended 
special lectures in the American Museum in. 
the year 1906. The system of visiting the 
museum, aquarium and the zoological park 
under the direction of teachers is rapidly ex- 
tending. The nature work in many of the 
high schools is directed by men who have 
taken their doctorates at the university. The 
Board of Education also conducts courses of 
free lectures, chiefly of a scientific character, 
in all parts of the city. 

This special number of the ZooLoGIcaL 
BULLETIN is designed to set forth briefly some 
of these features of the city life. They show 
that New York does not deserve its reputa- 
tion of being a badly governed city, that its 
citizens are alive to their responsibilities, that 
its public officials thoroughly believe in pop- 
ular education, that the enormous foreign pop- 
ulation which comes to this port enjoys ad- 
vantages of free and attractive education as 
great or greater than in any of the countries 
of the old world from which they come. 

Henry FAtrFIELD OszBorn, 


Chairman of the New York Local Commit- 
tee for the International Zoological Congress. 


ATTENDANCE AT MUSEUMS AND 
PARKS FOR 1906. 


ANG Hari ets wees © eee 2,106,569 
Zoological Weanlketeeats ates cee 1,321,917 
American Museum of Natural 

FAS UO Tava teccspehes eects Ser 476,133 
BrooklynmViniseumilmeeme erase reer 143,047 
Children’s Museum, Brooklyn ..... 85,981 


Free Lectures (zoological subjects 


Only ig Teapoae ee ce Nelo oe OTS 60,000 
Central Park Menagerie, no records. 
MoOtalF.aeqesansers ctianthereeier ee 4,193,647 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


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367 


COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, 1907. 


The large building in the foreground is Schermerhorn Hall. 


FOREIGN BORN POPULATION OF 
NEW YORK, CENSUS OF 1900. 
Total population New York City, 1905, 
4,014,304. 
PSUISEEIAy ttreleta ree ees 2 <a sins + alacets 71,427 
IS OMEMIIAM tices reise ote ais's wis sa. ots 15,055 
Canadas (@Emolish)) =a se 2s oe 19,399 
Canadas Glirench))iinrme ease) ae 2,527 
Wernmiar kawaii ae esis hese 5,021 
Sina! Bay Wate ears cvsha ces sss awn ots 68,836 
final CO eachetanieners Ghscs in fcr Sodus cb vebellcrwisee 14,755 
Gomnitinyy Diclotett conc oc eO Ear 322,343 
lalolligtinGl:... 4a Soares anon conte mote 2,608 
FI ativan cerns eye kee w ee Aisa 31,510 
ISS ENETCIING cicietis Ue Bremao taelemetoah treo 275,102 
pela ss arctan see iets aesie einen «ateiee 6 145,433 
INIGESTEC) Bio. pret Rand 5. OR eRat oeaecs een 282 
IN@IEWENS Jo ga outa a cS Oe ebro Olen 11,387 
Palkia! (UNESEMENN)) Coserooooeeouon 3,995 
Pojevial (Game) sooeeotaseobuse 1,881 
Risiknyal (IREESEM) | booonnmoosoodge 25,231 
olkrael ((chalksntonya)) . ooosaoeeeoes 6 1,766 
IRAGISEFEY Wotend 5 occ: oleh CNRS Ea ERE pe ane 155,201 
SeGukinGl go s.cun cee aoe 19,836 


At the extreme right is St. Paul’s Chapel. 


SiWieCem)e tice cuttin a: oot ys stenel's. Guar ree 28,320 
SymlezselainGl “o.. coe sale eenoanceeoada 8,371 
AVES sic ongacace areca arate cA CERES 1,086 
(Ohineir COWNMICIES as occcscnagocadoee 37,502 

Total, foreign born, 1900 ........ 1,270,080 


COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. 
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY. 


HE Department of Zoology of Columbia 

University was founded in 1891 and 

opened for students in 1892. Charles M. 
DaCosta and Charles H. Senff have been its 
chief benefactors. Henry Fairfield Osborn 
was appointed head professor in 1891; asso- 
ciated with him were Professors Edmund B. 
Wilson and Bashford Dean. Professor Wil- 
son succeeded to the direction of the depart- 
ment in 1900. The present faculty consists 
of Professors Wilson, Osborn, Dean, Gary 
N. Calkins, Henry E. Crampton, Thomas 
Hunt Morgan and J. H. McGregor. 


“AreIqvy oy} pue [[eyY 1SseM ‘Sullssursugq ‘ey [1eq ‘sour jo [ooyos ‘qn[9 Aqnovy Burmoys 


‘L060. ‘ALISHUHAINA VIAWOIOS 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


The instruction includes elementary and 
intermediate courses in zoology for students 
of the College, also advanced lecture and re- 
search courses for graduates in general zo- 
ology, experimental zoology, comparative 
anatomy, vertebrate paleontology, embryology 
and cellular biology. These are conducted in 
the laboratories on the top floor of Schermer- 
horn Hall, which stands at the northeast cor- 
ner of the University quadrangle. Courses 
for medical students in anatomy, histology, 
physiology and embryology are given at the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons in West 
Forty-ninth Street. 

The Zoological Department maintains its 
own library, aquarium and a teaching mu- 
seum, but relies for the purposes of a general 
museum on the American Museum of Natural 
History, the great collections of which are 
available for study by all qualified students. 
Opportunities for experimental and embry- 
ological research are also offered in the Zoo- 
logical Park and the New York Aquarium. 
For marine study students avail themselves 
- of the opportunities afforded by the Woods 
Hole, Cold Spring Harbor, Harpswell and 
Naples Stations. The department has also 
sent out from among its staff and graduates a 
number of special investigators to various 
collecting regions, including especially Puget 
Sound, Alaska, Southern California, Ber- 
muda, Egypt, Japan and the Philippines. 

University lecture courses, partly by lec- 
turers from other institutions of this coun- 
try and abroad, have led to the publication of 
the Columbia University Biological Series, 
begun in 1893, and now numbering ten vol- 
umes. Experimental and cytological studies 
appear chiefly in the Journal of Experimental 
Zoology. Other researches are chiefly pub- 
lished in the Transactions of the New York 
Academy of Sciences and in Bulletins and 
Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural 
History. 

The purpose of the instruction and research 
of the department is to cover the advanced 
aspects of all the chief branches of modern 
zoology. 


NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY. 


HIS department is in connection with the 

University undergraduate colleges at Uni- 

versity Heights, and is best reached by the 
Subway, with a transfer at the 181st Street 
Station to the Aqueduct Avenue trolley seven 
minutes direct to the College Campus. 


369 


History. The Department of Biology, in- 
cluding Zoology, of New York University as 
a distinct department, commanding the whole 
time of a head professor with one or more 
assistants, was organized in 1894 upon the 
removal of the undergraduate schools of New 
York University to University Heights. 
Charles Lawrence Bristol, graduate of the 
New York University College in the Class of 
1883, and Doctor of Philosophy from the 
University of Chicago of 1896, and for a time 
Professor of Zoology in the State University 
of South Dakota, was made head professor. 
His principal assistants have been Frederick 
Walton Carpenter, now Professor of Biology 
in the University of Illinois, and George Wil- 
liam Bartelmez. 

Plan and Scope. The work of the Biologi- 
cal Department has been chiefly the instruc- 
tion of the undergraduates in the University 
College of Arts and Pure Science. This Col- 
lege has for thirteen years employed the group 
system and both in the Natural Science Group 
and the Medical Preparatory Group Biology 
is a required study throughout three years, be- 
ginning with the Sophomore Year. Not more 
than one course in any year in Biology has 
been offered in the Graduate School of the 
University. This limitation arises from the 
lack of an enlarged equipment and endow- 
ment. 

Station in Bermuda. For ten years this de- 
partment of the University has maintained a 
Summer Biological Station in Bermuda in 
charge of Professor Bristol. He has devoted 
himself largely to a reconnaissance of the reef 
and island fauna and to research in various 
directions. This was pioneer work in that 
hitherto little known zoological field. One of 
the results of this effort has been to bring 
Bermuda prominently to the attention of 
American zoologists and to prepare the way 
for a permanent Biological Station. Requests 
for information concerning the facilities and 
opportunities of this New York University 
Biological Station in the Bermudas may be 
addressed to Professor Charles L. Bristol, at 
University Heights. 

Laboratory Building. The Andrew H. 
Green Laboratory was built for biological 
work, which at present, however, occupies only 
the cellar and one story, the other story being 
temporarily used for the Department of Draw- 
ing. The building is 110 feet long and about 
30 feet wide. There is a lecture hall seating 
100 students, equipped with projecting lan- 


37 


tern, charts, etc. Two general laboratories for 
students are at either side, also two private 
laboratories, one of these four laboratories 
possessing the usual equipment. Besides 
these, is a small Museum, vivarium, prepar- 
ator’s room, small departmental library, ete. 
Summer School Biology. In addition to the 
regular College instruction, the department of- 
fers in the University Summer School at Uni- 
versity Heights, five hours daily of biological 
work particularly designed for teachers. 


COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


THE COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW 
YORK. 


WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. 


139th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. 


HE new and extensive buildings of the 
College are approaching completion and 
will be occupied by the college classes in 
the coming fall term. The College is main- 
tained by the City as a part of its public educa- 
tional system. It is open to young men of 


YORK. 


A General View of the various Halls and Buildings 


Medical Biology. Extensive Medical Lab- 
oratories of Anatomy, Physiology, Materia 
Medica, Histology, Pathology and Bacteri- 
ology are situated in the University Medical 
College laboratory buildings on First Avenue, 
between 25th and 26th Streets. In these 
laboratories professors of the University Vet- 
erinary College also conduct instruction. The 
total enrollment of medical and veterinary 
students the present year is 493. 


every borough of the city who meet the re- 
quirements for admission. There is no tuition 
fee. Libraries, laboratories and text-books 
are also provided for the free use of all stu- 
dents, under restriction of proper care. The 
Courses of Study are divided into two groups, 
one leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, 
and the other to the degree of Bachelor of 
Science. The Department of Natural History 
aims to secure: 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


370 


COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 


a. That complete educational and all-round 
cultural development which may be obtained 
only through the study of Nature. 

b. Training in the methods and technique of 
science with a view toward preparation for in- 
vestigation or for teaching. 

c. Preparation for the study of medicine, 
pharmacy, forestry, sanitation, or the pursuit 
of a commercial career. 

The various subjects related to zoology of- 
fered by the department include Elementary 
Biology, Elementary Physiology (human), 
Zoology, Human Anatomy, Physiology and 
Hygiene, Microscopy, Histology and Cytol- 
ogy, Embryology and Theoretical Biology, 
Sanitary Science, Comparative Anatomy, Ad- 
vanced Physiology, Economic Biology. 

The department is located on the third and 
fourth floors of the south wing of the Main 
Building, and consists of a lecture room, seat- 
ing two hundred, a department library, office, 
workshop and storerooms, five combination 
laboratory and recitation rooms, each equipped 
with twenty-seven desk spaces and twenty- 
seven of the typical recitation chairs, a lantern 
and screen, glass blackboards and cases for 
types and material, preparation rooms adjoin- 
ing the laboratories and a museum. 

In the Living Plant Room are two alcoves, 
each with four large aquaria, modeled after 
those in the New York Aquarium, two 
shallow-water floor tanks, and several small 
aquaria, a large laboratory and several small 
ones for special preparation and research. 


The President of the College is Dr. John 
Huston Finley. Dr. William Stratford is 
Professor of Natural History; Dr. Ivin 
Sickles, Associate Professor of Natural His- 
tory; Dr. Francis B. Sumner and Mr. George 
G. Scott, Instructors in Natural History. 


THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 


HE Board of Education consists of forty- 

six members, appointed by the Mayor for 

a term of five years. The City Superin- 
tendent of Schools is Dr. William H. Maxwell, 
and there are eight Associate City Superin- 
tendents. 


STATISTICS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 


latin Sines cdsacccecavctsnceccd 19 
Training Schools for Teachers ..... 3 
lsismeniary SONS eaasaccogocues 486 
Tram SEOs ocooogktavecoecacs 2 
INeweiicall Sneell sox doesooonecoet I 
dhotalenmumberofsteachers a. tea 15,176 
Register, May 31, in High 

Schools i sscucccis taconite: 22,350 
Register, May 31, in Ele- 

mentary Schools ....... 565,078 587,434 
Average attendance (1900) Vacation 

SGnoolk;. came aradoe aie Se SMigesnmr 16,178 
Average attendance (1906) Vacation 

En garOnGS Sacooabcdoougedooe 42,902 
Average attendance (1906) School 

Ion! IPMEReROLINGIS “GS occonsocupbe 23,955 


Sve 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


ELWIN R. SANBORN, ASST. EDITOR 


Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 11 Wall St., 
New York City. 
Copyright, 1907, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 27. AUGUST, 1907 
Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 


Single numbers, 15 cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Officers of the Society. 
President : 
HON. LEVI P. MORTON. 


Executive Committee : 


CuarLes T. Barney, Chairman, 
Joun S. Barnes, Mapison GRANT, 
Percy R. Pyne, WILiiamM WHITE NILES, 
SAMUEL THORNE, Henry FAarrFIELD OSBORN, 
Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, Percy R, Pyne, 52 WALL STREET. 

Director, Witt1am T. Hornapay, ZooLocicaL Park. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK 


Board of Managers: 


EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. GEorGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. Moses HERRMAN. 


Class of 1908. Class of 1909. Class of 1910. 


Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 
William C. Church, Morris K. Jesup, George B. Grinnell, 
Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, Jacob H. Schiff, 

H. Casimir De Rham, John S. Barnes, Edward J. Berwind, 
George Crocker, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss. Cleveland H. Dodge, 
Charles F. Dieterich, <.tLedyard Blair, 
James J. Hill, Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
George F. Baker, Nelson Robinson, 
Grant B. Schley, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Payne Whitney, W. Austin Wadsworth, 


Henry F. Osborn, 
Charles T. Barney, 


William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Wm. D. Sloane, 
Winthrop Rutherfurd, 


BOARD OF EDUCATION—Continued. 


Kindervartensaee seer eeart eer 
Register of pupils in Kindergartens. 18,556 
Evening Elementary Schools, 1906- 


TOO Z* epee Says cstchg sie AO Ione 83 
Register in Evening Elementary 

Schoolseys wncceu noe Miers 87,228 
lanerannare laliedn Stelter socasccaces- 13 
Register in Evening High Schools.. 20,728 


In the City of New York a child studies 
nature in some form during seven years of its 
public elementary school career. 

The nature course of study is divided into 
three cycles, each of which is carefully adapted 
to the age and mental development of the 
child. 

In the first cycle, covering the first four 
years of school life, the child is taught to 
gather facts about plants and animals by ob- 
servation. He is taught to recognize and 
name natural objects and to respect life in 
whatever form it may appear. 

In the second cycle the pupil is taught to 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


arrange in an orderly manner the facts ac- 
quired by observation—in other words, to 
classify in an elementary way. In this cycle 
order is brought out of seeming chaos. 

In the third cycle, covering the last two 
years of the course, the experimental science 
of physics supplants the observational work 
on plants and animals. Physics is taught by 
experimental demonstrations by the teacher, 
by individual laboratory work on the part of 
the pupils, and by recitations and discussions. 

In order to facilitate the study of this sub- 
ject experimentally, all of the new buildings 
and many of the old buildings have a science 
room equipped with gas, running water, a 
demonstration table and opaque shades. Some 
knowledge of gravity, the mechanical powers, 
the mechanics of liquids and gases, sound, 
heat, light, magnetism and electricity is given 
to the pupils. A large percentage of the chil- 
dren in the public schools visit the City mu- 
seums in classes with their teachers. 


FREE LECTURES. 


This work of the Board of Education is 
under the supervision of Dr. Henry M. Leip- 
ziger. 

The total attendance at public lectures dur- 
ing season 1906-1907 was 1,141,447. 

The total number of lectures was 5,464. 
Three hundred were on Zoology or allied sub- 
jects, approximating a total attendance of 
60,000 persons for the year on the subject of 
Zoology. 

The number of lecture centers for the year 
was 167; the total number of lecturers be- 
tween 500 and 600. 

The expenses of the Free Lecture Bureau 
are between $150,000 and $200,000 per year. 


THE MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL. 


This school is one of the nineteen free pub- 
lic high schools of New York City of similar 
design. 

Location. The Morris High School is sit- 
uated on Boston Road and 166th Street, four 
minutes’ walk from the Third Avenue Ele- 
vated Station at 166th Street. It has a com- 
manding position in one of the highest parts 
of the Bronx, and its Gothic tower can be 
seen for miles around. 

The building is five stories in height above 
the basement and sub-basement, and has forty- 
six regular class rooms, twelve laboratories 
of science, four lecture and demonstration 
rooms, two gymnasiums and an auditorium 
capable of seating over 1,300. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


wm § 
ie 


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Ti 


BULLETIN. 3 


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w 


MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL. 


A typical New York High School under the Board of Education. 


Attendance. Nearly 2,400 boys and girls, 
in age from thirteen to nineteen years, attend 
the school. Many of them take courses that 
fit them to enter Columbia or other leading 
universities and the free colleges and the 
teachers’ training schools of the City. 

Faculty of the School. The faculty of 
ninety teachers is organized into departments, 
each with a head to supervise departmental 
work. The héads of department constitute 
a cabinet which the principal of the school 
frequently calls together for consultation. In 
the department of biology there are nine 
teachers. 

Courses in Biology. Throughout the City 
a course in biology is required of every first 
year student in the high school. The subject 
is presented with three points of view, namely, 
those of plant biology, animal biology and 
human biology. It is manifestly impossible in 
the 200 lessons (forty-five minutes each) to 
study a large number of plants and animals, 
so a dozen or more common forms are selected 
to illustrate the fundamental physiological 


processes, and emphasis is constantly laid on 
function rather than on details of structure. 

In the fourth year of the curriculum an 
elective course (four periods a week) is of- 
fered. _Those who begin the work in Sep- 
tember take a year’s work in zoology, while 
those who begin in February take botany. 
From forty to fifty students elect this work 
each year. 

Biological Laboratories and their Equip- 
ment. The biological department occupies, on 
the third and fourth floors, six laboratories, a 
lecture room, a vivarium, a preparation room, 
an office and four supply rooms. The equip- 
ment includes ninety compound miscroscopes, 
Leuckart charts, Jund botanical charts, photo- 
micrographs, a stereopticon for opaque pro- 
jection for slides and for microscopical ob- 
jects, a hive of bees, and good collections of 
museum preparations. 

The head of the Department of Biology is 
James E. Peabody, A.M., and there are eight 
biology teachers. 


(os) 
~I 
PSS 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL. 


A Class-room for the study of Zoology. 


MUSEUM OF NATURAL 


HISTORY. 


Built and Maintained by the City. 
Administered by Private Citizens. 


AMERICAN 


Endowed and 


HE American Museum of Natural His- 

tory was founded and incorporated in 

1869, and for eight years its temporary 
home was in the Arsenal in Central Park. 
The cornerstone of the present building was 
laid in 1874, and in 1877 the first section 
(North Wing) was completed. It is now the 
largest municipal building in the City, and has 
cost approximately $4,000,000. The South 
Facade is 710 feet in length; the total area 
of the Nos space is 370,000 square feet, or 
about 8% acres, of which 260,000 square feet 
are open to the public. 

The Museum is under the direction of a 
Board of Trustees, of which Mr. Morris K. 
Jesup is president ; he is well known to men of 
science because of his personal support of ex- 
ploring expeditions and his interest in the pro- 
mation of science. Since 1890 Professor Os- 
born has assisted Mr. Jesup in the develop- 


ment of the Museum. The Director of the 
Museum is Dr. Hermon C. Bumpus. 

The City provides funds for the maintenance 
of the Museum (in 1907 $160,000), but such 
appropriations are not available for the pur- 
chase of specimens, the carrying on of field 
work or the publication of scientific papers. 
Appropriations for these purposes are derived 
from the income from invested funds (Per- 
manent Endowment in 1907, $1,013,000) and 
from the contributions of the Trustees, “Mem- 
bers” and other friends. There are over two 
thousand who, as “Patrons,” “Fellows” or 
“Members,” regularly support the Museum. 

The total expenditures in the Museum in 
1906 were (exclusive of new construction) 
$295,924. The attendance in 1906 was 476,133. 
hile hours for visitors are from 9 A. M. to 5 
P. M. daily, and from 1*to 5 P. M. Sundays. 
Open two evenings each week. 

eee ees: The Museum 


exhibits are 


partly the result of gifts and purchases, but 
chiefly the result of explorations, which have 
been conducted on a large scale in nearly 


every continent. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


BRONTOSAURUS IN THE MUSEUM 


Publications. The Museum publishes a 
“Journal,” “Bulletin,” “Memoirs,” “Anthro- 

pological Papers” and “Guide Leaflets.” 

Collections. On the ground floor one enters 
the “Foyer,” a room devoted to a series of gi- 
gantic meteorites. Occupying niches are busts, 
in marble, of the pioneers of American science. 
At the left, or west, of the “Foyer” are anthro- 
pological collections of North American and 
Siberian tribes; at the north, those of the In- 
dians of the Northwest and of the Eskimo. 
Beyond the Eskimo Exhibit is the Auditorium, 
with a seating capacity of 1,400. Two screens 
for lantern projection. In 1905, 74,805 adults 
and 46,399 school children attended lectures i in 
this hall. At the right, or east, of the “Foyer” 
are tne elevators, the Jesup Collection of 
North American Woods, and the 

Hall of Invertebrates. The installation gives 
a synoptic view of the Animal Kingdom. Note 
the alcove labels, the models of invertebrates 
in Alcoves 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10, the Crab group, 
near the center of the hall, and the corals in 
the tower room. Curator of Invertebrates, Dr. 
William M. Wheeler; Assistant Curators, Dr. 
Roy W. Miner, Dr. B. E. Dahlgren. 


OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK. 


The Main Floor. The Central Hall contains 
miscellaneous mammals. Note the “Carnegie 
Lion.” The halls in the West Wing contain 
ethnological and archeological collections. In 
the North Hall note the Bird groups, particu- 
larly the Laborador Duck (extinct), the Ptar- 
migan and Cassique groups. Beyond the 
North Hall, and to the left, are the Fish Cor- 
ridor and the various laboratories of the De- 
partment of Preparation. Messrs. Figgins 
and Clark are in charge. 

To the right, or east, of the Central Hall 
are the best specimens of mammals. 

Mammals. Of interest are the Moose. Buf- 
falo and Peccary groups. In the room beyond 
(East Mammal Hall) will be found some of 
the most recent installations of large mam- 
mals and the best of Mr. Clark’s modeling. 
On the right of this hall and in the tower 
room the Reptiles are temporarily installed. 
Examine the Flying Lizard, Heloderma, Igu- 
ana and Rattl esnake groups. These specimens 
are not models in plaster. They are mounted 
skins. 

The Third Floor. At the left, or west, of 
the Central Gallery is the Collection of Local 
Birds and the Corridor of Auduboniana. In 


376 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 


the hall beyond are the Peruvian and Chinese 
ethnological collections. In the North Gal- 
lery the “Habitat groups” of North American 
bird life will prove especially interesting, since 
they exhibit incidentally several characteristic 
examples of American scenery. In the East 
Gallery are mammal collections. Note the life- 
size model of the Sulphur-bottom whale. In 
the hall beyond the whale model are the col- 
lections of insects. Curator of Mammalogy 
and Ornithology, Dr. J. A. Allen; Associate 
Curator, Mr. Frank M. Chapman; Curator of 
Entomology, Mr. William Beutenmuller. 

The Fourth Floor. At the right as one 
leaves the elevator are the Halls of Fossil 
Vertebrates. Of particular mention in the 
Hall of Fossil Mammals are specimens show- 
ing the Evolution of the Elephant, of the 
Horse and of the Camel. In the Hall of 
Reptiles, at the extreme east, see specimens of 
the Brontosaurus, Allosaurus, Iguanodonts 
and of the Permian Naosaurus. 

Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Prof. 
Henry F. Osborn; Associate Curator, Dr. W. 
D. Matthew; Associate Curator of Chelonia, 
Dr. O. P. Hay; Curator of Fossil Fishes, Dr. 
Bashford Dean ; Assistant, Dr. Louis Hussakof. 

In the Central Hall is the Bement Collec- 
tion of Minerals; in the hall adjoining, to the 
west, is the Gem Collection, and beyond the 
Gem Hall are the collections of Mexican 
Archeology. In the North Hall are the fossil 
Invertebrates. Curator of Invertebrate Pa- 
laeontology, R. P. Whitfield; Curator of Min- 
eralogy and Conchology, Mr. L. P. Gratacap. 

The Fifth Floor. Beyond the “Shell Hall” 
are the Library, Reading Room and Depart- 
ment of Physiology. Curator of Books and 
Publications and Department of Physiology, 
Prof. R. W. Tower. 


The remainder of the floor is devoted to of- 
fices and laboratories, as follows: 

West Wing, Anthropology; North Wing, 
Mammalogy, Ornithology, Invertebrate Zo- 
ology, Entomology; East Wing, Vertebrate 
Paleontology and the Administrative Offices. 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Maintained by the City, Directed by the New York 
Zoological Soctety. 


HE New York Zoological Park was pro- 

jected by the Society in 1895. After a 

year of preliminary study of all the for- 
eign zoological gardens by Director Hornaday, 
a preliminary plan was submitted by him and 
approved. 

Work was begun in 1896. The central 
ideas were that it should be a free institution 
developed on a large scale for the benefit of 
the millions of a great city; that it should oc- 
cupy an extensive forest area, which should 
be developed in a natural manner, giving each 
type of animal as far as possible something 
akin to its natural habitat, and that the plans 
for the management, the grounds, and the 
buildings, while benefitting by all previous ex- 
perience, should not be bound by any tradi- 
tions, but should seek a free and original 
development. 

The Park. In order that the Zoological 
Park idea might be carried out, the city al- 
lotted to the society a splendid tract of two 
hundred and sixty-four wild acres of great 
beauty and adaptability. A unique combina- 
tion of hill and dale, forest, meadow, rocks, 
and water, found along the Bronx River, of- 
fered an ideal opportunity for the creation of 
a zoological park dedicated to a representation 
of wild animal life. The forest has been care- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


fully preserved, and extensive additions to the 
tree flora have been made by judicious plant- 
ing, exclusively of native species of trees and 
shrubs. The rock ledges have been preserved, 
and in many ways rendered more beautiful 
and interesting than before. Every building, 
outdoor den, cage, range and road has been 
located and developed to fit into the handi- 
work of nature. The outdoor animals have 
been located in the spots they would naturally 
have chosen for their haunts. 

Administration. In maintenance and ad- 
ministration the park represents the idea, 
which has been developed only in the City of 
New York,* of the municipality standing the 
cost of annual maintenance and of the erec- 
tion of the larger number of the buildings, 
while the society as proof of its own financial 
support erects a considerable number of the 
buildings and presents all the animal collec- 
tions. In short, the park is the result of a 
joint effort on the part of the New York Zoo- 
logical Society and the City of New York. 
The burden of design, construction and man- 
agement devolves entirely upon the society, 
while the financial burden is shared by both. 
As gifts to the City the society has expended 
up to date about $446,000, erecting the Rep- 
tile House, the Aquatic Bird House, the Bear 
Dens, the Flying Cage and many smaller in- 
stallations. Since 1901 the municipality has 
expended $1,875,000. 

Attendance. In 1906 the visitors to the park 
numbered 1,321,917, a number greater than 
the entire population of any city in all America 
except New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, 
and more than double the total population of 
the City of Boston. On two days of each 
week, Monday and Thursday, an admission 
fee of twenty-five cents is charged, the income 
from this source being devoted to the pur- 
chase of collections. 

Collections. On May Ist, 1907, the animal 
collections included 638 mammals, 2,218 birds, 
goo reptiles and amphibians, making a total 
of 3,756 living vertebrates, representing 844 
species. Of mammals there were 196 species, 
of birds 510, of reptiles and amphibians 138. 
At the present date the totals are larger, es- 
pecially in the bird department. 

Health of Animals. Visitors to the park 
will especially notice the generally healthy 
condition of the animals. This is due in the 
first place to the space, sunlight and pure air 
- *In Washington the United States Government 
supports the National Museum and the Zoological 
Park entirely, including buildings, maintenance and 
collections. In Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and 


Pittsburg the museums are supported by private 
contributions and by admission fees. 


377 


provided in the installations, to constant at- 
tention to hygienic details, to a quarantine 
system of admission, and to the very care- 
ful scientific treatment of sick or injured ani- 
mals by a staff of trained experts. The death 
rate has been reduced materially through the 
application of scientific methods of treatment 
and through the scientific investigation of the 
causes of death. A work is in preparation 
describing the results already obtained. <A 
biological, chemical and pathological labora- 
tory building, to cost $22,000, is completely 
planned and soon will be’ constructed. 

Labeling. A second point to which visitors’ 
attention is called is the system of descriptive 
picture labels and maps of distribution with 
which the park collections are liberally fur- 
nished. They represent a great amount of 
effort, and many difficulties overcome. Of all 
educational collections the most difficult to 
label profusely and successfully are the col- 
lections at a zoological park, particularly be- 
cause very many of the labels are exposed to 
the weather. 

Completion of the Park. The Zoological 
Park is now nearing the point of completion, 
and it is expected that the original plan of 
1896 will be carried out in the course of the 
next two years. At the present time the park 
contains 20 buildings for animals, 10 large 
groups of outdoor dens, aviaries and corrals, 
2 restaurants, 6 public comfort buildings, 8 
entrances, 734 miles of walks and 10% miles 
of fence. When the Elephant House is com- 
pleted there will remain to be erected the Ad- 
ministration Building, the Zebra House, and 
the Eagle Aviary, plans for which have been 
completed. 

Education. As an institution for the educa- 
tion of the public, and especially the pupils of 
the public schools, the park is already doing 
its full share; but in the near future, with new 
construction work out of the way, far more 
will be done. The present temporary lecture 
pavilion will be replaced by a permanent struc- 
ture with a seating capacity of 1,000, and all 
the calls of the Board of Education for lec- 
tures in the regular school course of study 
will be met. 

Staff. The maintenance force is composed 
of 117 persons, and the total annual cost of 
maintaining the park and its collections is (for 
1907 only) $141,558. The executive head is 
Dr. William T. Hornaday, who is Director 
and General Curator; Mr. Raymond L. Dit- 
mars is Curator of Reptiles and Assistant Cur- 
ator of Mammals; Mr. C. William Beebe is 
Curator of Birds, and Dr. W. Reid Blair is 
Veterinary Surgeon and Prosector. 


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ZOOLOGICAL 


VIEW OF THE AQUARIUM 


THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


Maintained by the City, Directed by the New York 
Zoological Soctety. 


HE AQUARIUM is situated in Battery 

Park and is reached by all elevated, sur- 

face and subway lines running to South 
Ferry. It was founded by the City on De- 
cember 10, 1896, and on November 1, 1902, 
its management was transferred from the De- 
partment of Parks to the New York Zoologi- 
cal Society. 

The Building. The Aquarium building was 
erected in 1807 by the United States Govern- 
ment as a fort, called Southwest Battery, and 
after the war of 1812 was called Castle Clin- 
ton. In 1823 the building was ceded by 
Congress to the City of New York and used 
as a “place of amusement called Castle Garden, 
which had a seating capacity of 6,000. Gen- 
eral Lafayette was received here in 1824; 
President Jackson in 1832; President Tyler in 
1843; Louis Kossuth in 1851. Jenny Lind 
began singing here in 1850 under the manage- 
ment of P. T. Barnum. The building was 
used as a landing place for immigrants from 
1855 to 1890, during which period 7,690,606 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


AND NEW YORK BAY. 


immigrants passed through its doors. The 
number of persons who entered the building 
while it was called Castle Garden must have 
been very great. As an aquarium the attend- 
ance has already exceeded 17,000,000. 

Size. The New York Aquarium is one of 
the largest in the world, and contains a greater 
number of species and of specimens than any 
other aquarium. It has 7 large floor pools, 
94 large wall tanks and 30 smaller tanks. 
There are also 26 reserve tanks containing 
specimens not on exhibition. The building is 
circular in form, with a diameter of 205 feet. 
The largest pool is 37 feet in diameter and 7 
feet deep. 

Water Supply and Equipment. The Aqua- 
rium is equipped for heating sea water for 
tropical fishes in winter and has a refrigerat- 
ing plant for cooling fresh water in summer. 
An air compressor furnishes extra aeration 
to all tanks when necessary. Flowing 
fresh water is supplied from the city wa- 
ter system, while the pumps circulate about 
300,000 gallons of salt water daily. The 
pumps run day and night, and the engine- 
room men work in eight-hour watches. 


382 


Brackish water for the large floor pools is 
pumped from the Bay through a well under 
the building. The salt-water wall tanks, now 
being supplied from the Bay, will soon be 
supplied from a reservoir holding 100,000 
gallons of pure stored sea water. This water, 
to be brought in by steamer, will be used as 
a “closed circulation,” the water being pumped 
through the exhibition tanks and falling 
thence, through sand filters, back to the reser- 
voir. The supply pipes to all tanks are of 
vulcanized rubber. The drainage pipes from 
the salt-water tanks to the reservoir are iron 
pipes, lead lined. 

Exhibits. The exhibits include fishes, tur- 
tles, crocodilians, frogs, salamanders, marine 
mammals and invertebrates, and are both 
northern and tropical in character. There are 
usually about 200 species of fishes and other 
aquatic vertebrates on exhibition. The total 
number of specimens, exclusive of inverte- 
brates and young fry in the hatchery, varies 
from 3,000 to 4,000. Many individuals in the 
collection of fishes and turtles have lived in 
the building from five to ten years. 

The fish hatchery, maintained as a fish- 
cultural exhibit, produces yearly about two 
millions of young food and game fishes, which 
are afterward deposited in New York State 
waters. Fish eggs are supplied by the U. S. 
Bureau of Fisheries from Government hatch- 
eries. Most of the local fresh-water and salt- 
water species are collected by the employees. 
Tropical fishes are brought by steamer from 
the Bermuda Islands. 

Laboratory for Education and Research. 
There is a laboratory containing many kinds 
of small marine invertebrates, which is visited 
by 4,000 or 5,000 school children with their 
teachers during the year. One member of 
the Aquarium staff assists the city school 
teachers in maintaining small aquaria in 150 
or more schools in Greater New York. Small 
marine forms of life are supplied free to 
teachers from the reserve tanks of the Aqua- 
rium. The laboratory is used at times by 
university professors in the city for marine 
biological investigations. It is equipped for 
photographic work on aquatic life. 

Library. The library attached to the Di- 
rector’s office contains at present about 600 
volumes, and is limited to works relating to 
fishes, fish-culture, fishery industries, angling 
and aquatic life in general. 

Publications. The Aquarium publishes an- 
nual reports and occasional bulletins, which 
are issued as publications of the New York 
Zoological Society. The first volume of a 
proposed New York Aquarium Nature Series 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


has already appeared under the title of ‘“Sea- 
Shore Life,” a popular account of the in- 
vertebrates of the adjacent coast region. 
Other volumes are in course of preparation. 

Staff. There are, exclusive of the Director 
and clerk, 25 employees whose duty is to at- 
tend to the supply and temperature of the dif- 
ferent water systems, feed and care for the 
collections, clean the building and tanks and 
look after visitors. The Director is Mr. 
Charles H. Townsend, formerly Chief of the 
Division of Fisheries in the United States Fish 
Commission. Mr. W. I. De Nyse is the as- 
sistant in charge of marine collections, and 
Mr. L. B. Spencer the assistant in charge of 
fresh-water collections and public school 
aquaria. 

Hours. The building is open FREE, every 
day in the year. It is closed on Monday fore- 
noons except to school teachers with their 
classes, and to members of the New York 
Zoological Society. When a holiday occurs 
on Monday the public is admitted as on other 
days. 

The hours for visitors are: 

9 A. M. to 5 P. M. from April 15 to Oc- 


tober 15. 

10 A. M. to 4 P. M. from October 16 to 
April 14. 

Attendance. The attendance for the ten 


years ending December 31, 1906, amounted to 
17,103,328—an average of 4,685 visitors a 
day. The attendance for the year 1906 was 
2,100,509—an average of 5,771 a day. 

Cost of Maintenance. The annual appro- 
priation for the Aquarium is $45,000. 


CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 


HE Central Park Menagerie, under the 

control of the Department of Parks, was 

founded about 1861. It is situated near 
the southeast corner of Central Park at Fifth 
Avenue and Sixty-fourth Street. 

It has, according to the last report of Hon. 
Moses Herrman, Commissioner, a collection 
consisting of 360 mammals, 581 birds and 
twenty-five reptiles, among which may be 
mentioned the elephant, rhinoceros, hippo- 
potamus, camel, cape buffalo, bison, zebu, gnu, 
oryx, nylgau, wapiti, aoudad, polar, grizzly, 
black and cinnamon bears, leopard and Man- 
churian tiger. 

The two-horned African rhinoceros and 
the pair of hippopotami have lived continu- 
ously in the menagerie for twenty years, the 
hippopotami having given birth during that 
time to eight young, all of which have been 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 383 


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MUSEUM OF THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 


raised and sold to other collections. The larger 
of the two Indian elephants has been in the me- 
nagerie for nine years, and the Manchurian 
tiger for five years. 

The collection of small mammals and birds 
contains numerous species. While the ex- 
hibits are not extensive, nor arranged with 
any scientific purpose, the Central Park 
Menagerie is conveniently located and of 
much interest to the down-town public. 


BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS 
AND SCIENCES. 


HE offices of administration are in the 
Y. M. C. A. Building, 502 Fulton Street, 
Brooklyn. Ten other buildings are occu- 
pied by the Institute, wholly or in part. 
History. Founded in 1824 as an Appren- 
tices’ Library. Cornerstone of first building 
laid at the corner of Henry and Cranberry 
Streets, July 4th, 1825, by General Lafayette. 
Reincorporated as the Brooklyn Institute in 
1843 with Natural History Departments and 
with collections in zoology, botany, geology 
and mineralogy. Incorporated in 1890 as the 
Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences with 
present form of organization, plans and pur- 
poses. Comprises twenty-seven departments 
or societies, each representing one or more 


of the arts and sciences. Total membership, 


5,907. 

Meetings. Public lectures, annually, 470; 
special lectures, readings, conferences and 
class exercises, 3,536; total annual gatherings, 
4,000. 

Attendance. The attendance has increased 


from 6,900 in 1888, to 449,595 in 1906-7. 
Total attendance in nineteen years, 6,073,765. 

Receipts. The annual income available for 
meeting the expense of the Institute is (in 
1906-7) $197,925.99. 

Lectures and Instruction. The lectures and 
courses of instruction are given by a large 
number of the most distinguished men in 
their special lines of work from universities, 
colleges and other institutions of learning in 
this country and in Europe. 

Employees. Exclusive of the Museums the 
number regularly employed by the Institute 
is thirty-five. 

The publications of the Institute are “The 
Year Book,” “Annual Prospectus,” “Monthly 
Bulletin” and “Brief Prospectus.’ For other 
publications, see Institute museums. Infor- 
mation respecting the museums and biological 
laboratory of the Brooklyn Institute will be 
found on pages 384, 385 and 386. The Presi- 
dent of the Institute is Mr. A. Augustus 
Healy and the Director, Prof. Franklin W. 
Hooper. 


ES  aaniaa 


THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF 


ARTS AND SCIENCES. 


Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts 

and Sciences. 

The Museum is situated on Eastern Park- 
way, and is easily accessible by the Flatbush 
Avenue trolley cars, the Ninth or Vanderbilt 
Avenue cars and the St. John’s Place cars 
from the Bridge. 

Hours. The building is open Free, every 
day in the week excepting Mondays and Tues- 
days, when an admission fee of twenty-five 
cents is charged for adults and ten cents for all 
children under fifteen years of age. The hours 
for visitors are 9 A. M. to 6 P. M. on week- 
days and 2 P. M. to 6 P. M. on Sundays and 
7.30 to 9.30 Thursday evening 

Attendance. The attendance for the ten 
years ending December 31, 1906, was 1,09I,- 
717, the largest for any one year being 143,- 
047, for 1906, or an average of 391 a day. 

Size. The Museum building is 524 feet in 
length, the Eastern and Western wings being 
approximately fifty-five feet in depth, and the 
Central or Dome section 120 feet. The top 
floor of the building is devoted entirely to 
Art, the second floor to Natural History and 
the first floor contains the Hall of Ethnology, 
Sculpture, Ceramics and other art objects. 

The basement contains a lecture room havy- 
ing a seating capacity of 1,300, offices and 
work rooms as well as one hall devoted to the 
Ethnology of the Pacific Islands and the East. 
The Library will later on be removed to this 
section. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Exluibits, Department 
of Natural Science. The 
exhibits of the Depart- 
ment of Natural Sciences, 
owing to lack of space, 
are at present only pro- 
visionally arranged. They 
comprise an extensive 
series of sponges, corals 
and mollusks, good col- 
lections of insects, a small 
number of birds and a 
moderate series of mam- 
mals. It is intended, so 
far as possible, to make 
these collections of edu- 
cational value, the inten- 
tion being to give a gen- 
eral outline of the animal 
kingdom, each large group 
accompanied by — speci- 
mens illustrating its more 
evident characters, and 
to furnish as well good 
illustrations of the factors 
bearing upon the evolution and distribution of 
animals. 

In addition to the specimens included in the 
systematic series, there are a number of 
groups of insects, birds and mammals show- 
ing life histories or illustrating habits and 
habitats. These include among others, the 
Golden Eagle, King Penguin, Orinoco Hang 
Nest, Musk Ox, Walrus, Fur Seal and Moun- 
tain Goats. There is a special series illus- 
trating flight, including mounted specimens 
and skeletons of the various vertebrates that 
fly or sail. 

One room is devoted to the fauna of Long 
Island, but at present includes only a number 
of the birds, and there is an extensive series 
of eggs of North American birds, and another 
series showing the variation in size, number 
and character of birds’ eggs. 

The Museum contains a small study series 
of South American birds and very important 
collections of insects, especially in Coleoptera 
and Lepidoptera, the latter comprising about 
30,000 specimens. 

Other Exlibits. The Department of Fine 
Arts has on exhibition important collections of 
paintings, statuary and ceramics, as well as 
a series of casts from the antique. The De- 
partment of Ethnology has one entire hall 
devoted to exhibits illustrating the life, arts 
and industries of the Southwestern Indians. 
All exhibits are very fully labeled and in many 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


cases accompanied with sketch illustrating the 
use of the object shown. 

Staff. The Curator in Chief is Mr. 
Frederic A. Lucas, formerly Curator in the 
United States National Museum. The staff of 
the Department of Natural Science is as fol- 
lows: Curator of Botany, Edward L. Morris; 
Curator of Entomology, Jacob Doll; Associate 
Curator of Entomology, Carl Schaeffer ; Cur- 
ator of Ornithology, George K. Cherrie. 

Publications. The scientific publications of 
the Museum consist of a “Natural Science 
Bulletin,’ issued from time to time, and so 
far largely devoted to descriptions of new in- 
sects obtained by the Museum expeditions. A 
yearly report is issued, and during eight 
months of the year, in conjunction with the 
Children’s Museum, “The Museum News” is 
published monthly, noting the number of ac- 
cessions to the Museum and giving informa- 
“tion in regard to its active work. 

Library. The Museum library consists of 
16,000 volumes covering the Museum sub- 
jects, namely: Fine Arts, Natural Science and 
Ethnology. It is especially strong in zoologi- 
cal indexes, including the Concilium Biblio- 
graphicum cards, and in Entomology and 
American Ethnology. It is free to the public 
for reference use only. The appropriation for 
the Museum for 1907 amounted to $95,000. 


The Children’s Museum. 


The Children’s Museum, a branch oi the 
Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, is 
situated in Bedford Park, which is bounded 
by Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues and 
Prospect and Park Places. The building is 
open FREE every weekday in the year and 
on Sunday afternoons. The hours for visit- 
ors are: g A. M. to 5.30 P. M. weekdays, 2 
P. M. to 5.30 P. M. Sundays. The attend- 
ance for the seven years, ending December 
31st, 1906, amounted to 615,393, an average of 
240 per day The Children’s Museum occupies 
an old residence, which comprises nine exhibi- 
tion rooms, two main halls, a lecture room and 
library. 

Exhibits. Its collections are selected and 
installed with special reference to the enjoy- 
ment and educational needs of children, and 
illustrate the following branches of learning: 
Zoology, Botany, United States History, 
Geography and Art. Besides the larger col- 
lections, smaller exhibits are permanently 
installed. Among these are a Color Exhibit— 
which shows natural objects of brilliant col- 
ors: Silk Exhibit—showing silk caterpillars, 


385 


moths’ eggs, etc., specimens of raw silk, silk 
thread and cloth; an exhibit illustrating best 
methods for capturing and preserving insects. 

Small aquaria, vivaria and animal cages 
containing living fish, tadpoles, leeches, newts, 
dragon fly larve, water beetles, frogs, toads, 
snakes, turtles, lizards and small animals— 
such as rats, guinea pigs and rabbits—are kept 
on exhibition throughout the building for the 
especial benefit of those city children who sel- 
dom go to the country. 

Aim and Work of the Museum. The Mu- 
seum is distinctly an educational institution, 
whose aim is to attract and interest children 
in the subjects represented by its collections. 
It seeks the co-operation of teachers in the 
schools by correlating its exhibits with the 
school courses of study and by maintaining 
regular free courses of lectures arranged for 
the grades in school. The attendance at these 
lectures alone in 1906, though strictly vol- 
untary, exceeded 17,200 during the school 
months. Miss Anna B. Gallup is the Curator, 
and there are two assistants, one of them being 
a librarian. 


BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF THE BROOKLYN 
INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 


This laboratory is adjacent to the Station 
for Experimental Evolution, at Cold Spring 
Harbor. The laboratory, known as_ the 
John D. Jones Laboratory, is a one-story 
building with a high roof, placed near the 
sea wall. It consists of one large central room 
for students, six smaller rooms for investigat- 
ors and two store rooms. About one thousand 
feet to the northward is a second labora- 
tory fitted with thirteen small rooms for in- 
vestigators. The work at this laboratory is 
carried on chiefly during the months of July 
and August. Students and investigators are 


- housed in three dormitories, and meals are 


supplied in one of them. Of the dormitories, 
the most important is Blackford Hall on the 
highest part of the land of the laboratory. 
This building is made wholly of reinforced 
concrete and is 125 feet long by 30 feet wide 
and two stories high. It contains an assembly 
room, a dining room with a capacity of a 
hundred persons, a kitchen, store rooms in the 
basement and twenty-four sleeping apart- 
ments. Running water is obtained from a 
lofty spring on an adjacent hill. 

The laboratory has the use of a thirty-five 
foot naphtha launch for collecting, and is 
provided with small boats and ordinary col- 
lecting equipment. Instruction is given almost 


386 


THE JOHN D. JONES LABORATORY BUILDING, COLD SPRING HARBOR. 


exclusively to teachers, and consists largely 
of field work. Dr. C. B. Davenport is Di- 
rector of the Laboratory, and is assisted at 
the present time by a corps of twelve in- 
structors. 

The annual budget of the Biological Lab- 
oratory is about $3,000. About fifty to sixty 
students, investigators and teachers are resi- 
dent during the summer months. The results 
of investigations are published in various 
journals. In addition, a series of Cold Spring 
Harbor Monographs, treating bionomically of 
particular organisms, has been established, of 
which six numbers have already appeared 
and three others are in press. 


STATION FOR EXPERIMENTAL EVO- 


LUTION (CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 
OF WASHINGTON). 


HE Station for Experimental Evolution 
is situated at Cold Spring Harbor, Long 
Island, thirty-two miles from New York. 
It is located on ground adjacent to the Bio- 
logical Laboratory of the Brooklyn Institute 
of Arts and Sciences and the New York Fish 
Hatchery. The ground occupied by all of 
these institutions, about fifteen acres, is held 
in trust from the late John D. Jones, by the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Wawepex Society 
of Cold Spring 
Harbor, and is 


leased for a long 
term of years. 

The Station for 
Experimental Evo- 
lution was estab- 
lished by vote of 
the Board of 
Trustees of the 
Carnegie Institu- 
tion of Washing- 
ton, December, 
1903, by the ap- 
pointment of Dr. 
C. B. Davenport, 
of the University 
of Chicago, as Di- 
rector. During. 
1904 the Station 
came into posses- 
sion of the ten 
acres (of lami 
which it now oc- 
cupies. The pres- 
ent staff was 
gathered together and a main building was 
erected. 

The purpose of this Station is to study ex- 
perimentally heredity and variability of organ- 
isms and the improvement of races by 
hybridization and selection. All the factors 
which have played a part in organic evolution 
come into the general scope of the work of 
this Station. The land consists of excellent 
garden tracts of alluvial soil between the 
mouths of two streams emptying into the har- . 
bor. In the garden are growing pedigreed 
cultures of mais, oenotheia, sunflowers, pop- 
pies, clovers, tomatoes, etc. 

North of the garden is an acre of land de- 
voted to the rearing of pedigreed poultry. A 
shed here contains the young stock of the 
present season. A number of brooders to the 
south are used for the rearing of young chicks. 
In the southwest corner of the land is the resi- 
dence of the Director with accompanying 
grounds. A flowing well driven to a depth 
of 180 feet supplies the buildings on the place 
with excellent water. The main laboratory, 
finished January 1, 1905, is 60 feet long by 35 
feet wide and 2™% stories high. It contains 
rooms for administration, private rooms for 
investigators, a library room, a photographic 
room and several large rooms for rearing ter- 
restrial and aquatic animals under varying 
conditions of light, temperature and moisture. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


1os) 
[eve] 
~I 


STATLON 


All work rooms are provided with running 
water. The building, which is semi-fireproof, 
is heated by steam, piped for gas and lighted 
by electricity. 

The building is equipped with the usual 
laboratory glassware and reagents with a 
variety of cages and with measuring and cal- 
culating apparatus. There are facilities for 
collecting on land, fresh water or the sea. 
An herbarium, zoological collections, and 
records make it posible to learn quickly the 
contents of the fauna and flora of the neigh- 
borhood with a view of getting material for 
any proposed experimental investigation. 

The library of the Station consists of about 
200 bound yolumnes, including a set of 
reference books on the different sciences, 
speculative and practical, works on evolution, 
including variation, heredity and plant and 
animal breeding, about 1,500 pamphlets on 
general biology, morphology and physiology 
and files of some twenty-five journals and con- 
tinuations. 

The station is used throughout the year by 


FOR EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION, COLD 


HARBOR. 


SPRING 


the following resident staff: C. B. Davenport, 
Director; G. H. Shull, botanist; F. E. Lutz, 
entomologist; Anne M. Lutz, cytologist; R. 
H. Johnson, entomologist and E. N. Transeau, 
botanist. There are also an animal care-taker, 
a mechanician and gardener. 

The Station co-operates with biologists else- 
where, these “Associates” constituting the 
non-resident staff of the station. 

Through its “correspondents,” in this 
country and abroad, the Station enters into 
relation with other biologists engaged in the 
experimental study of evolution, to facilitate 
exchange of materials and ideas. 

In addition to the main building, the plant 
comprises four greenhouses; one for botani- 
cal work and three small ones for work with 
insects, of these three the eastermost contains 
experiments with flies, beetles and crickets by 
Mr. Lutz, and the middle one experiments on 
Coccinellidie by Mr. Johnson. The western 
house is used in the winter for rearing green 
food for the pedigree birds. 

The annual budget of the Station is about 


388 


$25,000. In addition to the resident staff ot 
Six persons and secretary, there are about 
nine employees, assisting in the work with the 
experiments. The scientific papers of the 
station staff and its associates are published 
by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 
a series of papers of which nine have already 
appeared. 

In addition to the land occupied around the 
main building there is a tract of seven acres 
a quarter of a mile distant, of which one acre 
is devoted to breeding pens of poultry. Two 
acres are devoted to rearing sheep and goats, 
and two acres to rearing pedigreed plants. 
Among the other experiments carried on in 
connection with the Station may be mentioned 
a colony of cats in a small house between the 
residence and the stable; a colony of breed- 
ing canary birds and other cage birds located 
in the south room of the second floor of the 
main building and a cage devoted to ex- 
periments with butterflies adjacent to the 
vivarium. 


NEW YORK STATE FISH HATCHERY. 


HIS is the oldest of the three institutions 
a Cold Spring Harbor, being established 

in 1887 at the instigation of Mr. Eugene 
G. Blackford, one of the New York State Fish 
Commissioners. The present superintendent 
is Mr. Charles H. Walters. The plant con- 
sists of a building with numerous fish hatching 
troughs and about two acres of ground, which 
is covered with fish ways. A remarkable sup- 
ply of water is obtained from springs on 
adjacent hills and from a flowing well yield- 
ing 200 gallons per minute. 

During this year the hatchery has hatched 
267,000 brook trout, 144,000 rainbow trout, 
65,000,000 tom cod, 75,000,000 smelt, 150,000 
yellow perch, 8,000 whitefish and 11,000,000 
winter flatfish. The fry are distributed to 
the ponds and streams and marine harbors 
of the State. The hatchery is one of several 
establishments of similar pattern operated by 
the State of New York. 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY. 


HIS Society was founded in 1895 by a 
OT toes of public minded citizens and 

two or three zoologists, including Pro- 
fessor Osborn, Chairman for the first seven 
years, and Madison Grant, Secretary since 
the foundation. It had three objects: 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


1. The establishment of a zoological park. 
2. The preservation of animal life. 
3. The promotion of zoology. 


The active efforts of the Society, which 
now has a membership of 1,600, chiefly non- 
zoologists, have been directed first to ‘the 
park, second to game preservation. The scien- 
tific development has been retarded somewhat 
until these two initial objects could be fully 
secured. Much scientific work has been done, 
however; and at the present time scientific re- 
search and publication is taking substantial 
and permanent form. 

In 1895 the Zoological Society secured, by 
a special act of the Legislature, the charter 
which gave it corporate existence. Active 
measures for the development of a zoological 
park were at once begun. From January, 
1896, down to the present moment, the prog- 
ress of the organization has been an un- 
broken series of successful undertakings. 

The first important act of the Executive 
Committee was to adopt the scheme of basic 
principles, which was formulated by Pro- 
fessor Henry F. Osborn, on which it was pro- 
posed that the Zoological Park should be 
founded. In March, 1896, Dr. William T. 
Hornaday was chosen as Director. The site 
selected and recommended by him was ap- 
proved, and his preliminary design for the 
development of the Park was approved on 
November 27, 1896. While the esthetic 
treatment of this plan has been submitted to 
and modified by various experts, the orig- 
inal scheme has been adhered to very closely. 

On March 24, 1897, the Society entered 
into a formal agreement with the City of New 
York of far-reaching consequence. The pres- 
ent grounds of the Zoological Park were for- 
mally allotted to the Society for the purposes 
to which they are now devoted. The Society 
received a control of the grounds that is 
practically absolute; and on its part it agreed 
to expend on the Zoological Park, within 
three years, at least $250,000. 

On November 22, 1897, an elaborate and 
carefully studied “Final Plan” was submitted 
to the Mayor and the Commissioners of Parks 
of the City, and was duly accepted and signed 
by them. It showed the Zoological Park as 
the Society intended that it should be when 
finally completed. The result of this New 
York idea for the creation of a great zoologi- 
cal park, free to all the people, is now visible 
to the world, and by description it is briefly 
set forth elsewhere in this BULLETIN. 

Through the liberality of the persons com- 
posing the Zoological Society, and the confi- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 389 


dence reposed in them by the city authorities, 
the results now visible in the Park have been 
accomplished in nine years, and in two years 
more this great task will be finished, accord- 
ing to the requirements of the “Final Plan.” 

Because of the Zoological Society’s satis- 
factory business methods in connection with 
the Zoological Park, the City Department of 
Parks, in 1902, requested the Society to as- 
sume control of the New York Aquarium, 
and place it upon a permanent scientific basis. 
Its growth and its character to-day are testi- 
monials to the wisdom of the action of the 
Park Department. 

In the cause of “Game Protection,” which 
is a short term comprehending all efforts for 
the preservation of wild life, the Zoological 
Society has put forth an amount of effort, and 
expended money far beyond anything of the 
kind ever accomplished by any similar organ- 
ization so far as we are aware. The first 
work of the Society in this field consisted of 
an inquiry by Dr. Hornaday, in 1808, into 
the decrease in bird life throughout the United 
States during the previous fifteen years. Sec- 
retary Grant was largely instrumental in the 
passage of the Alaskan Game Law and the 
Newfoundland Game Law, and in defeating 
the attempted repeal of the Alaskan Game 
Law. Mr. G. O. Shields, for two years the 
Society’s Special Agent for Game Protection, 
completely stopped the wholesale slaughter of 
song birds for food that was going on im the 
northern portion of New York City, by Italian 
laborers. Dr. Hornaday proposed to the 
Zoological Society and the United States Gov- 
ernment the plan that now is being carried 
into effect for the establishment of a national 
herd of American Bison in a specially equipped 
range on the Wichita Forest and Game Re- 
serve, in Oklahoma. During the spring of 
1907 Professor F. W. Hooper and Dr. Horn- 
aday successfully advocated before the New 
York Legislature the American Bison So- 
ciety’s bill for the establishment of a state 
herd of Bison in the Adirondacks. In 1901 
Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes conveyed to the 
Zoological Society a fund of $3,000—the in- 
terest of which is to be used perpetually for 
the protection of birds. Aside from this, the 
Society, and its members individually, have 
jointly expended in the cause of game pro- 
tection, through the Society’s officers, during 
the past five years, at least $6,000. 


INVESTIGATIONS. 


Owing to heavy burdens involved in the 
creation of the Zoological Park, and in taking 


an active part in the preservation of our wild 
fauna, the Zoological Society has just be- 
gun its serious and extensive work in the 
field of scientific investigation, save in its 
medical department. In that field, the studies 
of Dr. Blair and Dr. Brooks have been of 
great value to the Society and to the world 
of comparative medicine and surgery as a 
whole. 

Curator Beebe has by a series of experi- 
ments established the fact that through un- 
usual humidity of the atmosphere, the plum- 
age of a bird can be completely changed in 
color to very dark hues, during the short 
period of three years and two _ successive 
moults. These will be published in Zoologia, 
the new scientific periodical of the Society. 

In the Annual Report and Bulletin of the 
Society there have been published numerous 
scientific papers, and others of popular natural 
history, of special interest to the members of 
the Society. 


THE NATIONAL COLLECTION 
HORNS. 


OF HEADS AND 


In December, 1906, Messrs. Grant and 
Hornaday proposed that the sportsmen of 
America should form a great National Col- 
lection of Heads and Horns, provided the 
Zoological Society would accept the owner- 
ship of it, and permanently maintain and 
exhibit it in the Zoological Park. This offer 
was immediately accepted, and the collection 
is now rapidly being formed. Already gifts 
have been received having an aggregate value 
of about $11,500. 

Hon. Levi P. Morton is President of the 
Zoological Society, Professor Henry Fairfield 
Osborn is First Vice-President, and Mr. 
Charles T. Barney is Chairman of the Exe- 
cutive Committee. 

The total sum contributed by private gener- 
osity, through the New York Zoological So- 
ciety, is now about $460,000, not counting 
miscellaneous gifts of animals, the total value 
of which never has been computed. 


OTHER SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES OF 
NEW YORK. 


HE New York Academy of Sciences is 
fourth in age among American scientific 
societies, having been organized in 1817 as 
the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. 
Its Active Members number about 500. It also 
has several hundred Associate Members in- 
cluding the membership of the following af- 


see 


filiated societies ; viz.: Torrey Botanical Club, 
New York Microscopical Society, New York 
Mineralogical Club, New York Entomological 
Society, Brooklyn Entomological Society, 
Linnaean Society of New York. 

Its Honorary Members are limited to fifty 
and are elected from representative scientific 
men of the world. Fellows are chosen from 
among the Active Members in recognition of 
scientific attainments or services. The publi- 
cations of the Academy at present consist of 
two series, the “Annals” (octavo), and the 
“Memoirs” (quarto). The Academy meets 
in four Sections, one of which is the Section 
of Biology, including Zoology, Botany and 
Physiology. The meetings of the Academy, its 
Sections and of the affiliated societies are 
nearly all held at the American Museum of 
Natural History, and are announced to mem- 
bers by means of the “Bulletin of the New 
York Academy of Sciences and Affiliated So- 
cieties,’ issued weekly from October to May 
inclusive. The library of the Academy (11,- 
000 volumes) is united with that of the Amer- 
ican Museum of Natural History. The Presi- 
dent of the Academy is Dr. N. L. Britton. 

The Section of Biology is under the chair- 
manship of Professor H. E. Crampton, of 
Columbia University, and Mr. Roy W. Miner, 
of the American Museum of Natural History, 
is its Secretary. 

The Linnaean Society of New York was 
organized in 1878, and has a membership of 
152. It publishes “Transactions” and ‘‘Ab- 
stract of Proceedings.” Its Library consists 
mainly of exchanges derived from publica- 
tions. The activities of this Society are di- 
rected chiefly along zoological lines, being to 
a considerable extent ornithological. 

The President of the Society is Mr. Jona- 
than Dwight, Jr.; the Secretary Mr. C. G. 
Abbot. 

The National Association of Audubon So- 
cieties is a corporation for the protection of 
wild birds and animals, and is primarily a 
federation of the State Audubon Societies, of 
which there are now thirty-nine. 

The general offices of the National Associa- 
tion are at 141 Broadway, New York, and the 
President is Mr. William Dutcher, of New 
York. The funds to carry on the work are 
secured from membership dues, donations and 
interest from invested funds derived from 
legacies. 

The objects of the National Association are 
as follows: 

“To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions 
in the interest of the protection of birds and 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


animals, and to use all lawful means for the 
protection of birds and animals.” 

“To publish and distribute documents or 
other printed matter on these or other sub- 
jects, and acquire and maintain a library.” 

“To co-operate with the National and State 
Governments and regularly organized Natural 
History Societies in disseminating knowledge 
relative to birds and animals.” 

The State Societies are each of them under 
an entirely independent management, but all 
have representation in the management of the 
National Association. 

The headquarters of the New York State 
Audubon Society is at the American Museum 
of Natural History; the President of the Mu- 
seum being also the President of the State 
Audubon Society. 

The New York Entomological Society was 
organized in 1892. It has a membership of 
143 persons, and publishes the “Journal of 
the New York Entomological Society,” now 
in its twelfth volume. Mr. Charles W. Leng 
is the President, and Mr. H. G. Barber, Re- 
cording Secretary 

The New York Microscopical Society was 
incorporated in 1877, and has a membership of 
68. Meetings are held at the Mott Memorial 
Library, 64 Madison Avenue, New York. 
where there is a Library of about two thou- 
sand volumes. The Cabinet contains about 
five thousand specimens. It publishes the 
“Journal of the New York Microscopical 
Society,’ which is now an annual publication. 

Mr. F. Y. Leggett is President and Mr. 
James H. Stebbins Recording Secretary 

The Brooklyn Entomological Society was 
organized in 1872, and has a membership of 
57. It formerly published the “Bulletin of 
the Brooklyn Entomological Society,’ 1878- 
1885, and “Entomologia Americana,’ 1885- 
1890. The President is Dr. John B. Smith, 
and the Recording Secretary, Mr. A. C. 
Weeks. 

The headquarters of the Society are at 55 
Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, where there is 
a library of about five hundred volumes. 

The Brooklyn Conchological Club was or- 
ganized in 1900, and has 20 members. The 
formation of collections is still in the hands 
of private parties, who exchange. Mr. Silas 
C. Wheat is the President and Mr. C. Dayton 
Gwyer the Secretary. 

The Staten Island Association of Arts and 
Sciences, at New Brighton, Borough of Rich- 
mond, was incorporated by act of the New 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


York Legislature May 17th, 1905, as the suc- 
cessor of the Natural Science Asociation of 
Staten Island, established in 1883. The latter 
published volumes of Proceedings. The new 
organization has commenced the publication 
of a second series of Proceedings, and will 
also issue Memoirs, containing more elaborate 
monographs. 

The Association has an excellent general 
collection of local material, and under the 
terms of its charter, enabling it to receive mu- 
nicipal appropriations for equipment and 
maintenance, expects soon to establish a pub- 
lic museum chiefly for the benefit of the peo- 
ple of Richmond Borough. Its collections are 
still small. 

With the transfer of the museum in the near 
future to its permanent quarters in the new 
Borough Building special efforts will be made 
to enlarge the biological collections and es- 
tablish an interesting and valuable exhibition 
series. The library of the Association, per- 
haps its most valuable asset, contains many 
complete files of periodicals and serials, being 
especially rich in those devoted to entomology. 

The President of the Association is Mr. 
Howard Randolph Bayne, the Secretary Dr. 
Arthur Hollick. The administration of the 
museum and library is vested in the Curator, 
Mr. Charles Louis Pollard. Pending the re- 
moval to the Borough Building the collections 
are stored in the Staten Island Academy at 
New Brighton. 

The American Bison Society was organized 
in 1906 for the purpose of promoting the per- 
petual preservation of the American Bison. 
It is the belief of its members that this end 
can be assured only through national and 
state ownership of several herds breeding and 
roaming free in very large ranges. The effort 
of the Society to secure the establishment of a 
New York State herd, located in the Adiron- 
dacks on a range embracing about twelve 
square miles of grazing grounds, came very 
close to achieving success. The Society’s 
measure was passed, wnanimously, by both 
houses of the New York legislature, but 
was most unexpectedly vetoed by Governor 
Hughes, without a hearing. 

The Society is now actively engaged in 
making a thorough examination of the Flat- 
head Indian Reservation, in northwestern 
Montana, with a view to the establishment 
there of a national herd. 

The active officers of the Society are Dr. 
William T. Hornaday, President; Professor 
Franklin W. Hooper and Mr. A. A. Anderson, 
Vice-Presidents; Mr. Ernest H. Baynes, Sec- 
retary, and Mr. Clark Williams, Treasurer. 


391 


ZOOLOGISTS OF NEW YORK AND 
VICINITY. 


Axpgort, CLINTON G. 
Secretary, Linnaean Society of New York, 153 
West 73d Street, New York. 
Ornithology. 


ALLEN, JoEL Asapu, Ph.D. 
Curator, Mammalogy and Ornithology, Ameri- 
ven Museum of Natural History, Editor “The 
Auk.” 
American Mammals and Birds: Geographic Zo- 
ology. 
Barser, Harry G., A.M. 
Instructor in Zoology, DeWitt Clinton High 
School, Columbia University. 
Zoology. 
BEAN, TARLETON HorrmMan, M.D. 
State Fish Culturist of New York, 1 Madison 
Avenue, New York 
Ichthyology, Pisciculture. 
Breese, C. WILLIAM. 
Curator of Birds, New York Zoological Park. 
Ornithology. 
BEUTENMULLER, WILLIAM. 
Curator, Department of Entomology, American 
Museum of Natural History. 
Entomology. 
BicEtow, Pror. Maurice ALPHEus, Ph.D. 
Professor of Biology, Teachers College, Co- 
lumbia University. a 
Zoology. 
Brarr, W. Reip, D.V.S. ‘ 
Veterinarian, New York Zoological Park. 
Zoology. 


BrisToL, Pror, CHARLES LAWRENCE, Ph.D. _ ; 

Professor of Zoology, New York University. 
Zoology. - 

Brown, BARNUM. : 

American Museum of Natural History. _ 
Vertebrate Paleontology, Reptilia, Pleistocene 
Mammalia. 

Bumpus, Hermon Carey, LL.D., Sc.D. ; 

Director, American Museum of Natural History. 
Zoology. 

CaLkins, Pror. Gary Natuan, Ph.D. : 

Professor of Protozoology, Columbia University. 
General Cytology, Protozoology. 

Catrett, Pror. James McKeen, Ph.D., LL.D. 
Professor of Psychology, Columbia University, 
Editor of “Science” and of the “Popular Science 
Monthly,” Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 

Psychology. 
Catt, RicHarp ExitswortH, M.Sc., Ph.D. 


Teacher of Biology, DeWitt Clinton High 
School. 
Conchology, Ichthyology. 
CHAPMAN, FRANK MICHLER. 
Associate Curator, Ornithology and _Mam- 


malogy, American Museum of Natural History, 
Editor -Bird) Lore” 5 Ce 
Birds, Geographic Distribution, Life Histories. 


CHERRIE, GEORGE KRUCK. 
Curator, Department of Ornithology, Museum 
of the Brooklyn Institute, Eastern Parkway, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Mammalogy and Ornithology. 


398 


Cuues, SAMUEL H. 
American Museum of Natural History. 
Osteologist and Preparator. 


CLARK, JAMES L. ; 
American Museum of Natural History. 
Mammalogy, Taxidermy. 


Crampton, Pror. HENry Epwarp, Ph.D. 
Professor of Zoology, Barnard College, Colum- 
bia University. 
Experimental Biology. 
Curtis, JoHN Green, M.D., LL.D. 
Professor of Physiology, College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, Columbia University. 
Physiology. 


Dautcren, B. Eric, D.M.D. 
Assistant Curator Invertebrate Zoology, Ameri- 
can Museum of Natural History. 
Invertebrate Zoology. 


DAVENPORT, Pror, CHARLES Benepict, Ph.D. 
Director, Station for Experimental Evolution, 
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Cold Spring 
Harbor, Long Island, N. Y. 

Zoology, Experimental Evolution. 


Davenport, Mrs. GERTRUDE CROTTY. 
Station for Experimental Evolution, Cold Spring 
Harbor, Long Island, N. Y. 
Zoology. 


DEAN, Pror. BAsHrorp, Ph.D. 
Professor of Vertebrate Zoology, Columbia Uni- 
versity, Curator of Fossil Fishes, American Mu- 
seum of Natural Historv. 
Vertebrate Morphology, Ichthyology. 


Ditmars, RAYMOND LEE. 

Curator of Reptiles, Assistant Curator of Mam- 
mals, New York Zoological Park. 
Herpetology. 

Dott, JAcos. 

Assistant, Museum of the Brooklyn Institute, 
Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N. Y 
Lepidoptera. 

Dustin, Louts I., Ph.D. 

Instructor, College of the City of New York. 
General Cytology. 

DutTcHer, WILLIAM. 

President, National Association of Audubon So- 
cieties, 141 Broadway, New York. 
Ornithology. 

DwicutT, JoNATHAN, Jr, M.D. 

President, Linnaean Society of New York, 
Treasurer, American Ornithologists Union, 134 
West 71st Street, New York. 

Zoology, Ornithology. 

Eppy, W. H., A.B. 

Teacher of Biology, High School of Commerce. 
Biology. 

Ettiott, Pror. DANIEL Grraup, Sc.D., LL.D. 

Hon. Curator of Zoology, Field Columbian Mu- 
seum of National History, Chicago, IIl., Ameri- 
can Museum of Natural History. 

Mammalogy and Ornithology. 

ENGELHARDT, GEORGE PAUL. 

Curator of Entomology, Children’s Museum of 
the Brooklyn Institute, Bedford Park, Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 

Entomology. 

FLexner, Pror. Stmon, M.D. 
Director of the Laboratories, 
stitute for Medical Research. 

Pathology, Human and Comparative. 


Rockefeller In- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


GoopaLe, Hupert Dana, A.M. 
Department of Zoology, Columbia University. 
Zoology. 


Grapau, Pror. AMApEUS WitLIAM, Sc.M. Sc.D. 
Professor of Paleontology, Columbia University. 
Invertebrate Paleontology. 


Grant, Mapison, A.B. 
Secretary, New York Zoological Society, 11 Wall 
Street, New York. 
Mammalogy. 


Grecory, WittrAmM K., A.M. 
Lecturer in Zoology, Columbia University, De- 
partment of Paleontology, American Museum of 
Natural History. 
Zoology and Paleontology of Mammalia. 


GRINNELL, GEORGE Birp, Ph.D. 
Editor “Forest and Stream,” 
New York. 

Zoology, Ethnology North American Indians. 


Hay, Pror. Oriver Perry, Ph.D. 
Associate Curator of Chelonia, Department of 
Vertebrate Paleontology, American Museum of 
Natural History. 
Reptiles and Fishes. 


Herter, Pror. CHRISTIAN ARCHIBALD, M.D. 
Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 
Columbia University. 

Biological Chemistry. 


Hooper, Pror. FRANKLIN WILLIAM, A.M. 
Director, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sci- 
ences, 502 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y 
Zoology. 


Hornapay, WILLIAM TEMPLE, Sc.D. 
Director, New York Zoological Park. 
Vertebrate Zoology. 
Horton, Byron Barnes, A.M. 


Graduate Student, Department of Zoology, Co- 
lumbia University. 


346 Broadway, 


Zoology. 
Hussakor, Louis, Ph.D. 
Assistant, Department of Vertebrate Paleon- 


tology, American Museum of Natural History. 
Zoology, Palaeichthyology. 


INGERSOLL, ERNEST. 
Authors’ Club, New York, Editor Zoology “New 
International Encyclopedia.” 
Zoology, Mammals. 


JELLIFFE, SmiTH EL:y, M.D., Ph.D. 


Editor “Medical News,” Professor College of 
Pharmacy, Instructor Materia Medica, Colum- 
bia University. 

Neurology. 


JoHnson, Roswett Hit, M.S. 
Assistant, Station for Experimental Evolution, 
Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, N. Y 
Zoology. 


Ketty, Henry A., Ph.D. 
Teacher of Biology, Ethical Culture School, 63d 
Street and Central Park West. 
Zoology. 


KNIGHT, CHARLES R. : 
American Museum of Natural History. 
Zoological Artist. 


Lee, Pror. FREDERIC SCHILLER, Ph.D. 
Professor of Physiology, Columbia University, 
New York. 
Physiology. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Leccett, F. W. 
President New York Microscopical Society. 
Entomology. 


Lenc, CHARLES WILLIAM, B.S. 
President New York Entomological Society, 
West New Brighton, N. Y. 
Entomology. 


LiInvILLE, Henry RicHarpson, Ph.D. 
Instructor in Biology, DeWitt Clinton High 
School. 
Biology. 


Lucas, FREDERIC AUGUSTUS. 
Curator in Chief, Museum of the Brooklyn In- 
stitute, Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Vertebrate Zoology. 


Lusk, Dr. GraHam, Ph.D. 
Professor of Physiology, New York University. 
Physiology. 
Lutz, Miss ANNE M. 
Assistant, Station for Experimental Evolution, 
Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, N. Y. 
Cytology. 


Lutz, FranK EuceEne, A.B. 
Assistant, Station for Experimental Evolution, 
Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, N. Y. 
Zoology. 


McGrecor, JAMES Howarp, Ph.D. 
Adjunct Professor of Zoology, Columbia Uni- 
versity. 


Vertebrate Morphology. 


MatrHew, WititaAm Ditter, Ph.D. 
Associate Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, 
American Museum of Natural History. 
Vertebrate Paleontology. 


Mayer, ALFRED GoLDsBoROUGH, Sc.D. 
Director, Marine Laboratory of the Carnegie 
Institution, Tortugas, Fla. 
Zoology. 


Meap, CuHartes S., A.M. 
Columbia University. 
Vertebrate Anatomy. 
MEttzer, SAMUEL JAMES, M.D., LL.D. 
Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, 107 
West 122d Street. 
Physiology. 
Mrtter, Wavpron De Wirt. 
Assistant, Department of Mammalogy and Or- 
nithology, American Museum of Natural His- 


tory. 
Ornithology. 
Miner, Roy W., A.B. 
Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, 


American Museum of Natural History. 
Invertebrate Zoology, Myriapoda. 


Morcan, Pror. THomas Hunt, Ph.D. 
Professor Experimental Zoology, Columbia Uni- 
versity. 
Experimental Zoology and Embryology. 
Morritt, CHarves V., Jr., A.M. 
Assistant in Zoology, Columbia University. 
Zoology. 


NicHots, JoHN TREADWELL. 
Assistant, Department of Mammalogy and Or- 
nithology, American Museum of Natural His- 
tory. 
Mammalogy and Ornithology. 


393 


Osrorn, Pror. Henry FarrFietp, LL.D., D.Sc. 
Da Costa Professor of Zoology, Columbia Uni- 
versity, Curator Vertebrate Paleontology, Amer- 
ican Museum of Natural History. 
Vertebrate Zoology. 


Ossurn, RAyMoND Carrot, Ph.D. 
Instructor in Zoology, Barnard College, Colum- 
bia University. 
Zoology. 
Peapopy, JAMES Epwarp, M.A. 
Head of the Department of Biology, Morris 
High School. 
Biology. 
Potiarp, CHartes Louis, A.M. 
Curator, Staten Island Association of Arts and 
Sciences, New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y. 
Entomology, Botany. 


PRUDDEN, Pror. THEOPHILUS MitcHELL, M.D., LL.D. 
Professor of Pathology, College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, Columbia University. 

Pathology. 


SCHAEFFER, CARL. 
Associate Curator of Entomology, Museum of 
the Brooklyn Institute, Eastern Parkway, Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 
Entomology. 
Scott, Grorce G., A.M. 
Instructor in Biology, College of the City of 
New York. 
Experimental Zoology. 
Seton, ErNEsT THOMPSON. 
Cos Cob, Conn, 
Mammalogy, Ornithology. 


SHARPE, RicHArD W., M.S. 
Teacher in Biology, De Witt Clinton High 


School. 
Crustacea. 
SHERWoop, Georce H., A.M. 
Curator, Department of Public Instruction, 


American Museum of Natural History. 
Zoology. 


STEBBINS, JAMES H., M.D. 
Recording Secretary, New York Microscopical 
Society, 80 Madison Avenue. 
Microscopy, Pond Life. 


SHUFELDT, Ropert Witson, M.D. 
Major Medical Department, U. S. A., Retired, 
471 West 145th Street, New York. 
Anatomy of Vertebrates. 


StocKarD, CHARLES Rupert, Ph.D. 
Cornell University Medical College, 414 East 
26th Street, New York. 
Embryology. 


SrraTForD, Pror. Witt1am, M.D., Ph.D. 
Professor of Zoology, College of the City of 
New York. 
Zoology. 


Stronc, Ortiver Situ, Ph.D. 
Instructor in Histology, College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, Columbia University. 
Zoology, Neurology. 


SumNeER, Francis Bertopy, Ph.D. 
Director, Marine Laboratory, U. S. Bureau of 
Fisheries, Woods Hole, Mass., Instructor in 
Natural History, College of the City of New: 
York. 
Zoology. 


394 


Torrey, JoHN Cutter, Fh.D. 
Fellow in Experimental Pathology, Cornell 
University Medical College, 414 East 26th Street, 
New York. 
Bacteriology. 


Tower, Pror. RALPH WINFRED, Ph.D. 
Curator of Books and Publications, and of De- 
partment of Physiology, American Museum of 
Natural History. 
Physiological Chemistry, Physiology of Fishes. 


TowNSEND, CHARLES HASKINS. 
Director, New York Aquarium, Battery Park. 
Fisheries, Pisciculture, Oceanography. 


Weeks, A. C., B.S. 
Recording Secretary, Brooklyn Entomological 
Society, 34 Broad Street, New York. 
Entomoiogy. 


WuHuee er, Pror. WittrAM Morton, Ph.D. 
Curator, Invertebrate Zoology, American Mu- 
seum of Natural History. 
Zoology, Entomology and Formicidae. 


Witson, Pror. Epmunp BrecHer, Ph.D., LL.D. 
Professor of Zoology, Columbia University. 
Cytology, Embryology, Experimental Morphology. 


Yatsu, Naouipe, Ph D. 
Department of Zoology, Columbia University. 
Zoology. 


Zinsser, Hans, A.M., M.D. 
Assistant in Bacteriology and Hygiene, Colum- 
bia University. 
General Biology. 


MEMBERSHIP IN THE NEW YORK 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 


Membership in the Zoological Society is 
open to all persons interested in the objects 
of the organization who desire to contribute 
toward its support and are endorsed by two 
members in good standing. In order to carry 
out all its plans, the Society desires to increase 
its membership to a total of 3,000. 

The cost of annual membership is $10 per 
year, which entitles the holder to admission to 
the Zoological Park and the Aquarium on all 
pay days, “when he may see the collections to 
better advantage than on other days. Mem- 
bers are entitled to the Annual Report and 
all Bulletins, admission to all lectures and spe- 
cial exhibitions, and ten complimentary tickets 
to the Zoological Park, for distribution. The 
annual membership fee is payable on May I 
of each year, in advance. 

Any Annual Member may become a Life 
Member by the payment of $200. Any one 
who subscribes $1,000 becomes a Patron; if 
$2,500, he becomes an Associate Founder ; if 
$5,000, a Founder and if $10,000 a Benefactor. 

Applications for membership may be handed 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


to the Chief Clerk at the Society’s office in 
the Zoological Park or forwarded by mail to 
Madison Grant, Esq., General Secretary, No. 
11 Wall Street, New York. 


PUBLICATIONS OF THE NEW YORK 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 


The publications of the Society are for sale 
at the prices affixed below. Address, Office 
of the Society, No. 11 Wall Street, and the 
New York Zoological Park. 


Paper Cloth 
IEibasyn SAwango eile INGO Ema aca de ocr $ .40 
Seconds esc. rece et 75 $1.00 
DhindPeenisaenmee eae epee .40  .60 
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Putthis (o dora3 eben sho lorena aerorae -75 1.00 
Sixth vnc. cs aie nepchs oe Sere crease -75 1.00 
Séventh <S4ccc@ pect eee 1.00 1.25 
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Mentheeereer poeauarte aie aon 1:25. 250 
Bleventh arcane oa eee 1.00 1.25 
Notes on Mountain Sheep of 
North America (Hornaday)...  .40 
Destruction of Our Birds and 
Mammals (Hornaday) ....... atic 
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The Origin and Relationship of the 


Large Mammals of North 
Amenica (Grater anes 1.00 
The Rocky Mountain Goat (Grant) 1.00 
Sea-Shore Life (Mayer) ........ 1.20 
Guide-Book: New York Zoological 
Parks (lornaday)) yrs eee m25 
Bulletins No. 5 to No. 27, 
.I5; four numbers, .50 
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inches; 41- illustrations. + sere see errs 25 
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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


"ssl ea 


AP 
anit AUN Mit li 


7 at ania 


NUBIAN GIRAFPFES IN THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 


On 


396 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND VICINITY. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
82 


Zoology in New York...... ; 
Columbia University .. Brooklyn Institute....... 

New York University. Seamaewecoes votes Brooklyn Institute Museum 
College of City of New York i RE cu sbeccceseneeecs Brooklyn Institute Children’s Museum 
Board of Education Brooklyn Institute Biological Laboratory 
Morris High School... ae Station for Experimental Evolution, 
American Museum of Natural History New York State Fish Hatchery, 
New York Zoological Park......... ; New York Zoological Society 
New York Aquarium........ ee et aT 3 fats 381 Other Scientific Societies... 
Zoologists of New York and Vicinity 391 


Central Park Menagerie 


AN > bi 
SAN- Bi 5 


“ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 28 


PUBLISHED BY THE NEw YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Ja nuary, 1908 


NEW RARE BIRDS IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


By C. WILitaAM BEEBE. 


HE shipment of birds which was received 
from the London Zoological Gardens 
early in August, 1907, in exchange for 

a representative lot of living American birds, 
contained many species of unusual interest, a 
number of which were new to the collection 
of the Society and which in some cases had 
never been brought alive to this country be- 
fore. 

One of the rarest and at the same time most 
sinister looking is the lammergeier or bearded 
vulture of the mountain fastnesses of Europe, 
Asia and Africa. Our specimen is not quite 
full grown, but in another year, when adult, 


it will measure nearly four feet in length and 
its wings spread to a width of full eight or 
nine feet. This will make it a much larger 
bird than any of our eagles. The name lam- 
mergeier means lamb vulture and is well be- 
stowed, for among the mountains it is a deadly 
foe of shepherds and takes heavy toll from 
their flocks of sheep. Besides lambs and goats, 
this fierce bird also feeds on the chamois and 
when pressed by hunger will not disdain car- 
rion. It thus shares the habits of both the 
vultures and eagles, although it is more closely 
related to the latter group of birds. 

The lammergeier is the bird which is fa- 


THE ULTRAMARINE OR HYACINTHINE MACAW 


398 


mous or rather notorious in the folk-lore of 
many European countries. Although the 
great majority of stories of eagles which 
attack human beings are based on myths, yet 
there are authenticated cases of deaths from 
the rush of this bird of prey. Its method of 
attack is as follows: When a lamb is brows- 
ing near the edge of a precipice, a lammerge- 
ier will swoop down from empty space with 
a terrific rush, striking the animal with its 
feet and hurling it headlong to the rocks be- 
neath. A child, or even a man, standing near 
the edge of some great mountain abyss would 
have little chance of avoiding such an unex- 
pected assault from the air above. 

The fierce appearance of the bird is in- 
creased by the eyes, the irises of which are 
light orange, surrounded by a band of bril- 
liant scarlet, giving a permanent bloodshot 
look, which adds a unique character to the 
bird’s head. Shepherds have systematically 
poisoned this bird until it has disappeared 
from the Swiss Alps and many other places 
in Europe. It is still found in Persia, Pales- 
tine and the Himalayas. The name “bearded” 
is appropriate because of the tuft of black, 
bristle-like feathers extending downward and 
forward from the chin. The lammergeier is 
grayish-black above and tawny-orange below. 
while the crown and sides of the face are 
white. A single egg is laid in February, on 
an enormous pile of sticks placed in a cleft 
of some inaccessible cliff. 

Not the least curious trait of the lammer- 
geier is its fondness for bones. It is not 
the marrow which attracts the bird but the 
substance of the bone itself. The small bones 
it swallows whole, and when it can secure 
them, good-sized splinters of large bones are 
also taken with the greatest apparent relish. 
They are soon digested, and, no matter how 
sharp, seem to cause the lammergeier no in- 
convenience whatever. 

Far less in size, but in its way of quite as 
great interest, is the hoopoe, a bird no larger 
than a robin, which we may see in its cage, 
sitting quietly on its perch with head and 
wings drawn in closely, and showing so little 
of any unusual appearance, that the average 
visitor would hardly give it a second glance. 
But, when it leaps into the air and suddenly 
takes a short flight about the cage, a remark- 
able change takes place. A tall slender crest 
shoots upward into a wide spread fan of feath- 
ers, barred with orange, black and white, and 
the same colors blaze forth from its expanded 
wings. As it hovers in mid-air, the wings 
beat rapidly, forming a haze of bright color 
about the body, while the head is turned from 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


side to side, exposing the crest in all direc- 
tions. The general appearance is of a large 
and brightly colored butterfly. Then it slowiy 
sinks to rest on the perch or on the ground, 
and quickly alights, shutting wings and crest, 
and as a candle is snuffed out by the wind, 
so do the colors vanish, and in their place is 
a small ball of sand-colored feathers, hardly 
distinguishable from the surrounding gravel. 
The little mound of drab and gray might, in a 
field, be taken for one among a hundred simil- 
arly-hued clods or stones. The transforma- 
tion is magical, and as astonishing as if there 
were actually two very different species of 
birds in the cage, differing radically in color 
and temperament. 

The hoopoe nests over much of Europe and 
Siberia, and in winter migrates south to Africa. 
Although so beautiful in appearance, its nest- 
ing habits are anything but pleasant, and its 
nest usually is a dirty, ill-smelling affair. In 
the interest of its relationships it makes up 
for this. A study of its anatomy leaves no 
room for doubt, that it claims close kin with 
the gigantic-beaked hornbills. The bill of 
the hoopoe is long, slender and curved, well 
adapted for probing in the soil for grubs and 
earth-worms, and we can compare it with the 
enormous appendage of the hornbill only to 
show how unlike the bills of two related birds 
can be. Even in the action of eating, the affin- 
ity is suggested, for the hoopoe throws its 
food into the air and catches it with a swallow 
as in the case of the hornbill. Again, as the 
latter bird walls in its mate while she is sit- 
ting on the eggs, and faithfully feeds her 
throughout the entire period of incubation, so 
the hoopoe carries food to his mate while she 
is on the nest, a habit not common among 
birds, especially before the young are hatched. 
Hoopoes are rare in captivity as they are deli- 
cate and hard to keep in health, but the bird 
at the Zoological Park seems to be strong and 
well, after six months of residence in the new 
Bird House, The common name is given on 
account of the cry of the bird and the German 
name wiederkopf refers to the constant jerk- 
ing motion of the head and neck. The scien- 
tific name is Upupa epops, the first being the 
word which the Romans used to indicate the 
call note of the bird, and the latter being the 
Greek name for the bird itself. 

Another bird which because of its rarity in 
addition to its strange appearance is a notable 
accession to the collection is a magnificant 
ultramarine or hyacinthine macaw. This bird 
is seldom seen in captivity alive, and when one 
comes into a dealer’s hands, it commands from 
one to two hundred dollars. Little is known 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


of its habits in a wild state, but it is said to 
lay two white eggs at the end of a burrow 
scraped out of the side of a steep bank over- 
hanging a stream. This macaw is the largest 
of its family and is wholly of a deep blue color. 
At the base of the bill and around the eyes 
are small patches of brilliant yellow, and the 
tongue is stained with the same hue. The 
enormous beak is black, dwarfing the huge 
mandibles of any other species of macaw. 
When it really wishes to escape from its cage, 
the strongest wire generally gives like pack 
thread, and the thickest hardwood perch is 
reduced to sawdust in an incredibly short 
period of time. But strange to say, with all 
this mighty strength, the bird shows a quiet- 
ness of disposition and lack of ill temper which 
is unusual among its near relations. The 
hyacinthine macaw in the Zoological Park 
enjoys being fondled and caressed by its 
keeper, and if carried around on the hand, 
never, without provocation, attempts to fly 
away or to nip hard. Altogether, it isa most 
delightful inmate of the Bird House, and there 
is ever an admiring throng about its cage. 
It seems to enjoy this publicity, and revolves 
slowly on its perch, showing off all sides of 
its wonderful plumage. Sometimes it secures 
a firm grip with feet and bill and vibrates its 
wings so rapidly that they become a bluish 
haze, calling out all the while im the thick 
and almost human utterances of its own 
strange vocabulary, the untranslatable lan- 
guage of the macaws. 

Of all the thousands of living birds now in 
the collection of the Zoological Society, the 
most beautiful, perhaps, are a pair of white- 
crested touracous. And unlike some orna- 
mental creatures, they are as interesting as they 
are exquisite in color. The plumage is a rich 
grass green with a large patch of vivid scarlet 
on each wing, and a stiffly erect crest tipped 
with a delicate brush of white. Every movement 
is full of grace, and from their slender necks 
to their well-proportioned feet they are crea- 
tures of beauty which it is a delight to watch. 
Their position in classification has long been 
a matter of dispute, but true to their character 
of two toes in front and two behind, they are 
now usually placed near the cuckoos, with a 
strong leaning in the direction of the parrots, 
although they are absolutely unlike these 
latter birds both in appearance and actions. 
The most interesting thing about them lies 
in the red color of the larger wing feathers, 
this hue taking up a considerable portion of 
each side of the vane of the feathers. When 
the birds bathe, this pigment sometimes tinges 
the water a slight rose color, a remarkable 


399 


fact when we realize how permanent and 
difficult of extraction the pigments of birds’ 
feathers usually are. When the proper suc- 
cession of acid and alkali are used, this red 
color of the touracous’ wing can be extracted 
and precipitated in the form of a bluish-green 
powder and we find that it is nothing more 
nor less than pure, metallic copper. In no 
other organic compound in the world is copper 
known to occur thus as a pigment. The per- 
centage is from 6 to 10 per cent. It burns with 
a greenish flame before it is taken from the 
feather, and in fact all its other reactions 
are those of copper, as truly as any of the 
metal mined and incorporated in coin or other 
manufactured articles. 

The source of this metal in the bird’s wing 
is unknown, although it has been suggested 
that in a wild state the touracou picks up pieces 
of copper or malachite with the grit which 
they swallow to aid them in grinding their 
food. A much more probable explanation is, 
that bananas, of which these birds are very 
fond, contain traces of the metal, and that by 
the accumulation of this, sufficient is stored 
up in the dermal tissues to produce the re- 
quired percentage in the wing feathers. As 
if one such remarkable fact were not enough, 
abundant traces of iron have been found in 
the green portions of the plumage, so that 
these birds are metal extractors in more than 
one way. 

About twenty-five species of touracous are 
known and all live in Africa, but only a few 
of these have the coppery-red color in the 
wings. Some have white patches where this 
color is located in the others. In the Zoolog- 
ical Park, the Curator of Birds has extracted 
the metal from one of these feathers and has 
placed it on exhibition in a wall case in the 
Glass Court. Thus, in the same house with 
the living specimens of touracous, is shown 
the normal feather, the pale feather from 
which the color has been taken, and finally 
two small vials of the precipitated copper 
itself. 


Three penguins from South Africa, via the 
London Zoo, are now living in perfect health 
in the Zoological Park, and seem to thrive 
under the new arrangement of keeping them 
outdoors. They have a wind-break of glass, 
and a tiny stone igloo into which they delight 
to go and sit quietly for a few minutes, getting 
up suddenly and waddling out comically as 
if they had forgotten something. 

What the seals are to the mammals, pen- 
guins are to the bird world, having given up 
flight and taken to the sea. Their feathers have 


400 


lost all softness and have become small, horny, 
and in general scale-like. The wings have 
assumed, in rigidity, shape and movement, 
the appearance of shark fins, and by means 
of these strangely altered appendages the 
penguins fly swiftly through the water and 
capture the fish on which they feed. Their 
eyes are flat and fish-like, such a structure en- 
abling them to see more distinctly under water. 
All penguins are found south of the equator, 
and the great majority inhabit the frigid Ant- 
arctic regions. 

Jackass penguins nest in large colonies on 
the coast of South Africa, sometimes hundreds 
close together on one island. At a distance 
they bear a close resemblance to diminutive 
human beings, and their fearlessness of man 
makes it seem as if they considered him as 
only a larger harmless edition of themselves. 
Two eggs are laid in a burrow in the sand or 
among a few shreds of sea-weed. Their voice 
is a hoarse, barking bray, from which fact 
they have derived their common name. 

In captivity, penguins are most amusing, 
waddling about in their upright, comically 
human manner, or diving after live fish in 
the glass feeding tank. When swimming they 
are very seal-like, the webbed feet being laid 
flat together and used as a rudder to make 
quick turns, while the wings are used alto- 
gether to keep up the wonderful speed which 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


they can attain in this element. No more 
curious or un-birdlike feathered creatures will 
ever be seen in our city, and those which are 
now living in the Zoological Park are alone 
well worth a visit to see. 


A complete count of the birds in the cOllec- - 
tion of the Zoological Park is a matter which 
takes considerable time, and is not undertaken 
until the last day of the year, when the annual 
census of species and individuals is made. 
A system of monthly records enables the 
Curator to report that up to December 1, 
1907, the yearly record has been an unusual 
one. The death rate for the past eleven 
months is just one-half that for the year of 
1go6. 

While no new installations have been made, 
yet the collection shows a steady increase, 
both in species and individuals. One year 
ago there were 491 species of living birds 
represented in our collections; now there are 
considerably over 520. Against 2,104 speci- 
mens of birds last year, the Park now contains 
over 2,400 individuals—probably the largest 
and most representative collection of living 
birds in the world. Details of the year’s 
progress in the bird department will be printed 
in the forthcoming twelfth Annual Report. 

Cc. W. B. 


THE NATIONAL BISON 
An 


HERD. 


Account of the Transportation of the 
Bison from the Zoological Park to 
the Wichita Range. 


By Ewin R. SANnporn. 


FTER a lapse of many months, the Nat- 
ional Bison Herd has become an ac- 
complished fact, and the energy and 

perseverance of the Director at last realized 
in the establishment in the Wichita Preserve 


*Report of the New York Zoological Society for 1905. 


of fifteen of the Zoological Park’s finest 
bison. 

*In 1905, an agent of the Society visited 
the Wichita National Forest and Game Pre- 
serve to select a suitable location for a range. 
The conditions proved to be all that could be 
desired, and Mr. Loring’s enthusiastic des- 
cription of the wonderful possibility was a 
powerful incentive to the consummation of 
the plan. 

The problem of successfully shipping these 
ponderous animals such a tremendous dis- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


401 


A SHUTE FIFTY FEET IN LENGTH HAD BEEN ERECTED. 


tance, was one of the utmost importance. 
Experience had shown that animals, confined 
in small crates, ride uneasily and with serious 
results, often reaching their destination tired, 
emaciated, and wholly off their feed, with 
bruised flesh and sore bones, which neces- 
sarily must be overcome. An inspection of 
the various crates in which specimens had 
been received at the Zoological Park, indicated 
that most frequently the animals could neither 
recline nor stand with perfect freedom, and 
often were ill-fitted to journey hundreds, per- 
haps thousands of miles, with the never fail- 
ing delays. 

The Director planned a series of crates, 
which would in every case be comfortable for 
each individual, and these were constructed 
after his ideas. Each crate was large enough 
to permit its occupant to lie down comfort- 
ably, and was carefully padded to relieve the 
inevitable jolting. 

The Park herd was trained to the hour, 
and its members were as fine and healthy as 
human ingenuity and good food could make 
them. The animals had been selected months 
before their actual shipping time. 

The work of rounding-up the herd was 
commenced in October, upon the arrival of 


Mr. Frank Rush, the Government agent, who 
was to accompany the bison on their long 
journey, and the work of separating the selec- 
ted stock from the main herd proceeded with 
precision and dispatch under Keeper McEnroe. 
A chute, fifty feet in length, had been erected 
between the two main corrals fronting the 
Buffalo House, communicating with both and 
terminating with a very ingenious sliding 
iron gate. Against this gate the crates were 
placed. The herd of fifteen was driven into 
the north corral, and the animals, one at a 
time, liberated into the chute. As soon as each 
bison was selected, the properly marked 
crate, designated for this particular specimen, 
was fastened into position adjacent to the 
sliding-door. Most of the animals were 
rushed down and into the crate before they 
could realize it. Occasionally one became 
obstreperous and delayed proceedings by 
hurdling and various other tactics, but from 
eleven o'clock until five of Thursday, October 
roth, thirteen were crated and loaded into the 
cars at Fordham. On Friday, the last two 
were disposed of, and by noon of that day the 
last crate was placed in position in the cars. 
The Arms Palace Horse Car Company, of 
Chicago, furnished two forty-four foot cars, 


402 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


vs vg ed a OEE 


ARMS PALACE HORSE car co. 


— Rrcane 


TWO ARMS PALACE 


of the type used for transporting fancy stock. 
These were equipped with collapsable stalls, 
and water-tanks capable of holding water 
sufficient for the trip. The cars were arranged 
with high and low speed air-brakes and steam 
connections. And no one would have dared 
to believe that such inoffensive apparatus 
could make as much trouble as those several 
bits of hose swinging from either end eventu- 
ally did. 

Through the late Charles T. Barney, Esq., 
Mr. Dudley Evans, President, and Mr. H. B. 
Parsons, Vice-President of the Wells-Fargo 
Express Company agreed to transport the cars 
free of charge from St. Louis to Cache, 
Oklahoma, on account of the public interest 
in the shipment. 

Mr. James C. Fargo, President of the 
American Express Company, was then ad- 
vised of their offer, and at once decided that 
he would also do the same, provided the New 
York Central would concur. This President 
Newman promptly conceded on behalf of his 
company. 

These arrangements having been quickly and 
satisfactorily arranged, the cars were stored 
with hay and water for the animals, provisions 
and blankets for the attendants. On Fri- 
day night they were attached to train No. 37, 
of the Central’s fast passenger service, in 
charge of Chief Clerk Mitchell, and the long 
journey began. 

We signed our lives away to the Express 


HORSE CARS WERE FURNISHED. 


Company and secured accident policies at the 
Grand Central Station, for four days’ dura- 
tion, to balance the account. 

It was a bit awe inspiring, a train of thought 
superinduced no doubt by our reckless barter, 
to realize that in the midst of this vast station 
with its multitudes of people, its coughing, 
booming trains, in the center of the greatest 
city of the new world, were fifteen helpless 
animals, whose ancestors had been all but 
exterminated by the very civilization which 
was now handing back to the prairies this 
helpless band, a tiny remnant born and raised 
2,000 miles from their native land. Surely 
the course of Empire westward takes its way. 

But sentiment is forgotten when at the con- 
ductors’ “all-aboard,” we clamber into Arms 
Palace Horse Car 6026, and in the dim light 
of a swinging oil lamp with the accom- 
paniment of rumbling wheels and_ snorting 
bison, realize we are at last actually in 
motion. When we close the side doors and 
throw over the cross bar, we are cut off from 
the outside world entirely. No bell rope, no 
signal of any kind! Enthusiasm is at its lowest 
ebb, 2,000 miles from our journey’s end, and 
anticipations only to buoy our hopes. As the 
train gathers speed, the clanking chains clash 
against the floor of the car, the partitions of 
the collapsable stalls thud dismally together, 
and the upper works in general creak and 
groan in the most cheerless way. It is then 
that we realize how very comfortable must 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 403 


THE BISON CRATES ON THE WAGONS AT CACHE. 


be the ‘“Pullmanites.’”” Smoking would be a 
solace, but is out of the question. A fire once 
started in the midst of all that dry hay, fanned 
by sixty miles of speed, we would be hurled 
furiously through the darkness of the night a 
seething mass of flame, for we were then as 
helpless as the bison themselves. No exit 
for us except by flying, and no ingress for 
others, unless they adopted the same means. 
Very soon we left the yards and dropped into 
a steady roll, plunging through the night 
along the banks of the Hudson, occasional 
glimmers of the water showing through the 
glass covers of the crated doors. Every swing 
of the train was echoed by hoarse remon- 
strances from the bison. 

An ample space at the head of the car had 
been partially filled with bales of hay, and at 
ten o'clock we made up our bunk there, as 
there seemed little else to do. Mr. Rush de- 
cided to try an upper berth, as he facetiously 
termed it, on the tops of two of the crates, 
and by spreading his blankets there upon a 
pile of hay, composed himself at a right angle 
to our direction, with true western resig- 
nation to all sorts and conditions of things. 
With more hay, Mr. Mitchell and I labor- 
iously constructed on the floor a bed of vol- 
uminous proportions and turned in. I can 
boast all my life of having slept within seven- 


eighths of an inch of an American bison. He 
resented it, and betrayed his feelings by steal- 
ing our bed; not all at once, but piecemeal. 
Very dexterously thrusting his flexible tongue 
through the openings of his crate, he would 
carefully get a firm hold on a wisp of hay 
and wait until I slept, then give a good, healthy 
pull. I could feel that rope of hay start at 
my feet, and gradually extend itself with a 
snaky motion to the wisps which curled over 
the blankets at my head. After six or seven 
of these alarms, I made a rapid calculation 
of the number of hours I actually could 
sleep before striking bottom, and by dividing 
the pile of hay by his capacity, figured that 
I could just reach morning by throwing in 
the gunny-sack-full which we dubbed 
“pillow.” 

We awoke in the morning many miles from 
Buffalo in a raw, cold air. We were thor- 
oughly employed, caring for stock, until the 
train rolled into Buffalo, and it was a great 
relief to have the animals contentedly feeding, 
and to find them enduring the journey so well. 

The wisdom of the Director, in making 
roomy crates, was more than abundantly mani- 
fest even so early in the journey, for with but 
one or two exceptions, the animals were lying 
down. The big bull stubbornly resisted this 

Continued on page 406. 


404 


ZOOLOGICAL, SOCIELY “BULLETIN 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 


Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 11 Wall St., 
New York City. 
by the New York Zoological Society. 


Copyright, 908, 


No. 28. JANUARY, 1908 
Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 


Single numbers, 15 cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Officers of the Society. 
President : 
HON. LEVI P. MORTON. 


Executive Committee : 
Pror. Henry FarrFIELD Osporn, Cheirman, 


Joun S. BARNES, Mapison GRANT, 
Percy R. Pyne, WILiiaAM WHITE NILES, 
SAMUEL THORNE, 

Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, Percy R, Pyne, 52 WALL STREET. 

Director, WiLt1aM T. Hornapay, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHarLes H, TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK 


Board of Managers: 


EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. Grorce B. McCLeLian. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. Moses HERRMAN. 


Class of 1908. Class of 1909. Class of 1910. 


Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

William C. Church, Morris K. Jesup, George B. Grinnell, 
Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, Jacob H. Schiff, 

H. Casimir De Rham, John S. Barnes, Edward J. Berwind, 
George Crocker, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss. William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
Charles F. Dieterich, Samuel Thorne, C, Ledyard Blair, 

James J. Hill, Henry A. C. Taylor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
George F. Baker, Hugh J. Chisholm, Nelson Robinson, 

Grant B. Schley, Wm. D. Sloane, 
Payne Whitney, Winthrop Rutherfurd, 


Henry F. Osborn, 
James W. Barney, 


Frederick G. Bourne, 
W. Austin Wadsworth. 


By the death of Mr. Charles T. Barney, 
the Park has lost a valued friend, 
Mr. 


interest and enthusiasm were strong factors 


and the 
Society an energetic member. Barney’s 


in the later development of the Zoological 
Park, and 
Executive Committee of the Zoological So- 


1907, 


in recognition of his work, the 


ciety, at a meeting on November 21, 
passed the following resolution: 
“Charles Tracy Barney, who died at the 
City of New York, November 14, 1907, be- 
came a member of the original Board of 
Managers of the New York Zoological So- 
ciety in 1895. In 1900 he was elected a 
member of the Executive Committee, and 


1904 was elected Chairman of the Executive 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Committee, an office which he filled with great 
enthusiasm and a generous expenditure, both 
of time and of money, until he was suddenly 
taken away from us. 

“He was always most liberal minded, most 
hospitable to new ideas, and kept before him 
at all times a large conception of the park 
as an ideal civic institution for the pleasure 
and education of the entire public. Such a 
conception of the duties of citizenship com- 
mands our lasting gratitude and justly en- 
titles him to a lasting appreciation on the 
part of the citizens of New York. 

“His 


Committee desire to record their deep sense 


fellow members on the Executive 


of personal loss, and their warm appreciation 
of his services to the Zoological Park and to 
the Zoological Society.” 


AN INTERESTING TOAD. 


We have all heard stories of toads and 
frogs that have been exhumed from crevices 
below ground where they have apparently 
been prisoners for an indefinite period of 
years, without air, food or water. The point 
that renders these stories most unusual 
is the mystery as to how the batrachians 
might have been thus imprisoned. The writer 
must confess, that up to a few weeks past, he 
was always sceptical in digesting stories of 
the kind. He has repeatedly received com- 
munications relating to toads being disclosed 
when tree trunks were cut into sections, or 
others relating to frogs being blasted out of 
rocks. On all occasions he has responded to 
such communications by a request for the 
liberated specimens—but without success. 

From Butte, Montana, however, there re- 
cently came indisputable record of a toad ex- 
humed from limestone, at a depth of 150 feet 
from the surface. In this case, the man mak- 
ing the discovery was a thoroughly practical 
mining engineer. He saved the toad, sent it 
to the Reptile House for identification, and we 
are thereby instructed that at least one species 
of North American batrachian gets into 
strange predicaments. It is interesting to note 
that the creature figuring in this case rep- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


resents a species of pronounced subterranean 
habits—the spade foot toad, Scaphiopus 
hammondi, 

It is to Mr. Charles A. Van Zandt, of 
Butte, Montana, that the Society is indebted 
for the opportunity of examining the interest- 
ing specimen. During mining operations, 
Mr. Van Zandt was sinking a shaft into lime- 
stone formation. At a depth of 150 feet, 
during progress through apparently solid rock, 
the toad was exhumed. Mr. Van Zandt per- 
sonally took the specimen to his home and 
placed it in a porcelain crock. Here it re- 
mained for seven months, refusing all food. 
A representative of Mr. Van Zandt coming to 
New York reported the matter to Dr. Louis 
P. Gratacap, Curator of Mineralogy in the 
American Museum of Natural History. Dr. 
Gratacap considered the matter so extraor- 
dinary that he at once referred the matter 
to the Park with the result of communication 
with Mr. Van Zandt. 

The spade-foot toad is yet living in the porce- 
lain jar, in which he has contentedly nestled 
for eight months. He steadily refuses food, 
but appears to be vigorous and in good health. 
He is much paler than the normal specimens— 
his colors having possibly faded from his im- 
prisonment—as to the duration of which we 
have no idea. Animals that normally dwell 
in perfect darkness—like those frequenting 
under-ground rivers—are always practically 
colorless, but their pale hues are the result 
of extended evolution. It would be purely 
theoretical of course, and rather sensational, 
to declare this toad to have been imprisoned 
in the rock so long that its pattern faded. 
However, circumstances point to just those 
conditions—and the refusal of food may be 
caused by a partial or total lack of vision. 
Regarding the habits of the spade-foot toad, 
Miss Mary A. Dickerson writes”: 

“It burrows into the ground and _ sleeps 
days or weeks, perhaps years, at a time. A 
gravedigger once found one three feet two 
inches from the surface of the ground, with 
no evident exit to the burrow. - xe 
cept during the breeding season, the spade- 
foot is found only by accident. It sits in its 
burrow, showing only its peculiar golden eyes 
at the doorway. The turnip-shaped burrow 
is about six inches long and somewhat oblique 
in position. The earth on the interior is hard 
and smooth, packed into this condition by a 
continued energetic turning-about on the part 
of the owner of the burrow.” i I, 1) 


* The Frog Book, Doubleday, Page & Company, New York. 


405 
THE MATAMATA. 


FTER a wait of nearly nine years, the 
rare matamata—the strangest of turtles 
—is at last on exhibition in the Reptile 
House. Three specimens have been deposited 
by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. 
They were collected in a tributary of the Ama- 
zon by Mr. George K. Cherrie, Curator of 
Birds and Mammals in the Brooklyn Institute. 
Owing to the importance of the matamata 
as an exhibit in a collection of living reptiles, 
a special tank, with plate glass sides, has 
been constructed, and the finest specimen thus 
exhibited. As it is difficult to induce this spe- 
cies to eat anything but live fish, the feeding 
of a matamata is a highly interesting process 
and may be observed to the best advantage 
in a commodious glass tank. While lying 
upon the bottom, with its huge, flattened head 
twisted sideways, it is the personification of 
sluggishness. If a minnow passes within 
range of the creature’s vision, however, the 
mass of tentacled head and neck is reared 
slowly, then comes a dart of such rapidity 
the human eye is unable to follow the move- 
ment, The fish appears to voluntarily leap 
down the turtle’s throat—owing to a suction 
created when the capacious jaws spring open. 
In appearance of shell, the matamata is 
not unlike the big Mississippi snapping-turtle. 
The shell is mud-colored, and rises in coarse, 
serrated ridges. Most remarkable about the 
reptile are the head and neck. The head is 
triangular, terminating in a long, tubular 
snout, but the entire organ, including the neck, 
is as flat as if squeezed under strong pressure. 
Added to the grotesque make-up, is a fringe 
of flattened excrescences on each side of the 
head and neck. Incidentally, the head cannot 
be drawn back into the shell, but is tucked 
in sideways in time of danger. The members 
of the family of which the matamata belongs 
are called the side-necked turtles. The tech- 
nical name for the family is the Chelydidae. 
In habits the matamata is much like the 
snapping-turtle. It is strictly aquatic, lying 
on the bottom of muddy rivers, where the 
rough surface of the shell and the excres- 
cences on the neck give it an appearance not 
unlike a chunk of derelict timber. Lying in 
wait on the bottom, the waving fringes on 
the neck probably attract passing fishes that 
are captured by a dart of the head. Rk. L. D. 


406 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


THE CARAVAN LINED UP ON THE PRAIRIE AT THE CORRALS. 


Continued from page 403. 


provision for many hours, but before we 
reached Cleveland, he was glad to make use 
of it and stretched himself out with a grunt 
of satisfaction which was more expressive than 
words. We rolled into Buffalo late in the 
forenoon and gladly leaped out of our airy 
quarters to attend the needs of the animals 
in the rear car. Here we encountered the 
first obstruction to our journey, which after- 
wards occurred so frequently that it became 
a habit. The inspectors blandly reported to 
us that the steam-hose had been pulled off in 
the night and the bolts in one of the brake- 
beams had loosened, almost dropping it to 
the level of the rails. The cars must be run 
into the cripple track and jacked up, and with 
the customary yards of railroad red-tape sur- 
rounding such events, Mr. Mitchell could 
readily understand what a delay this would 
mean. Moreover, to cap the climax, the Lake 
Shore road refused to handle the cars, de- 
claring them not properly equipped for fast 
work. It was right here that the esprit de 
corps of the Zoological Park showed its true 
worth. Mr. Mitchell was a bulwark against 
all opposition, and his perfect familiarity with 
the proper railroad methods rendered him abso- 
lutely impervious to all opposition. Scarcely 
twenty minutes elapsed before the yardmen 
had expanded under the influence of Zoo- 
logical Park spirit, and the cars were being 
whisked away to the repair yards. That was 


half the battle accomplished, but there yet 
remained the fact that we were denied the 
right to ride with the passenger service. Buf- 
falo officials peremptorily refused. After a 
lengthy argument, Cleveland was reached by 
long-distance ‘phone and the Traffic Manager 
reluctantly gave his consent to couple us with 
the second section of 37. Our spirits arose ap- 
preciably and after assuring ourselves that 
the construction work was progressing rapidly 
enough to ensure our making this train, we 
awaited our leaving time with great satisfac- 
tion. 

At 1.30 we were attached to a train of ex- 
press cars, running as the second section of 37, 
en route to Cleveland. We skirted the shores 
of Lake Erie, feeling the first real breath of 
winter sweeping across its surface. The 
season was three weeks earlier than the 
New York region, and autumn had laid her 
finger heavily on all the vegetation. Out of 
Dunkirk we ran into a smart storm of rain; 
a cold, penetrating one, which the rapid motion 
of the train drove into every nook and cranny, 
finally dripping into the remnants which the 
bull had left of our bed, so that we were forced 
to erect a shelter over it with a piece of oil- 
cloth. The broken windows were repaired 
with New York dailies and overcoats donned. 
At every station the trainmen crept into the 
car, drenched, condemning the weather and 
accommodations with one breath. It was so 
delightful to see others miserable that our 
spirits rose in ratio. In spite of these dis- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


EACH BISON WAS SPRAYED WITH CRUDE OIL. 


comforts, this was our smoothest ride. We 
arrived at Cleveland promptly on the hour, 
the first, last and only time it happened. So 
far we had experienced some trials and tribu- 
lations, but the unvarying courtesy of the rail- 
road people amply compensated us. We were 
not surprised to learn at Cleveland that the 
steam hose had once more been left along 
the line. This completely forestalled making 
the proper connections for St. Louis, and it 
was 3.50 Sunday morning before the Big 
Four could handle the cars. 

The steam connections 
had to be repaired again 
at Indianapolis, and this, 
together with delayed 
trains, held us there until 
nearly ten o’clock Sunday 
night. The temperature 
still remained low, and 
when the train crossed 
Ead’s Bridge into St. 
Louis, the structure glit- 
tered with frost. 

At St. Louis we en- 
countered the worst ob- 
stacles of the entire trip, 
with their resulting dis- 
appointments. Train ser- 
vice had grown visibly 
heavier, on entering the 
border lines of the West, 
and our scheduled time 
had long since been com- 
pletely lost to sight and 


A PORTION 


407 


memory, both by mo- 
notonous accidents to our 
equipment and lost time. 
At St. Louis the con- 
ditions were more con- 
gested than ever. The 
‘Frisco Road had already 
informed the Terminal 
Association that it could 


not possibly accept the 
cars together. One car 
might go with No. 7 at 
8.41 Monday evening, 
and the other at the 
same hour the next 
night. Setter service 


than this was impossible. 
Mr. Mitchell then called 
on the Superintendent to 
the Wells-Fargo Com- 
pany, and explained how 
desirable it would be to 
retain something of our 
original arrangement. Together they went to 
the General Manager of the ‘Frisco, but this 
was of no avail. As a last resort, the sugges- 
tion was broached of sending one car over 
the Rock Island to Oklahoma City, there 
connecting with the Santa Fe, but this the 
Santa Fe was unable to do, on account of 
heavy traffic. We, therefore, accepted the 
situation with the best grace possible, and 
divided the force in a manner suitable to 
the occasion. 

The cars were thoroughly taken care of 


OF THE CORRALS, SHOWING THE SHELTER. 


408 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A PORTION OF WINTER VALLEY, SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE CORRALS. 


and the stock watered and fed. We found 
every one of the bison in as good condition 
as we expected. All the animals had become 
thoroughly accustomed to the unusual situa- 
tion, and behaved exactly as if peacefully 
grazing in the Zoological Park. 

Mr. Rush, in charge of car 6026, left St. 
Louis at 8.41 Monday evening and without 
delay or accident arrived safely in Cache 
Wednesday afternoon at 3.00 o'clock. Wag- 
ons were in waiting and the seven animals 
were safely transferred to the corrals at the 
Reserve before midnight of the same day. We 
remained until Tuesday evening at 8.41, at 
which hour we left St. Louis with the other 
car of eight animals. 

No sleeping accommodations could be ar- 
ranged in this car, and we transferred our 
blankets to the express car, where we slept 
on the floor the night through, arriving at 
Monette, Missouri, at 7 o’clock Wednesday 
morning. As nearly all of the western papers 
had described the bison transfer, our arrival 
at the various towns south of St. Louis was 
awaited with considerable interest, and in some 


places it approached enthusiasm. As the side- 
doors would be opened throngs of men, 
women and children rushed up to get a 
glimpse of the famous animals, and if the 
stop was long enough, they climbed in, and 
inspected the bison through the openings 
of the crates. In some places the car was 
packed to suffocation, and the people only 
departed when they were forced out by the 
speed of the train. The signs attracted atten- 
tion everywhere and the curious observers 
noted them all along the line, reading as long 
as the car remained in sight. 

The word “Zoological” was pronounced in 
more ways than I thought ever possible. The 
air became milder hourly, and it was pos- 
sible to open the side doors, and view a coun- 
try at once both interesting and strange. 
Gradually the hills gave way to low swells 
and the wooded portions were confined to 
the streams, whose course could be marked 
for miles by the narrow ribbons of green which 
finally lost themselves in the distant blue of 
the horizon. Fields of corn, some standing, 
others stacked, with an occasional field of 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


409 


A BAND OF COMANCHE INDIANS WHO CAME FROM CACHE TO SEE THE BISON. 


cotton, lay on every side basking in the mellow 
light of the early fall. We reachea Oklahoma 
City at 11.30 Wednesday evening, where we 
remained until noon the next day. 

The station at Oklahoma City was thronged 
with interested people who crowded the cars 
on both sides; and in fact these visits devel- 
oped into ovations, the farther toward the 
promised land we progressed. At Lawton, 
we were surrounded by citizens who pined 
to see the bison, and as our hunger had 
by this time superseded all other considera- 
tions, we left the car in charge of a strong 
man who had kindly volunteered his services, 
so that we might satisfy the cravings of 
healthy appetites. After a ride of seventeen 
miles from Lawton, it was a relief to arrive at 
Cache at last, and know that our railroad 
trip was at an end, just seven days from the 
leaving time at New York. 

Mr. Rush and Mr. Mattoon, the Acting 
Forest Supervisor, met us here upon the ar- 
rival of the train at 7.30 P. M. We commenced 
early in the morning to transfer the crates to 
the wagons provided, and by ten o’clock Fri- 


day all were safely loaded. The entire popu- 
lation of Cache turned out, together with a 
band of Comanche Indians, resplendent in their 
gayest clothes. At eleven o'clock we started 
for the Reserve. One small bull persisted in 
thinking that liberty was the only thing he 
desired at that moment, and played a perfect 
tattoo against the ends of his crate, but aside 
from that, the caravan moved away without 
a hitch. 

Mr. Rush had planned every detail with 
the greatest care, and the success of all the 
arrangements at Cache and the Reserve, was 
due to his tireless interest and forethought. 
We rode three miles over a flat, sandy road, 
bordered with prosperous farms, and through 
prairie land, studded with mesquite, and all 
along the streams with oaks, elms and various 
hard woods, The line of the Reserve is just 
within the borders of the Wichita Mountains. 
Once inside, the road was more uneven, and 
except for short distances became fairly rough, 
making the progress of the wagons rather 
slow. The direction was almost due north 
for a matter of six miles as far as Patterséns. 


410 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


tains away in the west, and abruptly ending 
on the north and south, in the rock-covered 
sides of those nearby. 

Through the center of the Bison Range, 
a clear stream traced its course with a hedge- 
like line of trees, the yellow tops of the tall 
cotton-woods marking its path as it disap- 
peared among the swells. The silence was 
profound. It was a bit of nature as wild and 
free as though just created. 

These mountains were a source of wonder to 
me as long as I remained, and when I knew 
better all their varying moods, Irving’s beauti- 
ful description of the Catskills frequently 
occurred to my mind. “When the weather is 
fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and 
purple, and print their bold outlines on the 
clear evening sky; but sometimes, when the 
rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will 
gather a hood of gray vapors about their sum- 
mit, which in the last rays of the setting sun 
will glow and light up like a crown of glory.” 


A COMANCHE BRAVE. 
He saw Bison in the valley in his younger days. 


and from that point is extended toward the 
northwest. At Pattersons the trail winds 
through a forest of oaks; white, post, black 
jack and Texas red oak, which become scat- 
tered as Winter Valley is approached. Not 
a single evergreen of any kind can be seen 
in the low land, but a variety of cedar, scrubby 
and gnarled, grows on the mountain sides. 
The leaves of the oaks were a rich, glossy 
green, showing not the least sign that it was 
autumn. The country is certainly one of the 
fairest the sun ever shone upon. All one has 
read and all that imagination could conjure 
would be inadequate to picture this vision of 
loveliness, of nature scarcely touched by the 
hand of man, which spread before my aston- 
ished eyes when once we were fairly in the 
valley. 

The tan-colored sward swept away in a 
succession of gentle undulations, gradually 


aes 5 z i A COMANCHE SQUAW AND PAPOOSE. 
merging into the blue silhouette of the moun- One of band which camped at the corrals October 2oth. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


SECTION OF THE FENCE. 


The eastern boundary of the Bison Range 
crosses the end of the valley and five miles 
beyond are the corrals, where the bison 
arrived about twelve o'clock. The wagons 
were driven in and the rear wheels dropped 
into depressions dug in the ground. After 
spraying the animals with crude oil, each was 
liberated. Aside from a very slight lame- 
ness, they were in perfect condition, greedily 
eating their allotment of hay. The cor- 
rals, three in number, each abcut 200 feet 
square, are placed just inside the southern 
boundary of the line fence, separated from 
it by a passage of 15 feet in width. Two long 
sheds with mangers have been erected on 
the northern side. Individual members of 
the herd may be quickly transferred from one 
corral to the next, through the lane on the 
south side, the ends of which can be closed 
with strong wire gates. The fence is 74 inches 
high, made by the Denton Wire Fence Com- 
pany, of Denton, Texas, supported on oak 
posts twelve inches in diameter, set three 
feet in the ground. Above the fence proper, 
for greater security, are three wires extending 
parallel to the line of the top, about five inches 
apart. One of these will be insulated for a 
telephone service, which is being installed. 
The gates are most ingenious, handsomely 
constructed, and can resist the rush of a big 


411 


bull as easy as the fence itself. The grass in 
the corrals has been burned off, and the ani- 
mal can get no other food but the alfalfa upon 
which they are now feeding almost exclu- 
sively. Large galvanized tanks. of the type 
used exclusively in the west, have been placed 
in each enclosure, and a constant supply of 
running water will flow into each as soon as 
the windmill on the banks of Cache Creek has 
been completed. 

The bison will be kept in the corrals 
until spring, when Mr. Rush expects to liber- 
ate them into a range of some 200 acres. 
This pasture will be fenced in the winter 
and the grass burned. A number of cattle 
graze though the valley, and as it is quite well 
known that they carry the tick which causes 
Texas fever, the spraying with oil and burn- 
ing of the grass have been thought expedient 
to prevent the bison from becoming in- 
fected. Mr. Rush is thoroughly familiar with 
all methods of prevention, and has adopted the 
most stringent measures to carry the animals 
through the dangerous season. Once they be- 
come acclimated, the danger line will be passed. 

On October 23rd, with Mr. Rush, I rode 
along the line of the fence, which is being 
constructed, but 
scarcely more than 
half completed. Its 
ponderous — char- 
acter has made the 
task a heavy one, 
especially through 
the gorges, where 
in places but one 
post can be carried 
at a time, and even 
then by hands 
alone. 

We saw 
signs of wolves 
and coyotes, but 
not a single furred 
animal nor game 
bird. Perching and 
rapacious birds 
were in abundance : 
jays, crows, flick- 
ers, meadow-larks, 
cardinals, eagles, 
buzzards, owls, 
hawks, sparrows, 
and several others 


some 


A GATE LOCK. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ONE OF THE GORGES IN THE MOUNTAINS. 


The scrub growth in these gorges will provide splendid shelter in the winter for the Bison and Deer. 


which were strange, flying in all directions. 
There are a number of quail in the range, and 
should increase, as food is abundant. The 
miners and woodsmen have all kinds of bear, 
wolf and panther experiences to relate, and 
if these animals were as abundant as they 
say, the calves would have very little show 
for their lives. The fence is nearly fifteen 
miles around, and encloses 6,200 acres of the 
best of the valley and the mountains on the 
western side. Four rangers will police the 
range at all hours, and the dangers from 
forest fires and breaks in the wires can be 
detected and reported with dispatch, as tele- 
phone boxes will be placed at each of the 
five range gates. Mr. Rush gives his entire 
time to the bison, and Mr. W. R. Mattoon, 
Acting Forest Supervisor, is in charge of 
the construction and working of the station. 


It would be churlish and a neglect un- 
pardonable not to award to Mr. Mitchell 
praise for the admirable manner in which 
the details of the transportation were executed. 
In every instance, his knowledge of railroad 
methods and his tireless energy overcame ob- 
stacles which would have meant hardship and 
perhaps death to some of the bison, and 
their safe arrival at Cache was due absolutely 
to his splendid work. The peopie of Okla- 
homa are enthusiastic over the Reserve, and 
are duly grateful to the New York Zoological 
Society for having thus established, in the 
finest portion of the great southern bison 
range, a herd which will increase to 
grand proportions, and play its part in the 
permanent preservation of the great American 
bison. 


soon 


MAY Z 1908 


L3aqy\ 


Aquarium Number 
Prepared by the Director of the Aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 29 


Published by the New York Zoological Society. 


April, 1908 


AN INQUISITIVE SEA-LION. 


EVERAL years ago, when the writer was 

naturalist of the U. S. Fisheries steam- 

ship ‘‘Albatross,” the vessel lay at an- 
chor one evening in a little harbor im Puget 
Sound. 

Two of the boats, a steam launch and a 
dinghy, which had been in use during the 
day, were moored to the lower booms swung 
out to accommodate them during the night. 

Before dark a young sea-lion, swimming 
near the ship, was attracted by the barking 
of the writer’s setter dog. It at once came 
and climbed into the dinghy, taking the 
greatest interest in the dog only a few feet 
above. Dropping into the water it swam 
about the ship, the excited dog racing fore 
and aft to keep it in view and barking loudly. 


The sea-lion soon came back and climbed 
upon the stern of the steam launch on the 
starboard side. 

After remaining in this position some time 
it returned to the dinghy on the port side. 
The sailors were warned not to disturb it, a 
camera was sent for and the accompanying 
photograph was taken. 

During the evening the sea-lion changed 
its position from one boat to the other several 
times, and finally settled down on the broad 
stern seat of the dinghy, where it spent the 
night. 

Sea-lions are frequently seen in Puget Sound 
and this animal probably belonged to one of the 
numerous sea-lion rookeries scattered along the 
adjacent coast outside of the Straits of Fuca. 


AN INQUISITIVE SEA-LION. 


v From a photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


414 ZOOLOGICAL, 


It was apparently not more than a year 
old and exhibited no fear of the ship’s com- 
pany, remaining in the boat until morning. 
when it was driven out as the boat was hoisted 
to the davits. 


NATURAL FOODS OF FRESH-WATER 
FISHES. 


HE keeping of fishes and other forms of 
life in small aquaria is a wide-spread 
practice. 

Probably a majority of the letters received 
at the Aquarium, from week to week, are 
of inquiry respecting the care of fishes, 
newts, frogs, turtles and the like. Leaflets 
of information on the care of goldfishes and 
other aquatic creatures have been prepared 
and printed for the purpose of facilitating 
correspondence of this sort. 

The food of most of our game fishes con- 
sists chiefly of other fishes, which may at 
times be their own young. Fishes in general 
are feeders on animal life, and their food sup- 
ply includes practically the whole aquatic fauna. 

Fishes may be described as not only pis- 
civorous and insectivorous, but as feeders on 
crustaceans, mollusks and worms. Plants do 
not constitute much of their food, although 
a few kinds feed freely on them, such as buf- 
falo-fishes, carps and minnows. ‘The young 
of many fishes nibble at tender plant shoots. 

Some fishes are mud diggers, while others 
are downright scavengers. Rats. mice and 
kittens have (very appropriately) been found 
in the stomachs of catfishes, and mice have 
been found in black bass, according to Pro- 
fessor Forbes, who investigated the food 
habits of many species in the Mississippi 
Valley. A large pike would doubtless not 
hesitate to swallow a young muskrat, just as 
it dees a young water-bird. 

Newts and salamanders are eaten by fishes 
as well as frogs and tadpoles. The more 
predatory fishes may even kill the smaller 
water snakes, and it is probable that young 
alligators have enemies among some of the 
southern predatory fishes. 

Among the chiefly fish-eating fishes may 
be mentioned pike, pickerel, muscallonge, 
pike-perch, burbot, gar, black bass, channel 
and mud-catfishes. 

Those taking fish food in moderate amount 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


are represented by bream, blue-cheeked sunfish, 
mudfish, white-bass, rock-bass and crappie. 

Fishes which are piscivorous to a trivial 
extent, are white perch, suckers, gizzard-shad, 
spoonbill, the various darters, top minnows 
and silversides, stickleback, mud-minnow, 
stone-cats and common minnows. 

The fishes in general which are devoured 
im the largest numbers, are the smaller and 
more defenseless forms which occur in great- 
est abundance, while the young are naturally 
more readily eaten than the adults. The 
whole minnow tribe contributes to the food 
of the smaller fish eaters. 

In the Mississippi region the gizzard-shad 
constitutes forty per cent. of the food of the 
wall-eyed pike, thirty per cent. that of the 
black bass, half that of the pike and a third 
that of the gars. 

Mollusks, the snails, and mussels of various 
species, large and small—are also important 
as fish food. They form large proportions 
of the food of catfishes, suckers, fresh-water 
sheepshead and mudfish. 

About sixteen per cent. of the food of 
perches, sunfishes, top-minnows and _ shiners 
is mollusecan in character. 

Fishes as a class feed largely on insects, 
and the mmnows and darters chiefly so. 

Insect food includes not only the aquatic 
forms in their various larval and mature 
stages, but also terrestrial insects cast into 
the water in many ways. The larval forms 
of neuropterous insects constitute about one- 
sixth of the food of fishes. 

Crustaceans appear to be of even more im- 
portance as fish food, the minute Entomos- 
traca bemg the principal kinds. The cray- 
fishes are Worms and leeches 
appear to be of comparatively little impor- 
tance in the diet of fishes. 

In the minnow family, vegetable forms— 
chiefly algae, make up about one-fourth of 
the food. The food of adult fishes naturally 
differs greatly from that of the young. The 
question then as to what constitutes the food 
of fishes may be answered: almost any living 
animal forms from the water, not too large 
to be swallowed, due consideration being given 
to the habits of the various species. 

Tn addition to natural foods, both alive and 
dead, fishes in captivity will devour many 
kinds of meats and prepared foods. 


also eaten. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 415 


A MOUNTED PORPOISE. 
C. H. Townsend. 


From a photograph by 


PORPOISES. 
Gata repeated failures, the efforts to 


get living porpoises for the Aquarium 
seem to give promise of success. 

These bantams of the whale tribe have sel- 
dom been seen in captivity, and being little 
larger than adult sea-lions, would he ideal for 
exhibition in a collection of marine animals. 

The manager of an aquarium has no ani- 
mal market either at home or abroad from 
which to draw specimens. He must make 
special arrangements in each case, after in- 
curring considerable expense, for the capture 
and transportation of the manatees, white 
whales or large fishes he desires. 

Liberal but unavailing offers haye been 
made to fishermen along the New Jersey 
coast, in the hope of inducing them to un- 
dertake the capture of porpoises which fre- 
quently enter the smaller bays and inlets. 
An especially favorable point has been located 
in North Carolina, and the Director of the 
Aquarium now proposes to assume the ag- 
gressive, and has ordered the construction of 
special netting for a porpoise hunt, to begin 
early in April. 


The Aquarium procured an injured por- 
poise in August, 1905, which, however, lived 
only four days. Several kinds of porpoises 
are available: the common harbor species, 
(Phocana communis j, five and one-half feet 
Jong, known to fishermen as herring hog, and 
puffing pig, and the common dolphin, (Del- 
phinus delphis ), seven and one-half feet long, 
being the best known on our coast. 

These are, notwithstanding their classifica- 
tion, only diminutive whales in general ap- 
pearance. They have the same wide oceanic 
habitat, and swim and blow in the same man- 
ner. There seems to be no reason why they 
should not live in captivity as well as the 
manatee, 1f given room to move about. “They 
are warm-blooded air breathers, like the mana- 
tee, and come to the surface about as often 
to breathe. Being fish eaters they would be 
even easier to provide for. If our porpoise 
hunt is successful, and specimens can be kept 
in the large central pool at the Aquarium, we 
shall be able to learn something about por- 
poises not to be found in books. 

The accompanying photograph of a 
roughly-mounted porpoise was made by C. 
H. Townsend, at Monterey, California, where 
it was captured. 


416 


THE BONY GAR. 


LONG-LIVED FISHES. 
Ne has been made in previous 


Butetrys of certain large striped bass, 
(Roccus lineatus), which have lived in 

the Aquarium since May 14th, 1894. These 
fishes were placed in the large floor pool, 
which they still occupy, two and one-half 
years before the Aquarium was opened to the 
public. They are therefore nearly fourteen 
years old at this time, and have grown during 
that period, from an average length of six 
inches to about thirty inches, and now aver- 
age about twenty pounds in weight. They 
have never been moved from the pool, and 
have lived continuously in brackish water 
just as pumped from the 
harbor. Eighteen of the 
original fifty-four remain. 
Being important game 
and food-fishes, they have 
received more attention 
from the public than cer- 
tain other old-timers at the 
Aquarium which have lived 
here nearly as long. There 
are still in the building 
some specimens of bony 
gar, (Lepisosteus osseus ), 
and mudfish, (Ama calva ), 
which 


were received in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


1896, prior to the opening 
of the Aquarium in Decem- 
ber of that year. The bony 
gars and mudfish have 
grown very slowly. The 
largest gar is about thirty 
inches in length. The 
Aquarium has five speci- 
mens of the short-nosed 
gar, (Lepisosteus platosto- 
mus), which were received 
from the Aquarium of the 
St. Louis Exposition in 
1904. 

Photographs from life 
of these species by Mr. L. 
B. Spencer, accompany 
this report. 


THE STURGEONS. 


HE largest fishes which can be accommo- 

dated comfortably in the Aquarium are 

the sturgeons, an eight-foot specimen 
having occupied one of the floor pools over 
three years. Sharks of equal size have so 
far, failed to survive injuries received in 
capture. 

Sturgeons are hardy species, readily adapt- 
ing themselves to captivity, those at present 
in the Aquarium having lived there for over 
two years. 

The sturgeons now in the central pool aver- 
age about seven feet in length and were pro- 
cured from pound or trap nets in the vicinity 
of Sandy Hook. These specimens are all 


THE MUDFISH. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE SHORT-NOSED GAR. 


males and were delivered at the Aquarium by 
the fishermen for about $25 apiece. Females 
of the same size would cost two or three times 
as much on account of the valuable roe they 
contain, which is salted and sold as “caviar” 
—a large specimen would contain from three 
to five good-sized pails of eggs. Sturgeon 
flesh is usually sold as “smoked sturgeon.” 
Our sturgeon fisheries on the Atlantic and 
Pacific coasts and in the Great Lakes have 
been declining for many years through oyer- 
fishing, and fish-cultural science has as yet 
afforded little help in their restoration on ac- 
count of difficulties met with in the process 
of artificial impregnation of the eggs. 
Fifteen or twenty years ago the yield of 
the American sturgeon fishery exceeded ten 
million pounds, while at 
the present time the quan- 
tity is little more than a 
million pounds. These fig- 
ures do not include the 
“caviar” annually made 
from sturgeon eggs, which 
in some sections of the 
country equals the flesh of 
the sturgeon in value. 


The two species frequent- 
ing Atlantic rivers are the 
large sturgeon, (Acipenser 
sturio ),and theshort-nosed 
sturgeon, (A. breviros- 
tris), a small species sel- 


BULLETIN. 417 


dom used for food. The 
large sturgeon of the Great 
Lakes region and the upper 
Mississippi River, (A. rubi- 
cundus), is a species of 
great commercial impor- 
tance, attaining a length of 
six feet. It inhabits also 
the interior lakes of Can- 
ada. Ali of these species 
are kept on exhibition at 
the Aquarium. 

There are two species 
which enter the Pacific 
Coast rivers; the white 
sturgeon, (A. transmon- 
tanus ),and the green stur- 
geon, (A.medirostris ). The 
white sturgeon attains a 
length of thirteen feet and a weight of 1000 
pounds. It is common in the Frazer and 
Columbia Rivers, ascending the latter as far 
as the Snake River in Idaho. 

The only other American species is the 
shoyel-nosed sturgeon,  (Scaphirhynchus 
platorhynchus), mhabiting the Mississippi 
River. It seldom exceeds four feet in length. 

All the Atlantic and Pacific species are 
migratory, entering rivers and estuaries in 
the spring and summer to spawn. The two 
inland species never leave their fresh-water 
habitat. The large Atlantic sturgeon at- 
tains a length of ten feet and a weight of 500 
pounds. It occurs from Maine to Florida, 
the center of abundance being the Delaware 
River, where the principal fisheries are locat- 


: 


THE LAKE STURGEON. 


418 


ZOOLOGICAL 


FLASHLIGHT PHOTOGRAPH OF ROCK-BASS. 


ed. It ascends the Delaware to the boundary 
of New York State. In Europe the same 
species sometimes attains a length of eighteen 
feet. 

These large and important fishes are en- 
tirely inoffensive. Their mouths, devoid of 
teeth and situated on the under surface of 
the head and well back of the 
sucker-like in form, and can be protruded 
They are 


snout, are 
downwards like those of suckers. 
bottom feeders, eating small mollusks, worms, 
crustaceans, limited quantities of small fishes, 
and more or less small 

plant life. ‘The snout 
used more or less for stir- 
ring up the bottom and 
there is usually consider- 
able mud to be found in the 
stomach. These fishes might 
live in captivity for longer 
periods if it were practica- 
ble to keep them in mud- 
bottomed pools. 


is 


The sturgeons, like the 
gars and dogfish, referred 
to elsewhere in this BuLie- 
TrIx, are fishes of ancient 
lineage, the species having 
been more numerous in for- 
mer times, when many 
fishes, at least those known 
to us as fossil forms, were 
heavily armoured with bony 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


scales. All existing sturgeons 
are at once distinguishable 
by their five rows of heavy, 
bony scales. The sturgeon is 
quite an active species, often 
leaping clear out of the water. 
It was once the basis of a very 
important fishery in the Hud- 
son River. 


A TAME LOON. 


A loon or great northern 
diver, was received at the 
Aquariumin September, 1907, 
where it was kept in one of the 
large salt-water pools which 
contained at the same time a 
collection of dogfish, (Sqwa- 
lus), skates and sculpins, for 
about a month. Although the loon was sup- 
plied with an abundance of live killifishes, 
its activity led it to strike frequently at the 
large fishes, and it succeeded in swallowing 
one sculpin with a head larger than its own. 

Even with a dry platform on which to rest, 
it never left the water of its own accord. In 
exploring the bottom of the pool, or in pursuit 
of killifishes,it swam under water with the wings 
closely folded—never in use, and it spent much 
time swimming on the surface with the eyes 
submerged watching the large fishes below. 


THE AQUARIUM BUILDING IN 1850. 
From an old print. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 419 


THE AQUARIUM BUILDING IN 1830 


From an old print. 


THE ROCK-BASS. 


HE rock-bass, (Ambloplites rupestris ), 

shown in the accompanying flashlight 

photograph, is one of the most desirable 
species for large, home fish-ponds or small 
lakes. It must be very hardy, as specimens 
kept in the Aquarium are seldom affected by 
fish-fungus, and live well in captivity. It 
reaches a good size, sometimes weighing as 
much as two pounds, and readily takes all the 
common minnow, worm and insect baits as well 
as the artificial fly and trolling spoon. In 
ponds it makes a gravel nest like the black 
bass and guards it in the same way, but has 
not the highly predatory habits of the black 
bass respecting other fishes, and is also more 
prolific. Comparatively thick in body, the 
bass contains more meat than most fishes of 
its size. It is not difficult to obtain for 
stocking purposes, being distributed over 
most of the eastern and middle States. It is, 
on account of its red iris and strong mark- 
ings, one of the most attractive of the fresh 
water fishes on exhibition in the Aquarium. 


PRINTS OR THE 
BUILDING. 


OLD AQUARIUM 


HE Zoological Society Bulletin for April, 

1907, and the annual report for 1906 con- 

tained reproductions of some old prints of 
the Aquarium building which proved of in- 
terest to many persons. 

The Aquarium library has recently secured 
two more rare prints which are reproduced 
in this issue of the Butierin. One of these, 
engraved for the New York Mirror in 1830, 
shows the Aquarium building (Castle Gar- 
den), on the right, and Castle William on the 
left, across the channel, with some interesting 
costumes of the day in the foreground. ‘The 
other, quite different from any of those here- 
tofore published in the BuLLerrN, presents a 
view of the building in 1850, from the Bay. 
The older landmarks of the City have so 
nearly disappeared, that old-time prints of 
those which remain, possess historical interest. 


420 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall St., New York City. 
Copyright, 1908, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 29. APRIL, 1908. 


Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 
Single numbers, 15 cents. 


MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Officers of the Society. 


President : 
Hon. Levi P. Morton. 


Executive Committee - 


Pror. HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Chairman, 
JouHN S. BARNES, Mapison GRANT, 
Percy R. PYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILES, 


SAMUEL THORNE, 
Levi P. Morton, ex-officio. 


General Officers - 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 52 WALL STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HOoRNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 


EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. GEorGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. HENRY SMITH. 


Glass of 1909. 
Levi P. Morton, 


Glass of 1910. Glass of 1911. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Andrew Carnegie, 
John L. Cadwalader, 
John S. Barnes, 
Madison Grant, 
William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Wm. D. Sloane, 


Winthrop Rutherfurd, 


Frank K. Sturgis, 


F. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, 


Percy R. Pyne, 
George B. Grinnell, 
Jacob H, Schiff, 
Edward J. Berwind, 
George C. Clark, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, 
C. Ledyard Blair, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Frederick G. Bourne, 


W. Austin Wadsworth. 


James W. Barney, 
William C. Church, 
Lispenard Stewart, 
H. Casimir De Rham, 
George Crocker, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Charles F. Dieterich, 
James J. Hill, 
George F. Baker. 
Grant B. Schley, 


Pay ne eNbas 


THE LARGEST MARINE ANIMALS. 


The sulphur-bottom whale, which is defi- 
nitely known to attain a length of eighty feet, 
is the largest animal that lives or ever has 
lived in is sea or on land, and there are 
other species of whales which frequently ex- 
ceed sixty feet in length. It is not generally 
known that certain species of sharks attain 
lengths nearly equal to those reached hy 
moderate-sized whales. 

The largest of all fishes is the great whale- 
shark, (Rhinodon typicus), which is widely 
distributed in tropical seas, and has been 
found on the shores of Florida and the Gulf 
of California. It reaches a length of sixty 
feet. 

The next largest fish is the basking shark, 
(Cetorhinus maximus), of colder waters, 
which is credited with attaining a length of 
more than forty feet. Both of these sharks 


BULLETIN. 


are entirely inoffensive, living chiefly at the 
surface of the water, where they feed exclu- 
sively on small marine life. 

The great blue shark, (Carcharodon car- 
charias), is however, a fish of entirely dif- 
ferent habits, being an active species with a 
man-eating reputation. Specimens of enor- 
mous size have been taken, and it is believed 
by naturalists to grow as long as forty feet. 

The oar fish, (Regalecus glesne), a fish of 
eel-like form but entirely inoffensive, is be- 
lieved to attain a length of thirty feet. Quite 
recently a twenty-two-foot specimen, weigh- 
ing between 500 and 600 pounds, was taken 
at Newport, California. 

Among the rays we find fishes of enormous 
size, the largest of which is probably Manta 
birostris, which has a spread across the dise 
of as much as twenty feet, and a specimen 
weighing 1250 pounds has been taken. When 
Admiral Dewey was captain of the U. S. 8S. 
Narragansett, a specimen was captured by 
that vessel in the Gulf of California, which 
measured seventeen feet wide. 

A fish probably exceeding in bulk even the 
largest of the rays, is the ocean sunfish, 
(Mola mola), which is credited with a weight 
of 1800 pounds. A specimen of this fish was 
taken not long ago at Redondo Beach, Cali- 
fornia, which weighed 1200 pounds. Other 
fishes of great size are, the sawfish, (Pristis), 
exceeding twenty feet, the tuna, (T’hannus), 
reaching fifteen feet and 1500 pounds, and 
the sleeper shark, (Somniosus), reaching 
twenty-five feet. 

The great crocodile of the East Indies and 
Australia, (Crocodilus porosus), frequently 
found salt water, has been measured at 
thirty-three feet and is undoubtedly the larg- 
est of all crocodilians. 

The leather-back turtle, (Sphargis corta- 
cea), is largest among the sea turtles. Pro- 
fessor Agassiz saw specimens “weighing over 
auton 

One of the very long sea animals is the 
giant squid, (« Architeuthis ), three specimens 
ae which have been taken on the coast of New- 
foundland measuring fifty-five, fifty-two and 
forty-two feet, respectiv ely; the last of these 
was exhibited for a time in the old New York 
Aquarium on Broadway. 

The octopus, which lacks the extremely 
long tentacles of the squid, has been meas- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


ured with a spread across the outstretched 
arms of twenty feet. 

Largest among the seals, exceeding the 
walrus in length and perhaps also in weight, 
is the elephant seal of the Antarctic, speci- 
mens of which have been taken over twenty 
feet long. 


SEA BIRDS AS HOMING “PIGEONS.” 


The past summer Prof. John B. Watson 
made observations on the homing instincts of 
gulls, terns and noddies during their nesting 
periods. 

According to the report of Director A. G. 
Mayer, of the marine laboratory at the Dry 
Tortugas, Florida, where Prof. Watson stud- 
ied the birds, ‘the demonstrated that if the 
sooty terns and noddies were taken to Cape 
Hatteras and liberated, they would return to 
their nests on Bird Key, Tortugas, a distance 
of 850 statute miles.” 

In the course of a winter’s voyage on the U. 
S.S. “Albatross” in the South Seas, the writer 
found among the natives of the Low Archi- 
pelago many tame frigate-birds. he latter 
were observed on horizontal perches near the 
houses, and were supposed to be merely the 
pets of the children who fed them. 

They were entirely tame, having been 
reared in captivity from the nest. As our 
acquaintance with the people developed, we 
discovered that the birds were used by them 
after the manner of homing ‘“‘pigeons” to 
carry messages among’ the islands. 

The numerous islands of the Low Archi- 
pelago extend for more than a_ thousand 
miles in a northwest and southeast direction, 
and it appears that the birds return promptly 
when liberated from quite distant islands. 
They are distributed by being put aboard 
small vessels trading among the islands. 
The birds are liberated whenever there is news 
to be carried, returning to their perches 
sometimes in an hour or less, from islands 
just below the horizon and out of sight of 
the home base. Generally they are in no 
great hurry. As the food of the frigate 
bird may be picked up almost anywhere at 
sea, there is no means of ascertaining how 
much time the bird loses in feeding or trying 
to feed en route. It may also linger to en- 
joy its liberty with other frigate-birds. 


BULLETIN. 421 


I did not observe tame frigate-birds else- 
where in Polynesia, but Mr. Louis Becke, who 
is familiar with most of the South Sea Islands, 
says they were used as letter carriers on the 
Samoan Islands when he was there in 1882, 
carrying messages between islands sixty to 
eighty miles apart. When he lived on Nano- 
maga, one of these islands, he exchanged two 
tame frigate-birds with a trader living on 
Nuitao, sixty miles distant, for a tame pair 
reared on that island. 

The four birds at liberty, frequently 
passed from one island to the other on their 
own account, all going together on visits to 
each other’s homes, where they were fed by 
the natives on their old perches. Mr. Becke’s 
pair usually returned to him within twenty- 
four to thirty-six hours. He tested the 
speed of the “frigate” by sending one of his 
birds by vessel to Nuitao where it was liber- 
ated with a message at half-past four in the 
afternoon. Before six o’clock of the same 
day the bird was back on its own perch at 
Nanomaga, accompanied by two of the 
Nuitao birds, which not being at their perch 
on that island when it was liberated, it had 
evidently picked up en route. Sixty miles in 
an hour and a half is probably easy enough 
for the frigate-bird, as in Malayo-Polynesia 
it is said to have frequently returned a dis- 
tance of sixty miles in one hour. 

It becomes entirely tame and familiar when 
raised from the nest, and if given liberty re- 
turns regularly to its home-perch at night. 

The largest rookery of frigate-birds I 
have seen, is at Tekokoto in the Low Archi- 
pelago. 

Frigate-birds inhabit tropical and sub- 
tropical seas. The spread of wing is phe- 
nomenal for the size of the bird, being about 
eight feet, giving a wing power perhaps un- 
equalled; although Walt Whitman has some- 
what exaggerated its power of flight in the 
lines: 

“Thou who has slept all night upon the storm, 

Waking renewed on thy prodigious pinions, 

Thou born to match the storm (thou art all 
wings), 

At dusk thou look’st on Senegal, at morn 
America.” 

Judging from my South Sea experience, 
the “frigate” goes to roost at night like 
many other sea fowls. 


422 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


A PORTION OF THE FISH HATCHERY, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


Showing the hatching jars and receiving tank into which the young fishes flow after hatching. 
A cloud of young fishes may be seen in the large tank. 


THE FISH HATCHERY. 


T is five years since the fish hatching ex- 
hibit was placed in operation at the 
Aquarium. 

During this period it has afforded a prac- 
tical illustration of the methods of modern 
fish-culture, and has shown the eggs and 
young of many kinds of food fishes in dif- 
ferent stages of development, from the ap- 
pearance of the dark eye-spots in the trans- 
parent egg, through the process of breaking 
of the shell and the absorption of the yolk 
sac, to the active swarming of the fry in the 
rearing troughs and glass tanks. The hatch- 
ing of California salmon has proved especia!- 
ly interesting on account of the large size and 
briluant coloration of the eggs, and the ac- 
tivity of the newly-hatched young with their 
conspicuous yolk sacs. 

It has been operated without expense to 
the Aquarium, fish eggs being supplied from 
Government hatcheries, and the young fry re- 
moved to public waters by the State Fish 
Commission. The yearly output has aver- 


aged between two and three millions of fry 
and fingerlings. 

During the past winter the Aquarium 
hatchery has been unusually interesting to 
visitors, the hatching jars and troughs hay- 
ing been filled to overflowing with eggs and 
young of brook-trout, rainbow-trout, Pacific 
salmon and Lake Erie whitefish. 

A large information chart has been pre- 
pared and placed near the hatchery, showing 
the spawning seasons of fishes and the periods 
of incubation of the eggs of different species. 

The accompanying photograph shows some 
of the automatic hatching jars, and their 
connections with one of the receiving tanks. 
The flow of water in the jars is so arranged 
that the young fishes rise to the surface after 
hatching and are automatically siphoned off 
into the adjacent receiving tanks. It is fas- 
cinating to most persons to observe the steady 
rising of young fishes when the eggs begin 
to hatch rapidly, and see them discharged 
through the glass and rubber tubes into the 
ever increasing swarms in the glass tanks. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


They come so rapidly that the attendants 
have to remove them daily by the bucketful, 
to large reserve tanks, to prevent overcrowd- 
ing. Shipments to State lakes have to be 
made frequently. 

The picture shows a thick swarm of young 
whitefish in the middle of the tank, and a mass 
of yellow perch eggs floating at the top of 
the hatching jar at the left. ‘The time re- 
quired for the incubation of the eggs of most 
of our American trouts varies from forty 
days in the California rainbow-trout, to 125 
days in the eastern brook-trout, at tempera- 
tures of 40° to 50°. Spawning may take 
place from September to May, according to 
the climate of the locality. 

A notable exception is the spawning season 
of the black-spotted trout of the Rocky 
Mountain region, which occurs from May to 
July. This is the only fresh-water species 
whose eggs are available for keeping the 
hatchery in operation during the summer 
months. 

The time required for hatching eggs of the 
Eastern salmons is from 157 to 169 days at 
387° Fahr. Eggs of the quinnat salmon of 
the Pacific Coast hatch in about thirty-five 
days at 54°. 

In most trouts and salmons the yolk sac is 
absorbed in thirty to forty days; in the black- 
spotted trouts the process is faster, being 
completed in about twenty days. 

Whitefish eggs hatch in about 150 days at 
34°: wall-eyed pike eggs in seventeen to 
twenty days at 43°; yellow perch eggs in 
seven to twenty-eight days and shad eges in 
three to ten days at 55° to 65°. Whitefish 
spawn in November and December, wall-eyed 
pike in April, and yellow perch in March and 
April. Shad spawn from February to July, 
according to the latitude of the river they 
enter, which means February in Florida, and 
July in the New England States. 

There were recently in the Aquarium quin- 
nat salmon hatched from eggs shipped from 
California to New York by express. The 
egos were stripped from the parent fish at a 
Government hatchery in California, and 
hatched for fifteen days or until the eye spots 
appeared in the eggs. They were then 
shipped in refrigerator boxes, which complete- 
ly arrested the development until they reached 
the Aquarium, where about twenty-five days 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 423 


more in the hatchery troughs completed the 
incubation. Some of the large rainbow trout, 
now in the Aquarium tanks, were hatched in 
the building five years ago. 

Enormous numbers of fishes can be safely 
and cheaply transferred from one part of the 
country to another, without water, as eggs, 
while the shipping of live fishes in tanks of 
water is both uncertain and expensive. 

America leads the world in this modern 
science, and the Government plants thousands 
of millions of young fish in our waters every 
year. This important work is supplemented 
by the various State fish commissions through- 
out the country, which in the aggregate pro- 
duce nearly as many more. 


WEAPONS OF FISHES. 
Sword of swordfish, tusk of narwhal and saw of saivfish. 


THE WEAPONS OF FISHES. 


HE accompanying photograph shows the 
sword of the swordfish, the saw of the 
sawfish and the tusk of the narwhal, 
three remarkable weapons of marine animals, 


424 


in the office of the Aquarium. The last, how- 
ever, 1s merely the elongated canine tooth of 
a small whale, (Monodon monoceros ), inhab- 
iting Polar seas, and cannot be classed as a 
fish’s weapon like the other two shown in the 
picture. In fact, it is not definitely known 
that the narwhal’s tusk is a weapon at all. 
The tusk (sometimes there are two) is de- 
veloped only in the male and has been known 
to grow to a length of nine feet four inches. 

The sword, however, is a weapon, and one 
to be reckoned with, when attached to the 
head of an angry swordfish, (Xiphias glad- 
wus). The fish does not hesitate to charge 
the hull of a vessel. In the Academy of Sci- 
ences in Philadelphia there is a piece of four- 
inch planking through which a_ swordfish- 
sword has been driven with terrific force, the 
weapon remaining in the wood where it had 
broken off. 

The swordfish attains a weight of 600 
pounds, and the sword a length of nearly six 
feet. ‘The real use of the sword to the fish 
is not in inflicting injuries on its enemies, but 
in obtaining its food. It is the habit of the 
monster fish to charge schools of mackerel 
and other fishes and disable many of them by 
violent thrashing of the sword from side to 
side. 

The saw of the sawfish, (Pristis pectina- 
tus), is used in precisely the same manner, 
fishes in schools being impaled or disabled by 
the sharp spines on each side of the saw. 
The saw sometimes exceeds six feet in length, 
and the whole fish has been found nearly 
twenty feet in length. Other fishes bearing 
swords, but of smaller size, are the spear-fish, 
(Tetrapterus imperator), and sailfish, (Is- 
tiophorus nigricans). In all these fishes the 
weapon is a flattened beak-like prolongation 
of the bones of the skull. 

A number of fishes possess weapons which 
make them dangerous to handle. The lan- 
cets on each side of the tail of the surgeon- 
fish (Teuthis), usually to be seen in the 
Aquarium, inflict serious cuts. They lie in 
shallow grooves and are erected instantly 
when the fish is angry or alarmed. 

The sting of the stingray, (Dasyatis), is 
a serrated bony weapon situated on the tail, 
and very effective when thrust forward. It 
strikes with force and inflicts an ugly wound. 

Very many fishes possess dangerous spines 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


which are defensive rather than offensive. 
Among these may be mentioned the spines of 
catfishes, sculpins, rockfishes and sticklebacks. 
The remarkable ‘“‘paddle” of the paddle- 
fish, (Polyodon spathula), of the Mississippi, 
although nearly one-third the length of the 
fish, is im no sense a weapon, being chiefly an 
organ of touch with which it stirs the mud in 
search of its food. The greatest recorded 
weight of the “paddlefish” is 163 pounds. 


ELECTRICAL FISHES. 


HE celebrated electric eel, (Hlectro- 

phorus electricus), of South America— 

the most powerful of electric fishes, is 
not the only species capable of producing an 
electric shock. Although not so large, the 
electrical rays or torpedoes of our own At- 
lantic and Pacific coasts are able to discharge 
quite forceable electrical shocks. 

The electric ray resembles in size and gen- 
eral appearance the familiar sting-ray, but 
has a more rounded snout. It is found along 
the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts south- 
ward. Specimens taken at Woods Hole, 
Mass., have been offered to the Aquarium, but 
unfortunately have not lived long enough to 
be transferred. The Mediterranean species 
is sometimes exhibited at the Naples Aquar- 
ium. The writer has experimented with the 
electric ray in the Naples Aquarium suffi- 
ciently to appreciate the force of the shock 
it can give. The European species is said to 
attain a weight of 200 pounds. Electric 
rays or torpedoes, (T'etronarce), are found 
in nearly all warm seas. 

The electric eel of the Amazon and Ori- 
noco waters attains a length of over six feet. 
Its electrical organs are two masses of tissue 
extending along the tail, which, in this fish 
comprises the greater part of the animal. 
When its battery is put into action, it is said 
to be severe enough to knock down domestic 
animals in shallow water. 

Since this fish is known to endure trans- 
portation, an effort will be made to procure 
specimens for the Aquarium. Specimens 
sent to London in 1842, lived several years in 
captivity, and attained weights of forty and 
fifty pounds. 

The electric catfish, (Torpedo electricus ), 
of the Nile and tropical Africa, is a fish at- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A GIANT LOBSTER. 
Taken at Cranberry Isles, coast of Maine. 


taining a length of about three feet. It is 
said that when kept in aquaria it is able to 
kill other fishes by its electric discharges. 

Other fishes with more or less important 
electrical organs are, the Mormyries, very 
peculiar fishes of the fresh waters of North- 
ern Africa, with extremely long, downward- 
curved jaws. 

It is said that one may receive a shock from 
the electric organs of the ray, through a 
stream of water poured down upon it. The 
battery of electrical fishes may become com- 
pletely exhausted by frequent discharges, but 
is renewed again after a period of rest. It is 
doubtless useful to them, both in the capture 
of their prey or in enabling them to escape 
from their enemies. 


A LARGE LOBSTER. 
N January 23rd, 1908, the Aquarium 


received a live male lobster, measuring 
thirty-four inches in extreme length, 

and weighing fourteen and one-half pounds. 
It was at once placed in a tank of cold sea- 
water, but it unfortunately died the next day, 
its death being attributed to the fact that it 
had been shipped with considerable ice packed 
in the sea-weed about it. It was taken at 
Cranberry Isles, Hancock County, Maine, and 

after death was mounted for the Aquarium. 
It is many years since a lobster of large 
size has been seen at the Aquarium. Large 
lobsters are now very rare, although twenty- 


425 


pound specimens were not 
uncommon twenty-five 
years ago. 

Professor Herrick in his 
exhaustive work on the 
American Lobster, pub- 
lished in 1895 by the U. S. 
Bureau of Fisheries, con- 
sidered very carefully the 
records pertaining to lob- 
sters of large size, and ex- 
amined many of the larg- 
est known specimens in 
museums and private col- 
lections. 

Although lobsters are 
said to reach weights ex- 
ceeding thirty pounds, 
Professor Herrick states that he “never ob- 
tained any reliable evidence that lobsters 
weighing over twenty-five pounds have ever 
been caught.” Notwithstanding the records 
respecting the great weight of the European 
lobsters, Professor Herrick’s investigations 
led him to the conclusion that it never equalled 
the American lobster in size. 

His measurements of most of the large 
specimens preserved in this country led him 
to reject the records respeeting the weight of 
many of them. What he considers ‘*prob- 
ably one of the largest lobsters ever taken on 
the Atlantic coast,” came into his possession 
in August, 1893. It was captured in Penob- 
scot Bay. Its living weight was found to 
be a little over twenty-three pounds.” The 
length of this lobster was only twenty inches. 
(Measurement taken from the end of the 
spine or rostrum to the end of the tail.) The 
length of the New York Aquarium specimen, 
measured from rostrum to tail, was sixteen 
inches. 

This was a male lobster, and all the records 
examined by Professor Herrick apply to lob- 
sters of the male sex. He never heard of a 
female lobster which exceeded eighteen and 
one-half pounds. 

In 1897 the Aquarium received a lobster, 
taken off Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, 
which had a length of twenty-three and three- 
quarter inches from rostrum to tail, an ex- 
treme length of thirty-nine and three-quarter 
inches, and weight of thirty-four pounds. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THE CLIMBING PERCH. 


This lobster is now in the American Museum 
of Natural History. 

The largest specimen recorded by Prof. 
Herrick from the southern part of the lob- 
ster’s habitat, was a male said to weigh 
twenty to twenty-two pounds, captured on 
the Delaware coast. 

In view of the commercial warfare now be- 
ing waged against the lobster, it is unlikely 
that any specimens of such sizes will be taken 
in the future. 


FISHES THAT FLY AND CLIMB. 


HE Aquarium has usually one or more 

specimens of the climbing perch, (Ana- 

bas scandens), of the East Indies, which 
has the habit of leaving the water and moy- 
ing freely on land, even climbing the trunks 
of trees to the height of five to seven 
feet. Its habits are well known in the East, 
and as it is quite hardy in captivity, it is 
shipped to many parts of the world as an 
aquarium fish. It can usually be obtained 
from dealers in aquarium supplies at small 
cost. When placed on the floor, as has been 
done at the Aquarium, it progresses readily, 
keeping an upright position without turning 
over on its side as other fishes do. The lower 
part of the gill-cover is rough-edged and can 
be turned forward. By turning slightly to 
one side or the other, the spines on the gill 


SOCIETY 


| r 


BULLETIN. 


covers can be made to 
touch the floor and pull 
the body along. ‘The tips 
of the pectorals are pressed 
downwards to assist in 
keeping the body upright. 
When kept in aquaria, the 
fish will sometimes crawl 
out of the water if sup- 
plied with the proper means 
for doing so. 

It possesses a moisture 
secreting cavity under the 
upper part of the gill- 
cover in which air is re- 
tained for breathing. The 
accompanying photo- 
graph by Mr. Spencer is 
that of a climbing perch 
nearly five inches long. 


This is not the only species of fish which 
voluntarily takes to the land. There are sey- 
eral species of mud-skippers which seek their 
food on land and readily scramble over rocks 
or climb onto the roots of trees. 

They are very numerous on the shores of 
some parts of Asia and Polynesia, and belong 
for the most part to the genera Periophthal- 
mus and Boleophthalmus. A very active fish 
of this character in the lizard-skipper, ( Alti- 
cus saliens), of the Samoan Islands, which 
darts over the rocks with ease and rapidity. 

The well-known flying-fishes have pectoral 
fins large enough to sustain them on flights 
greater than an eighth of a mile. I have, 
in fact, observed the large flying-fishes of 
the South Seas to go as far as a quarter of 
a mile. When rising constantly in jarge 
numbers under the bows, we could by going 
aloft, determine the distance of the flight to 
be at times more than six ship lengths: the 
Albatross being 250 feet long. By putting 
insulated electric lights imto the water at 
night, when anchored off the islands, we 
caught flying-fishes for food with long-hand- 
led dip-nets, many of the fishes being from 
twelve to sixteen inches in length. 

Mr. Edwin C. Kent has just killed in 
Florida a giant ray (Manta birostris) meas- 
uring fourteen feet in extreme width. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THE DIAMOND-BACKED TERRAPIN. 
Albino specimen from Texas. 


MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 


Manatee. Attention is again called to the 
fact that the manatee presented on September 
5th, 1906, by Mr. A. W. Dimock, of Marco, 
Florida, is still living comfortably in its pool 
at the Aquarium. It has therefore, as this 
Bvuietin goes to press, lived nearly nineteen 
months in captivity and has broken the cap- 
tivity record for a manatee by one month. 
It has never missed a meal since its arrival 
and has subsisted contentedly on lettuce leaf 
trimmings in winter when salt water eel grass 
was unobtainable. 

Improvements. Among 
the improvements effected 
at the Aquarium during the 
year 1907, were additional 
gas and electric lighting for 
the tanks and pools, a feed- 
water heater to secure econ- 
omy in coal consumption, 
and a bronze heater for sea 
water. 

Harbor Seal. At the close 
of the Exposition at James- 
town, Virginia, the U. S. 
Fisheries Bureau presented 
to the Aquarium a harbor 
seal which had been on exhi- 
bition at the Exposition 
during the summer. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 427 


Sca-Lions. 'The two sea- 
lions added to the Aquar- 
ium collection last fall 
proved to be uncommonly 
desirable specimens. They 
have done little of the noisy 
barkmg that most sea-lions 
indulge in, and their active 
froliiecs in the water are 
usually continued all day 
long, to the great interest 
of visitors. 

Attendance. 'Thenumber 
of visitors at the Aquar- 
ium in 1907 amounted to 
over two millions—an ay- 
erage of 5,800 a day. The 
January and February at- 
tendance of the present 
year has been nearly one- 
third larger than ever be- 
fore. 

Albino Terrapin. Messrs. Chesebro Broth- 
ers, of Fulton Market, presented to the 
Aquarium, on December 30th, an albino dia- 
mond-backed terrapin, which is of unusual 
interest, owing to the rarity of albinism 
among turtles. The top shell measures seven 
and one-quarter inches. It is a perfect al- 
bino in shell, head, feet and skin, lacking, 
however, the pink eyes usual among such 
specimens. The carapace and plastron have 
a creamy tint, somewhat less white than that 


of the head and legs. The customary small 


FLASHLIGHT PHOTOGRAPH OF BROWN TROUT. 
Several of these are albinos. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


THE SEA-LION POOL, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


spots of the skin show faintly. It came from 
the salt marshes of Texas, and is probably the 
species known as Malaclemmys littoralis. 

Bulletin. A thousand copies of the Aquar- 
ium number of the BuLierin were sold at the 
Aquarium during the past year. 

Tuna. Mr. M. G. Foster, of New York, a 
member of the Zoological Society. has pre- 
sented to the Aquarium a mounted specimen 
of the tuna, taken by himself at Santa Cata- 
lina Islands, California. The weight of the 
fish when killed was 152 pounds and the time 
required for its capture with rod and reel was 
forty-three minutes. 

Albino Trout. Among the brown trout 
fry hatched during the year, were 133 per- 
fect albinos, with pink eyes ; nearly all of these 
survived and have grown quite as rapidly as 
those of normal coloration and are now six 
inches long. Four of the pink-eyed albino 
lake trout fry received at the Aquarium in 
March, 1905, are still living and 
twelve inches in length. 


average 


LUMINOUS FISHES. 


Teas possessing phosphorescent or- 
gans are fairly common in the surface 

waters of the sea, but the vast majority 
of such fishes are found in the depths of the 
ocean, and this is true not only of the fishes, 
but the invertebrates as well. 

Below a couple of hundred fathoms, light 
does not penetrate, and wherever deep sea 
forms are found, the gloom of the depths is 
doubtless brightened considerably by animal 
phosphorescence. 

Modern deep sea explorations have shown 
that perhaps a majority of the deep sea fishes 
possess luminous organs of more or less 
power, which are disposed in a variety of ways. 

Deep sea blind fishes have been discovered 
in which the phosphorescent organs are very 
large. Such organs are usually visible in 
fresh specimens as whitish spots on various 
parts of the head and body, and are probably 
useful to the animals possessing them in seek- 
ing their prey. 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 30 


Published by the New York Zoological Society. 


July, 1908 


THE MOUNTAIN GOAT BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY. 


N May 20, 1908, the first Rocky Mountain 
C)oor ever bred in captivity, was born in 

the New York Zoological Park. Its 
parents were brought from British Columbia by 
Director Hornaday in November, 1905, with 
three other specimens. All five were born in 
May, 1905, and were captured in the mountains 
north of Fort Steele. 

Since the arrival of the little herd in New 
York, all of its members have been maintained 
in excellent health. They are fed upon very 
clean crushed oats (in the hull), sliced carrots 
and potatoes, an occasional apple and all the 
clover hay they can eat. There are three adult 
males and two females, and they have been 


given three large corrals and a rustic barn in 
the southwestern corner of the Park. For 
amusement and exercise they climb all over the 
roof of the barn, and spend much time aloft. 

Although very level-headed and calm in times 
of real danger, the Mountain Goat is shy of be- 
ing handled and petted, and with nervous im- 
patience flings itself away from an outstretched 
hand. But one member of the herd will permit 
its keeper to touch it. Although they are not 
quarrelsome toward each other, they were so 
free in prodding each other with their skewer- 
like horns it was necessary to saw an inch from 
each horn-tip. 

Quite a number of goats have come into cap- 


ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT AND KID BORN IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


430 


ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT KID. 
Three days after birth. 


tivity, but very few have survived longer than a 
few months. The climatic conditions of the 
Atlantic coast region have carried off eight other 
goats of our acquaintance in two years or less. 
and until now it has been doubted whether it 
were possible to acclimatize the species on the 
Atlantic coast, and maintain it in health and 
vigor up to the breeding point. For this rea- 
son, the news of the birth in the New York herd 
will be hailed with delight by all sportsmen and 
nature-lovers. 

The period of gestation was from November 
25, 1907, to May 20, 1908, or four days less 
than six months. The kid now in the public 
eye was born at 3 A. M. At 3.10 it arose to its 
feet; by 3.30 it was jumping about the stall, and 
climbing upon its mother’s back, as she lay upon 
the straw. It nursed for the first time at 3.20. 
Two days after birth it was thirteen and a 
half inches high at the shoulders, and weighed 
seven and a quarter pounds. Of course its 
pelage is pure white, and, like nearly all young 
hoofed animals, its eyes now are practically 
black. It is very strong and capable, and seems 
to take a very hopeful view of life. It is a 
male, and has been christened “Philip,” for rea- 
sons that every goat-hunter will understand. 

While nursing, it stands directly under its 
mother’s body, and makes a continuous whining 
noise, like a young puppy. Frequently it butts 
the udder, and then the mother patiently raises 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


a hind leg, to give her off- 
spring the best possible op- 
portunity. The mother is a 
model of what wild-animal 
mothers should be, a good 
milker, affectionate, solicit- 
ous for her offspring, and 
quiet and sensible toward 
her keeper. 

The Zoological Park goat 
herd is in charge of Keeper 
Bernard McEnroe, who has 
managed it with great skill 
and success. He never per- 
mits any of the goats to get 
thoroughly rain-soaked, but 
shuts up the herd whenever 
it begins to rain. In New 
York it was quickly learned 
that Oreamnos can not en- 
dure rain. The pelage ab- 
sorbs water like a sponge. 
holds it for hours, and the 
animals have not sufficient 
vitality to endure it. 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


ITS PRESENT STATUS, AND HOW IT APPEARS TO 
FOREIGN CRITICS. 


T this date the New York Zoological Park 
pee be regarded as seven-eighths complete. 

But for the unfortunate financial conditions 
which have prevailed during the past six months, 
and which seem destined to influence both the 
public mind and the public purse during the 
next half year, the end of 1909 would have wit- 
nessed the rounding-up of the Zoological So- 
ciety’s work in the Bronx. 

On August 11, 1908, ten years will have elapsed 
since the beginning of work in the improvement 
of the Park. It will be remembered that the 
Park was formally opened to the public on 
November 8, 1899. But for the temporary 
halt in the erection of the final buildings, the 
Park would have been rendered practically com- 
plete in eleven years from the beginning of 
active work. At present there remain to be 
erected the Elephant House yards and the Ad- 
ministration Building—funds for which have 
already been formally appropriated, and at last 
are expendable, and also the Zebra House, and 
the Eagle and Vulture Aviary—as yet unpro- 
vided for. The end of all this is so near, that 
it seems reasonable to hope the very small 
amount of additional funds required to secure 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


431 


BOSTON 


ROAD ENTRANCE TO THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Recently completed at West Farms. 


the completion of the Park can be made avail- 
able within a short time. 

In the total number of mammals, birds, rep- 
tiles and amphibians on exhibition, the Zoo- 
logical Park stands to-day at the head of all the 
zoological parks and gardens of the world. ‘The 
Twelfth Annual Report of the Zoological Park 
contains the following table showing our rank 
according to the total number of living speci- 
mens on exhibition. 

All are as of January 1, 1907, except New 
York and London, which are for 1908. 


n 
Institution. z 2 
E s 3 
ws q = 
= (- & 
New York Zoological Park 607 2530 4.034 
LEXaiel a OMe shoe ricer cence epee 946 2176 3149 
NEQHUOM! Sacuerasicseat «oS elcieieNe 873 1621 2972 
abuladelp nian eri: 487 952 2526 
IBIDANOEEY Se ot oo dpmoas are 173-1665 2389 
Oscar oie seiswesone 593 1351 2085 
CHIGROG” aobcbeovesancuene 12 1479 2001 
IBRAETP Foqee ec sie ces arceoe 592. 1067 1843 
IS AE cpapopocanooued 644 1002 158 1804 
The character of the New York Zoological 


Park as a whole, its grounds, its buildings and 
its collections, are in the main quite well known 
to the people of New York City and vicinity. 
To-day the buildings of the first class that are 
complete, occupied by animal collections and 
open to the public, are ten in number, not count- 


ing the magnificent new Elephant House, which 
will be completed in the autumn or early winter. 
Of second class animal buildings there are ten 
more, and of large groups of outdoor dens, 
aviaries and corrals, there are twelve. There 
are also eight entrances, six public comfort 
buildings, two restaurants and three animal 
storehouses for winter use. The area of the 
Park in land and water embraces 264 acres. Of 
walks and roads there are about eight miles. 
and of fences ten and one-half miles. The 
maintenance force of the Park, constantly on 
duty, embraces 141 persons. The number of 
1907 1,273,046,—nearly one- 
third of the entire population of the metropolis 
of the American continent. Of this number it 
is estimated that a quarter of a million visitors 
were from outside of New York City. 

To all members of the New York Zoological 
Society, and to all residents of New York, the 
opinions of foreign critics on the Zoological Park 
are of much interest. Entirely aside from the 
value of local opinion, it is worth while to see 
ourselves 


visitors in was 


as others see us. On this point we 
may quote the opinion of three German pro- 
fessors who came to America last August as 
delegates to the Seventh International Zoological 
New 
York, they addressed to one of the leading 


Congress. At the close of their visit in 


newspapers of this city the following letter: 


432 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


GROUP OF YOUNG GIRLS FROM A LOWER EAST-SIDE SCHOOL. 


Thousands of school pupils, conducted by their teachers, annually visit the Zoological Park. 


New York, Sept. Ist., 1907. 
To the Editor of the 
New York Staats-Zeitung: 

“As a supplement to your article headed ‘In 
the Lion House,’ which appeared in No. 208 of 
the New York Staats-Zeitung, we take the lib- 
erty to send you, in a few words, the views of 
the German zoologists on your zoological gar- 
den. The article mentioned is incomplete, for 
the reason that it does not do justice to the 
many superior features. 

“Among all existing zoological parks, there 
is none in which the animals are found in such 
absolutely natural conditions as here in New 
York. The extent of the ranges for deer, 
bisons, ete., and the imposing flying cage, had 
the undivided admiration of all the scientists 
present. Added to this is the great number of 
interesting forms of animals, especially of the 
American fauna, and last but not least, is the 
surprisingly large number of individuals. 

“The past attainments give a guarantee that 
the New York Zoological Garden, upon com- 
pletion, is sure to take a specially pre-eminent 
position among institutions of its kind.” 

(Signed) Professors Braun, Heymons 
and Bogert. 


The latest critical opinion on the New York 
Zoological Park is that of Dr. Walther Schoen- 


ichen, of Berlin, which appears in an article on 
this institution published in the last number of 
“dus der Natur,” with illustrations. Two of 
its paragraphs are as follows: 

“There are few places in the world where all 
desirable conditions have been fulfilled in so 
excellent a manner, as in the Zoological Garden 
in New York. Although it has existed only 
the short space of time since 1899, already it 
belongs with the most prominent institutions of 
its kind, and when all of those installations 
which are now in the course of preparation have 
been finished, it will surely be the grandest and 
most beautiful garden in the world. 

“The farsightedness and devotion with which 
the Zoological Society has fulfilled this duty, is 
not the last thing which must fill the visitor to 
this grand animal park with admiration and 
inspiration.” W. T. H. 


INTERESTING ANIMAL SURGERY. 


N May 28, 1908, an interesting and un- 
usual operation—that is unusual in the ani- 
mal world—-was performed on our Indian 
Rhinoceros, “Mogul,” by Dr. George G. Van 
Mater, of Brooklyn, for cataracts in both eyes. 
The operation, in medical parlance, is termed 
“needling,” and is primarily a rupturing of the 
crystalline lens, allowing the humor to escape 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 433 


INDIAN RHINOCEROS, “MOGUL.” 


into the anterior or aqueous humor, where a 
process of slow absorption takes place. A cat- 
aract is not, as most people suppose, a growth 
over the ball of the eye, but a gradual change 
of the humor in the crystalline lens, to a milky 
opacity, eventually destroying the — sight. 
“Mogul” was captured in 1906, and upon his 
arrival at the Park, it was noticed that the right 
eye had been injured. Gradually the defect 
communicated itself to the left eye, in time 
rendering the animal nearly blind. Dr. Van 
Mater diagnosed the case as cataract and ad- 
vised the “needling” operation which is only 
practicable in soft or young growth cataract. 
“Mogul” was cast, by means of combination side 
lines and hobbles, with considerable difficulty, 
requiring the united aid of Drs. Blair, Ryder 
and Ellis, and a number of the keepers, to ef- 
fectually subdue him. Dr. Gwathmey admin- 
istered the anesthetic, using a mixture of chloro- 
form and ether. Fully an hour elapsed before 
the animal succumbed, exhausting in its strug- 
gles one and one-half pounds of chloroform and 
three-quarters of a pound of ether. As is quite 
well known, the eye is the surgeon’s index of 
the patient’s condition under anesthetics, and as 


this was the point of operation, it was then nec- 
essary to resort to local anesthesia, rendering 
Dr. Gwathmey’s task a difficult one. Dr. Van 
Mater then punctured both capsules with a deli- 
cate knife of peculiar and ingenious construc- 
tion. The incision in the cornea was a thin slit, 
but after penetrating the front of the crystalline 
lens, the blade was turned in the handle, as it 
was drawn back, making a T shaped cut, which 
allowed the humor to flow into the anterior cham- 
ber. The blade then being turned back on its 
axis necessarily passed through the cornea in ex- 
actly the same place as it entered, effectually 
preventing the thin humor of the anterior cham- 
ber from escaping. The operation was blood- 
less and painless. The animal, despite the 
enormous amount of anesthetic taken, was stand- 
ing upon his feet within forty minutes after the 
operation. He is recovering the use of the left 
eye. The right one, being an advanced growth, 
is yet cloudy. 

The work consumed nearly three hours, and 
the services of the operating surgeons, Drs. Van 
Mater and Gwathmey and their assistants, Drs. 
Ryder and Ellis, were gratuitous. 

IBig dite IS 


434 


JAPANESE RED-FACED MONKEY AND YOUNG. 


NOTES. 


Zoological Park. 


Japanese Red-faced Monkey.—One of the 
very interesting young animals this year is a 
Japanese red-faced monkey, born at the Small- 
Mammal House on June 4. The parent is one 
of several which has lived out of doors the year 
‘round. The tenderness, if her savage vigilance 
can be construed into that, is remarkable. No 
movement of the little animal escapes her. If 
he wanders a few steps from her side, she fol- 
lows at once, and at the slightest demonstration 
from a_ spectator, clutches him close to her 
breast, ready to retreat. The young animal 
clings tightly underneath to the long hair of 
the mother, and is carried rapidly and easily. 
The little fellow is covered with black hair and 
bears very trifling resemblance to the parent. 


Nesting-Birds.—The fearlessness with which 
the birds nest in most accessible places is be- 
coming more marked each year, and is a grati- 
fying evidence of their sense of the protection 
afforded them. In the bay trees on Baird 
Court, a song-sparrow and a purple grackle are 
rearing young broods, and not far distant one 
of the small lindens shelters a robin. On the 
walk back of the Elephant House a wood thrush 
has a nest in a small horn-beam, with a young 
brood. A pair of humming birds have elected 
to choose the store yards back of the shops as 
a.summer home, and in defiance of the turmoil 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


are cheerfully raising a family. Vireos and 
robins live in harmony in a small oak at the 
conservatory entrance, and in the cornice brack- 
ets of the Service Building and the facade of the 
Mammal House, in conspicuous places, two robin 
broods have already been reared. The nest at 
the Service Building is now occupied by some 
English sparrows. Two young vireos, just 
leaving the nest, were observed near the Polar 
Bear Den, and farther along Beaver Valley a 
wood thrush was running about under the 
shrubbery followed by her young offspring. A 
swallow has fastened her nest to the wall of the 
sleeping den of the Polar Bear and at this time 
has not been disturbed. A wood-duck made her 
nest high up in an oak tree in the Beaver Pond, 
but was disturbed by squirrels, and gave it up. 
The Canada geese have raised several goslings 
and the mallard ducklings on the wild-fowl pond 
are a legion. 


The Wichita Bison Herd—The last news 
from the Wichita National Bison Range re- 
ported the herd in first-class condition, and the 
outlook for the future entirely satisfactory. 
The two calves born on the range are doing well. 
An effort is being made to procure a few elk to 
introduce in the range, and it is reasonably cer- 
tain that this plan will be carried into effect at 
an early date. 


Heads and Horns.—The number of gifts to 
the National Collection of Heads and Horns 
that have been received during the past year 
entirely surpasses the most sanguine expecta- 
tions of the founders of the Collection. Both 
in number, and in zoological value, the array 
is most gratifying. The future of the Collec- 
tion is now quite beyond the pale of doubt. A 
number of sportsmen of international reputa- 
tion have sent some of their finest and most 
highly prized trophies; and in Alaskan heads 
and horns the Reed-MeMillin Collection is fair- 
ly beyond compare. Part II. of the annual 
Heads and Horns publication, now in press and 
soon to be mailed to all members of the Zoolog- 
ical Society, contains notices of all the gifts 
received during the past year. 


Births.—During 1908 the births among the 
mammals of the Park have been unusually 
numerous and important. <A partial enumera- 
tion reveals the following species: Rocky Moun- 
tain goat, Beatrix antelope, mouflon, Spanish 
ibex, South American tapir, Burmese thameng, 
barasinga deer, sambar, axis, fallow, sika, mule 
and white-tailed deer, elk, Bactrian camel and 
American bison. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Aquarium. 


White Perch as Destroyers of Mosquito 
Larve.—During the last week of May some of 
the employees of the Aquarium were sent to the 
lake in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, to collect 
specimens of black bass and white perch for ex- 
hibition at the Aquarium. The large seine 
which was used brought in hundreds of young 
perch, a few of which were injured by being 
“gilled” in the meshes of the net. Mr. W. I. 
DeNyse, who was in charge of the collecting 
party, observed the young perch to be distended 
with food which on examination was found to 
consist chiefly of the larve of mosquitoes. 

This observation is important in view of the 
increasing interest taken in fishes useful in com- 
bating the mosquito nuisance. The white perch 
is a fish of the coastal waters, ascending streams 
to spawn. Although chiefly a marine species, 
it can be kept permanently in fresh water, 
where, however, it does not attain so large a 
size. As it is an excellent food fish, the fact 
that the young are active feeders on mosquito 
larve will be of special interest to persons se- 
lecting fishes for private ponds. 


Attendance——The winter attendance at the 
Aquarium has been larger than ever before; the 
number of visitors from January 1 to April 30 
inclusive having been 666,525, an average of 
over 5,500 a day. Heretofore the attendance 
for the first quarter of the year has but once 
exceeded half a million and has seldom exceeded 
450,000. This winter’s record serves to indi- 
cate that the year’s attendance will far exceed 
the two-million mark passed two years ago. 


Increasing Use of Carp.—The carp problem 
in this country is being gradually solved by 
the commercial fishermen who are sending this 
fish to market in greater quantities each year. 
The statistics of the U. S. Fisheries Bureau 
place the annual catch of carp at about twenty 
million pounds. 

The greater part of the catch of carp is made 
in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, 
where the annual yield exceeds twelve million 
pounds, half of this total being derived from 
the Illinois River. 

Over four million pounds of carp are taken 
from the Great Lakes, three and a half millions 
coming from Lake Erie alone. In other parts 
of the country the carp is not yet being taken in 
very large quantities for market purposes, al- 
though the Middle Atlantic States contribute 
over a million pounds. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 435 
The greatest development of the carp fishery 
is taking place in Ohio and Michigan, the fish 
being taken from Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. 
The fishermen of Illinois have been making 
money out of the carp for several years and 
have been supplying a large part of the seven 
or eight million pounds used each year in New 
York City. There are now several other good 
markets for carp, which the fishermen are sup- 
plying at a fair profit. In many places along 
the Ohio shore of Lake Erie the fishermen are 
enlarging the ponds they have for some years 
been using for retaining carp taken from the 
Lake. The carp are caught in immense quan- 
tities, which makes it profitable to handle them 
at a low price and are shipped whenever the 
conditions of the fish market are favorable. 


Large Sea Turtle—On June 3, the Aquarium 
received a large Leather-back turtle, (Der- 
mochelys coriacea) from Bayhead, New Jersey, 
where it was captured. The specimen weighed 
750 pounds and measured six feet and five 
inches from beak to tail. The top shell, along 
the median ridge, was five feet long. Unfor- 
tunately it did not reach the Aquarium alive, 
although apparently without external injuries 
of any kind. 

The Leather-back is the largest of all the 
marine turtles. Unlike most of the other spe- 
cies it does not live long in captivity. 


The New Salt Water System—The New 
York Aquarium is now using its new salt-water 
system known as the closed circulation. Pure 
sea water, brought in tanks from the ocean, and 
stored in a reservoir, is pumped to the distribut- 
ing tanks on the upper floor, whence it flows 
through the exhibition tanks and then through 
gravity filters back to the reservoir. 

The new reservoir—holding 100,000 gallons 
of stored sea water—and the new filters, have 
been quietly under test for three weeks, and 
have given entire satisfaction. 

This is the most important change that has 
yet been made by the Zoological Society in 
methods of operation at the Aquarium. It 
means that the exhibition tanks containing 
marine species will hereafter be supplied with 
real sea mater instead of the brackish, sewage- 
laden water of the Harbor. It means also that 
the high death rate among the sea fishes and 
invertebrates due to polluted water, will be done 
away with, and that the exhibition of many 
forms of marine life new to our collections will 
be made possible. During the month of July 
the marine exhibition tanks will be re-stocked. 


G5 late “te 


436 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall St., New York City. 
Copyright, 1908, by the New York Zoological Society. 


JULY, 1908 


No. 30 


Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 
Single numbers, 15 cents. 


MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Ofticers of the Society. 


President - 
Hon. Levi P. Morton. 


Executive Committee: 

Pror. HENRY FAIRFIELD OsBorN, Chairman, 
JOHN S. BARNES, MADISON GRANT, 
Percy R. PYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NIiLEs, 
SAMUEL THORNE, 

Levi P. MorTON, ex-officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HoRNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 


EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


The President of the Dep’t of Parks, HON. HENRY SMITH. 


_ Class nf 1909. 
Levi P. Morton, 
Andrew Carnegie, 
John L. Cadwalader, 
John S, Barnes, 
Madison Grant, 
William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Wm. D. Sloane, 
Winthrop Rutherfurd, 


Glass of 1910. 


Class of 1911. 


F. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, 


Percy R. Pyne, 
George B. Grinnell, 
Jacob H. Schiff, 
Edward J. Berwind, 
George C. Clark, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, 
C. Ledyard Blair, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Frederick G. Bourne, 


James W. Barney, 
William C. Church, 
Lispenard Stewart, 
H. Casimir De Rham, 
George Crocker, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Charles F. Dieterich, 
James J. Hill, 
George F. Baker, 
Grant B. Schley, 


Frank K. Sturgis, 


W. Austin Wadsworth. 


Payne Whitney, 


THE PASSING OF THE WHALE. 


The attention of all persons interested in the 
of the 
world, is especially directed to the article by 
Mr. 


published as a supplement to the present number 


conservation animal resources of the 


Lucas on “The Passing of the Whale,” 


of the Burrerin of the New York Zoological 
Society. It is a truthful statement by one of 
The 


valuable whale is unquestionably going fast— 


the best-informed students of the subject. 


faster than the valuable fur seal—and soon may 
be classed with the sea otter, American bison 
and other wealth-producing animals whose com- 
mercial value has been lost to man. As a source 
of wealth the whale is the most important of all. 

Steps have been taken by the Zoological So- 
ciety to place the information contained in this 
article before legislative bodies in many parts 


of the world. 


BULLETIN. 


The Society as a scientific association devoted 
to the preservation of wild animals, earnestly re- 
quests the careful consideration of it by every 
legislator into whose hands it may come. 


Cries: 


BISON SOCIETY SUCCESSFUL. 


The Montana National Bison Range is now, 
to all intents and purposes, an accomplished 
fact. Congress has promptly and cheerfully 
entered into the plan of the American Bison 
Society for joint action by the government and 
the Society in the creation, on the Flathead In- 
dian Reservation, of a great national herd of 
pure-blood American bison, perpetually en- 
dowed with a range of 20 square miles of good 
grazing grounds. 

The quick success of the campaign in Con- 
gress has been almost phenomenal. Five years 
ago, it would have been impossible for any man 
or body of men to have succeeded in inducing 
Congress to appropriate as large a sum as 
$40,000 for the preservation of any species of 
wild animal other than the fur seal. But the 
sentiment in favor of wisely conserving the re- 
sources of nature has lately aroused many men 
who previously had not paused to consider that 
subject. 

Owing to the absolute necessity of paying the 
Flathead Indias for the lands desired, an ap- 
propriation of $30,000 has been made, and for 
fencing the range a fund of $10,000 has been 
provided. It is a reasonable certainty that the 
range chosen by the Bison Society and formally 
proposed to Congress, will be selected; and it 
will be known hereafter as the Montana Na- 
tional Bison Range. 

In order to provide means for the purchase 
of the herd of about forty pure-blood bison 
which it has agreed to present to the govern- 
ment, the Bison Society is now setting out to 
raise, by a great popular subscription which 
is to cover the whole United States, a fund of 
$10,000. Every state and territory will be in- 
vited to contribute toward the creation of the 
Montana national bison herd. This campaign 
is in charge of Dr. W. T. Hornaday, with 
headquarters at the New York Zoological Park, 
who invites every American citizen to subscribe, 
any sum from $1 upward, and do it now. 


THE SPECIAL ANIMAL FUND. 


Because of the absorption of more than 
$17,000 from our Animal Fund in payments for 
rhinoceroses, elephants, and other thick-hided 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


but expensive animals, the general collection of 
smaller mammals was well-nigh totally ignored 
for nearly eighteen months! At last certain 
gaps caused by the death of short-lived species 
became so apparent as to be unendurable. In- 
asmuch as the members of the Board of Man- 
agers were called upon for $10,000 for the cur- 
rent expenditures of the Society, it was deemed 
impossible to repeat the call upon them, even 
for animals. 

The case being particularly desperate, the 
Director of the Park received authority to raise 
a much-needed animal fund as a special sub- 
scription. In view of the fund raised by the 
annual members a short time ago. it seemed 
necessary to limit the call to the life members 
of the Society, and a very few others. The 
case was stated without any reservation, and an 
effort was made to secure $4,000. 

In view of present financial conditions, and 
the extra-heavyy demands that are being made 
upon all men and women who give money to 
worthy objects, the responses up to date have 
been extremely gratifying. The following sub- 
scriptions have been received up to June 20: 


Gherlesmiiinmes entities Go es te $1,000 


Roberta srs pBRews ter: ct 20 Senos ees 500 
PAG ewan @anme ove geese eee ee 500 
Edward S. Harkness 500 
G. S. Bowdoin 200 
Henry Phipps -. 100 
James B. Ford 100 
Tisieg: (CRE ee ee ee ae eee 50 


Georze De bratie =. ee 50 


len Gheyon\ Posts ==2:c2-2:: 50 
George B. Hopkins... = 50 
Olivers Ge ennin egies ee 50 
eepixemm orga Jie oc tet 5 fee vee oe es seeteo se 50 
David Lydig me 50 
Vick IRC Oia as sole nee en pee 50 
William Church Osborn.. = 50 
SamuclppPrAyenyer <0 tier ces tes ee 25 
Mrs. Farquhar Fergusom...................-..-..- 25 
Hilo disho eniixe eee a eee : 25 
Olu em bierre ponies: ss epee ee 25 
Mrs. William Gilman Nichols................ 25 
JO pe G1 SENN 0) cee eee Rene ene ee seen 10 
Ieee eo Wns Dery eee eee eee ae 10 
Samucluiikens dirs o-oo e Bas 10 

93,505 
Balance urgently needed.................---- 500 


Never in the history of the Society have sub- 
scriptions been more welcome than these. Up 
to this date the following animals have been 
purchased, to fill up gaps in the collections: 

3 Alpine Ibex, breeding adults. 


BULLETIN. 437 
Polar Bear. 

Hamadryas Baboon. 

South African Ostriches. 
Dingoes. 

Binturong. 

Prong-Horned Antelopes. 
South American Wild Dog. 
Black Ape. 

Wanderoo Monkeys. 
Marmosets. 

Black-Footed Ferret. 
Black and Fox Squirrels. 
Mexican Red Squirrel. 
Beavers. 

Otters. 

Stone Marten. 

European Red Foxes. 
Hedgehogs. 

Roe Deer. 

European Squirrel. 

Canada Porcupines. 
Humboldt Woolly Monkey. 
Coypu Rats. 


Dae OO eH OO Or eR RH PD Oo OO BDO 1D 1D DO 


Ni Vee baal 6 Ie 


LAWRENCE WARBLER IN CAPTIVITY. 


One of the most interesting results of this 
spring’s collecting in the Bird Department, is 
the acquisition of a male Lawrence Warbler in 
full plumage, (Helminthophila lawrencei Her- 
rick). It will be remembered, that in 1904 the 
Curator reported the fact that a Lawrence 
Warbler mated with a female Blue-winged 
Warbler, had a nest and six unfledged young in 
the Zoological Park.* These nestlings subse- 
quently flew in safety and the nest is now in 
the collection of the Zoological Society. 

On May 13 of the present year the Lawrence 
Warbler now living in the collection was trapped 
in the Park almost on the very spot where the 
nest was located four years ago. This is merely 
circumstantial evidence but it rather favors the 
theory that the bird is either the male parent 
bird or one of the young of the former brood. 
Each spring since 1904 eareful search has been 
made in this vicinity but nothing has been seen 
of Lawrence Warblers, although Blue-Winged 
Warblers breed there regularly. The warbler 
collection bids fair to be ahead of that of any 
former year, there being now about twenty liv- 
ing species on exhibition. If the Lawrence and 
a Blue-wing can ever be persuaded to nest in 
captivity the long-contested question of the 
status of the former, whether a hybrid, a valid 
species or one in the process of formation, will 
be settled once for all. C.W.-B: 

=See Zoological Society Bulletin No. 14, page 165, 
and No. 15, page 181. 


438 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


EAST AFRICAN LIONS “SAMBOUT” AND “SERGOIT.” 


Presented by Mrs. 


TWO LIONS FROM AFRICA. 


HE most valuable and desirable of all lions, 

young or old, are those to which can be 

applied the magic word “imported.” 
This term signifies a jungle-bred animal, with 
a wilderness constitution, and all the stamina 
that wild paternity can impart. 

The Society has recently received from Mrs. 
Armar D. Saunderson two fine male lion cubs 
that belong in the “imported” class. They were 
captured by Mr. and Mrs. Saunderson on Feb- 
ruary 20, 1908, in the southwestern corner of 
British East Africa, when about two weeks old. 
The mother lioness had four cubs in all, two of 
which she managed to carry off to a safe retreat 
before the hunting party arrived. 

The two cubs captured were taken to Mr. 
Saunderson’s camp, and hidden in a pile of sad- 
dles and boxes. For several nights the mother 
prowled about the camp, roaring at intervals, 
but finally she abandoned her efforts to recover 
her offspring. 

Both the cubs are males, and have been named 

Sambout” and “Sergoit,” after two large rocks 


Armar D. Saunderson. 


that rise out of the Guas N’Guishu plateau. 
For several days following their capture they 
were fed on warm milk, to which was presently 
added a midday meal of raw meat that had 
been put through a mixing machine. They 
were carried in two chop boxes, on porters’ 
heads, for over 100 miles to the Uganda Rail- 
way, and came to New York by way of Mom- 
basa, Marseilles and England. 

Sambout” and “Sergoit” will be quartered 
in one of the large eastern cages of the Small- 
Mammal House until they are old enough to go 
to the Lion House. They are very docile and 
affectionate animals, and are taken out by their 
keepers for a daily walk, in collar and chain. 


Dancing Cranes.—A stranger might imagine 
the cranes were crazy or affected a the heat if 
he came upon them during play time, and ap- 
parently that is what it can be termed. The 

Sandhills dance around in a circle, jumping 
about in the most grotesque way with out- 
stretched wings and necks, continuing for 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


lengthy periods, usually terminating the per- 
formance by a wild flight down the range. 
But the Asiatic white crane has two tricks which 
he performs with idiotic abandon and_ punctili- 
ous care. He selects some spot in the range. 
and bores a hole into the turf with his mandi- 
bles; standing over it he pumps his head up and 


BULLETIN. 439 


down, until one wonders how long he can keep 
it going. If you go away and return in one 
hour, as I did, you will find him still at it. 
Again he seizes a feather in his beak and tosses 
it into the air, and as it falls leaps for it and 
eatches it, repeating the trick, as the keeper told 
me, for over an hour at a time. 


CENSUS OF AMERICAN BISON, JANUARY 1, 1908, OF PURE BLOOD. 


CALVES 


Saal] F TOTALON | TOTAL 
RES DES Pee AES ern 1907) 9 TANS 191908] |)) x 1905 
Captive in the United States . ae |S | 203 1116 || 969 
Captive in Canada aye wees: | 262 98 476 | 41 
‘Total in America : 720 | 872 lf 301 ; 1592 1010 
Captive in Europe 54 Ome? 130 109 
otal Gaptivity «=. <9. +--+ 2 2 fo ||Neac hae | eae aa | 
Wild Bison in the United States, Estimated 25 
Wild Bison in Canada, Estimated 300 
Total pure blood Bison, Jan. 1, 1908 . SiO 2047 
Number of owners of pure blood Bison, in America . 45 
Number of owners of pure blood Bison, in Europe 19 
BUFFALO-DOMESTIC HYBRIDS, “CATTALOES” 
1907 1908 
In the United States 260 243 
In Canada 57 17 
In Europe 28 21 
345 281 


Total on January 1, 1908 


DOCILE WILD ANIMALS. 
By R. L. Dirmars. 


N every collection of animals there is always 

a number of individuals that particularly in- 

terest the keepers. The men usually desig- 
nate such examples as “pets,” although not all 
of them are to be altogether trusted as are most 
members of that ever-interesting class. In fact, 
a few mammals sometimes gain a species of 
favoritism through a display of extreme ugli- 
ness. 

There are now living in the Zoological Park 
a considerable number of animals which the 
keepers term “pets.” The Small-Mammal 
House contains the most interesting assortment 
of them. It was at this building, but a few 
days past, that Mr. Sanborn endeavored to 
photograph a “rounding up” of the keepers’ 
favorites, but owing to the attempted associa- 
tion of members of such widely different orders 


as the Carnivora, Rodentia and Edentata, the 
proposed group prepared for a battle royal. In 
deference to a strong prospect of a lively scrim- 
mage, the attempt at making a photograph was 
abandoned. 

In the Small-Mammal House the most amus- 
ing pets are a South American wild dog, two 
dingoes, a badger, several civets, an agouti, a 
Malabar squirrel and an armadillo. When the 
keepers of that building are cleaning their cages 
in the early morning, most of the animals men- 
tioned have the free run of the building, al- 
though the men are necessarily careful not to 
thus exercise those of their pets that might in- 
jure each other. The badger and the agouti 
are absolutely to be trusted not to stray away, 
and are permitted to run at will outside the 
Small-Mammal House. It is not unusual for 
an excited visitor to report at the Small-Mam- 
mal House that he has met a strange-looking 
animal ambling along the path, that had 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


BACTRIAN CAMEL AND YOUNG. 


The young animal was born in the Zoological Park April 6, 1908. At the time of birth it was so 
helpless that it was necessary to lift it to the mother in order that it might nurse. 


stopped and chattered in an alarming manner. 
This is always the badger, which noisy little 
creature often comes as far as the Reptile House, 
always prompted by an untiring appetite. 
Here, alas for romantic writers, it must be 
explained that much of the docility among ani- 
mals is prompted by appetite and selfish inter- 
est. This accounts for some of the friendly ad- 
vances of deer and other hoofed animals, many 
of which will treacherously attack one in the 
corral. With most of the “tame” flesh-eating 
animals, the sight of food effects a startling 
change in temper. The amusing little badger 
is a veritable demon when given his food, and 
continues to growl over the bone for hours after- 
ward. Not all, however, among our keepers’ 
special favorites are thus influenced by appetite. 
Quite an exception to the former rule is a 
fully grown golden agouti, living in the Small- 
Mammal House. The agouti belongs to a 
group of rodents known as the Cavies. Nearly 
all of them are uniformly good natured, even 
to that gigantic creature, the capybara, which 
is as big as a large pig, and has teeth strong 
enough to instantly amputate a man’s finger. 


The agouti in question often runs free about 
the Small-Mammal House like a miniature deer. 
It obeys the call of keepers Kane and Lands- 
berg, and permits the men to lift it back to its 
cage. In an adjoining cage is a large Malabar 
squirrel, which, when turned loose, seems to ac- 
tually tease the men as they try to get it back, 
but when a step-ladder is brought the creature 
evidently reasons that the game is at a close; 
for it immediately darts for its cage door. 

The most important and interesting of the 
Park’s tame animals are the fine lion cubs 
Sambout and Sergoit, presented by Mr. and 
Mrs. Armar D. Saunderson. At present, the 
keepers are taking these animals for a daily 
walk over the lawns, each one controlled only by 
a collar and chain. But the friendly spirit of 
these lions soon will change. When about 
eleven months old, the cubs of nearly all the big 
cats become vicious and unmanageable, unless 
subjected to constant handling and training, the 
latter usnally involving quite vigorous treatment, 
and much nerve on the trainer’s part. Even to- 
day, these small lions will suffer no human in- 
terference at feeding time. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


441 


SOUTH AMERICAN TAPIR AND YOUNG. 


The young tapir was born April 22, 1908. 


Both the old and young are extraordinarily docile and 


very fond of any attention from the keepers. 


In the Primate House are creatures that so 
closely parallel humanity, both in action and 
structure, that it seems inappropriate to speak 
of them as “wild animals.” Young orang-utans 
and chimpanzees are like children. They in- 
sist upon throwing their arms about the keep- 
ers’ necks, to be carried about, and when the 
men finally insist upon putting them down, they 
scream lustily, or bump their heads against the 
cage floor in infantile rage. Almost anyone can 
handle these young anthropoid apes, but in the 
Monkey House there are many other animals of 
very different temper. 

From the visitor’s point of view, one of the 
most vicious monkeys in the building is a big 
Japanese red-faced monkey. This creature 
often shakes his cage front, gripping it with 
both hands, and using all his strength. Such 
exhibitions are followed by what the brute evi- 
dently intends to be an illustration of what he 
would do if he had the chance. It consists of 
placing his hand in his mouth, and biting at it 
quite savagely. Strange to say, this demoniacal 
creature is perfectly gentle with his keepers. 
By assisting him to walk upright, he can be led 
about like a child. He is under such perfect 
control that the men never have taken a stick or 
whip into the cage. A mild cuff with the hand, 
delivered by keeper Reilly or Engeholm, causes 
the sour-visaged brute to whimper and cringe. 

_ but the instant the men close the door and leave 


the cage, Jake hurls himself at the bars as if to 
avenge an imaginary insult from a visitor. 

As examples of actual affection among mam- 
mals, we might select a woolly monkey and a 
spider monkey, both on exhibition in the Prim- 
ate House. At the rattle of the lock these ani- 
mals spring for the cage door. The keeper 
barely has a chance to open the door when a 
pair of long arms are wound about his neck and 
the man finds himself in much the same predica- 
ment as Sinbad. It is only with the help of an 
associate that the burden can be dislodged. 
Ordinarily, Keeper Reilly carries the strange 
woolly monkey about with him, slung over his 
back, rather than provoke the chorus of ear- 
splitting shrieks that would follow if the monkey 
were at once forced back into its cage. 

A considerable degree of docility is to be ob- 
served among the inmates of the Reptile House. 
There is a big Cuban iguana quartered in the 
north corral of the Lizard and Tortoise Yards. 
which is so fond of Keeper Toomey that when- 
ever the latter enters the corral the reptile 
rushes to him, crawls up his back and to his 
shoulders, where he perches contentedly. Nor 
is this creature’s interest in his keeper prompted 
by appetite; for he behaves the same immediate- 
ly after feeding time, when all of the iguanas 
are so gorged they refuse further food. The 
big tortoises are also docile, following their 
keeper about their corral, but in them there is 
so marked a decrease of interest after feeding 


442 


YOUNG MEXICAN PUMA. 
One of a pair of pumas which were sent to the Park, arriving 


in a very emaciated condition. It is thriving on 
milk fed from a bottle. 


time that little or no affection may be attributed 
to their movements. 

First-Keeper Snyder has a number of charges 
which he classifies as pets. Most of the alli- 
gators take their food from his hand, and there 
are a number of snakes that invariably come to 
the door of the cage when open and crawl about 
the keeper. With all of the serpents, appetite 
is usually the cause of their interest in the 
keeper, though the desire of an occasional speci- 
men to get out of its cage will cause many 
visitors to remark upon the snake’s great joy 
at beholding the keeper at the open door. 

The king cobra is possibly the “favorite” in 
the Reptile House; but here favoritism comes 
from an extreme display of craftiness and 
ferocity! This dangerous serpent has been on 
exhibition about nine years, and is just as 
vicious as the day he was received. He is al- 
ways ready to strike his keeper, and would 
never miss the opportunity if the chance was 
presented. A display like this, of a really 
dramatic rage, is always appreciated by the 
keeper. It is the listless animal, lacking both 
signs of docility or real hostility, that is looked 
upon with disfavor. 


A WHITE RHEA. 


HE Rhea is the most graceful of all the 
ostrich-like birds and the most interesting to 
us as being the only representative of these 
birds in our hemisphere. It inhabits the level, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


prairie-like pampas of South America and _ its 
enemies are chiefly the jaguar and the puma. 
From these it is protected by its tall stature, 
giving it a wide outlook, its dull gray plumage 
and its keen eyesight. Unfortunately these 
qualities are of no avail against the attacks of 
men, and unless means of protection are found 
the Rhea will soon become extinct. 

White birds are occasionally seen and the 
Zoological Park has recently acquired one which 
in beauty excels all the other inmates of the 
ostrich house. In a wild state, a bird of this 
color would have short shrift, and as it walks 
about its range we can readily perceive how easy 
it would be for the enemies of the bird to detect 
it at a distance; its white, fluffy plumage stand- 
ing out in sharp silhouette against the green 
grass. The eyes_are not pink as in ordinary 
albinos but pale blue. 

Although the two Rheas already in the collec- 
tion are a true pair and from time to time lay 
beautiful golden eggs, yet they willingly accept- 
ed the newcomer and showed no display of the 
fierceness which characterizes most other birds 
of this group. 

A pair of One-wattled Cassowarys which ar- 
rived with the Rhea, fought so fiercely that they 
had to be separated, and even then continued 
their altercation through the fence so that it 
was necessary to remove them from each other’s 
sight. ClWETE: 
A SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO THE 

DELTA OF THE ORINOCO. 


N the 22nd of February, 1908, Mrs. Beebe 
O)mna the writer sailed on the Royal Mail S. 

S. “Trent” for Trinidad, off the northeast 
coast of South America. Our chief object in 
taking the trip was to study and photograph 
something of the wild life of South America and 
to obtain alive some of the interesting birds of 
that continent for the collection of the Society. 
In both we were decidedly successful. 

On the way south we touched at Kingston, 
Colon, Savanilla and La Guira, spending from 
one to three days at each port. Desolation is 
the impression one carries away from Kingston; 
the vulture-haunted ruins of the earthquake of 
a year ago, remaining almost untouched. We 
found that Sunday at Colon is a day of abso- 
lute cessation of all work, but we were fortunate 
in securing a special train which took us across 
the Isthmus. Cleanliness, and the evidence of 
rapid and thorough progress compelled our at- 
tention everywhere. It was play day, and 
along the route pony racing and baseball alter- 
nated with ranks of vine-covered engines (relics 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 4AS 


WHITE SOUTH AMERICAN RHEA IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


of the French occupation), hundreds of neat, 
mosquito-screened houses and vistas of the gi- 
gantie ditch. 

Savanilla presented the antithesis; a collec- 
tion of tumbled-down, dirty, thatched huts scat- 
tered about in a desert. But there were com- 
pensations—of a kind. If one purchased a 
train ticket for 20 cents and paid with a five- 
dollar American note, one’s change would be a 
large roll of yellow bills, aggregating $480—in 
Colombian money. A Colombian dollar at this 
time exactly equalled an American cent! It 
was surprising to see ragged soldiers sitting in 
the streets, gambling away bills of large 
inations. 

At La Guira one gives no thought to the town 
itself, which is a typical Latin seaport, but is 
lost in admiration of the wonderful mountains 
which tower upward for thousands of feet al- 
most sheer from the water. It is the grandest 
part of the whole Spanish Main. 

Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad, we 
found a most wide-awake and American-like 
city and the citizens hospitable and kind. We 
were delayed there a week or two, but at last 
were able to charter a twenty-one ton sloop and 


denom- 


with a captain, cook, and crew of three, we 
sailed westward under the Venezuelan flag. 
headed for the northern part of the Orinoco 
delta. 

From now on we were in the midst of primi- 
tive nature and our results group themselves 
naturally under two heads: first, the aboreal and 
aquatic life of the vast expanse of mangrove 
swamps, and second, our studies of the peculiar 
fauna and flora of La Brea, the pitch lake of 
Venezuela, which represents the very beginning 
of the high land adjoining the mangroves. Of 
the pitch lake we had heard a good deal politi- 
eally, and from a natural history point of view 
we found it intensely interesting. Thes results 
will be worked up as quickly as possible and 
published by the Society. 

Some two hundred excellent negatives were 
secured of flowers, insects, fish, birds and In- 
dians. A collection of forty living birds and 
two arboreal poreupines were brought back, all 
arriving safely and in good health in New York. 
All the species of birds are new to the collec- 
tion. Besides these, several hundred specimens 
of bird skins, embryos, eggs, fish and 


g insects 
were collected. 


444 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


> Pee Oe 


ae inaeant Be: Jhebbes 


GREVY ZEBRA, EQUUS GREVYI. 


Most interesting among the living birds are 
the sun bittern, scarlet ibis, white-faced tree- 
duck and kiss-ka-dee tyrant flycatchers, besides 
several species of beautiful tanagers. 

Perhaps the most important result of the 
expedition is the arrangement which was made 
with several gentlemen to send shipments of live 
birds and animals in the future to the Zoological 
Park, at the mere cost of capture and shipment. 
Men on board regular steamers plying between 
Trinidad and New York were instructed in the 
care of birds and the interest of the captains 
aroused. It is hoped that the wonderful bird 
life of South America may, before long, be rep- 
resented by a splendid series in our Zoological 
Park. €: W. B: 


A RARE ZEBRA. 


HE Zoological Park has very 
quired a fine male 
uncommon equine known as 
Grevy Zebra, (Hquus grevyi), so 
honor of an ex-President of France. 


recently ac- 
specimen of a most 
species the 
named in 
It is not 


only one of the rarest zebra species, but it is 
also one of the largest and most showy. It is 
strongly characterized by its large size, its com- 


plete suit of very narrow black and white 
stripes, of generally uniform width, and_ its 


large 
hoofs. 


ears. Its stripes extend quite down to its 

This very handsome animal is found in south- 
ern Abyssinia and northern Somaliland. Thus 
practically all the specimens that have 
reached Europe and America have come from 
Abyssinia, and several of them have been sent 


far, 


out by King Menelik. The total number in 
captivity, outside of Africa, is probably about 
fifteen. The value of Equus grevyi has been 


high, usually $2,000 per head, or even more, 
but there is likelihood that this figure will sen- 
sibly diminish. 

For the present, our specimen will be found 
in the Antelope House. We now exhibit five 
species of follows: Grevy zebra, 
Grant zebra, Chapman zebra, Persian wild ass 


and Prejevalsky horse. Wis Eds 


equines, as 


Supplement to the 


ZOOLOGIGAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 30 


Published by the New York Zoological Society. 


July, 1908 


THE 


PASSING OF THE WHALE. 


By Frepveric A. Lucas. 


Curator in Chief of the Museum of Arts and Sciences of the Brooklyn Institute. 


HE attention of all persons interested in 

the conservation of the animal resources of 
the world, is especially directed to the article by 
Mr. Lucas on “The Passing of the Whale,” 
published as a supplement to the present number 
of the Butierin of the New York Zoological 
Society. It is a truthful statement by one of 
The 


valuable whale is unquestionably going fast— 


the best-informed students of the subject. 


faster than the valuable fur seal—and soon may 


be classed mith the sea otter, American bison 
and other wealth-producing animals whose com- 
mercial value has been lost to man. As a source 
of wealth the whale is the most important of all. 

Steps have been taken by the Zoological So- 
ciety to place the information contained in this 
article before legislative bodies in many parts 
of the world. 

The Society as a scientific association devoted 
to the preservation of wild animals, earnestly re- 
quests the careful consideration of it by every 
legislator into whose hands it may come. 


Coe Tr. 


The New York Zoological Society at its An- 
nual Meeting in January adopted a resolution 
relative to the protection of whales by interna- 
tional agreement. 

The idea that the preservation of whales was 
necessary and desirable was new to many mem- 
bers of the Society. This was perhaps natural 
as whales and whaling industries do not come 
of the 
Yet whales as economic animals have been and 
They 


are of the greatest possible interest zoologically, 


under the observation average citizen. 


continue to be of immense value to man. 


since they are the largest of existing animals. 
One species—the Sulphur-bottom whale—attains 
a length of eighty feet, being of greater size 
than the extinct dinosaurs, the largest of the 
wonderful animals of the past. 

From a strictly American viewpoint the whale 
deserves serious consideration as it was half a 
century ago the basis of an industry which 
New England 


In the days when the whale fishery 


brought great wealth to the 
States. 
was most important there were over six hundred 
American ships and many thousands of men 
regularly engaged in that industry. 

During a period of nearly fifty years prior 
to about 1872 the value of whale oil and whale- 
bone landed by American vessels, amounted to 
more than 270 millions of dollars. 

Subsequently the whaling industry as con- 


The 


present method of whaling from shore stations 


ducted from vessels gradually declined. 


is of quite recent introduction. 

It is a startling fact that nearly all species 
of whales are threatened with early extinction 
by reason of the destructiveness of modern 
methods of whaling, practiced chiefly from sta- 
tions located on shore. 

The protection of whales is therefore neces- 
sary if any whales are to be left for future sup- 
ply. How rapidly whales of all kinds, save 
possibly the Sperm whale, are disappearing 
before the attacks of man, may be inferred from 
a glance of the shore-whaling industry and par- 
ticularly at that of Newfoundland, whose sta- 
tistics are most readily available and where the 


effects of modern methods are most apparent. 


446 


Before 1903 we have no data as to the num- 
ber of whales taken along the coast of New- 
foundland and can only say that the value of 
whale products rose successively from $1,581 in 
1898, to $36,428 in 1900, and $125,287 in 1902. 
Making a rough estimate, based on the value 
of the products of the whale fishery, one may 
say that this represents not less than 350 
whales, more probably about 500, since prior to 
The first whal- 


modern methods 


1902 the waste was very great. 


ing station in which were 
adopted was established in 1897 and its success 
was so great that in 1903 four others had been 
erected and three more planned, although but 
three steamers were then employed. R. T. Mc- 
Grath in the Report of the Newfoundland De- 
partment of Fisheries for 1903, gave it as his 
opinion that no more applications for factories 
should be granted for some years to come, say- 


ing “Two factories are about to be erected, one 


at Trinity and one at Bonavista—during the 


coming year. This will make eight factories 
in all, viz., Balena, Aquaforte, Snook’s Arm, 
Chaleur Bay, Cape Broyle, Bonavista and Trin- 
ity. In my opinion no further applications 
should be granted for some years. If licenses 
are given without restriction, it will result in 
complete depletion of this industry within a 
short time; whilst if judiciously dealt with, it 
will be a profitable source of revenue, and a 
great assistance to the laboring people of the 
colony for many years to come.” This advice, 
however, was not heeded, the only restriction 
placed on whaling being that stations should 
not be nearer one another than twenty miles 
and that but one steamer should be employed. 
These restrictions were practically of no avail 
as one steamer was all that could then be em- 
ployed to advantage and a run of twenty miles 
is nothing to a 12-knot vessel. So whaling 
stations rapidly multiplied until by 1905 eight- 
een were in operation, occupying all the more 
favorable locations about Newfoundland, Labra- 
dor and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and fifteen 
The effects of this 


over-multiplication were felt at once, and while 


steamers were employed. 


in 1903 three steamers took 858 whales, or an 
average of 286 each, in 1905 fifteen steamers 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


took but 892 whales or an average of only 59 


a vessel. 
In 1903 3 vessels took.............. 858 whales 
“1904 10 og ee = DTS) it 
1905 15 = a ast mate, Wen 892 2 
1906 14 Z 429 =) 
“1907 14 s - 481 o 
3935 whales 
Taken between 1898-1902, esti- 
TALC) pee ee es eee to ee 350 id 


4285 whales 


Thus in ten years more than 4,000 whales 
have been captured in the immediate vicinity of 
Newfoundland. The effect was disastrous and 
caused the ruin of the smaller companies, the 
chief sufferers being the smaller shareholders 
who had invested their entire capital. 

One of the arguments in favor of indiscrim- 
inate whaling has been the theory that whales 
had the whole world to draw upon and that the 
depletion in any one locality would soon be sup- 
plied by overflow from another. To a slight 
extent this may be true for there seems some rea- 
son to believe that whales do now and then pass 
from the Pacific to the Atlantic* but on the 
whole whales are restricted in their range as 
other animals} and extermination in one place 
means extermination in that locality for all 
Another fallacy was the belief that the 
supply of whales was practically limitless and 


time. 


that one might “slay and slay and slay” con- 


tinuously. There is not a more mischievous 


term than “inexhaustible supply,” and certainly 


none more untrue. So we see our inexhaustible 


forests on the verge of disappearing, our inex- 
haustible supplies of coal and oil daily growing 
less, and the end of the inexhaustible supply of 


whales in sight. Man is recklessly spending 


the capital Nature has been centuries in ac- 


*Capt. Bull states that a Sulphur-bottom whale 
shot on the coast of Norway contained a harpoon 
fired into it on the coast of Kamchatka and that a 
Humpback killed off Aquaforte was found to have in 
the flesh an unexploded bomb lance fired from a San 
Francisco whaler in the Pacific. 

+For example, the Sulphur-bottom is not found or 
occurs as a straggler on the East coast of Newfound- 
land; although once common on the South coast. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


‘cumulating and the time will come when his 
drafts will no longer be honored. It matters 
not whether the vessel is a bucket or an ocean, 
one can only take out as much water as it con- 
tains and where all is outgo and no income, it 
is merely a question of time when one or the 
other will be emptied. 

The history of the Newfoundland whale fish- 
ery merely repeats what has taken place every- 
where the whale has been hunted, the only dif- 
ference being that owing to the limited area 
covered and the use of modern appliances re- 
sults have been reached more quickly than in 
the days of sailing vessels and hand harpoons. 

It is a matter of record how the Right whale 

was successively swept from the Atlantic coasts 
of Europe and North America, then from the 
North Pacific and finally from the Southern 
Seas, and what has happened in the case of this 
species will happen in the case of others.{ The 
great Bowhead, owing to its restriction to a 
portion of the Arctic seas, and the ease with 
which it may be taken, is in a worse plight 
than his smaller relative and it is quite possible 
that the present generation will see its actual 
extermination.§ And yet this monster once flour- 
ished in such numbers that for nearly three cen- 
turies its capture gave employment to hundreds 
of vessels and thousands of men. How abun- 
dant this species actually was we can only sur- 
mise from the former size of the whaling fleet 
and the statistics of its catch, though the old- 
time wood cuts showing the chase of the whale 
seem not to exaggerate its abundance. The 
American whaling fleet at the time of its great- 
est activity numbered from 500 to more than 
600 sail, while in England, our most active com- 
petitor, from 25 to 60 vessels cleared from the 
port of Hull alone and several other towns con- 
tributed to swell the Arctic fleet which com- 
prised from 150 to 250 vessels. 
" {The writer is quite aware that this species still 
survives and, owing to the cessation of whaling for 
some years, has even increased in some localities. 
This increase is now being taken and in a year or two 
the species will again be at a low ebb. 

§The possible extermination of the Right and Bow- 
head whales was foreseen as early as 1850, and com- 
ments made on the large number of whales lost by 


sinking and on the evil results of killing the Right 
whale on its breeding grounds. 


BULLETIN. AAT 


The imports of whalebone into the United 
States from 1805 to 1905 were 81,985,655 
pounds. Averaging 2,000 pounds per whale, a 
rather high estimate, this would represent no 
less than 40,804 Right and Bowhead whales 
taken by American whalers. 

Taking the port of Hull, England, we know 
partly by the actual returns and partly by esti- 
mates based on the yield of oil, that the ships 
of this port between 1722 and 1820, took in 
Davis Strait and on the East Coast of Green- 
land, no less than 10,207 whales and a fair esti- 
mate of the total English catch would be about 
20,000 Right and Bowhead whales, so that in 
two centuries not less than 50,000 were killed 
by English and American whalers alone. 

But this is only a portion of the catch taken 
in the north, for as early as 1660 the Dutch sent 
500 ships to the Spitzbergen fishery alone, and 
by the end of the century the number had risen 
to 2,000. 
small that now-a-days they would be looked 


Even though many of these were so 


upon as mere boats, the total catch prior to 1750 
must have mounted into the thousands.! 

The contrast of these figures and the returns 
for the past two years show to what a low ebb 
the whales of this part of the world have been 
reduced, for in 1906 the catch of the Dundee 
fleet was but seven, and in 1907 only three 
whales were taken, one of these even being a 
yearling. 

The catch of the San Francisco fleet was 
20 in 1906, and 82 in 1907, but the success of 
the past year is the direct outcome of failure the 
year before, and the number of Bowheads taken 
this year will undoubtedly be small. 

Nothing can possibly prevent the extermina- 
tion of the Bowhead but the discovery of some 
perfect substitute for whalebone, and there seems 
not the slightest probability that this will be 
done, so that this huge creature will be one of 
immolated on the altar of 


the many victims 


fashion. Meanwhile it is worth noting that 
there is not a specimen of this whale in the 


United States and very few in the world and 


‘According to Wieland the number of Bowheads 
taken by the Dutch between 1669 and 1758 was 
57,590. 


448 


that some of the money being spent in futile 
endeavors to reach the North Pole might much 
better be devoted to chartering a whaler and 
securing one or two examples of the Bowhead 
before it is too late. 

The Right whale was the first to be commer. 
cially exterminated, that is so reduced in num- 
bers that its pursuit was no longer profitable. 
because it frequented the shores of temperate 
regions and there brought forth its young. It 
required but few years to wipe out the Cali- 
fornia Gray Whale as it was confined to a com- 
paratively small area and the decimation of the 
others is but a matter of time. 

The great Bowhead as we have just seen, is on 
the verge of actual, not merely commercial, ex- 
termination and is liable to be blotted out of 
existence at any time and other species will fol- 
low unless something is done to preserve them. 

For many years certain species of whales, 
notably the Sulphur-bottom, enjoyed more or 
less immunity from pursuit, due to the diffi- 
culty of taking them by methods then in vogue 
and the small profit yielded when they were 
taken. 
taking whales were perfected the death knell 


But when the present appliances for 


of these whales was sounded and unless some 
measures are taken to protect them, they, too. 
will suffer the fate of the Bowhead. 

Whaling stations are being established the 
world over wherever the conditions are favor- 
able; there are several on the Pacific coast, sev- 


eral on the coast of Patagonia, and while in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


deference to the fishermen, restrictions have 
been placed on the Norwegian whale fisheries, 
other stations have been opened in Iceland and 
the Feroes. There is some whaling from New 
Zealand and South Africa, and concessions have 
This 


does not include whaling for Sperm whales and 


been. granted for other parts of the world. 


Humpback carried on from various Atlantic 
and South American ports. Moreover the rapid 
decline of the Newfoundland whale fishery has 
led some of the companies to send their steamers 
south in winter, accompanied by a_ large 
steamer fitted out for cutting in whales and try- 
ing out the oil, thus acting as a floating whaling 
station that may be moved from place to place 
as occasion requires or favorable conditions 
offer. 

We speak of the decline of the whaling in- 
dustry when it is really the passing of the 
whale, for there can be no industry in the 
proper sense of the word when there is no 
planting, only reaping, no attempt to provide 
for the harvest to be gathered. 

Whales can be protected and protected very 
easily but it can only be done by international 
agreement. When we are far enough advanced. 
many industries like whaling and sealing, now 
on the verge of extermination, may be pursued 
This may be very difficult to 


bring about, but may be accomplished in time. 


for all time. 


The pity of it is, from a purely practical stand- 
point, that animals which can so readily be pre- 
served, should be swept out of existence. 


\3.4\ 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOG TY ~— BUREE TIN 


No. 31 Published by the New York Zoological Society October, 1908 


NORTH FACADE AND DOME OF THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 


> the building operations in the Zoological 


Park, the most important single feature is 

the “new” Elephant House.* Of ten years 
of building work, it is the climax; and it is fit- 
tingly crowned with a dome. It is situated on 
the site prepared for it by Nature, and chosen 
twelve years ago, on the axis of Baird Court, 
and in the open space midway between the Court 
and the Wolf Dens. In effect, it connects the 
two great groups of installations of the north- 
ern and southern regions of the Park, which un- 
til now have been slight- 
ly separated. 

In several important 
particulars the Elephant 
House is unlike all other 
buildings in the Park. 
It is high; it is entered 
at the center of each 
side, instead of at each 
end; it is built entirely 
of stone; it has a main 
roof of green tiles, and 
has a lofty dome cov- 
ered with glazed tiles 
laid in an_ elaborate 
color pattern of browns 
and greens. The dome 
is finally surmounted by 
a “lantern” of elaborate 
tile work, also in colors. 
Excepting the dome, the 
whole exterior structure 
is of smoothly dressed 
Indiana limestone. Each 


* We have been calling it 
“new,” because previous to 
its completion, the thou- 
sands of visitors who in- 
quired for “the Elephant 
House” were directed to 
the Antelope House, where 
the elephants were tempo- 
rarily quartered. 


HEAD OF INDIAN ELEPHANT, SOUTH FACADE. 
The Sculptor, A. Phimister Proctor, at Work. 


entrance consists of a lofty and dignified arch- 
way, in which the doors are deeply recessed; 
and each of these arches is grandly ornamented 
by animal heads, sculptured in stone. The lines 
of the exterior of the building are imposing. 

The color effects of the interior are particu- 
larly pleasing. The large, flat bricks of the 
Gustavino arch system are in their natural col- 
ors, and form a blending of soft brown and 
buff shades that not only avoids monotony. 
but is pleasing and restful to the eye. Com- 
bined with the vaulted 
ceilings of the main 
halls and the cages there 
are a few strong arches 
of mottled buff brick 
which harmonize per- 
fectly with the ceiling 
tiles of the main dome. 
This scheme of vaulted 
ceilings is so new that 
few persons ever have 
seen a finished example. 
Both the main dome. 
and the arched ceiling 
below it, have been con- 
structed by Gustavino 
without the employment 
of either the steel raft- 
ers or ribs which one 
naturally expects to see 
in such structures. 

The animal sculptures 
on the Elephant House 
are of commanding in- 
terest and importance, 
and well worthy of the 
stately building that 
they adorn. In the 
sculptor’s competition 
which was held last year, 
the work of Messrs. 
A. P. Proctor and 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SDNY 
Sey 


SOCIETY 


BULLETI 


451 


INDIAN ELEPHANT “GUNDA” IN HIS NEW QUARTERS AT THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 


Charles R. Knight was so nearly equal in 
merit that it was impossible to choose between 
them, and for this reason the work was divided, 
one-half of it being awarded to each. Mr. Proc- 
tor has executed for the south entrance, two large 
heads of the Indian elephant and an Indian 
rhinoceros, while Mr. Knight has modeled the 
three heads of African elephant and African 
rhinoceros that ornament the north entrance. 
All these are fine examples of wild-animal sculp- 
ture, and well illustrate the extent to which the 
realism of Nature may be fitly applied to a 
modern building, in place of the grotesque and 
conventionalized sculptures that hitherto have 
enjoyed the favor of architects. I think it is 
safe to say, in America at least, that the day of 
grotesque “architectural” animal sculpture has 
passed. 

The cornice, or frieze, of the main central 
building of the Elephant House is ornamented 
by about twenty sculptured heads of the rhino- 
ceros, tapir and hippopotamus. In the interior 
of the building, each column in the lines of cage- 


fronts bears a small elephant head, in high re- 
lief, sculptured in stone. 

Each of the eight immense cages, that are to 
contain elephants and rhinoceroses, has been de- 
signed to frame and display its living occupant 
as perfectly as a frame fits a picture. The 
vaulted ceilings and large central skylights are 
particularly well adapted to cages for extra- 
large animals, and the lighting is quite perfect. 
The front of each cage—24 feet—is spanned 


aloft by a single Gustavino arch, and is unspoiled 


by intermediate columns. Each cage is 24 x 24 
feet, which is ample for elephants and rhino- 
ceroses of the largest size. To a height of 6 
feet the walls are lined with plates of quarter- 
inch steel; and nothing less powerful than a 
locomotive could break through or break down 
the front bars and beams. The outside doors 
are marvels of strength and smoothness in action. 
They are of four-inch oak, reinforced with quar- 
ter-inch steel plates, and on the inside they are 
strengthened against attack by three heavy mov- 
able beams of steel. 


“SuIpjing ay} JO juosy Ur 4a] Pu IYZIs ay} 03 aovds uado ayy Adnos0 [IM Spsed P4YL “YINOS ay} Woody uayE} MI) 
“ASNOH INVHdaTd FHL 4O NOILVAA1H AQIS 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 453 


AFRICAN TWO-HORNED RHINOCEROS, “VICTORIA.” 
The Zoological Society has two animals of this species, a male and a female. 


On the south side of the building are four 
cages for elephants, on the north are two cages 
for rhinoceroses, and two for hippopotami. At 
each end of the building are two smaller cages. 
for tapirs or young elephants or rhinoceroses. 
The hippopotamus cage is provided with a bath- 
ing tank, and so are two of the tapir cages. As 
usual, this building is heated by hot water, and 
thoroughly ventilated. 

Of course each indoor cage has for its occu- 
pant a spacious open-air yard, in which the ani- 
mal may wander at will without the ability to 
harm any person or thing. For the elephant 
yards there are two fences. The extra heavy 
inside fence of steel bars is to prevent the ele- 
phants from reaching visitors, and the outside 
fence, of 2-inch round bars seven feet high, is 
to prevent visitors from reaching the elephants. 
The yards and fences cannot be completed ear- 
lier than May, 1909, but they will be ready upon 
the coming of warm weather. In several of the 
yards some very elaborate and extensive con- 
crete floor work will be necessary to preserve 
valuable oak trees from the injury that would 
surely follow the laying of ordinary macadam 


paving. The concrete floors are to be raised. 
to leave the roots trees almost un- 
touched. 

The total cost of the Elephant House was 
$157,473 exclusive of the fences, yards and 
walks. The building has been erected by the 
F. T. Nesbit Company, with Mr. John C. Cof- 
fey as superintendent of construction, and it is a 
fine, perfect and thoroughly satisfactory piece 
of work. It is doubtful if the City of New York 
has ever before secured so fine and large a build- 
ing as this for the really small sum that this 
one has It is impossible to name the 
date on which it will be received by the Society, 
occupied, and opened to the public, but in all 
probability it will be about November 1, 1908. 

ied bela & 


of certain 


cost. 


New Mammals :—Since July 1, the following 
important animals have been received: 

1 Indian Elephant. 2 Otters. 

1 Chimpanzee. 1 Cacomistle. 

1 Orang utan. 1 Brown Lemur. 

1 Malay Tapir. 3 European Roe Deer. 

3 Clouded Leopards. 14 Squirrels. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


FEMALE 


A SCARED ELEPHANT. 


N September 10th the Society purchased at 

Luna Park, Coney Island, a female Indian 

elephant that is about twelve years of age, 
seven feet, seven inches in height, and weighs 
4,500 pounds. On September 18th, when that 
animal became both panic-stricken and contrary- 
minded, she furnished the most exciting episode 
that has yet occurred in the Zoological Park. 
The members of the Zoological Society will no 
doubt be interested in knowing the real facts 
in this rather remarkable case. 

The causes of “Luna’s’” mental disturbance 
lay in the fact that naturally she is of a timid 
disposition, and was suddenly and_ without 
warning taken from her old haunts, from her 
three companions, and from her favorite keeper 
at Luna Park, to entirely new surroundings, 
and strange keepers. 

For nearly a week she endured the change 
quite bravely, but at last her nerves gave way 
before a trifling cause. She was frightened by 
the sight of the pumas in their cage near the 
Small-Mammal House, wheeled about, and 
started to find a safe retreat. The open door of 
the Reptile House looked inviting, and she 


INDIAN ELEPHANT 


“LUNA.” 


headed for it, taking her two keepers along 
with her. Of course Keepers Thuman and Bay- 
reuther did their utmost to restrain her, but she 
paid no attention to their hooks, and deliberate- 
ly walked into the building. Evidently she 
thought it was a barn, and possibly she hoped 
to find within it the three companions she had 
left in the big and gloomy elephant-barn at 
Coney Island. 


The Reptile House contained about fifty 
visitors, and naturally the sight of the huge 
animal walking around the eastern end of the 
turtle-crawl, created consternation. One woman 
fainted from fright, and was promptly carried 
into Mr. Ditmars’ office, placed in a chair and 
revived. Another woman fell while attempting 
to run away, and cut her forehead against a 
guard-rail. In a very few minutes the elephant 
was led out of the building, without having oc- 
casioned any damage to it, or to any person; but 
when she reached the open air she again became 
panic-stricken. Then, to the amazement of 
everyone who saw her, she squeezed through the 
south door of the Tortoise House, and was there 
found by the Director, trembling with nervous- 
ness and fright. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Attempts were made to calm her with food, 
but she was too excited to eat. In about fifteen 
minutes she became dissatisfied with the com- 
pany of the giant tortoises, and squeezed out 
into the open air. Strong efforts were made 
to lead or drive her southward toward her 
home in the Antelope House, and in due process 
she was started on three different walks leading 
in that direction. Each time after a hundred 
feet had been covered her hysteria returned, and 
she resolutely wheeled from the course. Twice 
she attempted to re-enter the Reptile House and 
was prevented, but the third time she made good 
her second entrance, dragging her keepers with 
her. 

Once more she was halted in the main hall, 
turned and led out. During the next half hour 
Keepers Thuman and Bayreuther sought to coax 
or compel her to go southward to the Antelope 
House; and first and last, she was tried on five 
different walks and roads. Finally she made a 
determined break for the Reptile House, and in 
spite of all opposition, went in a third time. 

By that time Keeper Thuman was well nigh 
exhausted, and it was plain that an end of some 
kind must be reached immediately. The Di- 
rector at once ordered that “Luna” be chained 
for the night in the main hall of the Reptile 
House, fronting the doorway; and in quick time 
this was accomplished. From her shackled 
front feet two long chains were run out right 
and left, and firmly secured to the bases of two 
guard-rail posts. In that position she was held 
all night, and remained quiet and well-behaved 
until morning. 

It was hoped that the quiet hours spent in 
the Reptile House would calm “Luna’s’”’ nerves, 
and that in the early morning she would consent 
to return to her stall. But the workings of her 
mind were past finding out, and it was decided 
to keep her front feet well shackled together. 
No sooner was one of her anchor chains loosened 
than the most exciting incident of this episode 
occurred. 

“Tuna’’ swung over to the limit of her re- 
maining chain, within reach of the small table 
cases of lizards ranged along the south side of 
the main hall, and deliberately began to wreck 
them. She pushed off three of the cases, then 
overturned the table and wrecked four more. 
While Keeper Thuman was frantically endeavor- 
ing to control her, she deliberately set both 
front feet upon the guard-rail, and broke down 
a section of it. 

By a great effort, “Luna” was then driven out 
of the building, and in less than fifteen minutes 
thereafter her front feet were anchored to a 
tree, her hind legs were closely tied together, 


BULLETIN. 455 
she was thrown, “hog-tied” and securely an- 
chored, fore and aft. She struggled long and 
valiantly, but after a time gave up. Straw was 
brought and put under her head, and she was 
left to think matters over. During the day, the 
Saturday crowds of visitors inspected her briefly 
and with mild interest, then went their way to 
see other animals. 

At three o'clock “Luna’s” favorite keeper, 
Richard Richards, arrived from Luna Park, and 
the elephant immediately recognized him. At 
the Park’s closing hour, one of the young Afri- 
can elephants was brought from the Antelope 
House, to be used as a guide for “Luna” on the 
journey back to her quarters in the Antelope 
House. Her leg bonds were transformed into 
ordinary hobbles, and she was permitted to rise. 
With her own keeper at her head, she quietly 
followed ““Kartoom” to the Antelope House, en- 
tered her stall, and the incident was closed. 

In a very few hours, “Luna” again settled 
down into a quiet, well-behaved beast. On the fol- 
lowing day Keeper Thuman made her lie down, 
rise, and place him upon her back. 

Keeper Thuman displayed great courage and 
persistence in his long struggle with “Luna,” 
and once he narrowly escaped being injured, by 
accident. It is a satisfaction to be able to re- 
port that from first to last the elephant mani- 
fested no ill-temper toward anyone; and but 
for her spiteful breakages in the Reptile House, 
all of which were quite unnecessary, we could 
easily forgive both her panic and her stubborn- 
ness. ive dbs lal 


A LARGE SEA TURTLE. 


N September 7th, the Aquarium received 
e@ another specimen of the great harp turtle 
or leather-back, (Dermochelys coriacea), 
weighing 840 pounds, nearly 100 pounds more 
than the one received in June. 
This we believe to be the largest specimen of 
a sea turtle on exhibition anywhere, at least we 
do not know of an example in any American 
or European Museum which exceeds it in size. 
It is not likely that any species of sea turtle 
exceeds 1,000 pounds in weight. The Aquarium 
gets one or more harp turtles every summer. 
They generally die during shipment, or within 
a few days after arrival, and are turned over to 
the Museum. When captured along the coast, 
fishermen report them as weighing from 1,000 
to 1,500 pounds, but on the scales they shrink 
to 700 or 800. Although the harp turtle does 
not feed in captivity, the present specimen has 
broken the Aquarium record by living two weeks. 
But its keeper is not hopeful. (Co Bly Abe 


456 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall St., New York City. 
Copyright, 1908, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 31 OCTOBER, 1908 


Subscription price, 50 cents for four numbers. 
Single numbers, 15 cents. 


MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Ofticers of the Society. 


President - 
Hon. Levi P. Morton. 


Executive Conunittee: 

Pror. HENRY FAIRFIELD OsBoRN, Chairman, 
JouHN S. BARNEs, MapDISON GRANT, 
Percy R. PyYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
SAMUEL THORNE, 

Levi P. MorTON, ex-officio. 


General @Officers - 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PeErcY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WiLLIAM T. HORNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 


EX-OFFICIO, 
The Mayor of the City of New York, Hon. Georce B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks, HoN. HENRY SMITH. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


_ Class of 1909. Glass of 1910. 
Levi P. Morton, 
Andrew Carnegie, 
John L. Cadwalader, 
John S. Barnes, 
Madison Grant, 
William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Wm. D. Sloane, 
Winthrop Rutherfurd, 
Frank K. Sturgis, 


Class of 1911. 


F. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, 


Percy R. Pyne, 
George B. Grinnell, 


Jacob H. Schiff, 


Edward J. Berwind, 
George C. Clark, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, 
C. Ledyard Blair, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Frederick G. Bourne, 


W. Austin Wadsworth. 


James W. Barney, 
William C. Church, 
Lispenard Stewart, 
H. Casimir De Rham, 
George Crocker, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Charles F. Dieterich, 
James J. Hill, 
George F. Baker, 
Grant B. Schley, 
Payne Whitney, 


THE RUBBISH WAR. 


During the past three years, the rubbish 
wilfully and inexcusably thrown upon the walks 
and lawns of the Zoological Park had become 
more and more irritating to the nerves of those 
responsible for cleanliness and good _ order. 
During that period. however, we were so busy 
with the annual rush of construction work that 
we had no time in which to make a determined 
campaign against it. 

Last spring, however, the auspicious period 
arrived, and the war that so long had been in- 
tended was formally declared. To-day we are 
prepared to write the first chapter of its history. 

The making of wholesale arrests in the Zoo- 
logical Park, and the haling of a large number 
of pleasure-seekers before the night court, was 
painful to contemplate, and would have been 
still more painful to carry into effect. We de- 
cided to avoid those measures, as far as might be 
possible, by a preliminary campaign of educa- 
tion. ‘To this end we carried out the follow- 
ing program: 


BULLETIN. 


In 1907, we finished the placing of about 100 
well-appointed rubbish baskets. If the whole 
truth must be told, the “Bronx Park Basket,” 
an imitation tree-stump in metal, with a movable 
basket inside, was invented by the Director, with 
special reference to its use in public parks. 

Over each basket was placed a sign, saying 
“Deposit Here All Refuse.” Many other signs 
had been posted, previous to 1907, forbidding 
the throwing of rubbish on the walks. 

On May 25th, 150 special cloth signs, printed 
in English, Yiddish, Italian and German, for- 
bidding the scattering of rubbish, and direct- 
ing that it be placed in the baskets, under pain 
of punishment for neglect, were posted so con- 
spicuously that it was impossible for a visitor 
to enter the Park without seeing at least one. 

On May 29th, a manifesto by the Director 
appeared in several of the newspapers of New 
York City, formally declaring war on the rub- 
bish-throwing habit, and warning all possible 
ottenders to obey the law of the City, or suffer 
arrest and punishment. For the publication of 
our communication, and editorial articles there- 
on, we are indebted to the following newspapers: 
Public Opinion, 
Morning Telegraph, 
Vogue, 

The Independent, 
Columbia (S. C.) States 
Colorado Springs 


The Times, 

The Tribune, 
Staats Zeitung, 
North Side News, 
Bronx Sentinel, 


The Herald, 


Standard-Union, Gazette, 

Jewish Daily News, Providence (R. I.) 
Jewish Morning Journal, Tribune, 
L’Araldo Italiani, Plainfield (N. J.) 
Courrier des Etats-Unis, Courier. 


The support received from the Tribune and 
Times was exceedingly valuable and _ helpful. 
and is most gratefully acknowledged. 

On Sunday, May 30th, hostilities began in the 
Park. Ten men of our force were specially de- 
tailed to do patrol duty, and instructed to ad- 
monish all throwers of rubbish, and compel them 
instantly to pick up whatever they threw down. 
It was ordered that the campaign for the eduea- 
tion of the public should be carried on without 
making arrests, so long as substantial progress 
mas perceptible. At the same time, however, 
officers were in readiness to act, and had the law 
been resisted, arrests would have swiftly fol- 
lowed. The Commissioner of Police granted 
us two extra policemen, and Captain George C. 
Liebers, of the 68th Precinct, entered heartily 
into the campaign with all the extra men that 
he could spare. The Society and the general 
public are greatly indebted to Mr. Hermann W. 
Merkel, an officer of the Park staff, and also a 
special police officer, for the vigor with which 


ZOOLOGICAL 


he entered into this campaign, and the splendid 
success of his labors. It would be impossible 
to say too much in praise of his continuous ef- 
forts to preserve order in the Park, and to ren- 
der every portion of our grounds thoroughly safe 
for women and children. 

The results were immediate and very gratify- 
ing. Within a month the amount of waste 
paper, fruit skins and lunch boxes thrown upon 
the walks and lawns, and under benches, dimin- 
ished about seventy-five per cent. Within two 
months the decrease amounted to about ninety- 
five per cent. of the original total; and all this 
mithout the making of even one arrest! It was 
found necessary, however, to prohibit absolute- 
ly all persons from sitting or lying upon the 
grass, for the reason that it was found quite im- 
possible to prevent such persons from leaving 
rubbish behind them. Owing to the presence of 
300 park benches within our grounds, it is not 
at all necessary for anyone to lounge upon the 
grass. 

Last year, on every Monday morning the Park 
was a disgraceful sight, and it required the labor 
of ten men until about two o’clock in the after- 
noon to gather up the rubbish. Now, by ten 
o'clock on Monday mornings, four men make the 
Park thoroughly clean and presentable. What 
is still more important, the Park is clean during 
nearly the whole of Sunday, instead of becom- 
ing by noon of that day a distressing scene of 
disorder under foot. 

An important lesson has been learned. It has 
been clearly observed by many persons, that the 
disorderly period attracted disorderly crowds! 
When the reform was fully established, the dis- 
orderly element seemed to withdraw, and go 
elsewhere, and there followed a great influx of 
visitors of a better class, who believe in law and 
order, and prefer to go only where they can 
enjoy cleanliness! 

Our warfare has received from the best ele- 
ment in New York, constant encouragement. 
We have on file many letters commending our 
efforts, and wishing us success. Beyond ques- 
tion, the people of this city pay for, and are en- 
titled to, clean streets and clean parks! Those 
who disgrace New York by strewing rubbish 
broadeast, in spite of warnings, should be stern- 
ly dealt with. Our streets still are garnished, 
in the gutters, with waste paper; and the bad 
habit that leads to it should be taken in hand 
by the Police Department, and broken up. The 
first step should be the posting of about 5,000 
warnings, printed on linen, as an educational 
effort. The laws on the subject are ample. 
The unhindered throwing of rubbish in streets 
and in parks promotes a spirit of lawlessness 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 457 


and disorder that easily leads to more serious 
offenses. In view of all that this city is spend- 
ing and doing for the comfort and pleasure of 
the people, the lawless ten per cent. should be 
forced to obey the laws of decency and good 
order. Vis JES St 


TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS. 


In the last issue of the Butierin, subscrip- 
tions amounting to $3,510 for the special animal 
fund were acknowledged. It now affords us 
much pleasure to report the receipt of a sub- 
scription of $500 from Mr. Nelson Robinson, 
which brings the total up to $4,010, and quite 
fulfils the expectations under which a fund of 
$4,000 was asked for. 

We also gratefully acknowledge a special sub- 
scription of $250 from Mrs. Frank K. Sturgis, 
to be devoted to the experiments of Mr. C. Will- 
iam Beebe, Curator of Birds, in the practical de- 
termination of the influences affecting the colors 
of birds. It will be remembered that Mr. 
Beebe’s paper on “Geographic Variations in 
Birds with Especial Reference to the Effects of 
Humidity” was published by the Society as Vol. 
I, Number 1, of “Zoologica,” and among orni- 
thologists generally it created a profound sen- 
sation. 


MISNAMING OF THE ZOOLOGICAL 
PARK. 

Thanks to the persistent efforts of a few men 
in this city, the New York Zoological Park is 
now called by the newspapers of the United 
States generally “Bronx Zoo,’ “Bronz Zoo,” 
“Bronx Park Zoo,” and other combinations equal- 
ly offensive. We cannot felicitate our friends 
on having made the corrupted name of an an- 
cient Dutchman greater than that of the city that 
has given the people of this whole nation a first 
rank zoological park. It is extremely desirable 
that the Zoological Park should be called by its 
right name, and we invite all of the many friends 
and admirers of the Park to cooperate with us 
in suppressing the extremely inappropriate and 
ill-sounding names cited above. Our citizens 
should all be proud that the name “Zoo” is inap- 
propriate, if only because the Park is planned 
on a seale which so far exceeds that of any other 
civie collection in the world. 


The attendance at the Aquarium has already 
passed the two million mark. This year will 
far exceed any previous year in this respect. 
Labor Day brought over 21,000 visitors. 


458 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


MALE SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR. 


NEW WORLD VULTURES. 
By C. WituiAM BEEBE, 
CURATOR OF BIRDS. 


Part I. 


HE very name of vulture has come to ex- 

press unpleasant things and to symbolize 

evil ways and characteristics. Few people 
associate these birds otherwise than with sur- 
roundings of ill-smelling carrion, but this is most 
unfair, both to birds in a wild state and to those 
in captivity. Although it would perhaps be 
difficult to frame an encomium on all their ways 
of life, yet vultures are interesting birds and 
if given opportunity, prove to be as clean feed- 
ers as their more noble brethren—the eagles and 
hawks. If given a choice between two pieces of 
meat, one fresh and the other spoiled, a vulture 
will invariably choose the former. 

Vultures occupy a unique position in the econ- 
omy of nature. Although strictly carniverous 
in diet, they are unable to kill prey for them- 
selves. They have the strong, hooked beak of 
other raptores, but their toes and claws lack the 
strong muscles that give to eagles such formid- 
able means of attack. Thus the vultures live 
Tantalus-like, ever in sight of abundant food 
and yet unable to satisfy themselves except by 
the accidental death of some creature. 

To cope successfully with these hard condi- 


tions, vultures have acquired certain peculiar 
characteristics. Their prey falls to them in often 
large quantities but at very irregular intervals, 
and they are able to take advantage of a time 
of plenty and gorge themselves to repletion, de- 
youring a surprisingly large amount of food. 
On the other hand, they possess remarkable 
powers of fasting, and can retain their strength 
during a period of five or six weeks abstinence 
from food. 

The third characteristic of vultures relating 
to their predatory handicap is their wonderful 
eye-sight. There is little doubt that this sur- 
passes even that of the hawks and eagles, and 
probably represents the highest development of 
the power of vision of any living creature. It 
has been proved conclusively that they find their 
food by the sense of sight alone, and indeed ap- 
parently lack the sense of smell. 

During a trip to a wild part of Mexico I once 
noted an incident which illustrates this unusual 
vision, and gives a hint of the extreme compe- 
tition for food which vultures must ever endure. 

At the edge of a stream, I once undertook to 
prepare an armadillo for the pot. His tough 
skin made it a rather difficult and engrossing 
task, and for some twenty minutes I did not 
look up from my work. While on my way to 
the water I had thoughtlessly noticed a single 
black speck high up overhead, so usual a sight 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR. 
Head of male bird. 


that I hardly remembered it. When at last I 
arose from my completed work and _ stretched 
my cramped limbs, every dead tree and boulder 
within a wide area held its complement of vul- 
tures—black and turkey. It was most un- 
canny. Their skinny necks were stretched out 
toward me; many score of red and ebony heads 
peered through leaves and over rocks and dead 
limbs, forming a ring of watchful, silent specta- 
tors. Overhead the sky was quartered in every 
direction by dozens of others. Within a few 
minutes all these birds had come, each guided by 
the suggestive descent of some brother vulture, 
who in turn had well interpreted his neighbor’s 
actions. All were waiting patiently for the ex- 
pected feast. And what a feast! It was the 
“loaves and fishes’ over again without any 
chance for a miracle. Nearly two hundred 
birds as large as small turkeys were eagerly 
waiting for the moment when I should leave to 
them the remains of one small armadillo! 

The collection of New World vultures in the 
New York Zoological Park is at present com- 
plete—that is to say, all five genera of this 
group are represented by living specimens. 
The vultures of the Old World are very hawk- 
like, so much so that they are placed in the 
same order with those birds of prey. But the 
vultures of our own hemisphere are sufficiently 
distinct from all other groups to deserve an or- 
der of their own, CATHARTIDIFORMES. 
Perhaps the most marked difference is the ab- 
sence of a voice in the vultures of the Americas. 
due to the absence of a syrinx—the avian vocal 
organ. The Old World birds can scream and 
voice their emotions in sound, but our vultures 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 459 
must live ever silent, or utter only the hiss of 
escaping breath. The single family Cathartidae 
includes the following genera: 

I. South American Condor (Sarcorhamphus 
gryphus). 

II. King Vulture (Gypagus papa). 

Ill. Black Vulture (Catharistes urubu). 

IV. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). 

V. California Condor (Pseudogryphus cali- 
fornianus ). 

The completeness of our collection, together 
with the interest which these little appreciated 
birds present, has led to the making of a 
résumé of their habits as far as these are known. 

THE SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR. 

A pair of these splendid birds was received 
at the Zoological Park November 30th, 1899. 
The female died shortly afterward, but the 
male is still in perfect health, after nine 
years of life in New York City. This species 
has been known to live thirty-three years in 
captivity. Our bird has been a constant source 
of attraction to visitors and, peacock-like, en- 
joys showing himself off to admiring throngs. 
He has lived outdoors summer and winter, ap- 
parently as comfortable in the coldest blizzard 
as in the hottest summer weather. His chief 
trait, characteristic indeed of all the larger 
species of vultures, is a curious spirit of play, 
exhibited in antics about his keeper or mani- 
fested toward other birds in the big flying cage. 
Formerly his summers were spent in this huge 
enclosure, where he never made any attempt to 
injure other birds or even to feed upon the body 
of any one accidentally killed. At last, how- 
ever, his play became too rough. He would 
seize a flamingo by one wing and dance around 
and around, pulling the terrified bird about, and 
sometimes throwing it down. For the last few 


KING VULTURE. 
Head of the male bird. 


460 


years, the Condor has been kept in his winter 
cage throughout the year. At midnight on a 
snowy winter’s night I have watched this bird 
play by himself for a half hour in the moon- 
light; dancing on the snow, throwing about one 
of his own giant quills and chasing his shadow; 
a strange performance explained in no natural 
history, and one which seems all the more re- 
markable when we think of this great vulture 
as the accepted type of a slothful gourmand. 

The Condor in the Park is remarkably strong 
and when it becomes necessary to transfer him, 
three men are required to hold the great bird 
fast in a wolf net. He refuses to touch earrion 
but will eat fresh meat and fish. Like all vul- 
tures, he has no grasping power in his feet and 
claws, and thus his method of feeding is to 
stand upon his prey, take a firm grip with his 
powerful hooked beak and pull strongly up- 
ward until a small piece of flesh is torn away. 

Like other vultures, the flight of the Condor 
is magnificent, soaring for hours, often hundreds 
of feet above the highest snow-capped peaks of 
its native mountains, or swiftly descending 
thence to the distant speck which its marvellous 
vision marks out as food. In contrast to others 
of its family, the South American Condor seems 
to possess certain predatory instincts. Several 
individuals are said to band together at times 
and, rushing at some animal standing near a 
precipice, frighten it into stampeding to its 
death, when the birds descend to feed upon its 
body. This may be the result of the extremity 
of hunger driving the birds to take desperate 
measures to avoid starvation. 

The Condor lays one or two large white eggs 
upon a narrow ledge of some inaccessible cliff. 
Sixty-two years ago an egg was laid and in- 
cubated in the Zoological Gardens of London— 
the only recorded instance of this species breed- 
ing in captivity. The chick hatched in fifty- 
four days but lived only six weeks. From ob- 
servations of young Condors it seems probable 
that the nestling spends six or seven months in 
the nest before it is able to fly. The great 
wing quills of the Condor come into vogue now 
and then in the millinery trade, and many thou- 
sands of birds are slaughtered yearly to supply 
this shameful demand. 

The courtship of the Condor begins about 
the first of the year, and extends through- 
out February. Lacking a mate of his own kind, 
the bird in our collection shows off to the female 
griffon vultures or bald eagles. He half raises 
his splendid wings, curving them around so that 
all the white markings are brought into view; 
then he struts back and forth before the object 
of his attentions. The head is brought forward 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


KING VULTURE, FEMALE. 


and downward while the neck is strained up- 
ward in a pronounced curve, the colors of the 
skin showing brightly at this season. Succes- 
sive hisses are uttered, the spasmodic exhalation 
of the breath vibrating throughout the whole 
bird. At last, with a final prolonged hiss, he 
sinks down upon his tarsus, closes his wings and 
the performance is over. Although his eyes are 
open during the display, he seems in a kind of 
trance, and takes no notice of what goes on 
around him. 


The strange attitudes which this bird often 
assumes during sleep are as remarkable and 
characteristic as is his pronounced playfulness. 
When perching, his head and wings will some- 
times hang straight down—the bird apparently 
dead and about to fall to the earth. Or again 
when a visitor perceives this great bird prone 
upon his back with feet in air, wings half open 
and beak agape, a hurry call is naturally sent 
to the keeper to remove the body of his defunct 
charge; but in a fraction of a second the Con- 
dor will spring upon his feet, as much alive as 
ever. 

The word Condor is the Spanish equivalent 
of the native Peruvian Cuntur. It inhabits the 
Andes of Ecuador, Peru, Chili, and Patagonia 
north to the Rio Negro. The size of the Con- 
dor has been greatly exaggerated by writers. 
No less a personage than Alexander von Hum- 
boldt was led to believe that these birds some- 
times had a spread of wing of fifteen feet. As 
a matter of fact, with the exception of the Cali- 
fornia Condor, the South American bird has the 
greatest expanse of wing of any American land 
bird, but the average spread of a full grown 
male is only nine to nine and one-half feet. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


The male is distinguished by a large fleshy 
comb or caruncle which adorns the head. The 
bare head and neck are wrinkled and of a dull 
reddish or leaden color, while the glossy black 
plumage of the body is surmounted by a fluffy 
collar of softest, whitest down. The body 
plumage is entirely black, while the exposed 
portions of the wing feathers are white,—a 
striking pattern when the bird extends its wide 
pinions to the morning sun. 

THE KING VULTURE. 

As the Condor reigns supreme among the 
great peaks of the southern Andes, so the King 
Vulture dominates the lowland forest regions. 
Its range is therefore much more extensive 
reaching Paraguay in the south, becoming most 
abundant in Brazil and showing its splendid 
form high in air as far north as Mexico. By 
preference it haunts the wooded banks of rivers 
and the depths of impenetrable swamps, but 
from its lofty, aerial outlook it commands many 
square miles of varied territory, and will be 
found wherever a promise of a feast comes with- 
in its keen range of vision, 

The name of “King” is given it because of a 
wide-spread belief among the native Indians 
that all other vultures stand in awe of it, and 
that they invariably remain in the background 
until the royal appetite is appeased. When 
wild its food is chiefly carrion—but not appa- 
rently from choice, since in captivity it seems 
to prefer fresh meat. 

Although not uncommon in some parts of its 
range, little has been recorded concerning the 
life history of the King Vulture. Two white 
eggs are laid, and the nest is said to be ocea- 
sionally placed in the hollow of a dead tree. 

During the first two or three years of life the 
colors are dark and obscure, but when fully 
adult the King Vulture is gorgeous. The head 
and neck are variegated with bare patches of red 
and yellow, while prominent folds and wrinkles 
of skin extend around the crown and down the 
neck. A bright yellow caruncle decorates the 
base of the beak and the iris is of a conspicu- 
ous white hue. A collar of gray is succeeded 
by a delicate cream color, and the rest of the 
body plumage is black and white. 

A pair of King Vultures was purchased in 
June, 1905, and lived in the Zoological Park 
until a year ago when the male bird died. The 
female is at present in full color and plumage, 
and in perfect health. These two birds afford 
an excellent illustration of that individuality 
which is so strongly marked a character of most 
members of this great class of living beings. 
From first to last the male was wild, shy and 
nervous, showing no desire to make friends with 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 461 


his keeper, and resenting every attempt at fa- 


miliarity. The female bird became tame after a 
week and ever since has been noted for her 
quiet ways and confidence in her keeper. She 


courts attention and is never so contented as 
when being played with and petted. Two crea- 
tures more unlike in temperament could not be 
imagined. 

When, in the tropics, one watches the ever 
present lesser vultures wheeling and floating like 
black motes high against the sky, it always 
brings a thrill of delight when one sees the sun 
flash out from the white feathers which indicate 
that the King Vulture is abroad. 

(To be continued.) 


THE BISON SOCIETY FUND. 


HE United States Government has formally 

selected as the range for the Montana Na- 

tional Bison Herd the site that was recom- 
mended by the American Bison Society. It con- 
sists of twenty square miles of fine grazing 
grounds at Ravalli, Montana, with a frontage of 
seven miles on the Jocko River. The land will 
cost the government about $30,000, and the fene- 
ing will cost $10,000 more. Both these sums 
have been provided by a Congressional appro- 
priation, and in a few months the range will be 
ready for occupancy. 

For three months the President of the Bison 
Society has been calling for subscriptions of 
money with which to buy the nucleus herd that 
the Society is pledged to present to the nation 
as soon as the range is ready. Despite the difficul- 
ties of a canvass in midsummer, the total fund 
now in hand amounts to $3,050. This is a very 
fair beginning—but it leaves $7,000 yet to be 
raised! Every state has been appealed to for 
contributions, chiefly through the Mayors and 
Boards of Trade of the cities having a popula- 
tion of 30,000 or above. Thus far not one dol- 
lar has been received from or through any one 
of the 148 mayors who have been called upon 
for cooperation! Whether the Boards of Trade 
will do any better, remains to be seen; for this 
canvass will at least be illuminating. 

It was the business interests of this country. 
represented by men who desired robes to sell at 
$2.50 each, that exterminated the bison millions 
thirty years ago. To-day it is the plain duty 
of business men of America to lend a hand in 
the effort that is to leave for future generations 
of Americans something more than bleaching 
bones, and records of shameful slaughter. 

Members of the Zoological Society are now 
invited, and also urged, to participate in this 
work by sending subscriptions, in sums of all 


462 


sizes from $1 upward, to W. T. Hornaday, New 
York Zoological Park. It is urgently desired 
that the whole amount should be in hand by 
January 1, 1909. Surely the object is one in 
which all the members of our Society will be 
interested. A dollar from each member would 
mean $1,600! 
Please send it now. W: 2 He 
HEADS AND HORNS ANNUAL. 

HE quarto annual publication of the Na- 
Aca Collection of Heads and Horns, (Part 

II), is now in hand. Its special purposes 
are to acknowledge in detail the gift of the past 
year, and to further interest sportsmen and trav- 
ellers in the National Collection that now is be- 
ing formed here Its special feature is a descrip- 
tion of the famous Reed Collection that was pre- 
sented to the Society a year ago by Mr. Emerson 
MeMillin. This publication will be mailed to 
all members of the Zoological Society who may 
desire to possess it, and who will send their 
names to Mr. Madison Grant, Secretary, 11 
Wall Street. 


THE AQUARIUM RESERVOIR. 


OR the first time in the history of the 

Aquarium the sea fishes and other marine 

exhibits have had a chance to live in their 
natural element. Under the old regime they 
could scarcely be said to live at all. In fact the 
majority of them didn’t live; they died. It was 
only by constant replacing that many of the 
salt water species of. fishes could be kept on ex- 
hibition. The brackish and unclean water of 
the harbor—by courtesy called salt water—was 
never suitable for sea fishes and invertebrates, 
and only the most hardy survived. Whatever 
the Aquarium has done in the past, has been ac- 
complished under this fearful handicap. 

For three months pure sea water, brought 
from the open sea and stored in the new reser- 
voir, has been flowing through the tanks. The 
expensive, troublesome and disheartening death 
rate has been practically eliminated. Our speci- 
mens are active, feed well and look well. Their 
colors are decidedly brighter than usual. The 
only losses which now occur are those traceable 
to injuries received during capture and_ ship- 
ment, while an important number of forms, 
never successfully exhibited here before, are not 
only living but apparently thriving. 

The system of stored sea water now makes 
possible at the New York Aquarium anything 
in the way of marine exhibits that is possible in 
the aquariums of Europe. For the first time 
many beautiful sea creatures, hitherto lacking 
from our collection, are now on exhibition. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Although a good collection of marine inverte- 
brates has not yet been secured, there are a few 
very interesting species already in the tanks, 
among which may be mentioned the octopus, the 
great salt water crayfish, and the so-called Span- 
ish lobster, (Scyllarus), from the Bermudas. 

Upon the completion of the stored sea water 
system early in July, the reservoir was filled 
with 100,000 gallons of pure sea water. For 
this purpose the water boat ‘Joseph Moran,” 
of about 15,000 gallons capacity, was chartered. 
This vessel filled her tanks in the open sea near 
the Sandy Hook Lightship at the beginning of 
the flood tide. Returning to the sea wall be- 
hind the Aquarium, the water was pumped di- 
rectly into the new filters, whence it flowed to 
the reservoir. The harbor water being allowed 
to flow out of the exhibition tanks, the Aquari- 
um’s new bronze pump was started, and the sea 
fishes were soon swimming in their natural ele- 
ment. The accompaning picture shows the 
“Moran” behind the Aquarium, pumping her 
cargo of water into the reservoir. Another pic- 
ture shows the location of this reservoir in Bat- 
tery Park, its extent being indicated by the 
dotted lines. 

While the system of stored sea water is a new 
thing for our Aquarium, it has always been used 
in the Aquariums of Europe. When properly 
managed, the water does not need renewal, the 
original supply being used perpetually. 

While the cost of this system amounted to a 
considerable sum, it is expected to prove eco- 
nomical in the end, as it will result in a great 
saving of coal during the winter months. 
Formerly the water, artificially warmed during 
the winter, was allowed to escape, whereas, un- 
der the present method it passes through the 
filters back to the reservoir. The great amount 
of steam formerly required to heat the icy water 
of the harbor will no longer be required. It 
should require but little steam to maintain an 
even temperature in the underground reservoir. 

The large floor pools at the Aquarium, owing 
to the low position in which they are placed, are 
not connected with the reservoir but are still 
being supplied from the harbor. Owing to the 
polluted condition of the water of the harbor. 
it will be necessary before long to discontinue 
its use entirely, and arrangements will have to 
be made for a better water system for the floor 
pools. As these pools are occupied chiefly, at 
present, by lung-breathing animals such as seals 
and sea turtles, the water is not so deadly in its 
effects as it would be to strictly ocean fishes. 
The few fishes remaining in the pools are brack- 
ish-water species which have more endurance in 
impure water. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THE WATER BOAT “JOSEPH MORAN.” 


The new water supply in the reservoir has 
nearly tnice the salinity of the harbor water and 
none of its impurities. 

The salinity of the open ocean varies only 
between the limits 1.023 and 1.028, according to 
location, temperature, evaporation, etc. 

In enclosed seas like the Caribbean, Mediter- 
ranean and Red Sea it is highest, the salinity 
being often 1.027 or 1.028. In the Black Sea 
the surface water is often quite fresh, the bot- 
tom water being dense like that of the Mediter- 
ranean. 

In New York Harbor, at the Battery, our ob- 
servations vary from 1.008 in winter, to 1.016 
in summer when the Hudson is low. Fresh 
water is represented on the salinometer by 1.000. 
each unit in the third place, thousands of the 
density. 

The sea water in our reservoir, brought from 
near Sandy Hook Lightship, has a salinity of 
1.021. It would have been more salty if it had 
been procured farther off shore. Cz. i 


A VISITOR’S OPINION. 


HERE are reasons why the letter printed 

below is of special interest to members of the 

Zoological Society. The life of a keeper of 
live animals in a public park is filled with wor- 
ries and annoyances to an extent quite unknown 
to the public. Worse even than the perverse 
ways of the animals themselves are the annoy- 
ances to which attendants are almost constantly 
subjected by the few unruly visitors who wilfully 
annoy animals, or feed them on the sly. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 463 


It is no small achievement for a Zoological 
Park worker always to “look pleasant,’ and 
cheerfully answer his share of the countless in- 
quiries made by visitors. Nevertheless, for nine 
years, politeness and courtesy to visitors in the 
Zoological Park have been insisted upon. 

The following letter is by no means the only 
one of its kind that we have received. It was 
written by a man who is not a member of the 
Society, and who, so far as known, is an entire 
stranger to the members of the Zoological Park 


force. W. T. H. 


POSTAL TELEGRAPH-CABLE COMPANY. 
Office of the Superintendent of Tariffs, 
Postal Telegraph Building, 253 Broadway, 

Isaac SMITH, 


Superintendent. 
New York, August 17th, 1908. 


Mr. Witir1am T. Hornapay, Director, 
Zoological Park, 
New York City. 
My pear Sir:— 

I visited the Bronx Zoo on Saturday, the 
15th, and one thing that struck me was the ab- 
solute and uniform courtesy on the part of the 
employees at the Zoo. It was so refreshing to 
meet and have courteous treatment extended by 
each employee of the Zoo, spoken to, or of whom 
any information was asked, that I feel that it is 
a pleasure to bring the matter to your attention. 

I spent about 4 hours at the Zoo, and after 
being treated so courteously myself, I made it a 
part of my business to observe whether other 
people received the same courteous treatment, 
and IT am glad to say that all persons received 
the same courteous treatment that I did. 

Respectfully, I. Smiru. 


THE AQUARIUM RESERVOIR. 


The dotted lines mark the boundaries of the reservoir. The 
structure in the center is the entrance to the valve room. 


464 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


FAN PALM (Livistonia sinensis). 
Presented by the estate of William Ziegler, through W. S. Champ. 


Sale of Deer—On September Ist, the Zoo- 
logical Park issued a circular enumerating the 
deer of various species that were then over- 
crowding the ranges, and were offered for sale. 
With but one exception, all the animals offered 
were born here, and all were well worthy to rep- 
resent the Park. Of the 21 species of deer in 
the Park collection, thirteen have bred. The 
circular is fully illustrated, and contains much 
information of interest. It will be sent on ap- 
plication to anyone who is interested in the 
breeding of deer. About one-half of the deer 
offered have already been sold. 

Sambar Deer.—As one of the results of Di- 
rector Hornaday’s efforts to bring about the 
acclimatization of the Indian sambar deer, (Cer- 
vus unicolor), in the South, Dr. Ray V. Pierce. 
of Buffalo, purchased of the Society a male and 
three adult females, which have been shipped 
to St. Vineent Island, in the Gulf of Mexico. 
near Appalachicola, Florida, and set free. The 
entire island is owned by Dr. Pierce, and it is 


believed that the sambar will do well there. Of 
course the experiment will be watched with keen 
interest. The sambar is a great producer of 
venison, a prolific breeder, and being of san- 
guine temperament, it seems well adapted to 
some of the southern forests. 

Black Leopard.—Our black leopard is dead. 
It was given out by the usual secret dissemina- 
tor of false information, that the animal per- 
ished under distressing circumstances, in deadly 
combat with her male cage-mate. The pub- 
lished accounts of the battle were interesting, 
and even thrilling, but not so illuminating as the 
autopsy. ‘The very sudden and quiet death of 
the black leopard was a puzzle to the keepers 
until Dr. Blair’s autopsy revealed a long, sau- 
sage-like piece of fresh meat in the animal’s 
wind-pipe, which completely filled the air pas- 
sage, and caused quick suffocation. Her cage- 
mate was entirely innocent. No “fight” oc- 
curred, and no “truthful ever” reported any- 
thing of the kind. 


sal 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 32 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


January, 1909 


NEW 


WORLD VULTURES. 


By C. Witiiim BeErse, 


CURATOR 


OF BIRDS. 


Part II. 


Photographs by Herman T. Bohlman and William I.. Finley. 
By the permission of The Century Co., New York. 


THE BLACK VULTURE. 
HIS vulture has a wide range in South 
America, being found as far south as Ar- 
gentina, and is probably absent only from 
Patagonia and the higher altitudes of the Andes. 
It is, however, rather a bird of the sea-coast, and 
is almost invariably found there in abundance, 
while in the interior it is outnumbered by the 
turkey vulture. It is not found in the West In- 
dies, but throughout Central America and Mex- 
ico the Black Vulture is universally distributed, 
and breeds abundantly. In the United States it 


is resident in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, 
breeding as far north as North Carolina and the 
lower Ohio Valley. It is only very rarely that 
this bird straggles as far north as New York. 

The Black is the smallest of the American vul- 
tures, measuring only two feet in length, with a 
stretch of wing of about four and a half feet. 
The bare skin of the head and neck is black, as is 
the whole plumage, this dullness being relieved 
by the underside of the wings, which are silvery. 
This small size and the black color have led to 
its wide-spread name of Carrion Crow. 


PARENTS OF “GENERAL” PERCHED NEAR THE NEST IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 


THE SINGLE EGG OF CALIFORNIA CONDOR. 
Egg from which ‘“‘General’”’ was hatched. 


To see the Black Vulture at its best—or worst 
— it is necessary to visit a tropical sea-port. An 
unwritten law protects these birds throughout 
their entire range, as the most ignorant Latin- 
American is well aware of their value and use- 
fulness to mankind. In the north we are famil- 
iar with the constant warfare waged against 
garbage and refuse, especially in our cities. In 
the easy-going tropics, while such refuse becomes 
offensive much sooner than 
with us, human efforts at 
cleanliness are ably second- 
ed by the vultures, who act 
the part of scavengers. 
They often line the house- 
tops, ever alert for any 
scrap which may catch the 
eye, and a stranger is some- 
times astonished at having a 
half dozen of these great 
black birds swoop down 
at his very feet, to fight 
and hiss over some bit of 
meat. 

Every Spanish village and 
settlement has its quota of 
Zopilotes, at night retiring 
to the neighboring forest or 
roosting by scores upon the 
bare branches of some large 
dead tree, and returning in 
early morning to house-top 
and street. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Copyright, 1907, by H. T. Bohlman and Wm, L. Finley. 


BULLETIN. 


The nesting habits of the 
Black Vulture are of the 
simplest. Gregarious at all 
other seasons of the year, it 
even nests in small colonies, 
a dozen or twenty pairs 
often nesting in a circum- 
scribed patch of underbrush. 
No nest is made, not even a 
hollow scratched, but the 
two large handsome eggs 
are deposited on the ground 
in a dense growth of yucca, 
or close to a log among thick 
serub. The parents are 
very wary, and were it not 
that in time they wear a dis- 
tinct winding road to: and 
from the eggs, it would be 
almost impossible to find 
them. The nesting season 
in the United States is from 
March to May. 

The eggs measure about two by three inches 
and are creamy white in color, spotted and 
blotched with varying shades of brown and 
lavender. 

Both parents share the duties of incubation, 
which lasts for about a month. The young are 


clad in fluffy white down, which is gradually 
shed and replaced by the dark feathers of the 
adult. 


“GENERAL” ONE DAY OLD 


ZOOLOGICAL 


TURE OR BUZZARD. 

This bird is of un- 
usual interest as be- 
ing the only vulture 
which occurs more or 
less regularly in the 
vicinity of New York 
City. Many have 
been observed on 
Long Island, and in 
New Jersey individ- 
uals are found almost 
every year as far 
north as_ Plainfield 
and Sandy Hook. In- 
deed, the news has 
just been received 
that they are really 
abundant every sum- 
mer at the Delaware 
Water Gap. At this 
place there is a herd 
of five or six hundred 
deer on “Buckwood,” 
the estate of Mr. 
Worthington, and the 
vultures seem to find 
an abundance of food 
there, feeding either 
on the _ occasional 
dead bodies of deer or on other animal matter. 
As many as ten or a dozen may sometimes be 
seen in a single flock. 

Westward, the Turkey Vulture ranges from 
the Ohio Valley to the Saskatchewan region and 
British Columbia. Southward, it extends as far 
as Mexico. In that country it is replaced by a 
smaller form which is given the value of a sub- 
species, Cathartes aura aura. The Falkland 
Island Turkey Vulture, C. falklandicus, living 
in Chili and Patagonia, has the skin of the head 
pink instead of red. The status of the Turkey 
Vultures of other parts of South America is 
still under discussion, but there are at least two 
small forms in the north-eastern part of the con- 
tinent, one with a yellow head and the other 
with a pinkish one. 

But it is the typical Turkey Buzzard, Cath- 
artes aura septentrionalis (Wied.), with which 
we are concerned. It is among the most grace- 
ful of all flying birds, and is a constant feature 
in southern skies. 

The head and upper part of the neck are 
bare, wrinkled and bright crimson in color. The 
bill is white, and the plumage dark brown or 
black, glossed with green above. In the im- 
mature bird the head is with a_ soft 


THE TURKEY VUL- Fe sgt 


Copyris 


covered 


SOCIETY 


ht, 1907, by H. T. BohIman and Wm. L. Finley. 
“GENERAL” WHEN EIGHTY-TWO DAYS OF AGE. 


BULLETIN. 467 
down of grayish- 
brown. The eggs and 
nesting habits resem- 
ble those of the black 
vulture, although this 
bird has been known 
to breed in a deserted 
hawk’s nest high up 
in a tree. 

The Turkey Buz- 
zard is about two and 
a half feet in length, 
and has a spread of 

» wing of about six 
feet. Although these 
measurements are 
considerably greater 
than those of the 
Black Vulture, yet 
the latter is heavier in 
the body. This ex- 
plains why the Buz- 
zard is the more 
graceful flier, soaring 
for hours without a 
perceptible movement 
of the wings, while 
the Black Vulture 
with its shorter wings 
and tail must flap 
frequently in order to 

keep its headway and altitude. 

The Turkey Buzzards play their full part as 
scavengers, although not so numerous in the 
cities of the coast as their blacker brethren. 

The statement made in Part I of this article 
that vultures apparently lack the sense of smell 
was intended to apply only to the larger species. 
I have carefully tested the power of scent in the 
South American and Californian Condors, and 
the King Vulture, and if present at all it is 
very slight indeed. In the Black Vulture the 
sense is appreciable, but even here it appears to 
function but little, but it reaches a greater de- 
gree of development in the Turkey Buzzard. 

One experiment will illustrate this. In the 
large flying cage in the Zoological Park a num- 
ber of Turkey and Black Vultures are “perma- 
nent residents.” Three boxes were placed on 
the ground some distance apart, and the birds 
fed for a few days in various parts of the cage. 
Then after several days of fasting, a piece of 
tainted meat was placed under the central box. 
Care was taken to go through the farce of plac- 
ing something under each box so that no visual 
hints of the location of the meat was conveyed. 
The vultures were very hungry, yet they did not 
leave their perches and come to the ground, al 


“aus 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Ld rs a 
a. 

Copyright, 1907, by H. T. BohIman and Wm. L. Finley. 

PARENT CONDOR AND “GENERAL.” 


The man is stroking the young bird. 


though they had watched their keeper intently. 
He now re-entered and threw down one or two 
small bits of meat. Within a second or two, al- 
most as the meat left the hand of the keeper, 
every vulture swooped to the ground and was 
hissing and struggling for a portion of the food. 
Twice the Black Vultures walked close about the 
meat box without appearing to notice the odor 
which was clearly perceptible, even to persons 
outside of the cage. A Turkey Vulture walked 
to leeward, instantly turned and made his way 
to the box, which he exam- 
ined on all sides. He was 
soon joined by two others of 
the same species, and all 
three took up their stations 
close to the source of the 
odor. Soon two Black Vul- 
tures came up, apparently 
impelled more by imitation 
than by actual discovery of 
the smell. All five birds re- 
mained for a long time 
grouped close to the box. 
going to it now and then, 
and examining it carefully. 
Thus even in the Turkey 
Vulture the sense of smell 
is certainly not highly de- 
veloped, and compared with 
the sense of sight is defect- 
ive indeed. 

These Buzzards, in cer- 
tain parts of the South, have 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


gained notoriety for them- 
selves by actually killing 


animals. Sheep have to be 
carefully watched, as the 


Buzzards will ‘ill the new- 
born lambs by striking at 
the eyes. But this recently 
acquired habit appears to be 
of very rare occurrence, and 
should in no wise militate 
against the incalculably 
wide-spread value of these 
birds to mankind in the 
tropics. 

The inception of a habit 
such as this is easy to ex- 
plain. On the first days of 
its existence the new-born 
lamb lies prostrate and mo- 
tionless, often for several 
hours at a time. The Buz- 
zard, seeing it thus, natural- 
ly supposes it to be dead, 
and as these birds usually 
consume the eyes of a dead animal before de- 
vouring the remainder of the body, they natu- 
rally attack these organs first in the young lamb. 

If the Turkey Buzzard could be added to our 
fauna, its graceful soaring form would be a 
never-ending delight, and if farmers could be 
made to distinguish it from equally harmless 
“hen” hawks, or better still be taught to wage 
war only on the sharp-shinned and cooper hawk, 
the introduction of these birds might be accom- 


plished. 


CALIFORNIA CONDOR “GENERAL” IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


ZOOLOGICAL 
It is the intention ° 
of the writer soon to 
attempt this. A Tur- 
key Buzzard escaped 
in June, 1906, from 
our Flying Cage and 
in the following April, 
after the winter had 
passed, it returned 
and soared about our 
Bird Valley for days. 
A dozen of these birds 
will be quartered in an 
open paddock, their 
wings clipped and 
dead stubs provided 
for them to perch up- 
on. An abundance of 
food will be provided, 
and it is hoped that as 
the moult proceeds 
and they gradually re- 
acquire the power of 
flight, they will be 
content to remain, or 
at least return yearly 
to this land of plenty. 

THE CALIFORNIAN 

CONDOR. 

When a species of 
bird becomes so rare 
that every individual is 
worthy of a detailed 
life history, then indeed its days of existence are 
numbered. Such is the splendid Condor of 
California, which once ranged the mountains of 
the Pacific from Washington to Mexico. When 
herds of sheep and cattle were corralled among 
the mountains, poison was used to protect them 
from the inroads of bears and pumas. The in- 
nocent suffered as well, and the Condors were 
rapidly killed off. Now they are restricted to a 
comparatively few miles of the coastal ranges in 
southern and Lower California. 

The Californian Condor is one of the largest 
birds of flight living on the earth to-day. Its 
length is nearly four feet and the extent of wing 
averages nine, with an extreme record of eleven 
feet, four inches. With all this magnificent 
stretch of wing, the average weight is only 
twenty pounds, twenty-six being the maximum. 
The bare head and neck of the adult is bright 
orange and yellow, and the plumage in general 
is sooty black. Many of the lesser wing feath- 
ers are edged and tipped with gray or white, and 
the under wing-coverts are pure white. 

There are naturally very few of these birds 
alive in captivity. The Washington Zoological 


SOCIETY 


Copyright, 1907, by H. T. Bohlman and Wm. L. Finley. 
PARENT CONDOR COMING TO THE NEST. 


BULLETIN. 469 
Park is fortunate 
enough to possess 
three. The New York 
Zoological Society has 
had two individuals. 
One was purchased 
March 14th, 1905, and 
lived until October 
17th of the following 
year, when some de- 
spicable specimen of 
humanity threw a rub- 
ber band into the cage 
of the Condor. The 
band was swallowed 
and resulted in the 
death of the bird. 

Condor number 
two* was obtained 
from Mr. Finley on 
October 6th, 1906, and 
is still in perfect 
health, not having as 
yet acquired the col- 
oring of the adult, al- 
though the bird is two 
and a half years old. 
An account of the 
habits in captivity of 
“General,” as this 
Condor has been 
named, has already 
been given in the Zoo- 
logical Society Bulletin in Mr. Finley’s own 
words.| We are here able to give a_ brief 
résumé of the facts in the life history of this 
very bird now living at the Zoological Park, up 
to the time of his capture. 

As long ago as 1895 a pair of California 
Condors were known to be nesting somewhere 
in a maze of steep canyons among the moun- 
tains of southern California. But year after 
year they eluded all searchers, and not until 
March 10th, 1906, was the nest discovered. 
Several persons tramped about the nest, shouting 
and calling, but not until a pistol was fired in 
the air did the old bird leave her home. 

A huge boulder protruded from the steep 
mountain-side, and against this leaned a stone 
slab some ten feet in height. Behind was a 
cave measuring two by six feet and open at both 
ends, and on the floor, which was carpeted with 


“The facts concerning the life history and the illus- 
trations of this individual are given by permission of 
Mr. William L. Finley, who has already published 
them in “The Condor” and “The Century Magazine.” 

+Zoorocicar Society Burietix No. 24, January, 
1907, pages 318-320. 


470 ZOOLOGICAL 
dead leaves, feathers and bits of bark, lay a 
single great pale bluish-white egg. Within the 
shell was slowly developing the embryo of 
General, who, seven months later, was destined 
to spread his wings and soar about the flying 
cage in our Zoological Park. 

The next visit to the nest of the Condor was 
made by Mr. Finley on March 23rd, and most 
opportunely, as General had just hatched, and 
lay helpless, a pitiful little object, bald-headed, 
and scantily clad in white down. The head, neck 
and feet were pink, and the newly-hatched Con- 
dor weighed less than a pound. The mother 
would not leave her chick and made no resistance 
when it was lifted out to be photographed. A 
cold rain was falling, and the chick became 
chilled and stiff. The adult Condor paid no at- 
tention to the young bird until, after being 
warmed by Mr. Finley into renewed strength, 
it moved feebly, when the great bird drew it 
toward her with her bill and crouched gently 
over it. 

It is an interesting fact that the head of the 
newly-hatched chick and that of the adult are 
bare of feathers, while in the immature bird the 
head for the first few years is covered with a 
dense coating of furry down. 

On April 11th, a third trip was paid to the 
Condor’s nest and the chick was found to have 
grown rapidly, and was covered with gray in- 
stead of white down. The head had become dull 
yellow, and most interesting of all, it had a 
voice,—a hoarse tooting, the only real note 
which any New World Vulture has ever been 
known to produce. As with brown pelicans, this 
is apparently soon lost. 

On April 25th, when the young bird was 
thirty-five days old, it was as large as a hen. 
It showed fight at first, and strenuously ob- 
jected to being carried out into the sunlight. 
During this and several later trips the fearless- 
ness of the old birds was most noticeable. The 
adult birds became used to seeing Mr. Finley 
about and, as in captivity, would sometimes come 
within arm’s reach and nibble at a glove or shoe. 
This of course gave splendid opportunities for 
photographs, and a large series of the old birds, 
both in flight and repose, was obtained. Mr. 
Finley says, “In all our study of the home life 
of these birds, there was never the slightest in- 
dication of ferocity on the part of the parents. 
Their attitude was one of anxiety and solicitude.” 

When fifty-four days old the young Condor 
was still clothed in gray down, and not until it 
was over two months old did the first black 
feathers appear on the wings. 

On July 5th, when three and a half months of 
age, General was removed from his nest. At 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


this time he was not half feathered out but 
weighed over fifteen pounds. On July 7th he 
was shipped to Portland, Oregon, where he was 
kept, and by his affectionate disposition won the 
hearts of his friends. 

In October of the same year he reached the 
New York Zoological Park. May he thrive for 
many years in his new home, and may his 
parents rear their future chicks in safety, and 
help to keep this splendid species from the 
catastrophe of extermination. 


ACCLIMATIZING THE GRAY SQUIRREL. 


N view of all circumstances, it is rather sur- 

prising that so very few city parks in America 

contain colonies of gray squirrels. The squir- 
rel itself is beautiful, its manners are very in- 
teresting, it accepts Park life with cheerful con- 
fidence, and every honest and intelligent human 
being delights in its acquaintance. To children, 
especially, it is a source of delight. 

In any public park the society of the gray 
squirrel is procurable for an initial expenditure 
of about $50 and we need not consider the cost 
per annum for maintenance. How can any 
village or city invest $50 or $75 in any other 
way which will yield as great dividends per an- 
num as by effectively introducing Sciurus caroli- 
nensis? We cannot answer. And quite aside 
from the daily yield of human delight per squir- 
rel, another great gain must be recorded. Squir- 
rels in a public park teach children and restless 
boys to enjoy wild creatures mithout killing 
them; to love animals for their intelligence and 
their beauty, rather than as targets for small 
rifles; in short, to conserve and enjoy, instead 
of ruthlessly destroying. 

How can a park be stocked with gray squir- 
rels? The answer is easy. Make a dozen or 
twenty boxes, of bark-covered slabs if you have 
them, but otherwise of plain boards. Build 
each box like a small chimney, nine inches 
square inside, and about eighteen inches high. 
Saw off the upper end on a good slant, and nail 
on a one-board roof, twelve inches wide, so that 
it will keep out rain. Above and below, the 
roof should overhang generously, especially on 
the lower side. Put a bottom into the lower 
end, but bore a few small holes in it, to drain 
it in case water should ever enter the interior. 
Somewhere at the upper end of the box, in a 
position easily accessible from the tree trunk, 
cut a hole about three and a half inches in 
diameter. 

Finally, nail the nest-box tightly in a crotch 
or against the trunk of any tree you please, 
about twenty feet from the ground. If red 


ZOOLOGICAL 


BOX HOUSE FOR SQUIRRELS. 
Showing method of attaching to tree trunk. 


squirrels attempt to pre-empt your boxes, and 
drive out the grays, resolutely keep them in 
check by shooting a few of the former. When 
too numerous, the red squirrels easily become 
an intolerable nuisance, chiefly because of their 
industry in destroying the eggs and nestlings of 
wild birds. 

If the trees of the grove or park are small, 
very erect, and contain few large horizontal 
limbs such as are beloved of the gray squirrel, 
mitigate the situation by nailing up many little 
brackets, of boards, on which the squirrels can 
comfortably rest and eat. In a public park that 
is infested by dogs running at large, it is well 
to place a few brackets about seven feet from 
the ground, in order that food may easily be 
placed thereon, above the reach of the natural 
squirrel-killers. 

Like every other animal, the squirrel thrives 
best on a mixed diet. Corn is well liked, but 
only the germ of each grain is eaten. Unless a 
squirrel is very hungry, about two-thirds of each 
grain is wasted. Peanuts are good, but they 
induce habits of laziness. Small hickory nuts 
and filberts are the best for gray squirrels, be- 
cause they make the little animal work for his 
meals, and wear down his incisor teeth. Acorns 
should be supplied in the autumn, provided the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 471 
grove produces no natural crop. Too much 
easy food fosters an over-development of the 
incisors, and sometimes leads to an abnormal 
and distressing development of one pair. Teeth 
that grow beyond reason, and distress the owner, 
are easily cut back with a pair of flat-nosed cut- 
ting pliers. In long periods of dry weather, 
or drought in midsummer, every squirrel colony 
needs a supply of drinking water. 

Gray squirrels are easily purchased of Dr. 
Cecil French, of Washington, or Charles Payne, 
of Wichita, Kansas, and of many other dealers 
in live birds and mammals. Their cost price 
varies from $9 per dozen to $25, according to 
the distance they are to travel from seller to pur- 
chaser. If the distance is great, the crates must 
be made with much more care, and expense, than 
if the journey is short. Of course the best time 
to start a colony is in the spring, or summer; 
but with proper boxes and good care, it is quite 
safe to start in the autumn. 

I regret to say that there are even yet many 
thousand Americans who regard the gray squir- 
rel as “game,” who kill it as such, and actually 
eat it! There are only four states, I believe, in 
which this species is protected by law. The 
gray squirrel bill that Mr. G. O. Shields induced 
the New York legislature to pass in 1907, was 
killed by the passive veto of Governor Hughes. 
In other words, the act lay upon his desk until 
it died of an attack of limitation. 

W. Eo HE: 


THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 


The fifteenth annual meeting of the New York 
Zoological Society will be held in the South Room 
of the Hotel Plaza, Fifth Avenue and 58th Street 
entrance, Tuesday, January 12, 1909, at 8.30 P. M. 

Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn, Vice-President of 
the Society and Chairman of the Executive Commit- 
tee, will lay before the Society the plans of the 
Executive Committee for the protection of the Fauna 
of North America, with its recommendation that this 
work be undertaken on a large scale. 

Mr. Charles H. Townsend, Director of the New 
York Aquarium will give a short illustrated address, 
entitled, “Color Changes in Tropical Fishes, at the 
New York Aquarium.” 

Mr. Clinton G. Abbott will deliver an illustrated 
address on “Expressions of Emotion in Birds, as 
Portrayed by the Camera.” 

Miss Mary C. Dickerson will give an illustrated 
address on “The Winter Life of Birds and Small 
Mammals.” 

By courtesy of the New England Forest, Fish and 
Game Association, a series of remarkable moving 
pictures of leaping Atlantic Salmon will be shown 
by Mr. Richard E. Follett, Vice-President of the 
Association. 

Refreshments will be served. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


472 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 
Edited by the Director of the Zoological Park. 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor. 
Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 15 Cents; Yearly, 50 Cents. 
Mailed free to members. 


Copyright, 1909, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 32 JANUARY, 1909 


Officers of the Society. 


President : 
Hon. Levi P. Morton. 


Executive Committee: 
PrRoF. HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Chairman, 
JOUN S. BARNES MADISON GRANT, 
Percy R. Py WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
SAMUEL THORNE, Levi P. Morton, Ex-Officio. 


Geurral @Ofticers - 
Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADA OOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H, TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers : 
Ex-Oficto, 
The Mayor of the City of New York,. . . . Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep't of Parks,. . . . HON. HENRY SMITH. 


Glass of 1909. Glass of 1910. Glass of 1911. 
Levi P. Morton, ¥. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, 
Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, James W. Barney, 
John L, Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, William C. Church 
John S. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, Lispenard Stewart, 
Madison Grant, Edward J. Berwind, H imir De Kham, 
William White Niles, George C. Clark, George Crocker, 
Samuel Thorne, Cleveland H. Dodge, Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, ©, Ledyard Blair, Charles F. Dieterich, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, Cornelius Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, 

Wm. D. Sloane, Nelson Robinson, George F. Baker, 
Winthrop Rutherfurd, Frederick G. Bourne, Grant B, Schley, 
Frank K. Sturgis, W. Austin Wadsworth, Payne Whitney. 


Otticers of the Zoological Park : 
W. T, HoRNADAY, Sc.D., Director 


eae Taye Bs & oie ood Od Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RaAyMonD L. DITMARS 


Ferdi cig Ort Curator of Reptiles 

Curator of Birds 

Chief Forester and Constructor 

G. M. BEERBOWER Civil Engineer 

ELWIN R. SANBORN ......-.50. Photographer and Assistant Editor 
HARLOW Brooks, M.D. ........ Pathologist 

W. ReErp Buarr, D.V.S.......... Veterinarian 

W. 1. MircHELL . Office Assistant 

FERDINAND KAEGEBEHN ........ Librarian 


Officers of the Aquarium: 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director 


INEST Oikos nih oc moe oe oh Ooo 3 Fresh Water Collections 
W.I. DENYSE ... .~...... Marine Collections 
LA Ae SV OTA ONY bo onaciie Pater ce Gyote a BIE eo Fe Disbursing Officer 
A GREAT ZOOLOGICAL PARK FOR 


FRANCE. 

For several years we have wondered why 
Paris, the city of many expositions, has made 
no move to establish a zoological garden or 

_ park on a seale commensurate with the position 
of France among the great nations. The me- 
nagerie at the Jardin des Plantes is in the 
menagerie class, only: and the Jardin d’ Ac- 
climatation never was planned to contain a large 
and varied zoological collection. In view of the 
great zoological establishments of New York, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Berlin, London, Amsterdam and Antwerp, it 
has been cause for some surprise that the 
Irench capitol has made no move in the same 
direction. 

Last year, when Dr. Gustave Loisel, of Paris, 
officially commissioned by the Department of 
Public Instruction of France, spent a week at 
the New York Zoological Park, studying it with 
a degree of systematic thoroughness and scholor- 
ly intelligence that was to say the least most 
unusual, it seemed quite certain that the effort 
was based on a serious purpose that might 
easily have been named. In our design, 
methods of development and general adminis- 
tration, there was scarcely a point that Dr. 
Loisel did not grasp and enter in his records. 
The workings and methods of our whole estab- 
lishment were laid bare to him, and of publica- 
tions, photographs and typewritten statements, 
we furnished a great supply. This material 
now makes in Dr. Loisel’s report about 50 pages 
of text, which is embellished by a large series 
of illustrations, beautifully printed. 

An American artist studying in Paris is now 
our authority for the news that the French gov- 
ernment has announced its intention to establish 
a zoological garden on a grand scale, and devote 
to its development a very large sum of money. 
The animal painters and sculptors of Paris have 
been invited to submit suggestions for the facili- 
ties which they desire in the new institution in 
connection with their work. In pursuance of 
this request, the artist referred to has recently 
made a careful personal inspection of the studio 
in our Lion House, and the specially-invented 
transfer cage by which animals are placed in it, 
and withdrawn. 

Naturally, we welcome the news from Paris 
with keen satisfaction. In view of the appall- 
ing destruction of wild-animal life throughout 
the world, there can not be too many zoological 
gardens and parks; and with all our hearts we 
wish the French undertaking unbounded success. 

Wee Dee 


BIRD SLAUGHTER AND ITS TERRIBLE 
RESULTS. 


I have recently received a letter from Aus- 
tralia which seems of sufficient general interest 
and importance for publication. Its theme is 
the ill effects resulting from the indiscriminate 
slaughter of birds; by no means a novel subject 
for debate, but one which is becoming ever more 
vital to the multiplying myriads of human be- 
ings on the earth. 

The statement of mine alluded to is, in brief, 
that if every bird in the world was suddenly to 
be wiped out of existence, the earth would. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


within a period of ten years, become uninhabit- 


able for man. GC. W. B. 


Sypney, New Souru Wates, AusTRALia, 
Nie Guna Bener September 12th, 1908. 


Dear Sir:—In one of our papers are quoted 
some remarks of yours on the value of birds to 
mankind. I wish to afford you certain infor- 
mation, to wit: In the sub-districts of Robert- 
son and Kangaloon in the Illawarra district of 
New South Wales, what ten years ago was a 
waying mass of English Cocksfoot and Rye 
grass, which had been put in gradually as the 
dense vine scrub was felled and burnt off, is now 
a barren desert and nine families out of every 
ten which were renting properties have been 
compelled to leave the district and take up 
other lands. This is through the grubs having 
eaten out the grass by the roots. Ploughing 
proved to be useless as the grubs ate out the 
grass just the same. Whilst there recently I 
was informed that it took three years from the 
time the grubs were first seen until to-day, to 
accomplish this complete devastation; in other 
words, three years ago the grubs began work 
in that beautiful country of green mountains 
and running streams. 

The birds had all been ruthlessly shot and de- 
stroyed in that district and I was amazed at the 
absence of bird life. The two sub-districts I 
have mentioned have an area of about thirty 
square miles, and form a table-land about 1200 
feet above sea level. This is a verification of 
your statements. 

I am, yours faithfully, 
Ricuarp Water ToMatin. 


HUNTING SONG-BIRDS. 


Hunting song-birds in the vicinity of the 
Zoological Park, has narrowed down from 
numerous offenses, to extremely rare cases. 
However it has not ceased altogether, and but 
for the vigilance and courage of our game war- 
den, John Rose, wiose reputation in this ca- 
pacity has becom: terrifying to evil doers, 
it would even now be carried on persistently. 
The offenses whic!: now come to our notice are 
committed by foreigners who apparently are 
fully aware of the bird laws, but who think they 
can safely defy them. The character of the 
work involved in apprehending bird-killers is 
rather interesting. 

On Sunday, November 23d, Warden Rose 
made a trip toward Hunt’s Point, in the vicinity 
of the Sound, to investigate reported shootings 
in that locality. Hearing the sound of a gun 
he stalked through the undergrowth in the di- 
rection of the shots. Rose stalked his men to 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 473 
the vicinity of a barn owned by a man named 
O’Hare, and came upon two Italians near the 
barn. Coming out of the bushes in the rear of 
the barn he spoke to the men, saying he had lost 
his brother and was hunting for him. Neither 
of the men had seen this imaginary boy, and the 
Warden was forced to depart. 

Confident that these men were the offenders, 
Rose made a detour and concealed himself in 
the rear of the barn. A tedious wait finally re- 
sulted in the reappearance of the two men. At 
the right moment Rose quickly ran from his 
concealment, and caught one hunter emptying 
his pockets of dead birds. The other hunter ran 
into the barn with the gun. Rose drew his re- 
volver, while holding one offender and forced the 
other to come from concealment. It was only 
upon a threat to shoot that the men surrendered. 
When the fact that they were under arrest be- 
came fully apparent to them, the bird-killers 
offered the officer their money and their watches 
in exchange for their release. 

Marching the two men ahead of him, Warden 
Rose started for the nearest police station. 
After a walk of nearly two miles a car line was 
reached, the prisoners placed on board and after 
much difficulty landed at the Westchester Jail. 
Judge Welch, of the Eighth Division of City 
Magistrates’ Court, after giving the offenders 
a severe lecture, held each of them in three hun- 
dred dollars bail for trial at Special Sessions. 
The men gave their names as Vincenzo Sacco 
and Antonio Guadagno, and their case has not 
yet been reached. 

The birds in the possession of the hunters 
were retained by Warden Rose as evidence of 
their guilt. They were seventeen in number, 
and included the following specimens:—Three 
starlings, one brown creeper, three myrtle warb- 
lers, four chipping sparrows, three song spar- 
rows and three seaside sparrows. Of course 
all these were intended to be cooked and eaten. 


BR. RS: 


THE OPENING OF THE 


HOUSE. 


On the nineteenth of November the “new” 
Elephant House in the Zoological Park was 
opened to the public with a full complement of 
specimens, excepting our Hippopotamus. An 
informal reception and first view of this splendid 
installation, given in the afternoon to the mem- 
bers of the Society, was the only ceremony which 
distinguished the completion of the most impos- 
ing building of the Park, which is well worthy 
of being regarded as the grand climax of our 
building operations. Be Rees: 


ELEPHANT 


74 ZOOLOGICAL, 


SOCIETY 


—J 


BULLETIN. 


THE NEW QUARTERS FOR THE HIPPOPOTAMUS IN THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 
The low iron partition through the enclosure separates the main stall from the bathing pool. 


HOW THE HIPPOPOTAMUS WAS 


MOVED. 


XCEPTING one, each stall in the Elephant 
ee was occupied on the opening day. 

The empty one was that of the Hippo- 
potamus, and for several days it remained un- 
tenanted. The problem which confronted Ma- 
homet upon viewing the mountain, confronted 
the Director when the guileless “hippo” refused 
to leave his quarters in the Antelope House for 
his new home in the Elephant House. 

To the keepers the task had appeared so easy 
that no special preparations were thought nec- 
essary, excepting a means of conveyance. A 
horse ambulance was secured, large enough to 
hold the animal’s great bulk. The sides of the 
vehicle were raised to a height of six feet, and 
the “hippo” was loaded in so easily that our 
trouble seemingly vanished like mist before the 
morning sun. No covering was put over the 
top, because the sides of the van were three 
feet higher than the animal’s back. 

In closing the end-gate preparatory to driv- 
ing off, the noise startled the animal, and with 


one frantic effort he reared up on his hind legs, 
and threw his fore legs and head over the side, 
breaking off the temporary boards. For a mo- 
ment his plight was really serious. But by 
prompt and vigorous exertions on the part of 
the keepers, the Hippo was rescued,—badly 
frightened,—and returned to his quarters. The 
only alternative now was a crate, which was 
hastily constructed and put into the stall in the 
Antelope House, until the favorable hour for 
moving should come. 

““Pete’s” temper, a most equable one, was en- 
tirely unruffed. He viewed with calm indiffer- 
ence the confusion of the departure of the 
“rhinos” and elephants, and also the strange box 
in his quarters. Even the shortening of his 
rations had no visible effect upon his spirits, and 
the loss of his bath palled on him but a trifle. 
Such calmness augured well for complete suc- 
cess; merely lead him into his shifting box and 
away with him; but a trifling task. 

Consequently on the morning of the opening 
day, the keepers assembled at the Antelope 
House prepared to finish the task with dispatch. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 475 


The “hippo” regarded 
these activities with suspi- 
cion, and after that the 
food tempted him only to 
the extent of hastily secur- 
ing a mouthful from the 
crate and backing out to 
devour it. The attempts to 
rush him in were savagely 
repulsed. Next in order 
the crate was placed in the 
open doors leading out to 
the yards, and an attempt 
made to rope “Pete” and 
drag him into it. The 
roundness of his body and 
limbs, and the smoothness 
of his skin made it impossi- 
ble to hold him with a large 
rope, and a small one could 
not be used, for fear of in- 
juring the animal. 

At this point the Director 
decided that it would be 
necessary to build a chute, 
and therewith force the 
Hippo into the crate; but 
the keepers asked permission 
to try their strategy. 

THE CHUTE AT THE ANTELOPE HOUSE. During the following 
The keepers are just securing the door of the shifting crate behind the captured “hippo.” week, on each successive 


night, by alternate starving 
The sliding door of the huge crate was raised, and coaxing, the keepers tried in vain to trap 
the floor of it was covered with straw and a him. Even though he was enticed into the crate 
bountiful supply of tempt- 
ing vegetable food was placed 
in the extreme end. A fast 
of twelve hours gave to these 
preparations an air so invit- 
ing that “Pete” seemed 
eager to do his part. 

All being ready, “Pete” 
awaited no invitation to en- 
ter. He started precipitate- 
ly, entered with some cau- 
tion, elongated himself tre- 
mendously and took a 
mouthful of food. The men 
were anxious to drop the 
rear door, but as eighteen 
inches of “hippo” remained 
outside, there was no way to 
do this. The “hippo” se- 
cured the food, and backed 
out. The crate seemed too 
short; and carpenters were 
summoned to add two feet. 


ey ie 
<< Te ~< —— ae 

= ARRIVAL OF THE “HIPPO” AT THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 

making a total of twelve feet. The door of the crate was lifted and the animal walked into the stall without delay. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


BOW-SNARES FOR CATCHING SMALL BIRDS. 
The one in the left centre is set. 


repeatedly, on each occasion he made use of his 
great strength to shove up the sliding door and 
eseape. Finally it became apparent that this 
plan could not succeed, and then the Director 
ordered that his original plan be carried into 
effect. 

The head of the crate was accordingly placed 
against the outside doors, and a barrier of 
heavy planking extended from one side of it to 
the steel cage-bars, in front. On the other side of 
the crate was erected a similar barrier, but sliding 
on rollers in such a fashion that it could be 
drawn quickly forward by a strong rope, also up 
to the cage bars. This side was left open, and 
the “hippo,” now thoroughly hungry, was easily 
enticed half way into the crate. Once there, with 
a quick pull on the moving partition, he was 
securely fenced in, with his nose pointing 
straight at the opening of the crate. Whenever 
he moved forward, ever so little, a bar of heavy 
pipe was pushed across behind him. Foot by 
foot his retreat was thus cut off, until finally 
he was fairly crowded into the trap, the door 
dropped, and securely fastened. The time of 
this final operation was twelve minutes. Mr. 
Merkel’s men then loaded the crate into the 
ambulance, and after a trip to the scales for 
weighing, “Pete” was unloaded safely in his 
quarters at the Elephant House, where he speed- 
ily plunged into the warm water of his huge 
new bathing pool. 

For moving the rhinoceroses and the hippo. 
the large horse ambulance of the Bronx Brewers’ 
Association was kindly loaned to the Zoological 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


~~ Society through Mr. John 
C. Heintz, and it rendered 
most valuable service. 


E. R. S. 


ANOTHER BIRD-KILL- 
ING SCHEME. 


HE accompanying illus- 

tration is an interesting 

piece of evidence of the 
ingenuity and merciless per- 
sistence of the song-bird de- 
stroyers who still occasion- 
ally operate in the woods 
and meadows above the Zoo- 
logical Park. 

On Sunday, December 
Oth, a number of snares were 
found near a small stream 
by Special Warden Rose 
during a trip north of the 
Park. ‘The miscreants had 
cut runways in the brush, 
through which the birds would walk to the 
water. At the ends of these runs the snares 
were planted in the ground in such a manner 
that the birds would be forced to come in con- 
tact with them. 

The snare is bent like a bow by a double cord 
fastened to one end and passing through a small 
hole drilled in the opposite end. About six 
inches from the end of the cord is a running knot, 
forming a slip noose. Into this loop is inserted 
a small twig, making, when the trap is set, a 
horizontal perch about two inches above the 
ground. Naturally, as a bird comes to the end 
of the run, it jumps on the twig, the frail sup- 
port falls, and the villainous device springs up, 
breaking the legs, wings or neck of the helpless 
victim. 

Mr. Rose found and destroyed eight traps. 
Later on, he put up a covey of quail near this 
spot, which showed plainly how thoroughly the 
hunters knew the game. A few days later he 
returned to this place and found the twenty-one 
snares which figure in the illustration. 


By Re Ss 


ALBINOS IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


N unusual number of albinistic mammals, 
birds and reptiles are at present on exhibi- 
tion in the Park. Among the most inter- 
esting of the albinos in the collection are a 
coyote, woodchuck, Carolina squirrel, rhea, and 
a diamond-back terrapin. There are also sev- 
eral specimens in the collection that incline to- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


s 
i 
{ 
f 


ALBINO COYOTE. 


wards albinism, which are almost as interesting 
as the fully-white individuals. 

Albinism not rare. 
observations of a great number of litters of va- 
rious species, the striped snake (Kutaenia sir- 
talis), shows the most common tendency in this 
direction. In a litter of forty-four specimens 
born in the Reptile House there were three per- 
fect albino examples. They were yellowish- 
white, with pink eyes. For some time after 
birth these specimens were so translucent that 
when held to the light the internal organs could 
easily be traced and the heart could be seen 
beating. 

A fully-matured albino striped snake was re- 
cently brought to the Reptile House by a boy, 
who had captured it as the reptile was crossing 
Jerome Avenue, in the Borough of the Bronx. 
This specimen had evidently been living in an 
isolated patch of woods, and had been seized with 
a wandering tendency often evinced by snakes. 
It was of a pale cream color, with pink eyes. 
The familiar pattern of the species could be 
faintly traced when the reptile was held in a 
bright light. The skin of this specimen was so 


among snakes is From 


translucent that after a frog had been eaten, its 
presence was indicated by a distinct dark patch 
on the otherwise spotless skin of the reptile. 

An albino diamond-back terrapin, (Malaco- 
clemmys palustris), is one of the most curious 
reptiles ever exhibited in the Park. In this in- 
stance albinism is not exhibited to the perfect 
degree as in the snakes described. Instead of 
the usual dark, olivaceous shell, the hue is a 
bright yellow, becoming reddish on the border. 
The head and legs are almost white, and faintly 
spotted, but the eyes are not pink, as with most 
pronounced albinos. 

A tendency toward albinism among reptiles 
sometimes results in startling combinations. A 
Florida striped snake was once received that 
exhibited a uniform coat of fiery brick-red. 
To add to its unusual aspect, this reptile pos- 
sessed a white tongue, which when in play im- 
parted the effect of the snake ejecting a pale 
fluid from the mouth. 

Our albino mammals are interesting from the 
fact of their being snowy-white, with limpid 
pink eyes. The white coyote represents a most 


unusual phase among wolves. Owing to his be- 


478 ZOOLOGICAL 


TAMANDUA: 


PREHENSILE-TAILED ANTEATER. 


ing quartered in an adjoining cage to the pair 
of black-phase coyotes from Wyoming, his ap- 
pearance is particularly impressive. The milk- 
white gray squirrel presented by Mr. G. O. 
Shields nearly five years ago is yet living in the 
Small-Mammal House in good health. 


Re D: 


ITEMS OF INTEREST. 


Zoological Park. 


The Nighthawk—Members of the Order 
MACROCHIRES, including the chimney swifts, 
hummings and nighthawks, are among the most 
This 
is primarily because of the extreme specializa- 
tion of their feeding habits, all except the hum- 


difficult of birds to keep alive in captivity. 


mingbirds being exclusively flycatchers, seizing 
their prey while in full flight. 

A nighthawk was recently received at the 
Park, being slightly injured by flying against 
a telegraph wire. The injury soon healed and 
the bird, after being forcibly fed for a week, 
learned to take food from the keeper’s hand. 
It has now been in captivity over a month and 
has adapted itself to its unusual surroundings 
in a way which promises long life. 

Its favorite position, true to the custom of its 
family, is lengthwise upon a small prostrate 
tree-trunk. At the approach of a keeper with 
food, the bird flies down to the door and greets 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


the man with its great mouth wide open and 
wings quivering with eagerness. Pellet after 
pellet of meat, egg and meal-worms is caught 
and swallowed, until the bird signifies its satiety 
by flying back to its perch. Few people have 
seen a nighthawk or a whippoorwill alive, and 
this bird attracts a great deal of attention. 


Weight of the Elephant House Collection.— 
The aggregate of the specimens now in the Ele- 
phant House, not including the Tapirs, is 20282 
pounds; the weights of the individuals being as 
follows:—Indian Rhinoceros, 1010 pounds; 
Male African Rhinoceros, 602 pounds, Female 
African Rhinoceros, 1080 pounds; West Af- 
rican Elephant, 1170 pounds; Male Sudan Af- 
rican Elephant, 1460 pounds; Female, 1290 
pounds; Male Indian Elephant, 6800 pounds; 
and the Female Indian Elephant, 4500 pounds. 

In four years “Gunda” has increased in 
stature from six feet and seven inches to eight 
feet, two and one-half inches, and his increase 
in weight amounts to 3060 pounds. 


EK. R.S. 


The Sea Lions.—The Sea-Lions have been re- 
moved from their summer pool on Baird Court 
to the large enclosure just vacated by the Hip- 
popotamus in the Antelope House. Thus far 
the Sea-Lions have had rather a trying time 
during the winter season, chiefly on account of 


TREE PORCUPINE. 


An interesting little porcupine, caught by Curator Beebe 
in Venezuela. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


PIG-TAILED MACAQUE. 


their predisposition to pneumonia in spring. 
This large swimming tank now available will 
keep them quite comfortable until mild weather. 


SOME INTERESTING FISHES. 


S a gift from Mr. Otto Eggeling, an aquar- 

ist of this city, we have placed on exhibi- 

tion on the main floor of the Reptile House. 
a tank containing a collection of rare Indian 
fishes. The most interesting among these is a 
pair of Climbing Perch, (Anabas scandens). 
Specimens of this remarkable fish were first im- 
ported by Mr. Eggeling to this country in 1903, 
from Caleutta. The remarkable feature of the 
life history of this fish, is the fact that it is able 
to live out of water for hours at a time. While 
a few other fishes are able to do this to a limited 
extent, the Climbing Perch is one of the very 
few which, under certain conditions, leave their 
natural element and travel overland, or even 
climb the trunks of trees to a height of six or 
seven feet. 

The gills and fins are provided with sharp 
teeth which the fishes use with great skill to 
“Walk” over the ground. Whenever the sun 
evaporates a body of water in which examples 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 479 
of this species live, the fishes emigrate in masses 
to other waters; or, if these should not be found. 
they bury themselves in places sufficiently moist 
to keep them alive until the rains make further 
progress possible. 

The Climbing Perch is found usually in 
Southern India, Ceylon and the East Indies, 
in shallow or stagnant water. In the aquarium, 
it becomes very tame. Owing to its wandering 
disposition, it is liable to jump from the tank, 
and for this reason a wire gauze covers the 
aquarium containing our specimens. 

Is IE, 1D). 


THE NEW ADMINISTRATION 
BUILDING. 


HE members of the Zoological Society will 
be pleased to know that the erection of the 
Administration Building is actually in pro- 
At the moment of going to press with 
this number of the BuLLeTiINn, the foundations 
are finished, and the erection of the structural 
steel is well under way. It is now reasonably 
certain that in the autumn of 1909 this long- 
needed building will be ready for practical use. 
The members of the Society can then enjoy the 
“Heads and Horns” collection, the Library, 
Art Gallery, offices and reception rooms, for all 
of which ample space has been provided. 

The building has been located at the north- 
east corner of Baird Court, directly opposite the 
Bird House. Architecturally it will be entirely 
in harmony with the other buildings of Baird 


Court. Ex Rea: 


gress. 


A RARE SERPENT. 
NOTHER specimen of the Bushmaster, 


(Lachesis mutus), has been placed on exhi- 

bition in the Reptile House. Like all of 
our other specimens of this rare and deadly 
snake, the present example came from the island 
of Trinidad. It is the gift of Mr. Edward 
Wheelock Runyon, who procured the reptile for 
the purpose of obtaining some of its venom for 
scientific purposes. 

Venom is extracted from a snake in 
simple fashion. A piece of cheesecloth is tied 
over the top of an ordinary glass tumbler. The 
snake is captured by pressing its head against 
the ground with a stick, when it is grasped by 
the neck, immediately behind the head so that 
it cannot turn and bite in either direction. Its 
jaws are then applied to the cheesecloth, through 
which it bites viciously. When the fangs are 
through, the operator compresses the reptile’s 
poison glands, emptying out more venom than if 


a very 


480, ZOOLOGICAL 


feta 


tai 
m 


» EEC. We 
to 


OT ae a 
Ee 


=. 
we 


REE 


Los. 


é 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


- 
oe a 


MALAY TAPIR: SADDLE-BACK TAPIR. 
So called on account of the conspicuous area of white hair on the back and sides. 


the snake bit normally. The venom is pale yel- 
low, and dries rapidly. It then forms 
coarse scales which look like amber. 

The Bushmaster inhabits tropical America. 
It is the largest of the poisonous snakes of the 
New World, and has enormously developed 
poison-conducting fangs. Rew: 


into 


THE MALAY TAPIR. 


HE Elephant House was opened with the 

Tapir Family well represented. To trans- 

port a tapir all the way from Singapore to 
New York and complete the voyage with the 
animal in perfect condition, is a noteworthy 
achievement. This was accomplished by Cap- 
tain Perey Watson, of the Steamer “Muncaster 
Castle,’ who brought us our first example of the 
Malay or “Saddle-Back” Tapir, (T'apirus in- 
dicus). When the “Muneaster Castle’ was 
coming through the Red Sea, a fire broke out in 
her hold directly under the heavy tapir ca 


ge, 


which was fastened to the deck. The steel 
deck-plates became very hot and after great dif- 
ficulty the crate was moved to another spot fur- 
ther forward. Soon after that the fire gained 
in fury, the steel deck became white hot, then 
eaved in. Had not several cruisers been sighted 
at that moment we would yet be looking for a 
“Saddle-Back” Tapir. Tons of water were 
pumped into the vessel’s hold from all sides and 
the fire was conquered. 

About five species of Tapirs are known, only 
one of which is found in the Old World. We 
now have on exhibition in the Elephant House. 
the two best-known species. The New World 
representative is the South American Tapir. 
(Tapirus terrestris). Of this species we have a 
mother and young, the latter now so well grown 
that it shows only very faintly the vivid strip- 
ing that so strongly characterizes the young 
when first born. The specimens of both species 
are exhibited in cages at the eastern end of the 


Elephant House. ReaD: 


VO AN\ 


Aquarium Number 


PREPARED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 33 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


April, 1909 


THE 


N aquarium located in the tropics has many 
(ett over one established in a region 

where cold weather prevails in the winter 
months. It has not only the marvelously varied 
life of warm seas to draw upon, but has the 
supply so close at hand and so abundant that its 
collections may be changed frequently with little 
expense. 

The temperature of its water supply requires 
no costly artificial regulation, and the various 
foods necessary to the welfare of its occupants 
are always obtainable. The mere changes of the 
seasons in the north involve a northern aquarium 
in heavy expenses. 

In these respects the aquariums now estab- 
lished in the Bermuda and Hawaiian Islands 
possess advantages of location which it would be 
difficult to surpass. 


BERMUDA 


AQUARIUM. 


The Bermuda Aquarium is as yet but half 
completed. It occupies the site of an under- 
ground powder magazine, the interior of which 
It is 


with 


is 100 feet in length by 67 feet in width. 
divided five 


arched ceilings of masonry. 


into transverse chambers 
A lengthwise pas- 
sage crosses all the transverse chambers, divid- 
ing the Aquarium into two sections, the southern 
being completed. In the ends of each transverse 
chamber, are either two or three glass-fronted 
tanks, the tops of which are open to the day- 
light and the outer air, the chambers themselves 


being decidedly dark. 


in the completed section. 


There are twelve tanks 
The general effect is 
suggestive of the Trocadero Aquarium in Paris, 
which is built in the bottom of an old quarry 
with all tanks extending up to the level of the 
grass in the park above. 


oa 


THE AQUARIUM AND BIOLOGICAL STATION, AGARS ISLAND, BERMUDA. 


The entrance to the Aquarium is indicated by the arrow. 
- From a photograph by L. L. Mowbray. 


482 


ENTRANCE, BERMUDA AQUARIUM. 
Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


With the completion of the tanks across the 
northern section, the Aquarium will have about 
thirty tanks, affording space for a considerable 
variety of fishes and invertebrates. The species 
at present on exhibition are in general the same 
tropical forms usually to be seen at the New 
York Aquarium. In fact the tropical fishes now 
in New York were secured through the co-opera- 
tion of the Bermuda Aquarium, a convenient ar- 
rangement as it enables us to get fishes that have 
been “seasoned” in the tanks at Bermuda. 

A tank of large and showy sea anemones is 
one of its attractions, which it may not be easy 
to repeat in the New York Aquarium, owing to 
the difficulty of transporting the specimens with- 
out injury. 

It contains several species, among which are 
the gill-bearing anemone, (Lebrunea danae), 
about eighteen inches in diameter which is of a 
brownish color; the pink-tipped anemone, (Con- 
dylactis gigantea), which varies greatly in tint, 
often yellowish or white with purple-tipped ten- 
tacles and spreads out a foot or more; the little 
red anemone, (Actinia Bermudensis), and the 
white-specked anemone, (Aiptasia tageter), a 
Most of these 
are shown in the accompanying photograph. 

Another picture shows the octopus tank at the 
Bermuda Aquarium. 


flat species with short tentacles. 


Additional specimens of 
the New York 
Aquarium, it is hoped with better results than 


these will be procured for 
attended the shipment made last summer when 
the specimens were all injured during transpor- 
tation either by fighting or by a too low tem- 
perature of the water. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Around the five transverse chambers compos- 
ing the Aquarium, runs a narrow moat of 
masonry called the “lighting passage” when the 
This 
moat, four feet wide, extends up to the general 


whole structure was a powder magazine. 


level of the ground above—about thirty feet— 
In its bottom all the 
tanks are built the full width of the passage, the 


and is open to the sky. 


glass fronts facing inward through cuttings in 
All 


tanks are four feet wide and four feet deep, the 


the end walls of each transverse chamber. 


largest being eight feet long, the others four. 
The lighting of the tanks is perfect, since 
their tops are open to the sky, and the mildness 
of the climate renders glass roofing for them 
unnecessary. Rainstorms do not materially af- 
fect the salinity of the flowing sea water with 
which all the tanks are supplied. The lighting 
of the interior will be greatly improved with the 
If addi- 


tional light is desired it can be secured by cut- 


completion of the north side tanks. 


ting light shafts through the ceiling of the cen- 
tral passage. 


LIGHTING PASSAGE, BERMUDA AQUARIUM. 
View of the lighting passage looking down on the tanks. The 
grass-covered section to the left is the top of the Aquarium. 
Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


OCTOPUS, BERMUDA AQUARIUM. 
Photograph by L. L. Mowbray. 


The 
having air tubes extending above the general 


ventilation is excellent, each chamber 
level of the embankment. 

The Aquarium is furnished with sea water 
from a reservoir of stone and cement holding 
40,000 gallons and situated well above the level 
of the tanks, to which the water flows freely. 
The reservoir is supplied from a well dug in the 
coral rock near the shore, the water being 
pumped through a three-inch pipe, by a two- 
horse-power oil engine. A 
windmill is used as an auxil- 


The 


water from the well is al- 


iary to the engine. 
ways clear. 

The Aquarium, as has al- 
ready been stated, is an un- 
derground structure. Viewed 
from above it is a rectangu- 
lar, flat-topped, grass-cov- 


hill, 


being eight feet of earth on 


ered mound, or there 


top of the masonry. It is 


situated on Agars Island 
two miles from Hamilton, 


and is reached by boat or 
carriage, the latter involv- 
ing a transfer of about 100 
yards by rowboat. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 483 


There are several ordi- 
nary buildings of masonry 
on the island, including two 
cottages as quarters for of- 
ficers. The old barrack 
room is now a well-lighted 
biological laboratory, with 
adjacent kitchens, wash - 
rooms, photographic room 
Other build- 

warerooms, 
The 


island has a good dock of 


and library. 


ings serve as 
boat houses and offices. 
three fresh 


masonry, and 


water reservoirs. It is much 

in need of a causeway across 

the reefs, for the greater 
convenience of visitors. 

The Aquarium is a pub- 

lic institution conducted by 

the Bermuda Natural History Society, in the 

interest of science. The proceeds from the ad- 

mission fees of the Aquarium are devoted to 

the establishment and maintenance of labora- 

tories for the use of scientists and students from 

abroad. In 1907-08 

students of biology from the United States and 


Canada in the laboratory. 


there were twenty-nine 
Funds are also de- 
rived from membership dues and popular sub- 


scriptions. The principal donors to the Society 


CRIMSON ANEMONE, (Tealia). 
Photograph by L. B. Spencer. 


484 


ane! 


SEA ANEMONES, BERMUDA AQUARIUM. 
Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


have been Mr. James Gordon Bennett, of New 
York, and Mrs. Reid, of Bermuda. 

The Aquarium is in 
Ge Whe, Were, IE. 
Mowbray, curator of the 


charge 


Bermuda Museum of Natu- 


There are at 
The 


establishment, including the 


ral History. 


present two caretakers. 


biological laboratory, has 
two motor launches and two 
row boats. A good-sized 
sloop with a “well” for liv- 
ing specimens is hired for 
collecting purposes. 

The institution is of great 
interest locally and is well 
patronized by the numerous 
tourists visiting the islands 
in winter. Local excursion 
boats call regularly at the 
Aquarium. 

Like the New York 
Aquarium the structure oc- 
cupied by the Bermuda 
Aquarium, had its begin- 
ning in military necessities. 
the 
old 


fort, the latter is a convert- 


While the former is 


transformation of an 


ed powder magazine, and 
both are of ponderous 


masonry. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


A TROPICAL FISH POND. 
A GREAT pool of the clearest sea water con- 


taining about two hundred brilliantly col- 

ored fishes of large size, is one of the sights 
pointed out to all visitors to the Bermuda 
Islands. 

To call it a fish-pond is scarcely correct. It 
might better be described as an open-air aquar- 
ium, but to the Bermudians it is simply The 
Devil’s Hole. 
about a hundred feet in diameter, by fifty in 


This natural pool appears to be 
depth. It is situated less than a hundred yards 
from the shore of Harrington Sound and al- 
though the tides rise and fall within it, the un- 
derground sea connections are not large enough 
to permit of the escape of the fishes. 


THE DEVIL’S HOLE, BERMUDA. 
Photograph by W. Weiss. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLFROG. 
Photograph by L. B. Spencer. 


It is entirely a work of Nature or rather of 
the Sea, being merely an exposed sea cavern, the 
roof of which collapsed long ago. Its ragged 
coral walls are overhung with trees and vines. 

The collection which has been brought to- 
gether in the Devil’s Hole consists chiefly of the 
larger food fishes of the Bermudas, such as 
groupers and hinds, with many showy species 
including angel and parrot-fishes. The large 
size of the specimens, their richness of colora- 


and 


changes of color when food is thrown among 


tion, their surprising tameness, sudden 
them, make an exhibition pleasing in every way. 

The accompanying photograph shows only a 
small portion of the Devil’s Hole and its collec- 


tion of fishes. 


FROGS AND FROG-RAISING. 


N the Laboratory of the Aquarium there is a 
ere wire-covered tank containing about 

twenty young bullfrogs. They are the repre- 
sentatives of a number of very burly tadpoles 
which lived in one of the large exhibition tanks 
last summer and furnished to visitors an object 
lesson in frog development. There were tadpoles 
of the plain long-tailed sort, tadpoles with short 
tails and one pair of legs, tadpoles with stub 
tails and two pairs of legs, and young frogs with 


no tails at all. People asked about them and 


BULLETIN. 485 
wanted to know if they were 
easy to raise, how fast they 
and what was to be 
A few of 


the smallest were eaten by 


grew 
done with them. 


the larger ones, and a few 
were given away for the use 
of zoological classes in the 
universities of the City and 
so did not get a chance to 
develop into full-sized croak- 
ers, but the rest just stayed 
where they were and had 
nothing to do but grow. 
When winter came they were 
moved to warmer quarters, 
where they thrived, and when 
spring came were fairly 
good-sized frogs—for eight 
months’ growth. 

The keeping of these frogs indoors during the 
winter is a matter of more importance than may 
be supposed, since a good many persons seem 
disposed to undertake frog raising and seek in 
vain for satisfactory information on frog cul- 
ture. The Aquarium gets its share of the in- 
quiry, but the fact is, a good system of frog 


The 


Pennsylvania Fish Commission is carrying on 


propagation has yet to be worked out. 


experiments and had at last accounts, distributed 
140,000 young frogs to prospective cultivators, 
in response to fully a thousand applications 
from various parts of the State. The Fisheries 
Bureau at Washington distributes certain infor- 
mation on frogs with brief suggestions on frog 
culture, but has not yet undertaken to propagate 
them. Our marshy wastes can be made profit- 
able by frog raising and private as well as pub- 
lic experiment is desirable. The present brief 
notes on what is known of the subject are pre- 
sented more in the hope of arousing interest than 
of stating just how frog raising should be 
done. 

It is not generally known that more frogs are 
eaten in the United States than in France, and 
that the annual crop of American frogs sent to 
market is a large and valuable one. Moreover 
the frog supply is by no means equal to the de- 


mand. According to the last Government statis- 


486 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


FOUR STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE FROG. 


tics of the fisheries of the Mississippi River and 
its tributaries, the single item of frogs for that 
region was stated at 336,049 pounds, valued at 
$24,783. 
vania has recently stated that the annual catch 
of wild frogs in the United States is worth fully 
$200,000 to the consumer. 
ported that more frogs are taken in New York 


The Fish Commissioner of Pennsyl- 


It is officially re- 


than in any other State. 

The American bullfrog, (Rana catesbiana), is 
not only larger than the edible frogs of Europe, 
but the largest of all frogs. We have also a 
few other species which grow large enough to 
be important for food, such as the spring frog, 
(Rana virescens), the green frog, (tana cla- 
mata), the leopard frog, (Rana pipiens), and 
some western species; but the bullfrog and the 
green frog are the largest and most promising. 
They are also widely distributed, being found 
throughout the entire and Middle 
States. 


According to Government fishery statistics, 


Eastern 


the first value of frogs sent to market averages 
fourteen cents a pound, but in some sections the 
prices received are much greater. They also 
depend largely on the size of the frogs. 

The cultivation of frogs in paying quantities 
is complicated by their peculiar habits, depend- 
ence upon live food, cannibalistic tendencies and 
numerous natural enemies. 


The procuring of eggs is not difficult, since 
they may be found in all sorts of ponds and 
stagnant waters early in the spring. The eggs 
are deposited in jelly-like masses in shallow 
water and are easily dipped up and transferred. 
They can be hatched in wire-bottomed troughs 
anchored in flowing water, and will of course 
hatch in the ponds where they are found if the 
egg masses are protected. The eggs hatch in a 
Toad 
eggs need not be mistaken for frog eggs, since 


week or two, according to temperature. 


the former are not laid in masses but in strings. 
In the tadpole as well as the mature stage, frogs 
have many natural enemies, both on land and 
in the water. 
of birds, mammals. 
The larve of water beetles are especially de- 
structive to the tadpoles, and if the beetles are 
not constantly removed with a net, thousands 
of tadpoles will be destroyed by the larve in the 
pond every day. 
difficult. 


all sorts and will swarm thickly around meat, 


They are eaten by many kinds 


snakes, fishes and small 


The feeding of tadpoles is not 
They devour dead animal matter of 


liver or fish, consuming it rapidly. 

After they develop into frogs live food is 
necessary. They eat worms, beetles, spiders, 
crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, crayfishes, 
small frogs and fishes, in fact, any living thing 


they are able to swallow. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Our Aquarium frogs subsist largely on live 
minnows, but they can also be taught to feed on 
fresh meat, small strips of which are presented 
to each frog on the end of a slim stick. 

Large specimens have been seen trying to 
swallow the baby alligators formerly kept in the 
tank with them. For the pond, however, min- 
nows and tadpoles represent two kinds of foods 
usually available. Chopped meat placed about 
the shore of the pond will attract insects and it 
is said the frogs thus brought in contact with 
The feeding of 


large numbers of frogs is the chief problem to 


the meat will learn to eat it. 


be worked out. 

As the larger species of frogs may remain in 
the todpole stage a year or more, the prospec- 
tive frog culturist can gain time by stocking the 
pond with large tadpoles collected from various 
localities. 

Yearling tadpoles are easily obtained. In my 
frequent canoe trips along the upper Delaware 
River I have found them swarming in the warm, 
shallow side channels and had little difficulty in 
collecting them with a dip net. In such places 
I have also secured very large adult frogs with 
the dip net. 

Fish Commissioner Meehan, of Pennsylvania, 
has recently announced as a result of experi- 
ments conducted under his direction, that we are 
wrong in supposing that the bullfrog and green 
frog remain a year in the tadpole stage. He 
finds that under cultivation at least, they ma- 
ture before autumn and further has obtained 
some evidence that they spawn twice, the tad- 
poles of the late spawning being probably the 
ones that remain undeveloped through the win- 
ter. If this is true it means a distinct advance 
in frog culture. 

The pond should have a depth sufficient to 
protect its bottom from freezing, and the bot- 
tom must be soft enough to permit the frogs to 
Bull- 
frogs will require a deeper pond than other 
species, but all ponds will need shallow mar- 
gins, where the tadpoles will not only find 
warmer water, but readier access to the air, both 
of which facilitate their development into frogs. 
If kept in deep water. even in aquaria the tad- 
pole stage may be indefinitely prolonged. It 


bury themselves for their winter sleep. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 487 
should be protected with a close fence of boards 
or wire netting not only for the protection of the 
frogs from enemies, but to prevent their wan- 
dering away—a propensity which it is not easy 
to guard against. 

As in the raising of fishes, it is necessary to 
separate frogs of different sizes, to prevent can- 
nibalism. Several ponds will therefore be re- 
quired and the small tadpole pond will naturally 
be the first one constructed, while a half-acre 
pond will not be too large for well-grown frogs. 
Ponds will need a margin of grass and bushes, 
since frogs are land as well as water animals, 
and like the shelter of shrubbery along shore. 
They should also have the protection of lily 
pads. 

NEW FUR SEAL SERVICE. 

HE administration of the Pribilof Islands in 
A Pe Sea has recently been transferred to 

the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and 
the Secretary of the Department of Commerce 
and Labor has appointed an Advisory Board, 
which under the general direction of the Bureau, 
will have charge of all matters of administra- 
tion with a view to putting the new Fur Seal 
Service “on the most rational basis possible.” 
Mr. Charles H. Townsend, Director of the New 
York Aquarium, has been appointed a member. 
of President Cleveland’s 


Bering Sea Commission of 1896-97 and was 


He was a member 
previously, for several years, the government in- 


spector of the fur seal rookeries on the Pribilofs. 


FEES FOR MEMBERSHIP. 
The fees for membership in the New York 
Zoological Society are as follows: 
10.00 
200.00 
1,000.00 
5,000.00 


Ammiuall membership) eae esses enna $ 
Life membership 


Patron’s fee 


Founder's fee 


BenetactormSpree) eeere nese eereea sees 

Information and blank forms for membership 
may be obtained at the Service Building, at all 
entrances to the Zoological Park, and at the Sec- 
retary’s Office, No. 11 Wall Street, New York 
City. 


488 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Edited by the Director of the Zoological Park. 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor, 


Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 15 Cents; Yearly, 50 Cents. 
Mailed free to members. 
Copyright, 1909, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 33 APRIL, 1909 


@ftirers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
MADISON GRANT, Chairman, 
JounN S. BARNES, SAMUEL THORNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Levi P. Morton, Wm. Prerson HAMILTON, 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers - 
Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WAL 
Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PI T. 
Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers : 
Ex-Officio, 


The Mayor of the City of New York,. . . . HON. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks,. . . . HON. HENRY SMITH. 


Glass of 1910. Glass nf 1912. 
F. Augustus Schermerhorn Levi P. Morton, 
Percy R. Pyne, Andrew Carnegie, 
George B. Grinnell, John L, Cadwalader, 
Jacob H. Schiff, John S. Barnes, 
Edward J. Berwind, Madison Grant, 
George C. Clark, William White Niles, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, Samuel Thorne, 

C. Ledyard Blair, Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Nelson Robinson, Payne Whitr Frank K. Sturgis, 
Frederick G. Bourne, James W. Barney, George J. Gould, 
W. Austin Wadsworth Wm. PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills 


Glass of 1911. 
Henry F. Osborn, 
William C. Church, 
Lispenard Stewart, 
H. Casimir De Rham, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Charles F. Dieterich, 
James J. Hill, 
George F. Baker, 
Grant B. Schley, 


Officers of the Zoological Park ; 
°W. T. HoRNADAY, Sc.D., Director 


Pai b iol: hat iG one fos oe Oto Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS ........-.- Curator of Reptiles 

C@. WILLIAM BEEBE...........- Curator of Birds 

AW iSiubids 5 5 seer oo os Chief Forester and Constructor 
GSE BEERBOWER Iss. -\s 0s /ceenewe Civil Engineer 

ELWIN R..SANBORN .........-.- Photographer and Assistant Editor 
HarRbow Brooks, M.D. ........ Pathologist 

W. Rei Briarr, D.V.S......... . Veterinarian 

Vio by hibuve tas 6 5 65 coor opmris 6 Office Assistant 

FERDINAND KAEGEBEHN ........ Librarian 


Mfticers of the Aquarium: 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director 
Fresh Water Collections 
Marine Collections 
Disbursing Officer 


WATER-THROWING HABIT OF FISHES 
IN THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


In a recent publication of the Smithsonian In- 
stitution, Dr. Theodore Gill presents a history 
of the Archer Fish, (Toxotes jaculator), and 
its feats in shooting drops of water at small 
insects. This peculiar habit was recorded in 
1764, but appears to have lacked verification 
until 1902, when specimens were kept in aquaria 
by Zolotnitsky, a Russian ichthyologist. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Ordinarily these captive fishes were able to 
project drops of water from ten to twenty 
inches, but sometimes as much as forty inches. 


They could shoot drop after drop at an insect 
lodged on the vegetation close to the water, until 
it was drenched and fell within their reach. 
The old fishes are described as much more suc- 
cessful in their aim than the younger ones, but 
the latter sometimes shot flies with such force 
that they fell outside of the aquarium. Accord- 
ing to Zolotnitsky’s account the fishes shot the 
drops without actually protruding the mouth 
above the surface. 


The water-throwing habit may be more com- 
mon among fishes than has generally been sup- 
posed. Certain fishes living in the New York 
Aquarium have the habit of coming to the sur- 
face and squirting water upon the hands of the 
attendants working about the tanks, and I have 
frequently observed it myself. The species in 
which the habit is most confirmed is the Trunk 
Fish, (Ostracion triqueter). 

When the large exhibition tanks are ap- 
proached from tle service passage, into which 
their tops open, these fishes frequently come to 
the surface, and projecting their mouths just 
above, proceed collectively and individually to 
squirt water into the air in considerable quan- 
tities. About half a teaspoonful at a shot is 
the amount thrown upward. The fishes are 
quite tame, and readily nibble at ones fingers. 
This habit is also frequently practiced by two 
other small-mouthed fishes with restricted gill 
openings; the Trigger Fish, (Balistes caroli- 
nensis), and the Spiny Boxfish, (Chilomycterus 
schoepfi), but is more pronounced in the former. 


A few months ago when gas lights were 
placed over the tanks within eight inches of the 
water, the attendants reported to me that the 
trunk fishes and the trigger fishes were squirting 
water at the lights when first turned on and 
sometimes put them out. I have not observed 
this myself—doubtless because I did not give 
instructions to be called when the lights were 
lit—but the men have undoubtedly seen the 
fishes do it many times. The trigger fish 
squirts water forcibly enough to throw it quite 
out of the tank. 

All of these fishes are full of curiosity and 
seem to be ready to come to the surface to inves- 
tigate any movement taking place about the 
open tops of the tanks. The putting out of the 
lights by the trigger fishes is doubtless acci- 
dental, as they squirt water quite as readily 
when the tanks not illuminated and 
parently do it merely in play. 


are ap- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE SOLUTION OF THE CARP 
PROBLEM. 


A dozen years ago, only a very few students 
of the fisheries of the United States, believed 
that any good could result from the introduction 
of the European carp into America. 

These few were studying the supply of food 
fishes in our markets and held steadily to their 
opinion that this marvelously productive fish was 
needed in our waters, because of the fact that it 
breeds abundantly in streams which on account 
of many forms of pollution, are being deserted 
by native species. Our extensive fish cultural 
work—the most effective the world has ever 
seen—is already very seriously hampered by the 
condition of the rivers wherever the population 
is dense and manufacturing industries well de- 
fish 
work might as well be abandoned until the 


veloped. Some branches of the cultural 
American public appreciates the fact that sewage 
and factory wastes are ruining our waters, and 
destroying the supply of certain native fishes 
formerly of great commercial value. 

A change cannot be expected very soon. In 
the meantime we are throwing into the breach 
more than twenty million pounds of carp a 
year, caught in thirty-five different States. 

The increasing value of carp in the markets 
is not its only importance; fish culturists every- 
where recognize its value as the chief food of 
some of the best native fishes. 

The Fish Commissioner of Pennsylvania, who 
for many years has maintained that the intro- 
duction of carp was a mistake, announces at 
some length in a recent report, that its growing 
value for food purposes in the great cities can- 
not be overlooked. More than two million 
pounds are sold in Philadelphia yearly, some- 
times at prices exceeding ten cents a pound. 

New York uses about eight million pounds of 
carp a year, and the weekly market reports this 
winter have frequently quoted it at seven cents 
a pound. Its high price is due in part to the 
fact that some of the supply is sold alive. 

The Illinois River contributes very largely 
to the carp market, and a recent report gives the 
carp catch of this river, from September 1 to 


December 15, at nine million pounds, the out- 


BULLETIN. 489 


put going to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, 
Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis. 

The report of the Wisconsin Fish Commis- 
sion for 1908, states the following respecting 
the fisheries of the Mississippi River and its 
tributaries in Wisconsin, the Mississippi being 
the western boundary of that State: “The carp 
is the principal fish caught. The fishermen on 
these waters are making more money by catch- 
ing and marketing carp than they ever made in 
past years from all other kinds. 

“As an indication of what the Mississippi 
River carp fisheries amount to a fish dealer lo- 
cated at Bay City, Wisconsin, states before the 
Fish and Game Committee of the legislature of 
1907 that he was one of four principal buyers 
of fish along the Mississippi River in our State 
and that during the previous winter he had 
shipped one hundred and fourteen car loads of 
fish for which he paid $127,000. 

“Sharp, Spriggles and Amoth of Bay City, 
Wisconsin, caught, in December, 1907, with one 
haul of a seine seven hundred feet long, 55,000 
pounds of carp for which they received four and 
one-half cents per pound. 

“In the fall of 1907, Mr. L. F. May caught in 
a single haul of a seine 90,000 pounds of fish, 
principally carp. From this haul he marketed 
71,660 pounds for which he received $3,171.42. 
The ‘No. 1’ carp brought him from five to five 
and one-half cents per pound. During the year 
1907 he marketed 216,822 pounds of fish, over 
one-fourth of which were dressed before weight 
was taken. More than three-fourths of the en- 
tire catch for the year were carp. 
from fishing during the year exceeded $10,000. 
These 
notice. 

“New York is the principal market for the 


His income 
are instances which have come to my 
Doubtless others have done as well.” 


carp and buffalo fish caught by the Mississippi 
River fishermen.” 

The preceding are only a few of the state- 
ments respecting the carp fishery in the numer- 
ous reports of the year from State commission- 
ers. If the recent yearly increases in the price 
of carp continue, we shall materially reduce the 
numbers of the carp and at the same time find it 
a source of profit and an important item in the 
supply of fish food. 

The “carp problem” of a few years ago is 
undoubtedly settling itself. 


490 


WATER POLLUTION BY A SAWMILL, DELAWARE RIVER. 


Photograph by W. F. Patterson. 


ANGLING AND WATER POLLUTION. 
HE Report of the New York Zoological So- 
ee for 1907 contained an article on The 
Pollution of Streams, in which mention was 
made of the widespread practice of polluting 
Two of the 


pictures in this number of the Butietin show 


waters with the refuse of sawmills. 


how sawdust is thrown into the Delaware River. 
One of the mills is situated at Rock Eddy, on the 
East Branch of the river above Pepacton, New 
York. 


above the mouth of the Beaverkill. 


The other is also on the East Branch, 
Year after 
year these, and other mills like them, throw 
tons of their waste into one of the finest black 
bass and canoeing streams in New York. 

It is an amazing fact that 
there are over six hundred 
concerns of this sort in the 
State. 


water 


Sawdust blackens the 
settles 


gravel beds, making them 


and into the 


unsafe for fish eggs and fry. 
Government experiments 
have shown that sawdust in 
the water promotes the 
growth of fungus on_ fish 
eggs and kills both eggs and 
young fishes. 

There can be no more in- 


excusable practice than that 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


throwing it into a stream. 
There are always places on 
land where it can be depos- 
ited without its becoming a 
nuisance, and it can always 
be burned. The numerous 
angling associations of the 
United States can render a 
most service to 
the country by forming 


important 


leagues for the enforcement 
of existing laws against the 
pollution of waters by saw- 
dust and 


jurious to fish life. At pres- 


other wastes in- 
ent it is almost impossible 
to prosecute offenders owing 
to the of local 
sentiment in favor of the industries which of- 
fend. 


juries. 


existence 


Very little can be expected from local 
The 


angling waters must be made by powerful State 


fight against the pollution of 
organizations, who can keep up the struggle 
from a broad point of view, until the justice of 


their side results in success. 


A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE 
GHOST CRAB. 


HILE spending some days along the ex- 
Wees: sea beaches near Cape Hatteras, 
I was entertained early and late by the 
lively behavior of the Sand or Ghost Crabs, 


WATER POLLUTION BY A SAWMILL, DELAWARE RIVER. 
Photograph by W. F. Patterson. 


of disposing of sawdust by 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BURROWS OF THE GHOST CRAB, HATTERAS INLET. 


(Ocypoda arenaria), which abounded every- 
where, but were particularly numerous near the 
buried careases of some porpoises killed a few 
days before our arrival. There is nothing in 
the appearance of these marvelously active crabs 
to indicate their scavenging habits. When cap- 
tured for close inspection they were always 
found to be immaculate. Yet they came from 
far and near and fairly honey-combed the 
ground with their burrows in order to avail 
themselves of the new food supply. 

The locality was an ideal one for observing 
them and Mr. Sanborn was requested to make 
some camera records while I rounded up the 
By 
placing the camera flat on the crest of a narrow 


subjects for such poses as were possible. 


sand ridge behind which we were concealed, it 
was possible to photograph the active excavator 
of a burrow in the very act of tossing out a load 
of sand. In digging its burrow, which goes 
down obliquely two or three feet, the crab makes 
frequent appearances at the surface with sand— 
perhaps as much as half a teaspoonful—carried 
on the folded claws of one side. After an in- 
stant’s pause with the eyestalks erect, the sand 
is tossed out with a quick dash—not pushed out, 
and the crab dives again underground. The 
work is carried on steadily and in a few minutes 
the dark-colored damp sand thrown out—always 
in the same direction—becomes a conspicuous 
dump heap on the white, dry sand of the beach. 


BULLETIN. 491 


It required patient waiting 
to catch one outside the en- 
trance in a really good pose. 

How those erected eye- 
stalks give the appearance 
of standing at attention. 
They are folded down into 
narrow grooves when he 
The 
diameter of the burrow al- 


darts into his tunnel. 


Ways seems too small for 
the easy passage of the oc- 
eupant. The folding up of 
the great claws and many 
legs cannot be appreciated 
until one takes a dead crab 
in the hands. The way he 
disposes of them and _ still 
manages to take the burrow on the dead run is 
admirable. 

To surprise a ghost crab on the open beach, 
head off its wild dash for home and keep up 
with it on a chase along the hard sand until it 
could be run down and cornered, meant very 
lively exercise. Even with the most persistent 
chasing it seldom attempts to take refuge in the 
shallow waves washing the beach. 


GHOST CRAB ON THE DEFENSIVE. 


492 


When utterly tired 
out and unable to run 
further, the crab as - 
sumes the defensive, 
with claws raised and 
eyestalks erect. It 
strikes furiously at the 
cap handkerchief 
and when the fierce 
nippers have once made 
fast, the hold is main- 
tained with tenacity. 


or 


The ghost crabs are 
nearly white in appear- 
ance and—for crabs— 
decidedly ghost-like as 
they dart about the 
white beaches in the 
moonlight. 

Another feature of 
animal life in the Hat- 
teras neighborhood is GHOST CRAB CLINGING 
the Fiddler Crab, (Uca 
pugilator), which swarms everywhere in the salt 
marsh areas. ‘They are so numerous that it is 
almost impossible to avoid treading on their bur- 
rows. Unlike the ghost crabs of the open 
sandy sea beaches, the fiddlers are largely vege- 
tarians, forever carrying bits of alge into their 
burrows. While the former in excavating, actu- 
ally throw the sand from the entrance, the lat- 
ter carry it out some distance. 

How the big “fiddles” of the male are folded 


down out of the way, when they dash under- 


GHOST CRAB DIGGING A BURROW. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


ground, is even more 
surprising than in the 
ghost crabs, so small 
do the burrows seem 
when compared with 
the size of the occu- 
pants. 

An idea of the abund- 
ance of the fiddlers in 
some places is indicated 
in the photograph fur- 
nished by Mr. Loril- 
lard, which shows many 
thousands of them 
driven together in a 
favorable _ locality in 
Florida. 

There are few sea- 
side animals of the 
small sorts about one’s 
feet, which have more 
lively habits and en- 
gaging ways than these 


TO A HANDKERCHIEF. 

two species of crabs. A single hour’s observa- 
tion of them seldom fails to interest any one 
whether possessed of natural history inclinations 
Probably nothing better could be found 
for a first lesson in natural history for the young. 


or not. 


Labels—The Aquarium is indebted to the 
New Jersey State Museum at Trenton for the 
loan of numerous electrotypes of turtles and 
frogs to be used in the illustration of new labels 
now being printed. 


GHOST CRAB ON THE LOOKOUT. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


FIDDLER CRABS ON A FLORIDA BEACH. 
Photograph by Pierre Lorillard, Jr. 


NOTES. 


Horseshoe Crab.—Last summer the Aquarium 


received a large specimen of the Horseshoe 
Crab, (Limulus), on the back of which were 
growing a dozen or more good-sized oysters. 
The specimen is apparently a very old one, with 
It had probably 
lost the power of casting the shell which all 


the shell greatly deformed. 


crustaceans have, and it may be that very old 
ones lose the power of shedding altogether, since 
they are sometimes found with barnacles and 
ascidians as well as oysters attached to their 
shells. 


Growth of the Sea Horse ——In September the 
Aquarium received from Atlantic City five speci- 
mens of the common sea horse each about two 
inches in length. Living in the pure sea water 


now in use, they have grown faster than any 


BULLETIN. 493 


specimens of this species hitherto kept in the 
building. The temperature of the water has 
been kept, throughout the winter, at about 72° 
Fahr., the same as that used for tropical fishes, 
and all the sea horses now exceed five inches in 
length. The new sea water system has for nine 
months given the greatest satisfaction and a 
larger proportion of marine animals have been 
Under 
exactly similar conditions the young loggerhead 
turtles sent by Dr. A. G. Mayer from the Ma- 


rine Laboratory in Florida in July have more 


carried over the winter than ever before. 


than trebled their size. 


Tropical Fishes.—Several species of tropical 
fishes 


through the winter in good condition and the use 


have for the first time been carried 
of absolutely pure sea water kept at the proper 
temperature is the secret of success. There has 
not only been a great saving of specimens but a 
saving in the cost of operation, as the artificial 
heating of the reservoir water has cost almost 
nothing in comparison with the former cost of 
heating the icy water pumped from the Harbor. 
The saving in coal has already amounted to 


several hundred dollars. 


The Sunapee or Golden Trout.—In January 
the Aquarium received from the Sportsman’s 
Show in Boston four specimens of the rare 
sunapee or golden trout, (Salvelinus aureolus), 
which are still in good condition. These re- 
markably beautiful fishes are of great interest 
The 


to anglers. entire collection of chars, 


FIDDLER CRABS IN SHALLOW WATER. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


494 


DOLPHIN, (Delphinus delphis) . 
Photograph by L. B. Spencer. 


trouts and salmons now in the Aquarium is a 


remarkably good one. While such fishes are 
easily kept during the winter, there are usually 
a number of losses during the summer months 
when the tanks containing northern fishes have 
to be cooled by refrigeration. The cold water 
system now in use has many imperfections and 


should be replaced with something more modern. 


Fish Hatchery.—The Aquarium is at present 
hatching a consignment of eggs of the silver 
salmon received from the Pacific Coast in Feb- 
ruary. The quinnat salmon hatched from eggs 
received from California last summer are still 
in splendid condition. Sev- 
eral hundred thousand white- 
fishes hatched in February 
have been turned over to the 
State Fish 


planting. 


Commission for 


Spiny Lobster—The very 
large spiny lobsters received 
last summer from Bermuda 
were gradually lost during 
the winter on account of im- 
While 
no diffi- 


culty in casting off the cara- 


perfect shedding. 


these animals had 


pace and tail portions they 
did not seem to be able to 


free their legs. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


While the sea water sup- 
ply is now yery nearly per- 
fect, it is still impossible to 
furnish all the denizens of 
the tanks with the foods to 
which they are accustomed 
in the tropics, and this dif- 
ficulty may have had some- 
thing to do with the loss of 
the crayfishes. 


Box Crabs.—T he inter- 
esting and oddly-shaped box 
crabs, (Calappa flammea), 
received from Bermuda last 
summer have thrived in cap- 
tivity. These crabs, usually 
motionless during the day, are often quite active 
in the evening. The species differs greatly in 
appearance from any crab hitherto exhibited at 
the Aquarium; the first pair of legs are re- 
markably broad, and when folded, form a shield 
to the front of the body. 


Hawksbill Turtle—In March the Aquarium 
received an unusually large and handsome speci- 
men of the hawksbill or tortoise-shell turtle 
from Bermuda. 

Color Changes of Fishes—In February the 
Director of the New York Aquarium spent a 


HORSESHOE CRAB, WITH LIVING OYSTERS ATTACHED. 
Photograph by L. B. Spencer. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


LONG-EARED SUNFISH, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


Flashlight photograph by Lazarnick. 


week in Bermuda studying the instantaneous 
color changes of tropical fishes, an account of 
which will be published in the forthcoming Re- 
port of the New York Zoological Society. He 
devoted some time to the equipment and methods 
of the new Bermuda Aquarium, which will be 
fully described in a work he is preparing on the 
construction and operation of public aquariums 
in general. Arrangements were made for the 
shipment of specimens to the New York Aquar- 


ium in June. 


The Ocean Sunfish—Mr. George Pollock, of 
New York, sent to the Aquarium a photograph 
of the ocean sunfish or head-fish, (Mola), re- 
cently taken at Palm Beach, Florida, which is 
reproduced in this Butietin. The specimen 
weighed only sixty pounds. This strange fish 
which is an inhabitant of tropical seas, often 
comes as far north on our coasts as California 
reaches the 


and Massachusetts. It enormous 


weight of eighteen hundred pounds. In appear- 
ance it seems to be merely a head with fins; the 
dorsal and anal are placed well back and the 
tail is reduced to a mere fringe connecting them. 


New 


February and 


Attendance.—The attendance at the 


York Aquarium for January, 


BULLETIN. 495 


March was 519.468, an in- 
59,909 as 


pared with the same months 


crease of com- 


An attendance 
half a 


winter 


of last year. 
of over million in 
months is re- 


the 


three 
markable and_ breaks 


Aquarium’s own record. 


An excellent photograph 
of one of the dolphins 
which lived in the Aquarium 
last summer, appears in this 
number of the BuLLeTin, 
contributed by Mr. Spencer, 
who also made the photo- 
graphs of the large crimson 
sea anemone, (T'ealia cras- 
sicornis), and the bullfrog. 
Mr. N. Lazarnick contributes the attractive 
flashlight of the long-eared sunfishes, (Lepomis 


auritus ). 


Leatherback Turtle—This con- 
tains a photograph of the great Leatherback 
turtle which last summer lived for some weeks 


BULLETIN 


OCEAN SUNFISH, (Mola mola), PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. 
Photograph by George Pollock. 


LEATHERBACK TURTLE, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 
in the Aquarium. It weighed 840 pounds and 
was large enough to accommodate the four riders 
shown in the picture, with perhaps room for 
another up behind. The specimen has been 
mounted for the Museum of the Brooklyn Insti- 
tute of Arts and Sciences and a plaster cast is 
being prepared for exhibition in the Aquarium. 
The leatherback is the largest of all existing 
turtles and this particular specimen is believed 


to be the largest on exhibition anywhere. 


GENERAL INFORMA- 
TION. 

ADMISSION TO THE PARK. 
—On all holidays and on 
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednes- 
day, Friday, and Saturday, 
admission to the Zoological 
Park is free. 

On every Monday and 
Thursday, save when either 
of these days falls on a holi- 
day, only members of the 
Society, and persons hold- 
ing tickets from the Society, 
All others 


pay twenty-five cents for 


are admitted free. 


each adult, and fifteen cents 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


for each child under twelve 
years of age. Tickets are 
sold only at the entrances. 

' Oprenine anv CLostnc.— 
From May Ist to November 
Ist the entrance-gates will 
be opened at 9 a. mM. and 
closed half an hour before 
sunset. From November Ist 
to May Ist, the gates will 
open at 10 A. M. 

Admission to the Aquar- 
ium is confined to members 
on Monday forenoons. It is 
open to the public from 
April 1 to October 31, 9 a. 
M. to 5 Pp. M., and from No- 
vember 1 to March 31, 10 
A. M. to 4 Pp. mM. When a 
holiday occurs on Monday,. 


the forenoon will be available to the public. 


Correspondence. — A correspondent from 
Pennsylvania writes: “Can you tell me where I 
can get an electric eel to be used for medicine 
to cure my brother of drinking. It must be put 
into a vial with the other ingredients until dead, 
then taken out and the medicine given. I en- 


close stamped envelope for reply.” 


Me 


LEATHERBACK TURTLE, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


UY fT GOs 


W 


Bh) ear \ 


WILD-LIFE PRESERVATION NUMBER 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 34 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


June, 1909 


Prepared BY WriuiaMm T. Hornapay, Director 


A GREAT YEAR FOR GAME PRESERVES. 


N view of the fair certainty that in twenty- 

five years more, practically all big game will 

have disappeared everywhere westward of the 
Mississippi River outside of the rigidly protect- 
ed areas, the making of state and national game 
preserves is of paramount importance. 

As a duty which it owes to the people of 
America, and to science, the preservation of 
wild life is one of the three great objects to 
which the New York Zoological Society has con- 
stantly devoted attention and effort. 


The past twelve months have produced grand 
results in the making of hard-and-fast reserves 
of great size for the perpetuation of wild life. 
We wonder whether any other year ever will 
produce, for Americans, an equal result. The 
following list shows the most important items, 
and the date on which the consummation of each 
was completed: 

May 23,1908. 

November 15, 
British Columbia. 


Montana National Bison Range. 
1908. Goat Mountain Park, 


————————_ 


PHILLIPS PEAK AND GOAT PASS, 11,000 FEET HIGH. 
The center of permanent breeding grounds of an abundance of Mountain Goats, Sheep and Grizzly Bears. 


498 ZOOLOGICAL 


1908 115730" 
SKETCH MaP 
OF THE 
ELK AND BULL RIVE 
REGION 
EAST KOOTENAY B.C, 


obi 

UL 

By = re 

Jobo M yea 
: ‘ 


BRITISH COLUMBIA’S NEW GAME PRESERVE. 
Dotted lines show the original proposition. 


March 3, 1909. Mt. National 
Monument, Washington. 

April 13, 1909. Superior National Forest 
and Game Preserve. 

We may well rejoice over the year’s record. 
The four great sanctuaries named above will 
greatly promote the permanence on this conti- 
nent of the moose, wapiti, bison, mountain goat 
and sheep, grizzly bear, black bear and mule 
deer. We will briefly summarize the most im- 
portant facts regarding each of the four new 
preserves. 

THE MONTANA NATIONAL BISON RANGE. 

This fenced preserve was established by a 
special act of Congress, on May 23, 1908, at 
the solicitation of the American Bison Society. 
In response to the offer of the Society to pre- 
sent to the government the nucleus herd of 
bison, Congress has appropriated, in all, 
$30,000 for the purchase from the Flathead In- 
dians of twenty-eight square miles of grazing 
grounds at Ravalli, Montana, and $13,000 with 
which to defray the cost of fencing it suitably. 
In addition to the bison, this fenced range will 
be stocked as soon as possible with prong- 


Olympus 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


horned antelope. The success of the bison in 
self-sustaining herds, on that range, is by no 
means an experiment. It is a demonstrated cer- 
tainty. 

The Forest Service of the Department of 
Agriculture is now at work erecting the fence 
around this great range, and it is hoped that 
it can be completed by October 1, in order that 
the Bison Society gift herd of about fifty-four 
pure-blood bison can then be delivered upon the 
range, and installed. This range can easily 
maintain 1,000 bison, and it is fairly certain 
that many members of the Bison Society will 
live to see that number of individuals grazing 
upon it. 

The Bison Society has raised $10,560 in cash 
with which to purchase about forty-two bison, 
and fourteen head have been presented to the 
Society by their owners, for the benefit of the 
Montana herd. 


BRITISH COLUMBIA'S NEW GAME PRESERVE. 


On November 15, 1908, the Legislative Coun- 
cil of British Columbia issued a proclamation 
which converts into an absolute game preserve 
about 450 square miles of territory between the 
Elk and Bull Rivers, and around Monro Lake. 
With a subtraction on the south and an impor- 
tant addition on the northwest, it is otherwise 
the “Goat Mountain Park” territory, for the 
preservation of which John M. Phillips and 
William T. Hornaday for two years or more 
waged a strenuous campaign of education and 
appeal. In the final half of the struggle 
(against active opposition) they were joined by 
some of the most prominent citizens of Fernie— 
Mayor W. W. Tuttle, J. B. Turney and Hon. 
W. R. Ross, M. P.—and by Warburton Pike, 
Clive Phillips-Wolley, and other sportsmen and 
naturalists in Victoria. The Provincial Game 
Warden, A. Bryan Williams, played a highly 
important part in the accomplishment of the 
final result, and it was he who established the 
boundaries. 

The result is a great victory for the moun- 
tain goat, mountain sheep, elk, mule deer, and 
grizzly bear. The area in question is an ideal 
home for the goat and sheep. Of the former, 
the new game preserve contains about one thou- 
sand head, and of the latter at least two hun- 
dred, all of them living and breeding there, all 
the year round. The scenery of the preserve is 
surpassingly fine, and it is well stocked with 
many important forms of Rocky Mountain 
mammals and birds. It was in this region that 
Professor Henry F. Osborn and Mr. Phillips 
obtained in 1905 their famous photographs of 
living mountain goats in their haunts. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


“ge 


BULLETIN. 499 


MONRO LAKE, IN THE NEW PRESERVE CREATED BY BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
This is the center of fine breeding grounds for Elk and Mule Deer. 


The making of this preserve is a good object 
lesson in wild-life preservation. It shows what 
can be accomplished by two industrious and de- 
termined men, particularly when one of them 
has an official connection with an institution like 
the New York Zoological Society. This fact is 
worthy of mention, not by any means as an 
award of credit to Messrs. Phillips and Horna- 
day,—for in any event, their part in the matter 
will be promptly and thoroughly forgotten by 
the public.—but as an encouragement to other 
men who might, could, would or should render 
similar service to the wild-life of America. 

A map showing the location of this preserve 
is given herewith. 


MT. OLYMPUS NATIONAL MONUMENT. 


For at least six years the advocates of the 
preservation of American wild life and forests 
have desired that the grand mountain territory 
around Mount Olympus, in northwestern Wash- 
ington, should be established as a national for- 


est and game preserve. In addition to the pres- 
ervation of the forests, it was greatly desired 
that the remnant bands of Olympic wapiti (de- 
seribed as Cervus canadensis roosevelti) should 
be perpetuated. In Congress, two determined 
efforts were made in behalf of the region re- 
ferred to, but both were defeated by the enemies 
of forests and wild life. 

By a really fine display of forethought and 
energy in the last days of the last session of 
Congress, and under the authority of clearly- 
defined statute laws, the end long desired was 
accomplished. The Olympic national forest 
and game preserve—under another name—is 
now an accomplished fact; and it is both a duty 
and a pleasure to give Americans an opportun- 
ity to award the credit for it to the man who 
thought it out, and brought it about.—Dr. 
Theodore S. Palmer, Assistant Chief of the Bio- 
logical Survey, Department of Agriculture. 

In an auspicious moment, Dr. Palmer thought 
of a law under which it would be both proper 


500 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


AFOGNAK i. 


SEAOTTER RES.) 
/ 


MIDWAY I~ 


UNDER/U.S. NAVY“ 
GONE 


Ne 
aA 


: 
ING 
f 


“rip l v 
i 


caf CMnninges 


NATIONAL PARKS AND GAME PRESERVES, AND BIRD REFUGES. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


and right to bring the desired preserve into ex- 
istence. The law referred to expressly clothes 
the President of the United States with power 
to preserve any monumental feature of nature 
which it clearly is the duty of the state to pre- 
serve for all time from the hands of the spoilers. 
Already several “national monuments’ have 
been preserved by executive order, of course 
with the previous concurrence of a number of 
high departmental officers who by law are em- 
powered to sit in judgment on all such pro- 
posals. 

With the enthusiastic approval and assistance 
of Representative William E. Humphrey, of 
Seattle, Dr. Palmer set in motion the machinery 
necessary to the carrying of the matter before 
the President in proper form, and kept it going, 
with the result that on March 3, President 
Roosevelt affixed his signature to the document 
that closed the circuit. 

Thus was created the Mount Olympus Na- 
tional Monument, preserving forever 600,000 
acres of magnificent mountains, valleys, glaciers, 
streams and forests, and all the wild creatures 
living therein and thereon. The people of the 
state of Washington have good reason to rejoice 
in the fact that their most highly-prized scenic 
wonderland, and the last survivors of the wapiti 


BULLETIN. 501 
in that state, are now preserved for all coming 
time. At the same time, we congratulate Dr. 
Palmer on the brilliant success of his initiative. 


THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL GAME AND FOREST 
PRESERVE. 


The people of Minnesota long have desired 
that a certain great tract of wilderness in the 
extreme northern portion of that state, now well 
stocked with moose and deer, should be estab- 
lished as a game and forest preserve. Unfortu- 
nately, however, the national government could 
go no farther than to withdraw the lands (and 
waters) from entry, and declare it a forest re- 
serve. At the right moment, some bright genius 
proposed that the national government should 
by executive order create a “forest reserve,” 
and then that the legislature of Minnesota 
should pass an act providing that every national 
forest of that state should also be regarded as a 
state game preserve! 

Both those things were done,—almost as soon 
as said! Mr. Carlos Avery, the Executive Agent 
of the Board of Game and Fish Commissioners 
of Minnesota is entitled to great credit for the 
action of his state, and we have to thank Mr. 
Gifford Pinchot and President Roosevelt for the 
executive action that represented the first half 
of the effort. 


Fe 


25; Vincems ty" 
(Private) : 


cedar Key*”"| S 


NATIONAL BIRD REFUGES, ESTABLISHED 1903-1908. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SCALE OF MILES. 


re Logs 


Me Lm jy bite cae 


a 


SUPERIOR NATIONAL GAME AND FOREST PRESERVE. 


The new Superior Preserve is valuable as a 
game and forest reserve, and nothing else. It is 
a wilderness of small lakes, marshes, creeks, 
hummocks of land, scrubby timber, and prac- 
tically nothing of commercial value. But the 
wilderness contains many moose, and zoologi- 
cally, it is to all practical purposes a moose 
preserve. 

In 1908 Mr. Avery saw fifty-one moose in 
three days, Mr. Fullerton saw 183 in nine days, 
and Mr. Fullerton estimates the total number of 
moose in Minnesota as a whole at 10,000 head. 

In area it contains nearly 909,743 acres, and 
its boundaries are shown (for the first time in a 
periodical) on the accompanying map. The 
creation of this great preserve was finished on 
April 13, 1909. 

In this connection, it is of interest to notice 
briefly another national game preserve of recent 
creation, and to publish a map showing its lo- 
cation. 


THE GRAND CANON NATIONAL GAME PRESERVE. 


Even to most persons who are interested in 
conservation work it will be fresh news that in 
northern Arizona the Government has estab- 


lished a game and forest preserve equal in scenic 


wonders as well as in area to the Yellowstone 
National Park. It is called the Grand Cafion 
National Game Preserve, and it consists of the 
Kaibab Plateau and Buckskin Mountain on the 
north, the first portion of the cafion of the 
Colorado, and also a great area southward there- 
of. It contains, in round numbers, 2,019,000 
acres, or 3311 square miles. It includes all of 
the area formerly comprising the “Grand Canon 
National Monument,” and fully twice as much 
more. 

The country south of the Colorado Cajon is 
comparatively well known, but to most Amer- 
icans the Kaibab Plateau is a veritable terra 
incognita. It is in that wild and rugged region 
of broken country, rocks, hills, valleys, brush 
and a splendid pine-clad mountain plateau loom- 
ing up over all, that “Buffalo’’ Jones has located 
his herd of American bison and “‘cattaloes,”’ for 
his latest experiment in breeding a valuable 
strain of bison blood into range cattle. For- 
tunately for those interested, there has recently 
been published about that region a book of 
thrilling interest. It is Zane Gray’s “Last of 
the Plainsmen,” published by the Outing Pub- 
lishing Company. It is valuable as a general 
view of a wild and almost unknown region, and 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


a rirznenfy ex 


MT. OLYMPUS NATIONAL PRESERVE. 


also as a record of the almost incredible ex- 
ploits of Mr. Jones in catching alive nine pumas, 
by strength of nerve, arm and lasso! 

Already the Grand Cafion Preserve contains 
a few mountain sheep, many mule deer,—and 
far too many “mountain lions.’ Buckskin 
Mountain and its environs would make a fine 
sanctuary for elk, but it would be necessary to 
introduce them. The lower slopes would graze 
ten thousand bison, but very few persons would 
ever see them. _With the lapse of time—and 
cattaloes—it will be in order for the National 
Government to purchase outright the pure-blood 
bison of Mr. Jones and his partners, and let 
them alone where they are, to found another 
national herd. 


HOPE FOR THE ANTELOPE. 


OTH Montana and Wyoming have recently 
enacted new laws providing absolute pro- 
tection for the prong-horned antelope for a 
series of years. This is a great achievement, 
for the reason that the chain of protection for 
that species is now nearly complete. In no 


503 


state or territory is it now legal to hunt ante- 
lope, at any time; and the penalties for the law- 
breakers are severe. 

It is now in order to work for the enforce- 
ment of the antelope laws; and the first thing 
to do is to reach all ranchmen of antelope coun- 
tries with a strong appeal to their patriotism 
and humanity for the creation of a new cowboy 
sentiment in behalf of antelope preservation. 

On January 26 the Arizona Daily Star pub- 
lished the news that after an absence of nearly 
20 years a band of antelope, containing nearly 
50 head, had been seen in Pima County, between 
the Comobabi and Baboquivari Mountains. 
This is one of the results of the ten years of 
close protection that Arizona wisely has accord- 
ed her most interesting desert species. All 
honor to Arizona! 

The laws for the antelope are now sufficient. 
The next thing to provide is for their enforce- 
ment. We must reach the stockmen, and ask 
them to do that which no one else can do! If 
they will say, “Cowboys, there must be no more 
killing of antelope. We wish you to protect 
them, at all times, and in all possible ways !’”’— 
then protected they will be! 

There are yet remaining alive probably 5,000 
antelope, all told; but we hope that the days of 
antelope hunting have ended forever. The rem- 
nant bands should now be as safe from attack 
by man as are the animals of a zoological park. 
The boys of the West should be taught in their 
schools that it is a sin to kill an antelope. Too 
many thousand square miles of Western plains 
are now barren and lifeless because the beauti- 
ful prong-horn is gone from them. With range 
cattle and sheep swarming on ten thousand hills, 
the poor little “saddle” of the prong-horn is no 
longer needed by anyone as human food. 

The antelope is one of our greatest American 
zoological curiosities——unique, odd, isolated. 
It has no near relatives anywhere on this earth. 
Let it alone, and it will take care of itself, and 
harm nothing. As an ornament to gray and 
melancholy wastes, as beautiful wild-life amid 
barrenness, as the companion of the plainsman, 
and as the great American oddity, it deserves 
to live and be let alone. 

It is greatly to the national credit that we 
now are able to publish to the world the news 
that in every portion of its range throughout 
the United States the prong-horn is absolutely 
protected, and for it there is no open season. 
If we can but maintain this condition, and stop 
unlawful killing by the residents of antelope 
territory, it may really happen that the Amer- 
icans of A. D. 1935 will find the antelope still 
living in our land. 


504 


THE FUTURE OF OUR FAUNA. 


By Manison Grant. 


HE growth of sentiment in favor of so- 

called protection of game has been extreme- 

ly rapid in the United States in recent years, 
but unfortunately the destruction of the game in 
question has proceeded in most cases with even 
greater celerity. The object of the first game 
laws was usually the establishment of close sea- 
sons, covering for the most part those months 
during which the young were born and nour- 
ished. To these close seasons were soon added 
restrictions regulating the number of animals to 
be killed and the mode of hunting, forbidding 
for example, crusting moose, hounding deer, and 
the use of swivel guns for ducks. These meas- 
ures in turn proved inadequate to prevent the 
rapid diminution of game, so that finally the 
market itself was attacked, and the trade in 
skins and meat was either prohibited or strictly 
limited. 

About this time it became evident that some 
species were either locally exterminated or on the 
verge of extinction, and there began to appear 
on the statutes of various states, laws forbidding 
the killing of certain animals for various 
periods, usually about five years. Some of 
these laws were effective where the district in 
which the prohibition was put into effect ad- 
joined one where game still abounded, and from 
which a supply could be drawn. Little by lit- 
tle, in this way, the public became accustomed 
to the fact that in certain places certain ani- 
mals could not be legally killed at any season, 
and this naturally led to the next step, viz.— 
the complete stopping of the killing or capture 
of all animals in certain restricted localities 
known as game refuges or sanctuaries. These 
refuges, the writer believes, are the final solu- 
tion of game protection. All the other expe- 
dients and devices named must prove to be in- 
adequate, except in certain favored localities 
like Long Island for deer, and perhaps Maine 
and the Maritime Provinces for moose. Sooner 
or later the development and population of the 
country at large will reach a point when there 
will be no room for the larger forms of mam- 
malian life, although there is no reason why 
game-birds and fish should not continue to 
abound. These larger forms therefore can only 
be handed down permanently in refuges like the 
Yellowstone Park, and these must be established 
throughout the length and breadth of North 
America, especially in regions where forest re- 
serves are necessary for the control of the water 
supply. Whatever hunting the future genera- 
tions will enjoy must be on the borders of these 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


reserves, which, if successful, will provide an 
overflow of game sufficient to stock the sur- 
rounding country. 

The fact is, that the time is close at hand 
when we must abridge, or altogether take away 
the old right to bear firearms and use them on 
all living creatures. In place of this we must 
substitute Old World conditions, which appear 
to be consistent with the preservation of abun- 
dant wild-life living on friendly terms with a 
dense human population, as in India. This is 
an ideal condition which we Americans must en- 
deavor to establish in this country, if we wish 
to continue to enjoy the spectacle of animated 
nature around us. To bring about such a 
change in public opinion is a gigantic undertak- 
ing, and it may be necessary in many places to 
go through, in our characteristic national way, 
the process of complete destruction of the ani- 
mals we have, and the restocking of the country 
with new and perhaps in many cases with for- 
eign and less attractive forms. 

To avoid this last misfortune, the continua- 
tion of the native wild stock through the medium 
of game refuges is absolutely essential. The 
Adirondacks, for instance, where nearly every 
native and most of the visitors feel it obligatory 
to carry around a repeating rifle and to use it 
on every living thing in season, and on pretty 
nearly everything except deer out of season, 
consist now of almost lifeless forests and lakes. 
If we could once for a definite period of years 
do away with the habit of rifle carrying, we 
probably could restore a great deal of the pris- 
tine beauty of the North Woods. The natives 
there have advanced to an imperfect belief in 
game protection, but still regard “varmints” or 
vermin as something to be destroyed on all oc- 
casions, and used as living targets. The defi- 
nition of the word vermin most popular in the 
Adirondacks, seems to be the one recently used 
in Congress where a western representative 
stated that, “the term vermin included every- 
thing that could not be eaten, differing thus from 
game, which was edible.” 

The New York Zoological Society is prepared 
to continue to support and urge such further 
restrictive measures as may be from time to 
time found desirable, but it believes that, look- 
ing a generation or two into the future, the only 
true and permanent solution lies not so much 
in further legislation, but in a strict and con- 
tinuous enforcement of existing laws; and most 
particularly in the creation throughout the 
country in all desirable spots, especially in 
mountains and on islands, of sanctuaries for 
wild-life, where neither rifle, nor fire, nor dog 
may menace the safety or disturb the breeding 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


of the wild creatures. Lastly, the Society be- 
lieves in discouraging and limiting the use of 
firearms throughout the country at large. The 
necessity for carrying firearms has now passed 
away forever. In fact, it has lasted too long in 
the United States, as a comparative study of the 
development and civilization of our western 
states with those of western Canada, will easily 
demonstrate. 

From the day when man became man and 
walked erect, some four or five hundred thou- 
sand years ago, down to our own day and gen- 
eration, he has been engaged in a ceaseless bat- 
tle with his fellow inhabitants of the earth. 
Down to the dawn of the historical period, this 
battle, waged at first against the sabre-tooth 
tiger, the cave bear and the hyenadon, was more 
than doubtful, and only man’s co-operation with 
his fellows, his protection by fire, and his use 
of dogs as hunting allies, gave him the victory. 
The struggle continued with renewed violence 
whenever man entered upon new territory. Cen- 
tury by century his organization became better 
and his weapons more effective, until during 
the Neolithic period, his superiority over the 
brutes became definite. From that period, 
man’s advance to the complete mastery of the 
globe has advanced by leaps and bounds, and 
this generation has the unique privilege of 
standing literally at the close of this long bat- 
tle, and at the opening of the new period, which 
is immediately ahead of us, when man will share 
the earth only with such survivors of the world’s 
fauna as he may choose to tolerate. From pres- 
ent appearances the only exception to this will 
be insects and rats. On this generation then 
rests the responsibility of saying what forms of 
life shall be preserved, in what localities, and on 
what terms. Let us not delude ourselves for a 
moment by believing that primitive hunting con- 
ditions can ever be restored. The bison and the 
sheep, the antelope and the wapiti, as game ani- 
mals have already disappeared or are doomed. So 
far as wild hunting is concerned, the best that 
can be hoped for are the highly artificial condi- 
tions which prevail on the continent of Europe 
to-day, and these are not attractive to anyone who 
has known the free life of the true woodsman. 
Let us not suppose for a moment that our pres- 
ent game laws, or any improvement or modifica- 
tion of them, can ever permanently provide 
hunting in the face of the commercial necessi- 
ties of the future, but let us rather bend our 
energies to selecting certain portions of our na- 
tional domain, and establish and strictly main- 
tain sanctuaries for some portion of the wild 
things that have come down to us from the past. 


BULLETIN. 505 
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S WORK 


FOR WILD LIFE. 
By Henry Farrrietp Oszorn. 


HE grand object to which the Zoological 

Society has chiefly devoted itself during the 

past ten years, namely a great Zoological 
Park, depends for the future on the preserva- 
tion of wild animal life, because, without re- 
newals from the wilderness, our collections will 
gradually die out and disappear. 

In spreading the love of animals we have al- 
ready made thousands, perhaps millions, of new 
friends for wild life. Now we propose to unite 
them all in a great campaign of conservation. 
This BuLiertin is not our first gun, but it is our 
first broad-side. 

Our work will be mainly directed to the state 
and publie lands of North America, but we shall 
also co-operate with the great conservation 
movement in all parts of the world, through a 
special committee backed by the sentiment and 
funds from the Society and our future endow- 
ments. 

Tree preservation in the United States is 
pressing, but it is less pressing than animal 
preservation. Trees can be replanted or pre- 
served from seeds, but an animal once gone is 
lost to the world forever. Nature has been at 
work millions of years creating some of these 
exquisite pieces of mechanism and _ beauty. 
There is at least a million years’ history back 
of the prong-horned antelope. which is on the 
danger line to-day. We find its diminutive for- 
bears existing on the plains of South Dakota, 
before the Rocky Mountains were completely 
formed, and when fig-trees and the bread-fruit 
flourished in Montana. 

The Virginia deer has even an older known 
pedigree, two million years back, perhaps. This 
long and noble ancestry gives fresh force to the 
appeal for preservation. 

Laws enacted in the very best spirit will not 
absolutely protect. They will help, but in very 
many of the outlying districts, where the rare 
game still seeks a refuge, there is no one to 
enforce the law, and very little sentiment in its 
favor. Animals are destroyed not for sport but 
for meat. In the Hell Creek region of Mon- 
tana, which a few years ago abounded in prong- 
horned antelope, mountain sheep and_black- 
tailed deer, the destruction has been entirely for 
meat, and we must admit it is but natural that it 
is so. The least defensible form of butchery is 
the extermination of game in the name of sport. 
The meat-hunter is solitary, he works through- 
out the year, he knows his distant neighbors 
will not inform upon him, and that in any case 


506 ZOOLOGICAL 
he will not be punished. This is the actual 
situation at the very few remaining frontier 
points, and this is why this Society, while back- 
ing up legislation, proposes to put the main 
brunt of its fight on 


ANIMAL REFUGES. 


Every territory and every state should have 
animal refuges for the different kinds of wild 
life remaining within its borders; and ‘these 
refuges will soon become the absolute guarantee 
of the survival of animals like the beautiful 
prong-horned antelope, which is now on the 
verge of extinction, and almost certainly the next 
animal to disappear unless instant measures are 
taken. 

There are two districts in our mind among 
many others, which are particularly designed by 
nature as refuges. One is the Hell Creek re- 
gion itself, untillable, uninhabitable, a chaos of 
canons, supporting only a few head of cattle, 
and that at great risk during every severe sea- 
son. This is an ideal home for mountain sheep 
and black-tailed deer, and even for buffalo and 
prong-horned antelope. 

Another preserve region we have visited, is on 
the head-waters of the Niobrara River or Run- 
ning Water, in western Nebraska, on the ranch 
lands of James H. Cook, one of the western 
pioneers, who is willing and ready to devote his 
lands and his life to the noble work of conserva- 
tion. This is an ideal home for ‘the prong- 
horn and the buffalo, with water, shelter and 
grass. Prairie, plains and bottomlands combine 
in the same region—which is also one of the 
great historic crossing grounds of the migrations 
of buffalo before the northern and southern 
herds were divided. 

These are two practical examples of the pos- 
sibilities of the game refuge plan, which our 
committee will take into consideration. Like 
all great movements, the first step is the crea- 
tion of a strong and earnest sentiment, and the 
establishment of a sound and practical policy. 
To this sentiment the present BuLierrin is 
chiefly devoted, and to the exposition of what has 
and what has not been done. 


THE CASE OF DAVID’S DEER. 


UT for the enterprise of His Grace the 
Duke of Bedford, Pére David’s Deer, for- 
merly of Manchuria, would now be as ex- 
tinct as the dodo. The Boxer war destroyed 
the last known specimens that lived in China, 
and all those living ten years ago in the zoolog- 
ical gardens of Europe are now dead. 
David's Deer is a Jarge and handsome animal, 
with a long tail, and queer-shaped antlers of 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


good size. It owes its name to the fact that it 
was first brought to the attention of zoologists 
by Father David, a Catholic missionary, in 
China. Of this species there are living to-day 
precisely twenty-eight individuals; and all of 
them are in the matchless collection of hoofed 
animals owned and maintained by the Duke of 
Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, England, thirty 
miles northwest of London. That collection is 
strictly private, and is to be seen by no one save 
on the invitation of its owner, and by his co- 
operation. 

Zoologically, as well as otherwise, it is risky 
and dangerous to preserve in one basket the 
whole of a lot of particularly valuable eggs. In 
no form of close captivity could David’s Deer 
be safer, or more immune from epidemic dis- 
eases, than in Woburn Park. But, at the same 
time, the eggs are all in one basket. If rinder- 
pest should break out in England, if the foot- 
and-mouth disease, or the “game disease,’ or 
tuberculosis should enter Woburn Park (which 
Heaven forbid!) it might go hard with David’s 
Deer. If Germany should invade England—as 
so many staid Englishmen fear she might or 
could do,—the herd of David’s Deer at Woburn 
Park might easily be butchered to make a sol- 
dier’s holiday, as was the herd of 200 in the Im- 
perial Park south of Pekin. 

We have respectfully suggested to the Duke 
of Bedford that it would be a wise and generous 
act if he were to place an adult male and two 
females from his herd of David’s Deer in some 
great wilderness preserve, we care not where it 
might be, to become as wild and mayhap as 
fruitful as the three English red deer that so 
wonderously stocked Waipura Island in New 
Zealand, and without any deterioration through 
in-breeding. Three animals located in the right 
spot, under intelligent and skilful management 
in the beginning, might easily rehabilitate the 
species in a wild state, and restore it to the 
world’s fauna. 

Of course no one can say in a moment just 
where such an effort might best be made. It is 
certain, however, that four elements are neces- 
sary of success: A climate that is not too severe; 
abundant food and water; a variety of cover, on 
hills, valleys and plains and probably swampy 
ground; absolute protection from predatory ani- 
mals, and from dangerous men, generally. 

It is possible that all these conditions could 
be found in some of the deer forests of Scot- 
land; but it is doubtful whether in all Scotland 
one could be found in which the David’s Deer 
would not be in great danger of being shot by 
mistake. I think such an effort should be put 
forth only in a fenced preserve, of large size, in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


which no shooting is ever allowed. The Mon- 
tana National Bison Range, or the Wichita 
Bison Range, might answer well; though the 
climate of the former might prove too rigorous 
for animals that have been reared in captivity in 
the milder climate of England. The logical 
conclusion is the Wichita National Bison Range 
containing twelve square miles of as fine deer 
country as any deer ever saw. 


LEND A HAND TO GLACIER PARK. 


N the wild and picturesque mountains of 

northwestern Montana, there is a region that 

is splendidly provided with rugged peaks, deep 
valleys, coniferous forests, glistening glaciers, 
mirror lakes and mountain streams. It is of no 
direct commercial value to man. The most per- 
sistent miners and prospectors have given it up 
as worthless to them, and it contains no agricul- 
tural lands worthy of mention. By reason of 
the depth of its winter snows, it is wholly un- 
suitable for grazing purposes. 

Indirectly, however, the very snows and 
streams that now render that region impassable 
in winter and early spring constitute an asset of 
real value to the people of this country who live 
below it. To preserve that value to the utmost, 
and devote it to the greatest good of the great- 
est number, there is now before Congress a bill 
to convert 1300 square miles of that mountain 
region into a forest reserve to be called Glacier 
National Park. 

The area selected contains sixty glaciers and 
250 lakes, and as a source of water supply it is 
surpassingly fine. Cut off the forests, however, 
and that region will be a constant menace, and 
a source of disastrous floods below. Of the de- 
sirability of preserving those forests, there can 
be no question. But how about the game? 
Senator Carter’s bill, which died in the House 
last winter, did not provide for the wild crea- 
tures, probably because he fears that to have it 
do so would provoke opposition to the bill as a 
whole. Even the best game-protectors must 
carefully consider ways and means. 

The proposed park contains a fair number of 
mountain goats and mountain sheep, four mem- 
bers of the deer family—moose, elk, mule-deer 
and white-tail_—and a few black and grizzly 
bears. There are six species of grouse, many 
other birds of exceptional interest, and an abun- 
dance of trout of three species. 

During the past five months, the columns of 
Forest and Stream have contained three illus- 
trated articles on Glacier Park in which its fea- 
tures and its contents have been set forth with 


507 


admirable fullness of detail. The dates of the 
issues are January 9 and 23, February 20. 

We are troubled by the fact that Senator Car- 
ter’s last bill did not propose to make of Glacier 
Park a mild-life preserve! Evidently the Sen- 
ator felt that with that feature included, his bill 
might be defeated. But will 2t? Let us see. 

In 1900 the Lacey bill, for the better protec- 
tion of birds, became a law, by an overwhelming 
majority,—chiefly because a large number of 
good citizens wrote to their members of Con- 
gress and demanded the passage of that bill 
without any further postponements or delays. 
As soon as the members of Congress were defi- 
nitely assured that “their people” desired the 
Lacey Bird Law, it went through on a whirl- 
wind of votes. 

Now, then, if the people of the United States 
desire that Glacier Park be made, and also made 
as an absolute game preserve, the way in which 
they can secure that end is by saying so to their 
members of Congress, next December, when the 
bill mill start anen! 

We believe that the making of the Glacier 
Park forest and game preserve would be directly 
in the interest of all the people of the United 
States; and not only those of to-day, but the 
generations of the future. There is nothing to 
be gained by postponing the effort in behalf of 
the wild life of Glacier Park. If there must 
be a campaign to secure its protection, by all 
means lets have it now, and make one job of it! 
The wild life of that region, game and all, must 
be preserved; and that is all there is in the way 
of a question about it. 

We call upon you, and your newspaper if you 
have one, to consider this matter, and decide 
whether or not you, as a broad-minded, patriotic, 
far-seeing citizen, have a Duty in the matter. 
If you decide that you have, then write to your 
Congressman next December, and state your 
views and your wishes. On all such matters, 
you will find that the men who compose our Con- 
gress and our state legislatures are willing to 
enact into law anything reasonable that the peo- 
ple desire in the line of permanent conserva- 
tion of our natural resources. 

We have no right, either legal or moral, to 
destroy the wild life now on this earth, or to 
permit it to be destroyed. We are its guardians 
and trustees; and the men of the future will hold 
us accountable for the manner in which we 
guard their inheritance, and transmit it to them. 


508 ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Edited by the Director of the Zoological Park. 
Elwin R. Sanborn, Asst. Editor. 


Published Quarterly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 15 Cents; Yearly, 50 Cents. 
Mailed free to members. 
Copyright, 1909, by the New York Zoological Society. 


No. 34 JUNE, 1909 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee - 
MADISON GRANT, Chairman, 
JOHN S. BARNES, SAMUEL THORNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
LEVI P. MoRTON, Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 


HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio, 


The Mayor of the City of New Y ... . HON. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Par! . .. Hon. HENRY SMITH. 


Glass of 1910. Glass nf 1912. 


Levi P. Morton, 
Andrew Carnegie, 
John L. Cadwalader, 
John S. Barnes, 
Madison Grant, 
William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 
Payne Whitney, Frank K. Sturgis, 
James W. Barney, George J. Gould, 
Wm. PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills 


Glass of 1911. 


George B. Grinnell, 
Jacob H. Schiff, 
Edward J. Berwind, 
George C. Clark, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, 
C. Ledyard Blair, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, 
Nelson Robinson, 
Frederick G. Bourne, 
W. Austin Wadsworth 


Lispenard Stewart, 
H. Casimir De Rham, 
Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
Charles F. Dieterich, 
James J. Hill, 
George F. Baker, 
Grant B. Schley, 


Permission is given to quote in print any of 
the matter contained in this issue, with the usual 
credit to the ZootoGicaL Socrery BULLETIN. 
Editors are reminded that every article that ap- 
pears in print in behalf of mild-life protection 
directly aids the general cause. 


WILD-LIFE PROTECTION. 


This number of the Butietrrn is wholly de- 
voted to the cause of wild-life protection, be- 
cause the duties of the hour demand it. One of 
the three great objects for which this Zoological 
Society was founded is “the preservation of our 
native animals.” In this field, we began active 
work in 1897, the second year of our existence. 
Notwithstanding the great labor that has been 
involved in the creation of the Zoological Park, 
—and its practical completion in eleven years,— 
the Society has constantly engaged in work de- 
signed to protect and perpetuate “our native 
animals.” Altogether we have expended about 
$6,000 in this line of work. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


But the situation has constantly grown more 
acute, and to-day the need. for men to enforce 
existing game laws is greater than ever before. 
The Zoological Society is in great need of funds 
with which to put men in the field, and keep 
them there actively and aggressively at work. 
This need emphasizes once more the necessity 
of raising immediately a permanent endowment 
fund, from the income of which we can pay the 
cost of wild-life protection work. If some one 
would place in our hands such a fund as that 
left by Mr. Wilcox, 7. e., $331,000, for the cause 
of bird protection, it would go very far toward 
preserving for future generations of Americans 
some of the wild species that now are threat- 
ened with practical extinction. 


THE DUTY OF INSTITUTIONS TO 
WILD LIFE. 


It is an amazing fact that of all the scientific 
institutions of America two only are actively en- 
gaged in the promotion of measures for the 
preservation and increase of wild life. The ex- 
ceptions to the rule of absolute passivity are, so 
far as known, the New York Zoological Society 
and the American Museum of Natural History. 

Of course we speak only to the extent of our 
knowledge; and if there are other exceptions to 
be noted, we will welcome them. 

The amount of highly specialized “investiga- 
tion” work that is being done by and through 
our zoological and educational institutions, is 
very great; but thus far no man has had the 
hardihood to speak in print regarding its real 
and practical value to the world. The amount 
of abstruse technical scientific publications that 
annually is turned out in America, is enormous. 
Our government pays for a quantity of it, and 
private fortunes meet the bills of the remainder. 
We do not complain about it; because our 
withers are unwrung; but the facts are of use 
here to point a moral. 

While all this high-class scientific work has 
been going on, year after year,—at New York, 
Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, 
Iowa City and elsewhere,—various bodies of 
unscientific men and women have been engaged 
in a constant warfare with wild-life annihila- 
tors of a hundred different kinds. Even down 
to 1896, the scientific ornithologists of America, 
as a body, had done absolutely nothing in the 
cause of bird protection; and to-day, also, there 
are many ornithologists who for years have 
drawn their annual bread and butter from orni- 
thology, who seem to care nothing about our 
birds save to write papers and books about their 
dead remains. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


With the passage of the Lacey Bird Law,— 
chiefly through the efforts of G. O. Shields, 
John F. Lacey, the Audubon Societies and Theo- 
dore S. Palmer,—the United States government 
entered actively into the very necessary practical 
business of wild-life protection. To-day, the 
Biological Survey is a great power for good in 
this direction; and the quicker the game-protec- 
tion department of it is provided by Congress 
with more money, the better for us all. 

It is quite time that the sportsmen of America 
should have substantial and continuous help in 
the warfare they are waging in behalf of wild 
life. It is time for all the institutions of this 
country that are in any way interested in zoo- 
logy to wake up, and take an active part in the 
warfare that is going on! The amount of accum- 
ulated zoological knowledge is now so great that 
we need fear no fact famine in the near future, 
not even if every zoologist in America should en- 
list for ten years of active campaigning in be- 
half of wild life. If the National Museum, the 
Smithsonian, the Philadelphia Academy of Sci- 
ences, the New York Academy, the Carnegie 
Institutions of Washington and Pittsburgh, the 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Boston 
Society of Natural History, the Field Museum 
and the Chicago Academy of Sciences, were to 
actively engage in wild-life protection for say, 
ten years, can anyone doubt the enormous prac- 
tical benefit that would result? 

There are certain duties which civilized men 
and women can not evade, and be respectable. 
For zoologists to ignore the slaughter of wild 
life is wholly wrong; and when we say only 
that, we put the case very mildly. Jt is the 
bounden duty of the broad-minded and humane 
men of to-day to take active measures toward 
securing, for the men of the future, a fair in- 
heritance of the marvellous mild life that still 
exists on this continent, but which an army of 
annihilators is trying hard to destroy. 

It is a most singular fact that the true protec- 
tion of wild life are now, and always have been, 
the sportsmen and hunters who theoretically 
should be destroyers, instead of preservers; and 
it is perhaps more singular still, that those 
whose whole life’s work is devoted to the study 
of animals are so callous and indifferent to its 
perpetuation. 

Let no closet naturalist believe for one mo- 
ment that there is no work for him to do, in- 
dividually. In one hour’s time one practical 
worker in this field can lay out tasks that would 
keep an army of men busy for a year. Men 
and money are needed, and the whole North 
American continent is the battle-ground. The 
present is no time for timid, half-way measures. 


BULLETIN. 509 
Each institution of those named above should 
put into the field at least one active and efficient 
worker, keep him there, and pay the cost of his 
campaign work. To do any less than this is to 
fail in a solemn duty. 


SUCCESS OF THE BISON SUBSCRIP- 
TION FUND. 


Immediately following the passage by Con- 
gress in May, 1908, of the bill appropriating 
$40,000 for the lands and fencing of the pro- 
posed Montana National Bison Range, the pres- 
ident of the Bison Society (W. T. Hornaday), 
set out to raise $10,000 by subscription. That 
fund was necessary to enable the Society to ful- 
fil its pledge to the government that it would 
furnish the nucleus herd as a gift, as soon as 
the range was ready to receive it. 

It was decided that the subscription should be 
national in scope; and accordingly the people of 
every state and territory were invited to partici- 
pate, in sums from one dollar upward. The 
call was sent to 150 mayors of cities and forty- 
eight boards of trade,—but without securing 
even one dollar through any one of them! 

In view of the fact that the New York Zoo- 
logical Society already had presented a herd of 
bison to the national government, the members 
of that Society were not called upon to sub- 
scribe, save through the membership of a few in 
other organizations. At the same time, three 
members of the N. Y. Z. S. generously helped to 
close the canvass with large subscriptions, to the 
great relief of the chief canvasser. Mr. Charles 
E. Senff gave $1,000, Mr. William P. Clyde 
$500, and Mr. Andrew Carnegie $250. 

The campaign for the bison fund lasted nine 
long months, but finally closed in February, 
1909, with a total of $10,560.50. It contained 
a number of surprises; chief of which were the 
following: 

The West,—with but slight exceptions,—was 
remarkably unresponsive, and makes a pitiable 
showing in the total. The East has cheerfully 
borne 80 per cent. of the burden. 

The women of America subscribed more than 
one-tenth of the entire sum; and a lady of Mas- 
sachusetts (Mrs. Ezra R. Thayer, of Boston), 
raised one-twentieth of the whole fund! 

The funds now in hand are sufficient to pur- 
chase forty-two pure-blood bison, and deliver 
them upon the range. The government is now 
acquiring and fencing the twenty-eight square 
miles of range that were selected by the Bison 
Society, and it is hoped that the fence will be 
completed in time that the nucleus herd can be 
delivered next October. 


510 


The Bison Society has been greatly benefitted 
by the terminal facilities afforded its president 
in the New York Zoological Park, and desires 
to record here an expression of its gratitude. 

A showing of the entire bison subscription, by 
states, is as follows: 


SUMMARY OF SUBSCRIPTIONS. 


ING ey MONK yee Se nn se eee ip ee $5,213.00 
Massachusetts ... 2,320.00 
Minnesota .......... 1,054.00 
Pennsylvania 503.00 
Montana ..... 366.00 
MIO ae ee 177.50 
District of Columbia 149.00 
Connecticut) =e 97.00 
New Jersey ... 92.00 
California ~. 91.00 
Michigan ..... 83.00 
Ohio === 72.00 
IMGSSONI eee 53.00 
New Hampshire .. 53.00 
Oklahoma .......... 48.00 
Rhode Island 39.10 
Nebraska _ ....... 32.00 
England _..... 25.00 
Colorado 15.00 
Arizona ... 15.00 
Florida 10.00 
Maryland 8.00 
Washington 7.50 
iHrance Wee 6.90 
VOwa: Gees 6.00 
Wyoming 5.00 
Kentucky 4.50 
Maine’ 2a. 4.00 
West Virginia .. 4.00 
“Anonymous” ...... 3.00 
South Carolina 1.00 
Louisiana -_........ 1.00 
Vermont ............ 1.00 
British (Colum Diyos se ee ees 1.00 

Total suck 28 es See x ree wee ese ne $10,560.50 
EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S REC- 


ORD IN WILD-LIFE PRESERVATION. 


MONG other things left behind him of 

which he and his friends may well be proud, 

ex-President Roosevelt has gone out of of- 
fice with a most enviable record as a promoter 
of measures for the protection of wild life. Of 
course those who knew him best expected much 
of him, but it is safe to say that even the most 
hopeful anticipations have been surpassed. 

In one short article it is quite impossible to 
enumerate more than a very few of the measures 
that should be named in this connection. It is 
safe to say that during the whole of his six years 
as president, no measure calculated to benefit the 
wild life of North America ever was put before 
him without receiving his instant sympathy and 
consistent support. He never ignorantly and 
parsimoniously killed an act for the perpetua- 
tion of the bison, nor left the gray squirrel a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


prey to gunners because it was too much trouble | 
to sign the bill that had been passed in its be- 
half,—as did an executive officer of a most im- 
portant state. 

Even the briefest enumeration of the wild- 
life measures favored and promoted by ex-Presi- 
dent Roosevelt must include the following: 


The Alaska game laws of 1902 and 1907. 

The establishment of the Wichita Game Ref- 
uge, Oklahoma, in 1902, and the acceptance of 
the bison herd in 1907. 

The establishment of the Yellowstone Park 
bison herd in 1902. 

The increased attention given the big game 
in the Yellowstone Park, including the vigorous 
prosecution of poachers in 1907-08. 

The creation of the Grand Cafion game 
refuge, in Arizona, 1906. 

The order prohibiting hunting or trapping 
of game on the Fort Niobrara Military Reserva- 
tion, Nebraska, 1908. 

The passage of the bill providing for the 
Montana National Bison Range in 1908, and 
two supplementary measures in 1909. 

The creation of 53 Federal Bird Refuges, 
1903-1907. 

The creation of the Mt. Olympus National 
Monument, Washington, 1909. 

The creation of the Superior National Forest 
and Game Preserve, Minnesota, 1909. 

The meting of the North American Conserya- 
tion Commission, and its declaration for game 
protection, 1909. 

Is not this record sufficient of itself to make 
a reign illustrious? We think it is. 


SOME OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO 
BE DONE FOR THE PROTECTION 
OF WILD LIFE. 


ONDEMN as tnsportsmanlike and unfair 
( the use of the noiseless gun in killing wild 
life. 

Establish Glacier National Park, as a forest 
and game preserve. 

Establish the Appalachian National Forest 
Preserve,—saying nothing at present about the 
game! 

Work for the enactment of a perpetual close 
season on all the antelope, caribou, mountain 
sheep and mountain goats in the United States, 
wherever situated. 

Encourage Colorado in the creation of a 
State Game Preserve in Estes Park. 

Discourage the use of wild game as necessary 
food for civilized man. 

Discourage the killing of shore birds (Order 
Limicole) as “game,” and “food” for man. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Discourage the indiscriminate carrying of fire- 
arms. 

Prohibit in all states and territories the car- 
rying of guns by unnaturalized aliens. 

Prohibit, in all states and territories, all 
Spring shooting; and begin the campaign in 
Towa. 

Acquire Cat Island, Gulf of Mexico (near 
Pass Christian, Miss.) as a bird preserve. 


Provide for every state and territory a gun 
license law. 


THE RIGHTS OF OWNERS OF ANIMAL 
PRESERVES. 


E believe that every owner of a private 
eee preserve is entitled to the right to 

kill the game that he owns and main- 
tains, whenever he pleases, provided such kill- 
ings do not interfere with the execution of laws 
for the protection of game and other wild life 
outside of private preserves. We believe that 
this is not only good law, but also good com- 
mon sense. 

If an owner of a private menagerie of show 
animals has a right to kill a bad deer during the 
close season,—which he undoubtedly has,—it is 
only logical to conclude that the owner of a deer 
pasture should have the same right. The owner 
of a game park may kill his dog—if that painful 
duty seems imperative—but according to the 
present laws of many states, he has no right to 
kill one of his own deer, save in the open season 
for deer. 

This situation is absurd, and therefore can 
not long endure. The raising of deer or pheas- 
ants or mallard ducks in fenced enclosures, for 
the market, should now be placed on the basis 
of a legitimate industry. There is no good 
reason why an owner of a deer preserve should 
not kill one of his deer whenever he chooses, pro- 
vided he does not sell the carcass, or give it 
away outside his preserve, during the close sea- 
son; but the sale of the flesh in the close season 
is a different and far more serious matter. 

A sensible law covering this point would give 
much encouragement to the breeding of deer and 
game birds, and to the establishment of more 
private game preserves. There are many good 
reasons for the creation of a new basis for this 
industry, provided it can be accomplished with- 
out promoting the illegal killing of wild stock. 
It is there that the shoe pinches hard. 

There is one grave difficulty that must be 
overcome before it becomes possible to legalize 
either the killing or the selling of home-grown 
game during the close season. It is well known 


BULLETIN. 511 
that every unscrupulous game dealer will be 
quick to take advantage of any relaxation of 
existing laws to traffic illegally in wild game 
illegally killed. The only objection to the pas- 
sage of laws that will be fair and liberal for 
the preserve owners lies in the overshadowing 
menace of the game-dealer and lawless con- 
sumer. 

If any man can propose a system that will 
permit the preserve owner to kill and market 
surplus pheasants or deer during the close sea- 
son, without having the privilege immediately 
and successfully used as a cloak for the illegal 
slaughter of wild game, let him bring it forth 
in his state legislature. 


REFUGES FOR BIRDS. 
A ROUND the coast of the United States, 


there is gradually being extended a chain 

of insular bird sanctuaries that means much 
to the avifauna of North America. Prior to 
January 1, 1909, twenty-five national bird 
refuges had been created by executive order and 
proclamation, chiefly along our sea-coasts. They 
provide specially protected breeding-grounds 
for the brown pelican, gulls, terns, skimmers, 
shore-birds of various species, herons, egrets, 
ducks and numerous other species. It is im- 
possible to overestimate the zoological value of 
these sanctuaries, or to praise too highly the 
wisdom that brought them into existence. 

The accompanying map shows all the littoral 
bird sanctuaries that were created prior to 1909; 
but during the present year 26 more island pre- 
serves have been proclaimed. The list of the 
federal bird reservations established previous to 
1909 is as follows :— 


LIST OF FEDERAL BIRD RESERVATIONS. 


Pelican Island, Florida, March 14, 1903. 
Breton Island, Louisiana, October 4, 1904. 
Stump Lake, North Dakota, March 9, 1905. 
Huron Island, Michigan, October 10, 1905. 
Siskiwit Island, Michigan, October 10, 1905. 
Passage Key, Florida, October 10, 1905. 
Indian Key, Florida, February 10, 1906. 
Tern Island, Louisiana, August 8, 1907. 
Shell Key, Louisiana, August 17, 1907. 
Three-Arch Rocks, Oregon, October 14, 1907. 
Flattery Rocks, Washington, October 23, 1907. 
Quillayute Needles, Washington, October 23, 1907. 
East Timbalier Island, Louisiana, December 7, 1907. 
Copalis Rock, Washington, October 23, 1907. 
Mosquito Inlet, Florida, February 24, 1908. 
Tortugas Keys, Florida, April 6, 1908. 
Klamath Lake, Ohio, August 8, 1908. 
Key West, Florida, August 8, 1908. 
Lake Malheur, Ohio, August 18, 1908. 
Chase Lake, North Dakota, August 28, 1908. 
Pine Island, Florida, September 15, 1908. 
Matlacha Pass, Florida, September 26, 1908. 
Palma Sola, Florida, September 26, 1908. 
Island Bay, Florida, October 23, 1908. 
Loch Katrine, Wyoming, October 26, 1908. 


512 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


A SPORTSMAN’S PLATFORM. 


FIFTEEN CARDINAL PRINCIPLES AFFECTING WILD GAME AND ITS PURSUIT. 


Proposed by William T. Hornaday, April 17, 1908. 


1. The wild animal life of to-day is not ours, to do with as we please. The original stock is 
given to us in trust, for the benefit both of the present and the future. We must render an account- 
ing of this trust to those who come after us. 

2. Judging from the rate at which the wild creatures of North America are now being de- 
stroyed, fifty years hence there will be no large game left in the United States nor in Canada out- 
side of rigidly protected game preserves. It is therefore the duty of every good citizen to promote 
the protection of forests and wild life, and the creation of game preserves, while a supply of game 
remains. Every man who finds pleasure in hunting or fishing should be willing to spend both time 
and money in active work for the protection of forests, fish and game. 

3. The sale of game is incompatible with the perpetual preservation of a proper stock of 
game; therefore it should be prohibited, by laws and by public sentiment. 

4. In the settled and civilized regions of North America, there is no real necessity for the 
consumption of wild game as human food; nor is there any good excuse for the sale of game for 
food purposes. The maintenance of hired laborers on wild game should be prohibited, every- 
where, under severe penalties. 

5. An Indian has no more right to kill wild game, or to subsist upon it all the year round, than 
any white man in the same locality. The Indian has no inherent or God-given ownership of the 
game of North America, any more than of its mineral resources; and he should be governed by the 
same game laws as white men. 

6. No man can be a good citizen and also be a slaughterer of game or fishes beyond the nar- 
row limits compatible with high-class sportsmanship. 

7. A game-butcher or a market-hunter is an undesirable citizen, and should be treated as such. 

8. The highest purpose which the killing of wild game and game fishes can hereafter be made 
to serve is in furnishing objects to overworked men for tramping and camping trips in the wilds; 
and the value of wild game as human food should no longer be regarded as an important factor in 
its pursuit. 

9. If rightly conserved, wild game constitutes a valuable asset to any country which possesses 
it; and it is good statesmanship to protect it. 

10. An ideal hunting trip consists of a good comrade, fine country, and a very few trophies 
per hunter. 

11. In an ideal hunting trip, the death of the game is only an incident; and by no means is 
it really necessary to a successful outing. 

12. The best hunter is the man who finds the most game, kills the least, and leaves behind 
him no wounded animals. 

13. The killing of an animal means the end of its most interesting period. When the coun- 
try is fine, pursuit is more interesting than possession. 

14. The killing of a female hoofed animal, save for special preservation, is to be regarded as 
incompatible with the highest sportsmanship; and it should everywhere be prohibited by stringent 
laws. 

15. A particularly fine photograph of a large wild animal in its haunts is entitled to more 
eredit than the dead trophy of a similar animal. An animal that has been photographed never 
should be killed, unless previously wounded in the chase. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 513 


REMARKS ON THE SPORTSMAN’S PLATFORM. 


Up to this time it appears that no declaration of principles ever has been submitted to the 
sportsmen of the world, or even to those of America alone, for their endorsement and adherence. 
Because of this fact, and in the hope of a result useful to all, I have the honor to submit the en- 
closed Sportsman’s Platform, for such endorsement as it may be able to win on its own merits. 

It is my belief that much strength may be gained for the general cause of game protection by 
a definite agreement between the sportsmen of the world on the cardinal principles that apply 
everywhere to the pursuit and the preservation of large game. Such an agreement would be re- 
ceived in all law-making bodies with respectful consideration, and if sufficiently comprehensive 
it might prove of great value in campaigns for better game laws, for the education of the general 
public, and for the creation of new game preserves. 

These fifteen cardinal principles have been drawn up to cover not only the conditions that 
exist to-day, but also to meet others that seem of certain development in the near future. For the 
countries of Asia and Africa it is easy to substitute for “Indian” the word “native.” 

The adoption of this Platform by sportsmen’s organizations, and by unattached sportsmen, is 
respectfully invited; and a careful register will be kept of all who advise me of their endorsement. 


ADOPTIONS. Vivo Ako Lele 


The following organizations have formally adopted the Sportsman’s Platform as their code 
of ethics, and published it in their club books :— 
Camp-Fire Crus or America, New York, Dec. 10, 1908. 

ship, 260. 

Tue Lewis anp Crark Cxvs, Pittsburg, Pa. William M. Kennedy, President. Sixty members. 
Tue Norru American FisH anp Game Prorective Association, January 20, 1909. Hon. Dr. 

J. O. Resume, President. Membership about 400. An international organization. Adopt- 

ed at the Toronto Convention, after a full discussion of Plank 5 
Tue Rop anp Gun Cuiuvps, Sheridan County, Wyoming, May 1, 1909. 

Dr. F. A. Hodson, Vice-President. Seventy-four members. 

Tue Camp-Fire Crus or Micuiean, Detroit, May 20, 1909. Gustavus D. Pope, President. 
ganized May 12. ‘Twenty members. 


Ernest T. Seton, President. _Member- 


George Lord, President; 


Or- 


CONVICTION OF SONG-BIRD KILLERS. 
Niece: SACCO and Antonio Guadagno, 


who were arrested by Deputy Game-Warden 
John J. Rose, of the Zoological Park force, 
for killing song-birds for food, as described in 


as we are aware, this is the second bequest of 
the kind ever made in this country, and the So- 
ciety will scrupulously carry out the wishes of 
the lamented founder of the fund. 


AND PROVINCIAL PARKS 


: : NATIONAL 
Butuetin No. 32, page 473, were finally tried = ’ : 3 = 
and convicted, and sentenced to ten weeks in the AND GAME PRESERVES 
penitentiary. If the fines to which the men June 1, 1909. 


were liable had been paid, according to law, they 
would have amounted to about $450. The of- 
fenses referred to were committed in New York 
City, within three miles of the Zoological Park. 


MISS CAROLINE PHELPS STOKES. 


HE wild birds of America have lost a good 
\[ies On April 26, 1909, Miss Caroline 
Phelps Stokes passed from earth. 

It is fitting that all friends of birds, and of 
wild life generally . should know that only a few 
months before her death, Miss Stokes completed 
the establishment with the New York Zoological 
Society of a special endowment fund of $5,000, 
the income from which is to be expended annu- 
ally in measures designed to promote the pro- 
tection and increase of our native birds. So far 


IN THE UNITED STATES. 
Area, 
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming... 2,142,720 acres. 


Chickamauga and Chattanooga National I and 


Military, Tennessee eG hy 
Sequoia, California . 160,000‘ 
Yosemite, California —..... 967,680 * 
Mt. Rainier, Washington 207,360 “ 
Crater Lake, Oregon = oe 159,360 ‘“ 
Game Caiion Game Preserve... Tat ee 2,019,000 “* 
Mt. Olympus National Monument.. 600,000 ** 
Superior Game and Forest Preserv 909,743 “ 
Wichita Forest and Game Preserve... Bre120) se 
Wichita National Bison Range. 3 9,760 * 
Montana National Bison Range, fenced ‘range, 

for captive game herds... ees 20,000 

IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. 
Rocky Mountains Park, Alberta. es 2,764,800 acres. 
Yoho Park, Alberta.................... 1,799,680 
Glacier Park, Alberta. 1,474,560 ‘“ 
Buffalo Park, Alberta (for ca 384,000 
Elk Island Park, Alberta, (for captive bison) aa 40,960 “ 
Jasper Park, Alberta .... .. 3,488,000 ‘ 
East Kootenay Preserve, British. “Columbia.......- 288,000 * 
(“Goat Mountain Park.’’) 

Yalakom Mountains, Lillooet District, British 

Columbia are eee pace 192,000 * 


WILLIAM DUTCHER. 


HERE are three men who will be remembered 
gratefully by millions of Americans for a century 
after the ephemeral celebrities of to-day have been 
forgotten en masse. It is well that these men should 
be fully known and appreciated while they are alive. 


Dr. Tueopore S. Parmer, Assistant Chief of the 
Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture, 
is always to be found where the fight is fiercest. He 
is an expert on game laws, a shrewd and careful man- 


ager, a trained diplomat, and also a_ resourceful 
fighter. Whenever state workers get into a fierce 


campaign, Dr. Palmer is appealed to for aid. He has 
appeared in the legislatures of perhaps twenty dif- 
ferent states, and helped to win many a campaign for 
wild life. 

It was he who relentlessly and tirelessly pursued 
the infamous Binkley and Purdy gang of poachers 
in the Yellowstone Park, and with the vigorous back- 
ing of the Department of Justice dealt the poachers 
a crushing blow. The four poachers who once were 
so bold and defiant were utterly ruined, one being 
to-day in the penitentiary, and the other three fugi- 
tives from justice. This victory was of far- reaching 
importance. 

Besides his active campaigning for good laws, and 
against bad ones, Dr. Palmer is the Government's 
expert on the making of reserves for big game, and 
island refuges for birds. The new Mt. Olympus game 
and forest reserve in Washington is his latest and 
most important achievements, and in every sense it is 
a monument to him, none too great to stand as a per- 
petual memorial of the man and his work. 


Mr. Wiriiam Durcuer, of New York, President 
and general manager of the National Audubon So- 
ciety, deserves all ‘the honor the lovers of birds, and 
the recipients of their beneficial services, ever could 
bestow upon one individual. His career began in 1898, 
as chairman of the A. O. U. Committee on Bird Pro- 
tection. His special work has been the protection of 
song-birds, the gulls and terns of the seashore, the 
“plume birds” and insectivorous birds, generally. 

Inspired by Mr. Dutcher’s zeal and work, the late 
Mr. Albert Wilcox bequeathe d his entire fortune, of 
$331,000, to Mr. Dutcher’s National Association, for 
bird protection work, and in 1906 it became available. 
The impetus which the income of this fund has given 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THREE 


GREAT CHAMPIONS 


OF WILD 


LIFE. 


BULLETIN. 


GEORGE 


O. SHIELDS. 


to systematic work in behalf of birds has been very 
great. Mr. Dutcher now is enabled to keep constant- 
ly in the field five splendid workers, where their ser- 
vices are most needed, and pay all their expenses. 
Fortunately, Mr. Dutcher’s private business is on a 
basis so thoroughly automatic that he is enabled to 
devote a great deal of his time to managing cam- 
paigns in behalf of birds. The Francis bill recently 
pending at Albany against “the white badge of 
cruelty” was his measure, and as usual the alien mil- 
liners were solidly arrayed against him, on the plea 
that his bill would hurt their business ! 

The farmers of America little realize what they owe 
to William Dutcher. Perhaps eighty per cent. of 
them have not yet heard of him; but with them all 
his name should be a household word. 


Mr. Georce O. Surerps, formerly editor of Recrea- 
tion, now editor of Shields’ Magazine, founder and 
for ten years president of the League of American 
Sportsmen, bears a name that for many years has 
been a symbol of terror to “game-hogs,” and the ex- 
terminators of wild life. He did not hesitate to use 
drastic methods in influencing the men who shoot 
and fish not wisely but too well, whenever their 
skins proved impenetrable to appeals to reason and 
decency. By the game-hog element, Mr. Shields has. 
been both feared and hated; but his influence in be- 
half of wild life has covered practically the whole 
United States, and has been of enormous value to: 
that cause. He has played an important part in se- 
curing new legislation, but also in enforcing protec- 
tive laws. 

For years this veteran game protector has battled 
early and late, in season and out, tirelessly, and at 
times even recklessly, so far as his own fortunes were 
concerned, to stop the slaughter of wild creatures, 
and reform the inconsiderate and wanton game kill- 
ers. ‘The work he did, and still is doing, will live 
and be remembered by his countrymen long after his 
active labors are done. 

During the past four months Mr. Shields has made 
a tour across the continent, in which he delivered 
seventy-four lectures and over 200 addresses to 
schools, each one of which was a powerful appeal in 
behalf of wild life. The tour was practically a con- 
tinuous ovation, and its influence upon the public will 
be not only great, but continuous. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE REAL EXTERMINATORS OF BIG 
GAME. 


EFORE the International Conservation 
Conference held in Washington, in an ad- 
dress in behalf of wild life, the Directors of 
the Zoological Park declared in strong terms 
that the men who live in or near to the haunts 
of big game are the real exterminators of our 
finest wild animals. At this moment, 
aggravating case in point is reported from Fre- 


a very 


mont County, Idaho, on the western side of the 
Yellowstone Park. 

During the awful weather of the past winter, 
about 500 elk fled to Fremont County, seeking 
feeding-grounds by which to until 
spring. Practically all of them mere slaugh- 
tered by the people living there! And this was 
done, not only in defiance of the dictates of 
mercy and humanity, but also in defiance of 
statute law. At the time that slaughter was 
proceeding, the people of Jackson’s Hole (Wy- 
oming), and the state of Wyoming, were spend- 
ing nearly $7,000 in the purchase of hay, and 
in feeding the elk of Jackson’s Hole to keep 
them from starving en masse. 

The following from the Boise (Idaho) States- 
man, of February 25th, and quoted in Outdoor 
Life Magazine, is of general interest :— 

“FE. W. Yoemans has returned from a trip 
into Fremont County that took him into the 
Teton Basin country and to the borders of 
Jackson’s Hole. 

““The slaughter of elk in that section is 
something appalling, he said. The snow is 
deep and the animals are driven down toward 
They are helpless and can be 
Farmers, not hunters, are 


survive 


the settlements. 
picked off with ease. 
the guilty parties. 

“One man told me he knew a farmer who had 
killed six of the noble animals. He said he 
would have complained if the man had not been 
his neighbor. A mail-carrier informed me he 
saw forty-two elk struggling through the snow 
in single file. Two of the animals had been 
severely wounded and were bleeding and stag- 
gering. As the animals approach farmhouses 
they are mowed down. Elk meat, heads and 
hides are on sale in suspicious quantities. 

“The game law prohibits the killing of more 
than one elk in a season. The conditions in 
Fremont County have caused the game warden to 
be severely criticised. It is stated that no trou- 
ble would be experienced in securing evidence. 
So far not an arrest has been made. Mr. Yoe- 


BULLETIN. 515 
mans brought back with him a copy of the Ash- 
ton Enterprise of February 11th, from which the 
following is taken: 

“Word reached here Wednesday that the day 
before six elk had been killed at Squirrel. To- 
day a rancher brings word to town that nine 
elk cows and calves crossed his place this week 
and before they had proceeded three miles all 
but one had been killed. Elk meat was also 
offered for sale in town to-day, Thursday.” 


A GAME-LAW “ACCIDENT” IN 
WYOMING. 


ERETOFORE, whenever a joker has been 
found stowed away in a new game-law, it 
has always operated against some wild 
game species, contrary to the intentions of the 
For example, in 1907, a clause 
slipped through the Montana legislature remov- 


majority. 


ing all protection from the beaver; which was 
quickly noted, and made much of by trappers 
who gladly would trap and kill the last beaver, 
if they could. 

But this year, the case is reversed. When the 
Wyoming legislature very laudably passed a law 
permanently protecting the prong-horned ante- 
lope, and it had been duly engrossed and signed 
by the governor, a legal stowaway was discoy- 
ered in its midst. To the horror of the elk 
hunters, it was found that both the elk and 
mountain sheep had been named as species for 
which there should be no open season! And 
this with thousands of otherwise killable elk 
around the Yellowstone Park! No wonder 
Jackson’s Hole has put on mourning. 

The inclusion of the elk was of course un- 
necessary, and decidedly 
With 30,000 elk in Wyoming, there is no need 
for a perpetual close season; and there is no 


also unfortunate. 


need to break up the legitimate business of guid- 
ing law-abiding elk hunters. In feeding 20,000 
starving elk last winter, the people of Jackson’s 
Hole have done well; and this we must not for- 
get. 

As for that mountain-sheep clause, however, 
we rejoice with exceedingly great joy! The 
sheep of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Col- 
orado must have absolute and permanent pro- 
tection, or they are doomed to quick extinction! 
It has not come one moment too soon; and the 
people of Wyoming should hold that law on the 
sheep just where it is, forever. 


516 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


THE WICHITA NATIONAL BISON HERD ON ITS RANGE. 


GENERAL VIEW OF THE MONTANA NATIONAL BISON RANGE, FROM THE EAST. 


Proposed Buffalo Range from the direction of Mission Mountains. The highest point is Quilseeh, 4,800 feet. 
To the left is Wheewheetlchaye,—Red Man’s Ridge. 


THE WILD ANIMALS OF 
HUDSON’S DAY 


AND THE 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK OF 
OUR DAY 


BY WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc. D. 


PUBLISHED BY THE 


HUDSON-FULTON COMMISSION 


IN COOPERATION WITH THE 


NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


7 NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER, 1909 COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY WILLIAM T. HORNADAY 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION, SEPT. 25 TO OCT. 9, 1909 


THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMMISSION 


Appointed by the Governor of the State of New York and the Mayor of the City of New York 
and chartered by Chapter 325, Laws of the State of New York, 1906 


LIST OF OFFICERS 
President 


GEN. STEWART L. WOODFORD 


Presiding Vice-President 
MR. HERMAN RIDDER 


Vice-Presidents 


Mr. Andrew Carnegie Mr. John E. Parsons 

Hon. Joseph H. Choate Gen. Horace Porter 

Maj.-Gen. F. D. Grant, U. S. AS Hon. Frederick Seward 

Hon. Seth Low Mr. Francis Lynde Stetson 

Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan Hon. Oscar S. Straus 

Hon. Levi P. Morton Mr. Wm. B. Van Rensselaer 

Hon. Alton B. Parker Gen. Jas. Grant Wilson 
Treasurer 


MR. ISAAC N. SELIGMAN 
No. 1 William Street, New York 


Secretary Assistant Secretary 


MR. HENRY W. SACKETT MR. EDWARD HAGAMAN HALL 


Art and Historical Exhibits Committee 
MR. J. PIERPONT MORGAN, General Chairman 


Sub-Committee in 
Charge of Scientific and Historical Exhibits 
DR. GEORGE F. KUNZ, Chairman 
401 Fifth Avenue, New York 
Mr. Samuel V. Hoffman Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn 
Mr. Archer M. Huntington Mr. Philip T. Dodge 


Sub-Committee in Charge of Art Exhibits 
HON. ROBT. W. DE FOREST, Chairman 
Metropolitan Museum of Art 


Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke Mr. George F. Hearn 
Dr. Edward Robinson Dr. George F. Kunz 


Headquarters: Trisune Buitpine, New York 
Telephones: Beekman 3097 and 3098 


SPECIAL NOTICE 


DURING THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION the most important species of Mammals, 
Birds and Reptiles of the ZOOLOGICAL PARK that inhabited New York State in Hudson’s day, will be 
marked by the official flag of the Commission. 


THIS SPECIAL BULLETIN appears in the interests of the Celebration. Editors of newspapers 
hereby are given permission to copy from it, for use in newspapers, any of the matter contained herein 
save the illustrations that are reproduced by permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons, from the “American 
Natural History.” 


COPIES OF THIS BULLETIN may be obtained by mail, af 25c. each, postpaid, by remitting to H. 
R. Mitchell. Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park. As long as the supply lasts, it will be on sale at the 
Zoological Park entrances, and elsewhere in New York City. 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION NUMBER 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


PUBLISHED BY THE Hupson-FuLtron CELEBRATION Com™MIssIoN, 


IN COOPERATION WITH 


Tue New York Zoorocicat Society. 


September, 1909 


THE WILD ANIMALS OF HUDSON’S DAY. 


By Witu1am T. Hornapay, 
Director or THE New Yorx Zoonocicat Park. 


PART I—THE BIRDS.* 


a frail bark westward across three thou- 

sand miles of stormy ocean can know the 
thrill that is transmitted by the heliograph flash 
of a pair of silvery wings, with the knowledge 
that land is near. To the westward trans-At- 
lantic voyager, it is always the Herring Gull 
that far at sea proclaims the land. 

On the wing, this Gull is always beautiful; 
but never is its plumage quite so silvery, and 
never are its flight-curves so graceful, as when 
it greets the tired American who thankfully is 
sailing toward the Statue of Liberty and Home. 

Other birds sometimes met off shore, are the 
deep-water ducks, particularly the Red-Breast- 
ed Merganser, with a bill like the serrated snout 
of a Gangetic crocodile, and flesh so frankly 
and rankly fishy that only the most powerful 
human palate can accept it. The Scoters, or 
Surf Ducks, once in evidence at sea, now are 
rarely seen in the waters adjacent to New York. 

Three hundred years ago, before the dark 
days of bird slaughter in America, it is reason- 
ably certain that New York Bay attracted im- 
mense flocks of web-footed wild-fowl. If the 
histories of that period do not so record it, then 
the historians were remiss. We are certain that 
once inside Sandy Hook, the all-too-succulent 
Canvasback Duck, and its understudy, the 
Redhead, “might have been seen,” and in fact 
were seen, by the discerning mariner. But in 


i. the bold adventurer who has sailed 


* All the Illustrations reproduced with this article 
are from “Tne American Natura History,” copy- 
right, 1904, by William T. Hornaday, and appear here 
by the permission of the publishers, Messrs. Charles 
Seribner’s Sons. 


an evil moment the baneful eye of the epicure 
fell upon the savory Canvasback, and he pro- 
nounced it the king of table ducks. From that 
hour, its doom was sealed; and today it is al- 
most a bird of history. 

Let us for the moment try to put ourselves in 
Explorer Hudson’s place, and see the birds of 
the Hudson River and Valley, as he and his 
men saw them. 

Surely on the ponds and streams of Manhat- 
tan Island they found the exquisite Wood 
Duck; for even today an occasional wanderer 
returns to its old haunts in the Zoological Park! 
Stated in the form of a proportion, the Wood 
Duck is to Other Ducks as The Opal is to Other 
Gems,—-the most glorious in colors of them all. 
The Pintail Duck, however, is more beautiful 
in form. The most graceful yacht that ever 
floated never was half so exquisitely modeled in 
hull and stern and bow as this web-footed water 
fairy. 

The Mallard Duck is like charity. It suf- 
fereth long, and is kind; so it holds on long 
after the more sensitive species have been shot 
out. It will be our last good wild duck to be 
exterminated by the pot-hunters for the starving 
millions of wealth——for whom the fashionable 
chef feels that he MUST provide game. or be 
disgraced. In the years that have flown, the 
quiet bayous of the eastern shore of the Hud- 
son have fed and sheltered untold thousands of 
lusty ““Green-Heads,” young and old, and they 
were the lawful prey of the hungry explorer and 
pioneer. 

A hundred years ago, the Osprey, or Fish- 
Hawk, bred numerously on the rocky walls of 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


THE HERRING GULL (1, 2) AND COMMON TERN (3, 4). 


the Palisades, and then as now paid toll to the 
Lord of the Air, who also nested there. Even 
today they are abundant along the Shrewsbury 
River, south of New York Bay; but the bay it- 
self no longer furnishes gocd fishing-ground for 
them. 

The Osprey, or Fish-Hawk, is a bird of high- 
ly interesting personality. In the first place, 
it represents a special development for fishing, 
and in structure it is a sort of connecting link 
between the Owls and the Falcons. It has legs 
that are long and muscular, powerful talons, and 
unusual wing-power. It thinks nothing of 
dropping a hundred feet straight into ice-cold 
water, seizing a fish nearly half its own weight, 
and flying five miles with it. It is doubtful 
whether any other bird can catch and bear away 
fish so large in proportion to its own size. 
I have seen Ospreys flying with fish so large— 
always carried with the head pointing forward 
—that the flight of so small a bird with so great 
a load seemed almost incredible. It is no won- 
der that a two-pound fish slowly sailing through 
the air with an Osprey perched upon it offers a 
temptation so great that an Eagle cannot al- 
ways resist it; for, like some human beings, the 


one thing that an Eagle cannot resist is temp- 
tation. 

The nesting habits of the Osprey are extreme- 
ly interesting. When not disturbed, the bird 
uses the same nest, year after year, but each 
year adds substantially to the structure. The 
sticks used are large, and the nest soon reaches 
a breadth and height out of all proportion to 
the size of the builder. On Gardiner’s Island, 
at the eastern end of Long Island, the protec- 
tion afforded the Ospreys nesting there soon 
rendered the birds so tame and trustful that 
they nested very low down, and finally upon the 
ground. Some of the continuous-performance 
nests constructed on that island are of enormous 
proportions. 

Attempts have been made to colonize Ospreys 
in the New York Zoological Park, but the birds 
always flew away and failed to return. 

The White-Headed Eagle, or Bald Eagle, 
still inhabits the Palisades, and may be seen 
soaring high above the valley of the Hudson. 

When you observe a very large dark-colored 
bird of prey traveling far aloft, with slow and 
stately sweep of wings that are broad and short 
and non-vulturine, it is fair to call it an Eagle. 
If the head and tail have a gleam like frosted 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 


silver, then may you know of a verity that the 
aerial voyager is our national bird in adult plum- 
age. Incidentally, you may also know that it is 
one of the handsomest of all living birds of prey. 

It is now fashionable for young ornithologists 
to deride our national bird, and besmirch his 
character, because he exacts tribute of his vas- 
sal, the Osprey. But he needs no defense from 
me, any more than the fires of Vesuvius need a 
janitor to hold an umbrella over them to keep 
out the summer rain. Whenever the great 
American Eagle really needs defenders, three 
million lusty Americans will rush to volunteer 
for the campaign. 

I think it is true of every continent that the 
first birds seen by its explorers——who almost 
invariably make their initial entries by the water 
routes,—are the web-footed birds of sea and 


THE REDHEAD DUCK. 


BULLETIN. 521 
shore, and the feathered fishers of the river- 
banks and lakes. We can safely predicate that 
when Hudson first went ashore from the bosom 
of his mighty river, he became personally ac- 
quainted with the Belted Kingfisher,—he of 
the stem-winding voice, the white collar, and 
the jaunty cap of blue. It has been gravely 
stated in print that “Kingfishers are found near 
streams,’ and in similar environments may be 
seen the slow rise and stately flight of the 
Great Blue Heron; but it is on the marshes 
that we hear the deep-seated “voice” of the 
American Bittern. The traditional “boom” 
of the Bittern looks good on paper; but when 
it is compared with the real booms of life, it 
seems very small. Being most happily unfit 
for food and uncursed with desirable “plumes,” 
the Heron and the Bittern, even though large, 
still are in our midst; but now there are for- 


WOOD DUCK. 
Male and Female. 


eign bird-killers to reckon with, who kill and 
eat everything wild, from vireos to vultures. 
Even yet in spring and fall the weird cry of 
the uncanny Toon, or Great Northern Diver, 
is heard occasionally over the upper waters of 
the Hudson River. In the early days, this bird 
was a frequent visitor to the Hudson valley, and 
often nested along the upper waters of the river. 
Both in form and in habits the Loon is the most 
remarkable and picturesque feathered inhabitant 
of the Empire State. It is so much like the 
giant Penguins of the antarctic regions that it 
seems as if it once had lived there, but having 


522 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


THE PINTAIL DUCK. 


wings for flight had wisely transplanted itself 
to God’s country. 

Fortunately for the Great Blue Heron,— 
by millions of people miscalled the Blue 
‘‘Crane,’’—the cruel and insatiate goddess of 
Fashion has not yet decreed that Woman, the 
merciful and compassionate, shall collect its 
plumes for her personal adornment. The well- 
defined fishy flavor of the Heron’s flesh protects 
it from the evil eye of the epicure; and there- 
fore do we still possess this odd and picturesque 
bird. True, there is today but one Great Blue 
Heron where a hundred years ago there were a 
hundred; but we are thankful that the ruthless 
savages of civilization have spared us even a few 
samples of the original stock. And yet, there 
are today State Game Commissioners who are 
being importuned to “kill off the Blue Herons,’ 
—because in a whole summer season half a 
dozen of them will kill and eat as many fish as 
one greedy fisherman would catch and send to 
market in two days! 

If there is anything in game-protection that is 
supremely annoying, it is solemn talk about the 
“great destruction of fish” by herons, kingfish- 
ers, ospreys, and Californian sea-lions. 


In many of the coves and alcoves of the low, 
wet lands flanking the mighty Hudson stream, 
the Woodcock and the Wilson Snipe still are 
found; but they are now so rare throughout the 
Hudson valley that few gunners find it worth 
while to hunt them. It is the same old story,— 
of inordinate and persistent destruction, down 
to the vanishing point. Throughout New York 
state, and many other states, also, both these 
species should be accorded absolute all-the- 
year-round protection for at least ten years. It 
is either that or extinction; and which will the 
people choose ? 

Thanks to the splendid efforts of the bird 
lovers of New York state, headed by the Audu- 
bon Society and William Dutcher, the song 
birds are in far better case than the game birds 
and water-fowl. I believe that none of the 
eastern New York song-bird species of Hudson’s 
day have become extinct, nor anywhere near it. 
Every spring and summer the sweet wild-wood 
melody of the Wood Thrush rings day after 
day through the leafy aisles of the Zoological 
Park, and like the flash of a fiery feathered 
meteor, the Scarlet Tanager streaks through 
the woods and across our lawns, close before 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE BALD EAGLE. 


BULLETIN. 


524 


AMERICAN 


AMERICAN 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


OSPREY. 


BITTERN. 


our startled eyes. Our dear old friend the 
Robin, than whom we love none better, joyous- 
ly accepts our protection, and nests within easy 
reach of our hands. And only this very spring, 
even while our men were working in an elephant 
yard, completing the paving, a Robin built its 
nest on the frame of the big steel gate of the 
elephants’ fence, that swung within close prox- 
imity to an active steam roller and a dozen 
busy men! And this while the gate daily swung 
to and fro. Our men were all very proud of 
this vote of confidence, but alas! the work had 
to go on. Just as we feared, the bird found the 
position untenable, and finally it flew away and 
built another nest in a less busy spot. Another 
Robin, with more wisdom, built her nest on one 
of the corral gates of the Antelope House, and 
although the gate is opened widely every day 
for the cart to pass through, she successfully 
reared her brood. 


THE BELTED KINGFISHER. 


The Bluebird still comes to us abundantly 
in spring, and in the cat-tail marshes along the 
Hudson and elsewhere, 

“The Red-Wing pipes his o-ka-lee!” 
just as it has for a hundred years, and we know 
not how many more. And be it remarked here 
that amid at least a hundred species of song- 
birds now kept in the Zoological Park, indoors 
and out, the Red-Winged Blackbird is the most 
persistent singer, the most theatrical, and in my 
opinion very nearly the sweetest singer of them 
all. In our big outdoor cages, wherein the 
flocks scarcely know that they are confined, they 
sing more joyously and persistently than I ever 
heard them in their own cat-tail marshes. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


_— 


>» 
TR ge 


% 


Sf 


Ww 


BULLETIN. 525 


Ny 


a 


1 
mn) 


COMMON MURRE. 


The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is not abun- 
dant in eastern New York, and although his 
champions claim that he is a bonnie singer, they 
can not prove it by the bird himself. But to the 
eye he is fine, even though he is “no great hand 
at the pipes.” 

The Baltimore Oriole, dean of the faculty 
of feathered architects, is much too rare; for a 
thousand times the number that now visit our 
village streets and woods would be none too 
many. His swinging nest, preferably hanging 
from a down-drooping terminal twig of an elm, 
is one of the most wonderful manifestations of 
bird-wisdom and architectural skill that America 
produces. 

Although practically all Americans have now 
been educated entirely beyond the killing of 
song-birds,—the most valuable friends of every 
farmer and fruit grower,—there is danger in the 
air. From southern Europe there have come to 
this country, for revenue only, hundreds of thou- 
sands of Italian laborers by whom every song- 
bird is regarded as legitimate prey for the pot! 
Every camp or large settlement of Italian labor- 


XN 


THE LOON. 


ers is a center of song-bird destruction. Look 
out for them! Curb them! The laws are en- 
tirely adequate; please see to it that they are 
enforced. By the laws of the state of New 
York, no unnaturalized alien may carry fire- 
arms; and the penalties for doing so are very 
severe. Even in New York city, the Zoological 
Society has had to put forth a great effort to 
stop the wholesale killing of song-birds, by 
Italians, within two miles of our Park! 

We greatly regret the fact that throughout 
the North generally, the pestiferous English 
Sparrow has to a great extent driven out the 
House Wren and the Martin. Both those 
species loved the haunts and companionship of 
man, until the coming of Ahab, the sparrow. 
If the latter could be exterminated, the other 
two specics would immediately return. 

Of all the feathered foresters that specially 
look after the insects that damage forest trees, 
the most showy and picturesque are the 
Golden-Winged and Red-Headed Woodpeck- 
ers. Pcor indeed is the forest or wood lot that 
has not at least one of them. The former is 


GREAT BLUE HERON. 


gloriously abundant throughout the valley of the 
Hudson, but the latter is at most seasons quite 
rare. In my boyhood days I despised the abun- 
dance of the Red-Head, and foolishly spurned 
it; but the cash value of the woodpeckers gen- 
erally is now understood in a way that it was not 
forty years ago. 

The owls that hooted in the weods of Manhat- 
tan Island three hundred years ago still main- 
tain their lines of descent. In spite of guns, 
traps and poison, the Great Horned Owl, the 
Barred and the Screech Owl will not down. 


AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


All three. persist today, even in the 
Borough of the Bronx. Only four 
years ago I was one night assaulted 
in Mosholu Parkway by a Screech 
Owl who rashly leaped to the con- 
clusion that I was an ornithologist, 
and therefore dangerous koth to her 
brood and her nest. Half a dozen 
times she dashed by on angry wing, 
so close to my face that I feared for 
my eyes. And it was only last 
spring that a Barred Owl came to 
grief in the Zoological Park, in this 
wise: 

On three successive mornings, the 
men of the Bird House found that 
during the night something with say- 
age beak and claws had caught sey- 
eral song birds in the outside cages, 
through the wire netting, killed them, 
and partly devoured them. Swear- 
ing vengeance, the keepers cunning- 
ly laid a trap on the roof of the 
cages, consisting of a dead bird neat- 
ly surrounded with an environment 
of limed sticks, like a score of lead 
pencils. In the cold, gray dawn of 
the morning after, the avengers 
found, helplessly flopping around on 
the cage roof, the Barred Owl bird-murderer, 
with limed sticks all over him, wondering what 
had happened to him, and why he was quite 
unable to fly. 

Not for long was he left in doubt; for the 
keepers of song-birds believe in the survival of 
the fittest. 

Throughout the Hudson valley, but not 
counting the Adirondacks, the ground game- 


WILSON’S SNIPE. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


ROBIN. 


RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 


LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 


BULLETIN. 


BLUEBIRD. 


ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 


Or 


-t 


528 


birds are to be reckoned with the things that 
have been, rather than the things that are. 
While it is true that the Ruffed Grouse and 
the Bob White are not by any means extinct 
in eastern New York, so very few remain they 
are hardly to be taken into account. Elsewhere 
in New York state, there are localities in which 
the shooter may find some of these birds to 
shoot; but here he can only “hunt” for them, 
and sagely wonder why they exist no more. It 
is high time to enact a ten-years close season 
for both the species named above. 

The breeding of wild birds in captivity is now 
attracting much attention, and the propagation 
of gallinaceous game birds in preserves, as a 
legitimate industry, is directly in line with the 
preservation of our small remnant of Bob-White, 
Ruffed Grouse and Pinnated Grouse. 

There are two habitants of the Hudson Valley 
that we could lose only with keen regret, but 
both are gradually fading away. The nocturnal 
Whippoorwill is known by his picturesque and 
far-reaching twilight song,—or whistle,—for 
the call surely belongs in the whistle class, and 
it is easily imitated by any good whistler. 

When the mantle of night has fallen over the 
few country places that remain in the East, and 
the busy world is still, those who dwell in sum- 
mer near quiet woods often hear a loud, clear 
and altogether melodious whistle from some- 
where near the barn. As plainly as print it 
says, with sharp emphasis, “Whip-poor-Will;” 
and repeats it many times. Before each regular 
call there is a faint “chuck,” or catching of the 
breath, strong emphasis on the “whip,” and at 
the end a clear, piercing whistle that is positive- 
ly thrilling. 

Sometimes the bird will perch within thirty 
feet of your tent-door, and whistle at the rate 


of forty whippoorwills to the minute. Its call 
awakens sentimental reflections, and upon most 
persons exercises a soothing influence. It has 


been celebrated in several beautiful poems and 
songs. 

This bird,—like the next species to be men- 
tioned,—is_ strictly insectivorous in its food 
habits, and renders excellent service to man. In 
perching it chooses a large and nearly longitud- 
inal limb, on which it sits lengthwise, in close 
imitation of a bark-covered knot. 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


The Night-‘‘Hawk,”’ is closely related to the 
preceding species, but is very far removed from 
the real hawks. The Whippoorwill is known by 
being heard, through darkness, but the Night- 
Hawk strongly appeals to the eye. When the 
western sun is far down, and the evening air is 
still, watch for a dark-colored bird with long 
and sharp-pointed wings gracefully cleaving 
the air three hundred feet above the earth. If 
it has a large white spot under each wing, and is 
busy catching insects in mid-air, of a surety the 
bird is a Night-Hawk. 

But for one thing, we could wish that we could 
have been the official naturalist of the “Half- 
Moon,” and seen all the birds that Hudson saw; 
and that is——we would much rather be alive to- 
day. Thanks to many factors, the Hudson val- 
ley has not yet been seriously denuded of its 
forests; but for all that, the status of wild bird- 
life within it has greatly changed for the worse. 
The waterfowl and the gallinaceous game-birds 
have been almost annihilated; and of the herons, 
egrets, plovers, sandpipers, and large bird forms 
of every kind, it is probable that less than one 
one-hundredth now remain. 

To a great extent, this is the inevitable re- 
sult of the settlement of a virgin wilderness by 
a seething mass of predatory, bird-killing, wild- 
life-destroying human population; but at the 
same time the cultivated fields and fruit trees 
have brought a population of insectivorous birds 
probably much greater than that which existed 
here in the days of the forest primeval. 


Of the birds that were abundant four hundred 
years ago, the Great Auk, Labrador Duck and 
Passenger Pigeon are now totally extinct. The 
Trumpeter Swan, Carolina Parakeet, Whoop- 
ing Crane and Heath Hen are on the verge of 
extinction, and very soon will join the Great 
Auk and the Dodo. In exchange for the North 
American species that are wholly or nearly 
acquired—what? Ahab, the 
English Sparrow, and the Starling,—no more. 


gone, we have 

Today the lovers of wild life are engaged in 
a hand-to-hand struggle with the grand army 
of annihilators, to save at least a respectable 
remnant of our wild life and forests for the mil- 
lions of Americans who come after us. It will 
be well for us if we so discharge our obligations 
that posterity will not have cause to heap curses 
upon us for our improvidence, and for our dere- 
liction in the duties of good citizenship. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 529 


\ rSaNim 

\ a , 

We o/s eo Gee Ss 
BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST. 


= 


HOUSE-WREN. 


PURPLE MARTIN. SCARLET TANAGER. 


530 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 


RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 


— a 


7 Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoop. 
SCREECH-OWL. BARRED OWLS. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


GREAT HORNED OWL. 
With “horns” laid back in anger. 


EASTERN RUFFED GROUSE. 


The finest gallinaceous game bird of the northeastern United 


States. Still fairly abundant in the Adirondacks, and the 
wilder portions of the Catskill region. It is much in need 
of a ten-year per:od of absolute protection. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 531 


THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT. 


The warfare for the protection of wild life 
should be just as constant and unremitting as is 
the manufacture of cartridges. If anyone who 
reads the literature of the wild-life protection- 
ists is impressed by the repetition of the argu- 
ments and exhortations set forth, let him re- 
member that the men who make guns and car- 
tridges work constantly, and know no such thing 
as weariness. A competent authority has esti- 
mated that in the United States there are sold 
each year about 500,000 shot-guns and 7,000,- 
000 loaded cartridges! 

More than this, every year sees new and more 
deadly guns invented and placed upon the mar- 
ket, for the more rapid and effective slaughter 
of wild creatures. The great desire of the gun- 
maker is to give the game absolutely no chance 
to escape. To-day the perfection of long-range 
sporting rifles is so great it is difficult to find a 
man or twelve-year-old boy so unskillful that he 
cannot go out into the haunts of big game and 
kill a good “bag.” Several American women 
have killed huge elephants in Africa, and many 
a boy in his early teens has killed his moose in 
Maine, Canada or New Brunswick,—all through 
the deadly perfection of modern repeating rifles. 


BOB-WHITE. 


CAT-BIRD. 


HOW TO BRING BACK THE BIRDS. 


In the restoration of depleted wild life, Na- 
ture is kind and long-suffering. Up to a cer- 
tain point, man’s destructiveness is forgiven, and 
the damage is repaired. But the slaughter must 
not go too far, or the damage will be beyond 
repair. 

One of the most remarkable of the mental 
traits of wild creatures is the marvelous quick- 
ness with which they become aware of the fact 
that they are protected, and that within certain 
boundaries their. lives are secure. When pro- 
tection is declared they forgive and forget the 
slaughterings of the past, and begin life anew. 
When peace has been established, even the 
wildest and wariest birds, such as wild ducks 
that have been long harried by gunners, learn of 
it in an incredibly short time. 

In the Dakotas, during the close season the 
wild ducks live near the haunts of man in a way 
that the killing season quickly renders fatal. 

To country dwellers, many ways are open 
whereby they can increase the volume of bird 
life. Let us enumerate a few of them: 

Every farm and wood lot should be posted by 
the owner or occupant, sternly forbidding all 
shooting and trapping thereon. 

Every country dweller should see to it, by 
force of arms if necessary, that throughout his 
sphere of influence the laws protecting wild life 
are strictly enforced. 

Certain wild birds should be fed, especially in 
winter. For the Bob-White and Grouse, put 
out corn and wheat screenings. For the Wood- 
peckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees and others of 
the hardy “winter residents,” nail to the tree- 
trunks many strips of fat pork and chunks of 
suet. The services that those birds render your 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


trees are well worth the cost of fifty pounds of 
pork. 

The Ducks, Snipe and Woodcock need only 
wet ground, water and protection. 

To encourage Wrens, put up nest-boxes with 
holes so small that the English Sparrow can not 
enter them. A silver quarter will give you the 
right size for a Wren hole; but punch holes in 
the bottom of the can or box, so that all water 
that runs in will also run out. 

Shoot the English Sparrows from your prem- 
ises, and better birds will take their places. 

If a bold-hearted Robin elects to try winter- 
ing near you, feed him in winter, without fail. 
It is safe to say that many species of our song 
and insectivorous birds could easily survive the 
cold of our winters if they could obtain a con- 
stant supply of food. It is not the cold that 
drives them South, but the annual failure of 
their food supply. 

For all game birds, the great action to be de- 
sired and sought is the enactment of ten-year 
close seasons, covering wide areas. To this the 
men who think only of to-day, and scoff at “‘the 
future,” will strenuously object. They would 
rather annihilate the remnant to-day than have 
an abundance ten or twenty years hence. But 
they represent the spirit of destruction, and 
wastefulness of the resources of Nature. We 
are in no way bound to respect their views or 
their wishes. If the annihilators were given 
free rein, twenty-five years hence would see the 
United States as barren of bird life as the Desert 
of Sahara. 

During the past ten years the champions of 
bird life have made their influence widely felt. 
In many a hard-fought contest the destroyers 
have been routed, horse, foot and dragoons; and 
we believe that on the whole, the American peo- 
ple have “not yet begun to fight” for their birds. 


NIGHT-“HAWK.” 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Painted by CARL RUNGIUs. 


WHITE-TAILED DEER. 


THE WILD ANIMALS OF HUDSON’S DAY. 
PART II.—THE MAMMALS.* 


HE wild mammals today inhabiting the 

Hudson valley are but a pitiful remnant of 

the original stock that flourished here three 
hundred years ago. Head by head, they rep- 
resent merely the individuals that man, the cruel 
annihilator, has not been shrewd enough to find 
and kill. They do indeed represent the sur- 
vival of the fittest in “civilized’’ environment. 
Think of a civilization so cruel that it must 
curb, by the stern hand of the Law, many of its 
members from killing does and fawns, from 
slaughtering gray squirrels and song birds for 
“food,” from robbing birds’ nests, and exter- 
minating wild life, generally. 

So far as wild life is concerned, there are no 
greater savages, living or dead, than five per 
cent. of the people who wear the garb of “civil- 
ization.” 


*All the illustrations reproduced with this article 
are from “Tue Amertcan Narurat History,” copy- 
right, 1904, by William T. Hornaday, and appear here 
by the permission of the publishers, Messrs. Charles 
Seribner’s Sons. 


We repeat that every wild animal now alive 
in the state of New York owes its existence to 
its own skill in hiding, and in living in defiance 
of dangers and difficulties. The only species 
that has been for even a score of years under the 
law’s protection is the White-Tailed Deer, 
or Virginia Deer, which, but for its marvel- 
ous cunning and skill in woodcraft would long 
ago have been exterminated with the elk and 
moose that once inhabited the Adirondacks. 

Of course the White-Tailed Deer flourished 
abundantly in the days of the “Half-Moon.” 
We can imagine that almost anywhere along the 
Hudson where the banks were generously 
planted with brush and timber, three centuries 
ago a hunter could have landed on the shore and 
in an hour brought back a deer. Even during 
the past two years, two wild White-Tails have 
been caught alive while swimming in the Hud- 
son River, and one is now on exhibition in the 
Zoological Park. 

So far as we know, the only wild game of the 
Hudson valley that came aboard the “Half- 


534 


Saree Beco. 


1. OTTER. 2 


FISHER. 


was the flesh of a White-Tailed Deer. 
It was when that venturesome vessel reached the 
head of navigation of the Hudson River, prob- 
ably near Troy, that the explorers found the 
Indians “very pleasant people.” The Savages 
came on board, and brought “a great Platter of 
Venison, dressed by themselves; and they caused 
him [Hudson] to eat with them; then they made 
him reverence’; and after all this had been ac- 
complished, on September 23, the “Half-Moon” 
started to return down the Hudson. At the 
Highlands, other Indians came aboard, and 


Moon” 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


3. MARTEN. 4. 


“brought some small skinnes with them, which 
we bought for Knives and Trifles.” 

For two centuries the White-Tailed Deer was 
the best wild friend of the American pioneer. 
Many a brave family “on the frontier,” fighting 
the wilderness and the Indians for the thing 
most dear to the native-American heart,—a free 
Home,—would have gone hungry, and perhaps 
found life actually insupportable, without the 
succulent flesh of the ever-faithful White-Tail. 

It was indeed most fortunate for the American 
colonists that it was of almost universal distri- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


a 


Ba Fit 


bes” 
tee 


535 


AMERICAN BEAVERS AND THEIR WORK. 
The dam, and house of sticks in the middle of the pond, are exact reproductions of those works in the Beaver Pond of the New York Zoological Park, 


as they were at the time this drawing was made. 


HUDSON-FULTON 


CELEBRATION 


NZ @! KAW: 


i 


y 


AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 


bution throughout the timbered portions of the 
eastern United States. It is because of the im- 
portant part played by the White-Tailed Deer 
in our colonial development that today we give 
its portrait the place of honor on our title page. 

We are heartily glad that this is the most per- 
sistent species of all North American big game. 
It does not glory in the exhibition of its fine 
proportions at the risk of its life. On the con- 
trary, it seeks the densest woods and brush cover 
that it can find, noiselessly steals through it 
with head and neck carried low and pointing 
straight forward, and leaves the honest and 
sportsmanlike still hunter only a trail of heart- 
breaking dimness. Thanks to wise laws and 
their rigid enforcement, the state of Maine to- 
day contains perhaps 100,000 White-Tailed 
Deer; and the hunting of the male “increase” 
furnishes legitimate sport for 3000 men, and an 
annual revenue to the state of than 
$1,000,000. 

In our beloved Adirondack wilderness, this 
deer still exists; but it has been shot far too 
much. There are localities that now should be 


more 


alive with deer, but in which none are to be 
found, save at very long intervals. During the 
past ten years, protection has had the curious 
effect of bringing a wave of deer migration from 
the north down through Connecticut to the 
Sound, and down the Hudson valley actually 
to the northern boundary of New York City. 
We possess a wild female that was caught in 
Yonkers ! 

The first wild-animal products of our coast 
that came into the hands of Hudson were furs, 
offered in trade by the Indians of the coast. 
The historian says that “many brought us Bevers 
skinnes, and Otters skinnes, which we bought 
for Beades, Knives and Hatchets.” 

In the days of the colonists, the first traffic 
with the Indians was for their corn and furs. 
Beyond all doubt, the first products of the Hud- 
son valley that crossed the Atlantic were In- 
dian-caught skins of Beaver, Otter, Marten, 
Mink and Muskrat. In early times, the 
Fisher was also among those present, but never 
in great abundance, and it soon ceased to be a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 5387 


By permission of Outdoor Life Magazine. 
THE PUMA, OR MOUNTAIN “LION.” 


Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoob. Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoob. 
THE RACCOON. BAY LYNX. 


538 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


WOODCHUCK. 


prominent feature of the fur trade of the mid- 
dle colonies. It is but natural that the men 
‘who risked so much in venturing to America, 
300 years ago, should desire to carry back some- 
thing that could be converted into cash. It was 
the animals named above that laid the founda- 
tions of the American fur trade, generally, and 
of the Hudson Bay and North American Fur 
Companies, in particular. It would take long 
columns of figures, in large sums, to represent 
the part played by the fur-bearing animals 
named above in the commercial development of 
the American colonies. 

But there is one very interesting fact in this 
connection that we must set down. Of all the 
fur-bearing animals of the Hudson valley, the 
most persistent today are the Muskrat and the 
Mink. Strange as it may seem, for ten years 
they have been to the New York Zoological 
Park, jointly and severally, a great nuisance. 

For eight years, or during the existence of 
several piles of large rocks near our northern 
boundary, wild Minks have raided our bird col- 
lections, and slaughtered Gulls and other fish- 
eating waterfowl at a rate that was most ex- 
asperating. From 1900 to 1906 we killed in 


the Park, annually, from three to five Minks: 
and they killed annually from ten to thirty of 
our birds. Now that their shelter rocks are 
gone, and the most of the Minks have been 
trapped and killed, we have peace. 

Muskrats have been so abundant in the Bronx 
River and Bronx Lake, within our own grounds, 
and have done so much damage to our valuable 
aquatic plants, we have made war upon them, 
in self-defense. In the winter of 1908-9 a 
member of our force caught 23 of them, in our 
own waters. 

The Otter once was abundant in the Adiron- 
dacks, and its range extended thence southward 
without a break to central Florida, where it still 
persists in living. It still is found occasionally 
in the North Woods, but it is doubtful whether 
it survives today in the Hudson valley anywhere 
south of Troy. So rare is this species through- 
out the United States it is no longer possible 
to secure alive and unhurt by traps a number 
sufficient to stock the largest zoological gardens 
of the eastern states. The steel traps, mills and 
sewage of civilization are too much for an ani- 
mal that is dependent upon streams of water for 


ZOOLOGICAL 


CANADA PORCUPINE. 


its food and its life, and yet is not nearly so 
expert in hiding as is the muskrat and the mink. 

When abundant and unmolested, the Otter 
amuses itself by establishing a “shoot the 
chutes” of its own. on a steep and slippery bank, 
ending in a water plunge. The Otter “slides,” 
and the games played upon them, are well known 
to trappers and others who have lived or hunted 
where Otters were abundant. 

In the time of Hudson, there were probably 
two million Beavers living in what is now the 
state of New York. About 1670 the Dutch 
province of New Netherland annually furnished 
to the fur trade 80,000 Beaver skins, and in 
1623 the Beaver was formerly incorporated in 
the seal of that colony. 

In 1860 the Beaver had so nearly disappeared 
from the Adirondacks and the Hudson valley 
that even in the former locality the total num- 
ber alive was estimated at only 60 individuals. 
By 1895 this had fallen to “5 or 10.” Since 
that date, 34 individuals have been set free in 
the Adirondacks, chiefly through the efforts of 
Harry V. Radford, and they are slowly restock- 
ing the North Woods. 

The Black Bear, the Puma and the Canada 
Lynx once thrilled, and at times terrorized, the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 539 
colonists of eastern New York; but gradually 
they all disappeared from practically every por- 
tion of New York save the Adirondacks and the 
Catskills. Strange to say, the largest animal 
of this trio, the Bear, has been most cunning 
and successful in resisting extermination. While 
the Puma is entirely extinct in this State, and 
the Canada Lynx practically so, the big and 
burly Black Bear joyously holds on, both in the 
Adirondacks and the Catskills. The familiar 
Bay Lynx still is in our midst, and one was 
seen in the Catskills, by H. W. Merkel and A. 
P. Dienst, in the spring of the present year. 

The Raccoon once was an animal of practi- 
cally universal distribution throughout the wood- 
ed portions of New York state, but its place 
in the list of fur-bearing animals has been fatal 
to its continued abundance. It still lives, how- 
ever, even numerously in places, and still may 
be regarded as one of our most common quad- 
rupeds of medium size. Firmly and _persist- 
ently, it refuses to be exterminated, and so long 
as the forests remain, it will live to inhabit 
them. Today its fur is really valuable,—be- 
cause better furs are so rare. 

The members of the Order of Rodents, or 
gnawers, are today our most abundant wild 


EO Z 


FLYING SQUIRREL. 


540 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


GRAY SQUIRREL. 


quadrupeds; and we are thankful that none of 
them yield “fur!’’ Thus far the rapacious maw 
of the “fur trade” has not demanded the skins 
of the Woodchuck, Gray Squirrel, Chip- 
munk, Flying Squirrel or Red Squirrel, 
But whenever any of those species are definitely 
placed in the class of fur-bearing animals, their 
doom is sealed. At present,—when not easily 
found and killed—they are permitted to live 
and make glad the waste places. 

Even the finest forest is half dead if it be 
destitute of the vital spark that wild-animal 
life alone can give. 

In cheerful companionship and popular in- 
terest, the Gray Squirrel would be worth half 
a million dollars a year to the people of New 
York—if they would but let it alone! But 


EASTERN RED SQUIRREL. 


where is the Gray Squirrel today? You may 
ride or drive in midsummer from one end of 
New York to the other without finding a single 
one alive, unless it is in a protected park! 
Americans are queer animals. There are 
men and boys who still think it is “sport,” 
and “hunting,” to shoot squirrels,—under far 
less difficulty and danger than would lie in pot- 
ting chickens in a farmer’s orchard! And we 
Americans actually eat a rodent with flesh so 
rat-like that the white men of all other nations 


EASTERN CHIPMUNK. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 541 


decline it. 
rels. 

It is indeed high time that the Gray Squir- 
rel should be perpetually protected, everywhere 
throughout this gun-ridden state. 

The delightful little Chipmunk is a thing of 
beauty, and its cheerfulness is a perpetual joy. 
Being very small and commercially valueless, it 
has not been pursued quite so persistently as 


I refer to the Gray and Fox Squir- 


RED FOX. 


the larger squirrels and rabbits; but for all that, 
the cat and the bad boy have made it rare every- 
where outside of parks. 

In the Zoological Park, it is really pathetic 
to see how quickly the wild creatures respond 
to protection, and make friends with those who 
will not permit them to be molested. Take the 
Gray Rabbit, as an illustration. 

Eight years after the opening of the Park, 
Gray Squirrels, Chipmunks and Gray Rabbits 
had become very numerous within it, and almost 
fearless! In June, 1909, at midday, a wild 
Rabbit very leisurely hopped past me as I came 
out of my office, not more than twenty feet 
away, quite as confidently as if he owned the 
whole place. At fifty feet, all unafraid he halt- 
ed close beside a big oak tree, in full view of 
fifty persons, leisurely examined the ground, 
and presently loped on across the grass into the 
shrubbery. 

The reason? Our grounds are the only 
wooded lands in northern New York City in 
which stray dogs, cats, poachers and other ver- 
min are not permitted to run at large. Two 
years ago our Chief Forester estimated that 75 
wild Rabbits were living and breeding in our 
grounds. Of chipmunks we have hundreds, and 
of Gray Squirrels at least fifty. Needless to 
say, the children and all other people who love 
animals, are greatly interested by them. 


The Great Northern Hare, gray in sum- 
mer and snow white in winter, and once abund- 
ant, is now so rare that only the skilful “up- 
state’ hunter can find one, in swamp or wil- 
derness far from the haunts of men. It is a 
pity, too; for because of its great scarcity, and 
the fact that it does not thrive in captivity, this 
fine animal is almost as unknown and mythical 
to the vast majority of persons as the gyas- 
cutus. 

By his continued existence in spite of traps, 
hounds, and guns of all sorts, the Red Fox has 
ably and satisfactorily demonstrated his right 
to live. Any sane person who knows the tre- 
mendous difficulties and dangers amid which 
any Fox of “civilization” lives and breeds, sure- 
ly will not ask, as a serious question, “Do Foxes 
reason?” Excepting the real lovers of nature, 
every man’s hand,—and firearm  also,—is 
against him. The farmer hunts him for re- 
venge, the trapper for his pelt, the hunter for 
sport. And yet, compared with that wonder- 
fully sharp nose, and those keen eyes and ears, 
wireless telegraphy is slow and _ uncertain. 
Were it not so, there would not be today one 
living Red or Gray Fox this side of the Adiron- 
dack wilderness; but as it is, both those spe- 
cies joyously live and breed, even up to the 
very boundaries of the most populous city of 
America. 


VIRGINIA OPOSSUMS. 


In the distribution of the Marsupials, or 
mammals with abdominal pouches for their 
young, Nature almost overlooked North Amer- 
ica! We have only the Opossum, nocturnal, 
sly, and so unobtrusive that in the northern 
United States it has reduced self-effacement to 
an exact science. 

Some naturalists suppose that the most re- 
markable thing about this animal is its pouch; 


542 


but that is not the case. The strangest thing 
is that it knows enough to fezgn death in order 
to escape injury. I know, because in my boy- 
hood days an Opossum deceived me so com- 
pletely and thoroughly that I have not yet 
fully recovered from the shock. The animal 
very nearly escaped through the trick that it so 
skilfully played upon me; and since that day 
I have wished a thousand times that I had given 
that Opossum its freedom, as a reward of merit. 
But I did not think of it in time. 

If our wild animals possessed as little reason 
and foresight as some men, all of them would 
have been killed or starved to death long ago. 


PRESENT STATUS OF BIRD STUDY. 

During the past ten years, the status of bird- 
study in America has undergone an important 
change. Yesterday was the day of the old- 
fashioned ornithologist,—diligent in the killing 
of birds in great numbers in order to study their 
geographic, seasonal, sexual and other varia- 
tions, and also diligent in the differentiation of 
new forms. At the same time, under the shel- 
tering guise of “‘scientifie purposes,” hundreds 
of thousands of the eggs of wild birds have been 
collected by unscientific men and boys, and 
stored away in dark cabinets,—to very small 
purpose. 

The total number of birds and eggs collected 
during the past fifty years in the sacred name of 
science must be something enormous. Perhaps 
two per cent. of the entire slaughter have served 
genuine scientific purposes; but we doubt it. 

To-day, it is no exaggeration to say that a 
large number of the people who are keenly in- 
terested in the birds of North America are 
weary of the once-popular studies of minute 
geographic variations, the making of new sub- 
species, and the vexatious changing of scientific 
names that, like the brook, seem destined to go 
on forever. The English names of our birds 
are in fact more stable and useful than those 
bestowed by the scientists. 

To-day, the demand of the hour is for the 
utilization, in practical ways, of the enormous 
mass of American bird-lore that has been ac- 
cumulated. The unscientific millions desire to 
know about our birds the facts that are useful 
to man, and helpful to the birds. Very unfor- 
tunately, the schools and colleges in which the 
foundations of natural-history teaching should 
be “truly and firmly” laid, as befits every foun- 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


dation stone, are sadly blundering in the busi- 
ness of teaching teachers how to teach. As a 
whole, the situation is in a most unsatisfactory 
But the nature teachers are at least 
aware that something is wrong; and that is the 
first promise of better things. It is high time 
for even the dullest person to see that long and 
weary weeks spent on the anatomy of the grass- 
hopper, butterfly, beetle and amoeba are not in 
line with the desires of bright boys and girls 
who want to know which are the most inter- 
esting, the most useful and the most injurious 
birds, mammals and reptiles of our country. 


state. 


The study of natural history in public schools 
and colleges could be made as musical as 
Apollo’s lute; and let us hope that some day it 
will be. Meanwhile, there is one great lesson 
that all may learn. It is this: 

It is not always necessary to destroy wild life 
in order to study it. The study of birds can 
better begin with a bird book and a pair of 
sharp eyes than with a gun and a bushel of 
cartridges. The study of birds’ eggs is all 
right, provided the birds of today do not have 
to pay the whole cost of it in fresh eggs. In 
the United States, the killing of birds for “sci- 
entific purposes” is now very rarely necessary, 
or justifiable. 

The most advanced ornithologists of the pres- 
ent day are devoting their best attention to the 
study of living birds, and their relations to man- 
kind. Practical aviculture is teaching many 
new and useful lessons which the study of dry 
skins and skeletons never have revealed. Mr. 
C. William Beebe, experimenting at the Park 
with live birds kept in atmospheres of varying 
degrees of humidity, has found that by means 
of an unusual degree of humidity it is easy to 
create new and startling “‘sub-species,” literally 
“while you wait.” It is unnecessary to point 
out the reasons why this discovery is of great 
practical importance to ornithologists. 

Today, the highest duty of every lover of 
birds is to help protect the birds that remain. 
Nor is it necessary to have a speaking acquaint- 
ance with a bird before taking an interest in pre- 
serving it and its kind from annihilation. It is 
impossible to afford birds too much protection, 
too much immunity from the forces of destruc- 
tion. Every child should be taught that without 
the assistance of the birds that destroy annually 
millions of noxious insects, rodents, and tons of 
seeds of noxious weeds, our country soon would 
become a barren waste. Z 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 543 


LARGE BIRD-HOUSE AND ITALIAN GARDEN IN BAIRD COURT. 


THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK OF OUR DAY. 


By Witx1am T. Hornapay. 


Photographically illustrated by ELWIN R. SANBORN. 


ESPITE the greed and blood-lust of man, 

civilized as well as savage, this gun-ridden 

world still contains a marvelous array of 
wild life. It is right to speak of the animate 
portion of Nature’s works as the animal king- 
dom. Man himself is the king of beasts, but 
there are many assistant kings and princes and 
potentates, some of which are in certain ways 
almost as interesting as himself. 

Even in this day of endless travel and travel- 
ers, it is not everyone who can go to the ends of 
the earth; and of the human millions, only a 
very small percentage can make it possible to 
see many wild creatures in their haunts. Yet do 
people of intelligence desire to know the wild 
life of the world; and so we have systematic 
collections of animals, living and dead. 

The highest function that any wild animal 
can serve, living or dead, is to go on exhibition, 


as a representative of its species, to be seen 
and studied by millions of serious-minded 
people. 

The imperial City of New York presents to 
the world her Zoological Park, and invites man- 
kind to behold in it a huge living assemblage 
of beasts, birds and reptiles, gathered from 
every region of the globe, kept together in com- 
fortable captivity, and skilfully fed and tend- 
ed, in order that millions of people may know 
and appreciate the marvels of the Animal King- 
dom. To make a Park and collection worthy 
of the fauna of the world, and of the metropolis 
of the New World, has been a gigantic task; but 
the people of New York have proven equal to 
it, and the result is now practically complete. 

After three years of planning, and ten years 
of very strenuous work, we say that the Zoo- 
logical Park is “practically complete;” and so 


544 HUDSON-FULTON 
it is. Wise men will understand what we mean. 


We do not say that nothing more ever will be 
added, or that in the future no more improve- 
ments will be necessary. The actual work of 
building our Zebra House and Eagles’ Aviary 
yet remains to be done; but both together are 
but a bagatelle, like the building of a garden 
summer-house for a stately mansion that is com- 
plete and occupied. 

These pages are intended only as an invita- 
tion to the world to come, enter in and possess 
the New York Zoological Park. They are not 
intended as an exhibit of the dry bones of De- 
tail. New York has dedicated to Zoology a 
princely and priceless domain of land and 
water, and she has almost unreservedly entrust- 
ed it to the wisdom and judgment and vital 
energy of the men who have made the New 
York Zoological Society. 

On this marvelous site——the most glorious 
handiwork of Nature ever placed within, or 
even near, a great City,—the Zoological So- 
ciety expended in accommodations for animals 
a full quarter of a million dollars. That was 
just ten years ago. Having seen this evidence 
of good faith, the City of New York then gen- 
erously—but not extravagantly or foolishly— 
opened her treasury, pledged her credit, and 
bore the expense of all the remainder of the 
permanent improvements. And at the same 
time, the City began to furnish annually a sum 
of money sufficient to maintain becomingly the 
new institution. This was done, not reluctantly 
nor grudgingly, but with a big-hearted gener- 
osity “that made the gift more precious.” The 
work of creating the Zoological Park has not 
halted for a single moment since the keel of it 
was laid on November 5th, 1906, when the 
“Preliminary Plan’ was approved by the Execu- 
tive Committee. 

The “Preliminary Plan” of the Director was 
earefully expanded into an elaborate and beau- 
tiful “Final Plan,’ which was approved by 
Mayor Strong and the Board of Park Commis- 
sioners in November, 1898. It is impossible to 
overstate the importance of that exhibit of the 
intentions of the Society to the progress of the 
Zoological Park. Other builders of American 
zoological parks may well follow the example 
of New York in having their future develop- 
ments planned by competent experts for twenty 
years in advance. 

In round numbers, the Zoological Society has 
expended on the Zoological Park and its ani- 
mals about $475,000; and on the buildings and 
other “ground improvements” the City has ex- 
pended a little more than $2,000,000. And 


CELEBRATION 
what is there to show for all this? This is a 
highly condensed answer: 

Of large and fine buildings of the first rank, 
of brick and stone, there are to be seen the fol- 
lowing: 

The Elephant House, 

Lion House, 

Primates House, 
Large Bird-House, 
“Aquatic Bird-House, 
Administration Building, 
Reptile House, 

Small Mammal House, 
“ Ostrich House, 
Antelope House, 

“~ Small-Deer House, 
Pheasants Aviary. 

Of buildings of secondary importance 
are: 

The Service Building, 

Asiatic Deer House, 
“Red Deer House, 
Axis Deer House, 
“Elk House, 
Camel House, 
Llama House, 
Goats House, 
“ Buffalo Barn, 
“Feed Barn, 
“Wild Horse Barns (2), 
Rocking Stone Restaurant, 
“ Boat House. 

Of open-air installations for wild mammals 
and birds,—several of them very elaborate and 
costly,—there are the following important fea- 
tures: 

The Bear Dens, 

Flying Cage, 
“Wolf Dens, 
“Mountain Sheep Hill, 
“Fox Dens, 

““ Sea-Lion Pool, 
“Alligator Pool, 
“Duck Aviary, 
“ Wild-Fowl Pond, 
“Otter Pools, 
Beaver Pond, 
Burrowing Rodents’ Quarters, 
Prairie-Dog Village, 
Puma House. 

Of all the features named in the three lists 
given above, all save four are devoted to the sys- 
tematic exhibition of living mammals, birds and 
reptiles. The list of secondary buildings gives 
not even a hint of the unequaled exhibition 
series of open- -air ranges, surrounded by steel 
posts, steel wire and concrete foundations, that 
have so generously been provided for our herds: 


there 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 545 


(| 
; ¢ ad L . 
" ig q 
Falla euamit 
"errage real 


ai Ei Hil J 


uu 


NUBIAN GIRAFFES IN THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


HUDSON-FULTON 


CELEBRATION 


THE AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, KARTOUM AND SULTANA. 


of bison, elk, wild sheep, wild goats, ibex, and 
deer of all kinds. 

It was an English critic who said that our 
open-air installations for animals are “at once 
the envy and the despair of all European zo- 
ologists.” The finest ranges in the world for 
captive hoofed animals are those of the Duke 
of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, England; and 
the herds within them are both in variety and in 
number, wholly beyond compare. But those 
herds are not on exhibition, and they can be 
seen only by a special invitation from the owner. 

It is to be noted here that of the eleven large 
and important animal buildings enumerated in 
the first class, each one save the Reptile House 
is provided with an elaborate and extensive 
series of open-air yards in which every habitant 
has, in mild weather, a daily opportunity to 
spend hours in the sunlight and the open air, 
freely exercising or lying at ease in the shade. 
The elephants and rhinoceroses, the lions and 
tigers, the apes and baboons, the big African 
antelopes, the tropical deer, the ostriches and 
cassowaries, and even the smallest creatures of 
the many in the Small Mammal House, all have 


their out-door quarters, and enjoy them to the 
full. 

For humane men and women there is small 
pleasure in the contemplation of living creatures 
that are in prisons, and that look and feel like 


prisoners, pining behind their bars. Better no 
“zoos” and no wild animal collections than 
miserable and unhappy prisoners! A_ badly- 


made or badly-kept “zoo,” or zoological garden 
or park, is worse than none. But, at the same 
time, it is folly for anyone to say that all zoo- 
logical gardens and parks are dens of cruelty, 
—as is held by a few extreme humanitarians. 
The creatures in the collections of the Zoological 
Park give unimpeachable testimony to the con- 
trary. If our bears, our hoofed animals, our 
birds and our apes and monkeys are not posi- 
tively happy, and full of the enjoyment of life, 
then none are in this world, either captive or 
free. Today, the life of every free wild crea- 
ture is constantly filled with alarm, with flyings 
from danger, and with the daily struggle for 
food, water and safety. Every hunter knows 
that after every mouthful of food, the wild ani- 
mal or wild bird looks about for dangerous 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


enemies; and the ultra-humanitarians take small 
note of the millions of wild lives that are pulled 
down and destroyed by predatory enemies. 

Of the great array of rare and interesting 
mamnials, birds and reptiles today on exhibition 
in the New York Zoological Park, many pages 
would be needed to convey of them even a faint 
impression. The collections have been formed 
strictly on scientific lines. There are no half- 
breeds, no “‘curiosities,’ and no freaks of any 
kind save a few albinistic individuals. 

On July 15th, 1909, an enumeration of the 
individuals and species alive and on exhibition 
in the Park showed the possession of the fol- 
lowing: 


TOTAL CENSUS OF WILD ANIMALS IN THE ZOOLOG- 
ICAL PARK, JULY 15TH, 1909. 


Species. Specimens. 


Mien Spe meee >) 2 eee 246 743 
UG meee ree Sk. 2. ee 644 2816 
url equ eee see 256 1969 

Stet eee es et 1146 5528 


To the average mind, however, these figures 
convey but a slight impression, even when we 
state that in individuals we have the largest 
number (by about 1000) to be found today in 
any zoological garden or park. 

Regarding the quality of our animal collec- 
tions, a few words must suflice. 

By way of illustration, what must the visitor 
think of a collection of African hoofed animals 
that contains a Mountain Zebra and Grant Zebra, 
two species of Elephants, a pair of Black 
Rhinoceroses, a Hippopotamus, a pair of 
Giraffes, a Sable Antelope, a Kudu, a Bakers 
Roan Antelope, an Addax, two species of Gnu, 
a Beisa, a breeding pair of Leucoryx Antelope, 
an Eland, a Waterbuck and a Wart-Hog? 

And what shall be said of a collection of deer 
that contains a herd of Eld’s Burmese Thameng, 
a herd of Barasingha, herds of Indian and of 
Malay Sambar; herds of Axis, Sika, Fallow, Red 
Deer, Wapiti of two continents, Kashmir Deer 
(Hangul), and pairs and singles of at least a 
dozen other species? 

Consider for a moment the bears,—seventeen 
species, represented by 37 specimens, including 
four species of the gigantic Alaskan Brown 
Bear group, represented by seven specimens. 

The collections of! apes, baboons and mon- 
keys, and of small mammals and large eats, are 
quite as rich as those mentioned above. 


BULLETIN. 547 

The collections of birds are fairly bewilder- 
ing in variety and zoological richness. When 
any Zoological Park exhibits nearly 3000 live 
birds, of different kinds and sizes, gathered from 
a hundred different localities, there is no need 
to comment on the rank of the collection. And 
when it contains such feathered rarities as the 
California Condor, Harpy Eagle, Bateleur 
Eagle, Trumpeter Swan, Whooping Crane, 
Sun Bittern, Seriema, South American Trumpe- 
ter, Gyrfalecon, Sea Eagle, Yellow-Necked Cas- 
sowary, Hyacinthine Macaw, Black Cockatoo, 
Black-Backed Pelican, Ptarmigan, and a hun- 
dred smaller varieties, its scientific value is be- 
yond question. 

Of reptiles, the array is very comprehensive. 
It contains five species of Rattlesnakes, the 
King Cobra, Spectacled Cobra, Bushmaster, 
Fer-de-Lance, Puff Adder, five species of Croc- 
odilians liberally represented, and Pythons, 
Boas, Anacondas, small Serpents, Lizards, 
Iguanas, Turtles, Tortoises, Terrapins and Am- 
phibians in great variety. 

The labeling of the living creatures in the 
Zoological Park, with descriptions, pictures, 
maps and charts, is far beyond the best results 
accomplished in that line elsewhere. 

Thanks to the marvelously perfect site of 264 
acres that New York City has provided for her 
exposition of living wild creatures, and thanks 
also to the wise use that has been made of it by 
the Zoological Society, the New York Zoological 
Park is today the foremost institution of its 
kind.. It is no exaggeration to say that it is in 
a class by itself. Its grounds, its buildings and 
out-door compositions for animals, are of un- 
rivalled excellence, and in zoological value its 
collections are now equal to the best elsewhere. 
This plain statement is made with full knowl- 
edge of what the world has done in this field. 
and what animal collections exist elsewhere. 
The elaborate official report of Dr. Gustave 
Loisel to the French government (1907-8) has 
enabled all the world to know the relative stand- 
ing and merits of the zoological gardens and 
parks of the world. 

This Butietin has been called for by the 
Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission as a 
means of placing before the public certain facts 
regarding the wild life of eastern New York, 
and a zoological institution that as yet is in- 
adequately known, even to the people of the 
Empire State. If the effort that has been made 
here, by the first City of America, were today 
anything else than the best of its kind thus far 
created, then would we need to apologize for a 
failure. 


CELEBRATION 


HUDSON-FULTON 


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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 549 


POLAR BEAR DEN IN THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND ITS WORK. 


O institution is greater than the organiza- 
tion that created it. 

But for the New York Zoological So- 
ciety, and the forces that it gathered to its aid, 
there would today be no New York Zoological 
Park. Even with the finest building materials 
ready to the hand of the builder, it is not given 
to every man, or every organization of men, to 
rear a monumental structure, and finish it ere 
the world grows weary of waiting. 

Surely the Zcological Society may be regard- 
ed as one of the most remarkable of New York’s 
many and diverse human products. Organized 
in 1895, at a period when to many it seemed as 
if New York’s private philanthropy had been 
drained to its depths by museums, libraries, hos- 
pitals and botanical gardens, the hour of its 
birth seemed inauspicious. And to a very great 
extent that handicap did exist, and remains upon 
the Society to this day! The institutions re- 
ferred to above have been endowed bountifully, 


by money given in large sums, and therefore 
counting up rapidly. But not so this Society. 
From 1895 to the present hour, no sum larger 
than $5,000 ever has come into our treasury 
from one donor at one time; and the only be- 
quest ever received was one for $100! 

But it was ordained in the beginning that the 
Zoological Society should succeed, and do much 
with little. The three declared objects of the 
Society always have been—the making of a 
Zoological Park, the protection of our native 
animals and the promotion of zoology. 

The first and by far the most serious of these 
tasks was undertaken first, and vigorously prose- 
cuted. The result is in evidence, and can speak 
for itself. The second and third objects have 
not been pursued as diligently as the first, be- 
cause of the practical impossibility of conduct- 
ing three great campaigns simultaneously. 
Now, however, the scientific work of the So- 
ciety, and its greater work for the protection 
of wild life, will be taken up on a new basis. 


CELEBRATION 


HUDSON-FULTON 


*STVUNOO 


UIV-NdadO SLI GNV ASNOH 


AdOTALNV AHL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


The original impulse and effort for the crea- 
tion of the New York Zoological Society came 
from Madison Grant, then a sportsman and 
student of nature, and by profession a lawyer; 
and very early in its career the new organization 
secured the active support of Prof. Henry Fair- 
field Osborn. It is impossible to overstate the 
influence of those two men on the Society’s un- 
dertaking, and their devotion to the task, year in 
and year out. Without them, New York would 
have at this time no Zoological Park! 

I regard the Executive Committee of this So- 
ciety as the most remarkable body of men with 
which I ever have come in contact. The man- 
ner in which those men of great affairs regular- 
ly, and even joyously, left “their mirth and 
their employment,” to spend from two to four 
hours at a time in hard-working business meet- 
ings, month after month, for thirteen years, was, 
to at least one man, both an object lesson and 
an inspiration. Talk about civic pride, and the 
duties of good citizenship,—the Zoological Park 
is a lasting monument to that spirit as it exists 
in the 1666 members of this Society; and in 
saying this, we only render unto Cesar the thing 
that is his. 

For eleven years,—1898 to 1909,—the com- 
position of the Executive Committee of the So- 
ciety remained almost unchanged. Its members 
were: 


Hon. Levi P. Morton, ex-officio, President of 
the Society. 

Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn, Vice-Presi- 
dent, Chairman for seven years; now President. 

Madison Grant, General Secretary. 

Charles T. Barney, Chairman for three years, 
Treasurer four years. 

John L. Cadwalader, Counsel. 

William White Niles, Attorney. 

Percy R. Pyne, Treasurer. 

Samuel Thorne. 

Capt. John S. Barnes. 

Gen. Philip Schuyler. 


The vacancy caused by the death of Mr. 
Schuyler has recently been filled by the election 
of Mr. William Pierson Hamilton. 

During the thirteen years of the Society’s 
existence, the Executive Committee has held 169 
meetings, and only one of them was without a 
quorum. 

In 1899 the Zoological Society set the pace 
by expending nearly $250,000 of its own funds 
in the erection of the Reptile House, the Aquatic 
Bird-House, the Bear Dens, Flying Cage and 
about eighteen smaller installations for animals. 


BULLETIN. 


HARPY EAGLE. 


552 


AMERICAN BISON BULL 


The people of New York looked at the quality 
of the work, and saw that it was good. In fact, 
the public was surprised, both by the magnitude 
of the plan, and the permanence of all improve- 
ments. Then the City of New York cheerfully 
joined the Society in the remainder of the work. 
The Society of course was given absolute control 
of the Park, it furnished all plans, and virtually 
superintended all improvement work. The 
Park Department has stood in a position to safe- 
guard all the interests of the taxpayers, and has 
awarded and superintended all large contracts 
for construction. Throughout eleven years of 
rushing improvement business, involving nearly 
a hundred contracts, great and small, the busi- 
ness of financing and building the Zoological 
Park has gone steadily on, without a single 
halt or an unpleasant episode between the rep- 
resentatives of the City and the Society. In 
their turn, Mayors Strong, Van Wyck, Low and 
McClellan, and Comptrollers Fitch, Coler, 
Grout and Metz have cordially cooperated in 
the work. The Park Department of the Bronx 
has been most helpful, and we recall with par- 
ticular pleasure the cooperation of the three 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


long-term Commissioners, Moebus, Eustis and 
Berry, and their Chief Engineer and Chief 
Clerk, Martin Schenck and Gunther K. Acker- 
mann. 

While it is impossible to mention here even 
one-tenth of the generous people who for ten 
years or more have loyally supported the Zoo- 
logical Society in all its undertakings, there are 
a few whom we must name, regardless of space 
limitations. 

The members of the Executive Committee, the 
majority of whom have given the Society liberal 
sums of money, have already been mentioned. 

We have received substantial aid from An- 
drew Carnegie, William Rockefeller, William C. 
Whitney, Jacob H. Schiff, Oswald Ottendorfer, 
Miss Helen Miller Gould, C. P. Huntington, 
William E. Dodge, George J. Gould, J. Pier- 
pont Morgan, Col. Oliver H. Payne, Mrs. Fred- 
erie Ferris Thompson, Robert Goelet, George F. 
Baker, Edward J. Berwind, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Charles F. Dieterich, Emerson McMillin, F. 
Augustus Schermerhorn, John D. Rockefeller, 
William D. Sloane, Mrs. John B. Trevor, Mrs. 
Antoinette Eno Wood, William K. Vanderbilt, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 553 


THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR. 


MOVING THE ALLIGATORS TO WINTER QUARTERS. 


554 


C. Ledyard Blair, Hugh J. Chisholm, George 
Crocker, Cleveland H. Dodge, E. H. Harriman, 
Mrs. Philip Schuyler, Lispenard Stewart, Miss 
Caroline Phelps Stokes, Mrs. Frank K. Sturgis, 
Tiffany and Company, Charles H. Senff, Cor- 
nelius Vanderbilt, Samuel D. Babcock, James C. 
Carter and Morris K. Jesup. 

In addition to the above there are 38 Patrons, 
189 Life Members and 1397 Annual Members 
whose constant and liberal support fairly en- 
titles each one to honorable mention. 

In mentioning the men who have made the 
Zoological Park, the public owes more than it 
ever is likely to know—or to fully repay—to the 
intelligence, the judgment, the constant devotion 
and the tireless energy of these officers of the 
Zoological Park: 

H. Raymond Mitchell, Chief Clerk and Man- 
ager of Privileges. 

Hermann W. Merkel, Chief Constructor and 
Forester. 

C. William Beebe, Curator of Birds. 

Raymond L. Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles. 

George M. Beerbower, Civil Engineer. 

E. R. Sanborn, Photographer and Editor. 

William I. Mitchell, Office Assistant. 

E. H. Costain, Captain-of-the-Watch and As- 
sistant Forester. 

One phase of the business relations between 
the city government and the Zoological Society 
merits especial notice; and it may well be con- 
sidered outside of New York as a lesson in 
material progress. 

In nearly every city of the world, the up- 
building of important institutions either wholly 
or partly paid for from public funds, is so 
hedged about with safeguards and checks upon 
possible dishonesty that oftentimes the rate of 
progress is distressingly slow. 

During the administration of Mayor Van 
Wyck, Comptroller Coler and Park Commis- 
sioner Moebus, it was decided that in the mak- 
ing of “miscellaneous ground improvements,’ — 
a heading which has embraced a-thousand-and- 
one undertakings of a nature almost impossible 
to “specify” in advance, and put into contracts, 
—it was decided that the Zoological Society 
should have the utmost liberty permissible under 
the law. As a result, we have been enabled to 
make double the progress with far less expendi- 
ture of money, and with 50% better results, 
than would have been possible under a rigid 
adherence to the contract system. The work 
done by men selected solely on their ability and 
merits, and directed day by day by our own 
officers, has been the salvation of the Zoological 
Park; but it was possible only because the city 
government had faith in the business ability and 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


integrity of the Board of Managers of the 
Society. 

All the animals of the Zoological Park are 
the property of the Zoological Society, either 
having been presented by its members, or pur- 
chased out of the profits of the privilege business 
created by the Society through Mr. Mitchell, 
under our contract with the City. The statis- 
tics of the collection have been published else- 
where in this ButLetin. 

Now that the Zoological Park is practically 
complete, the Society must take up more vigor- 
ous and extensive work in the field of wild-life 
protection, and the promotion of zoology. Much 
important work lies in sight. demanding atten- 
tion. Nothing short of an endowment fund of 
$1,000,000 will enable the Society to do its 
whole duty in the two fields that it has as yet 
been unable to enter vigorously. The duty of 
all zoologists and nature-lovers to the cause of 
wild-life protection is conceded by all intelli- 
gent men, and requires no demonstration save 
practical work in the vineyard. The Society 
desires to devote six thousand dollars a year to 
wild-life protection; and it is well known that 
our fast vanishing wild life needs the effort. 

But Jet it not be supposed that during the 
past twelve years the Society has ignored this 
cause. On the contrary, ever since 1897 the 
Secretary and the Director of the Park have 
put forth a continuous series of efforts, covering 
game fields in need of work in Newfoundland, 
Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico, Montana, 
Wyoming and New York. It would be possible 
to enumerate several important results achieved 
in those fields through the efforts of the Society 
and its officers. 

Because of the Zoological Society’s satisfac- 
tory business methods in connection with the 
Zoological Park, the City Department of Parks, 
in 1902, requested the Society to assume control 
of the New York Aquarium, and place it upon 
a permanent scientific basis. The growth and 
the character of that institution today are tes- 
timonials to the wisdom of the actions which 
placed it upon a permanent basis, and selected 
Charles H. Townsend as its Director. 

On November 9th, the Zoological Society will 
enter upon a new period of its history. The 
completion of the Administration Building, just 
ten years to a day from the opening of the Park, 
practically ends the period of strenuous con- 
struction, and opens up new fields of labor. 
With the aid of the endowment fund that the 
Society has a right to expect, important results 
may be achieved in the protection of wild life 
and the diffusion of useful zoological knowledge. 


555 


BULLETIN. 


OOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


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HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


THE HERD ON ITS RANGE. 


THE WICHITA NATIONAL BISON HERD. 


PRESENTED TO THE NATION BY THE NEw YorkK ZooLoGIcau SOcIETY. 


It seems strange that the East should under- 
take the task of restoring to a permanent basis 
in the West an important wild-animal species 
that was destroyed by the men of the West. 

Greed and blood-lust is not, like the tariff, a 
local issue. It is thoroughly cosmopolitan. 
Wherever there is found an abundance of wild- 
animal life, there will be found also the buz- 
zards of commerce destroying life and “‘wreck- 
ing’ carcases. It was the men of the West 
who got up the wild and bloody orgy of the 
buffalo plains, and left behind them only foul 
carcasses, poisoned air and desolation. 

Strange to say, however, the West has shown 
little more than a bystander’s interest in the ef- 
fort now being made to establish the American 
Bison species on national ranges with such a de- 
gree of permanency that it will endure for the 
centuries of the future. Most of the appeals of 
the Bison Society for contributions from beyond 
the head of the Ohio River have fallen on deaf 
ears and tightly-closed purses. The West as a 
whole has yet to learn what it is to give dollars 
for the preservation of wild life; but the record 
of Wyoming and Colorado in feeding starving 
Elk, last winter, constitutes a fine exception. 

For many years, various individuals have 
urged Congress to “do something” for the Bison. 
I think it was the efforts of Col. “Buffalo” 


Jones, of Kansas, that finally resulted in the 
establishing of a national Bison herd in the 
Yellowstone Park. It cost a mighty effort, 
backed by the Biological Survey, to secure 
through that grand champion of wild life, Con- 
gressman John F. Lacey, of Iowa, the sum of 
$10,000 for that nucleus. 

Later on, the New York Zoological Society 
conceived the idea of a corporate sacrifice in be- 
half of the Bison, and proposed to the govern- 
ment a partnership arrangement for the found- 
ing of a new herd. The Society offered a 
nucleus herd of 15 pure-blood Bison as a gift, 
delivered on the ground, provided the National 
Government would set aside 12 square miles of 
fine grazing grounds, on what once was the 
range of the great southern herd, fence it in, and 
permanently maintain the herd. 

The offer was promptly and graciously ac- 
cepted, the money involved was immediately 
voted, and the fence was erected in a very satis- 
factory manner. Without any unnecessary delay, 
the Zoological Society selected 15 of the finest 
Bison in the Zoological Park herd, and with 
most generous aid from the American and Wells- 
Fargo Express Companies (who carried the herd 
free of all cost), the gift was delivered at the 
southern boundary of the Wichita National Forest 
and Game Preserve in southwestern Oklahoma. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 557 


THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT IN NEW YORK. 


In view of the peculiar difficulties and impos- 
sibilities surrounding all attempts to induce our 
mountain sheep, caribou and moose to live on 
the Atlantic Coast, the successful acclimatiza- 
tion of a herd of Rocky Mountain Goats in the 
Zoological Park becomes of special interest. 

In October, 1905, five kids, then about five 
months old, were personally conducted from 
Fort Steele, British Columbia, to New York, 
and established in and about the rustic Goat 
House in the southwestern corner of the Park. 
The flock contained three males and two 
females,—all of which elected to live and thrive. 
They were given two well-shaded yards paved 
with macadam, a brushy hillside of dry earth, 
and the roof of the barn to clamber over. It 
was quickly discovered that in this low altitude, 
the Mountain Goat can not endure rain, espe- 
cially in winter; and it has been our fixed policy 
to house the herd whenever a rain-storm ap- 
pears. 

On May 20, 1909, one of the females gave 
birth to a lusty male kid, which she successfully 


reared. Her ottspring is now so large, so vig- 
orous and so free with his horns, it has been 
necessary to saw off the skewer-like tips of his 
horns for the general safety of the other mem- 
bers of the herd. Little “Philip” is apparently 
quite as large and vigorous as any wild male 
goatlet of similar age. 

Unfortunately for the mother, her maternity 
effort at this altitude was fatal to her. After 
nursing her offspring to weaning-time, she died 
of what was really a general exhaustion of her 
vitality. 

The four original members of the herd re- 
main in perfect health, but the other female has 
not yet bred. They continue to be shy of the 
human hand, and although they will approach 
almost within reach, they will not permit any- 
one to handle them, not even their keeper. 

The illustration above shows one of the males 
with his long, shaggy winter coat not yet fully 
developed. 


858 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


A BIT OF LAKE AGASSIZ FROM THE JUNGLE WALK. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ots 
a8 \eeeaet eenanee 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


= 


GREVY ZEBRA FROM SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA. 


TWO RARE ZEBRAS. 


Of all living Zebras, the rarest and the most 
sought are Grevy’s Zebra, from northern Soma- 
liland and Abyssinia, and the Mountain Zebra, 
from the mountains of Cape Colony. The for- 
mer is comparatively new to the zoological 
world, having been discovered and described as 
late as 1882, when it was named in honor of the 
president of the French Republic, to whom the 
type specimen was sent by King Menelik. Of 
that rare species, Menelik maintains what is 
well-nigh a close monopoly, and few specimens 
ever reach the outside world that have not first 
passed through his hands. 

The Grevy Zebra is distinguished by its large 
size, very narrow stripes that extend quite down 
to the hoofs, and its large ears. 

The Mountain Zebra is a smaller species. 
marked by very wide stripes on the hindquarters 
only, and narrow stripes elsewhere. It is found 
only in the mountains of Cape Colony, and by 
the game protectors of that colony, its total 
number is estimated at only 400 individuals. 

We are fortunate in possessing fine examples 
of both the species noticed above. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK VISITORS. 


In determining the popularity of any public 
institution, it is the inexorable recording turn- 
stile that tells the story. Being somewhat re- 
moved from New York City’s center of popu- 
lation every visitor to the Zoological Park rep- 
resents a special eftort, and something expended 
for car fare. In view of all this, these figures 
of our monthly attendance for 1908 are of in- 
terest: 


1908 Increase. 
January 12.356 2,887 
I ENES o) | VEEN eee resco tee ee 37.804 10,224 
Miarelig (ee sees ese oo ee OAL 10,583 
Api lites oe ae ee 118,384 27,833 
Mav yes nd. a Sea 182,192 20.706 
June 187.656 19.622 
July 159,797 ee 
August 190,813 160 
September 22220 153,007 26,487 
October == 20 O54 30,239 
November. eee ONLOAD 26,463 


December 51,299 


175,204 


Total for the 


LONG-HAIRED CHIMPANZEE “AUGUST” 


Pan satyrus schweinfurthi (Giglioli) 
Sudan and Uganda. 


HOW TO REACH THE ZOOLOGICAL 
PARK. 

For ten years, many of the newspapers of 
New York have constantly endeavored to inform 
their readers that the Zoological Park is im the 
Brona! The energy and persistence with which 
we are Bronxed, year in and year out, is worthy 
of a real public necessity. If there were in New 
York City an assortment of zoological parks, 
then would we cheerfully accept “Bronx” as a 
part of our name; but there is only one Zoolog- 
ical Park hereabouts, and Jonas Bronck never 
dreamed of founding it. 

The Zoological Park (“in the Bronx”) is 
most easily reached by the eastern branch of the 
Subway. To-day the trains are marked “Bronx 
Park” and “West Farms;’ but we are informed 
that in a short time our trains will be marked 
“Zoological Park.’’ To reach the center of the 
Zoological Park from Wall Street requires about 
55 minutes, and from the Grand Central Station 
about 40 minutes. The Subway terminus is at 
180th Street, only two short blocks from our 
Boston Road Entrance, and the Boat House. 


HUDSON-FULTON 


CELEBRATION 


AND BALD-HEADED CHIMPANZEE “BALDY.” 


Pan pygmaeus (Schreiber) 
Equatorial West Africa. 


Visitors coming up on the Third Avenue Ele- 
vated should alight at Fordham Station, and 
either walk or take a surface car eastward on 
Pelham Avenue for nearly half a mile. The In- 
terborough cross-town lines on 180th Street, and 
also on 189th Street, land visitors near our two 
western entrances. 

CARRIAGES AND AUTOMOBILES — 
The route from lower New York for carriages 
and automobiles is through Central Park, Lenox 
Avenue, Macomb’s Dam Bridge, and Jerome or 
Washington Avenues to Pelham Avenue, thence 
eastward to our new Concourse Entrance, at the 
Bronx River bridge. Vehicles with visitors may 
enter the Park at that point, and land them at 
the steps leading up to Baird Court. 

PAY DAYS AND FREE DAYS.—The 
Park is free on all days of the week save Mon- 
days and Thursdays. On those two pay-days 
an adinission of 25c. for adults is charged to all 
persons who are not members of the Society. 

The Official Guide to the Zoological Park, 
fully illustrated, can be obtained at all entrances, 
for 25 cents. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


PENINSULA BEAR CAPTURED AT MOELLER BAY, ALASKA PENINSULA. 


A GREAT COLLECTION OF BEARS. 


If properly established, no captive wild ani- 
mals more fully repay their cost and keep than 
a collection of bears that has been judiciously 
formed. It is true that they are very trouble- 
some comforts, and that every big bear is a 
storm-center; but we like them, for all that. 
When comfortably installed in large, clean 
yards, with plenty of sunlight, fresh water, 
rocks to climb upon and a good variety of food, 
they are full of action, and constitute a great at- 
traction to visitors. 

From the beginning, we have striven to bring 
together as many as possible of the species of 
bears with which the public is but little ac- 
quainted. First we devoted special attention to 
the Alaskan Brown Bears,—the giants of the 
genus Ursus,—and to-day we have four good 
species, with the prospect of a fifth one when a 
certain young animal matures. One of these 
has come to us from north of the Arctic Circle, 
only 300 miles south of Point Barrow (the most 
northerly point of Alaska), which is the most 
northerly habitat for a bear of this group. 


We have also recently secured,—after ten 
years of constant effort,—a black bear from 
South America, which represents the form de- 
scribed by Oldfield Thomas as Ursus ornatus 
majori. Of our old friend, the Rocky Moun- 
tain Grizzly, we have specimens from several 
different localities. 

The following is a list of our specimens and 
species, as the collection stands to-day: 


Ze Olarie Ganges’ ee ees Ursus maritimus. 

2 Kadiak Bears... “— middendor ffi. 
2 Yakutat Bear: “  dalli. 

1 Admiralty Bear... Kirn yy  CUlOphUs: 

i Peninsula Bear se “ merriami. 

1 Arctic Brown Bear “undetermined. 


horribilis. 
americanus. 


Grizzly Bears.......... 
Black Bears... 


Syrian Bear. “ syriacus. 
2 Brown Bears........ “ aretos. 
2 Hairy-Bared Bears... “ ‘piscator. 
| Himalayan Black Bea - “  torquatus. 
1 JlapameseyB Garena reer “japonicus. 
Di M CZOB CATS eran nese estas cecaeee “ ferox. 
1 Sloth Bear. “ labiatus. 
2 Sun Bears. “ malayanus. 
LeAndestBlack! Bears. “  ornatus majori. 


Hybrids, born here. 
specimens, representing 17 species. 


562 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 
7 lie Dd seg 

pei, I CL 

A a + 


NORTH FACADE AND DOME OF THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 
Heins & La Farge, Architects. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 563 


THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 


Park, the most important single feature is 

the Elephant House. Of ten years con- 
struction work, it is the climax; and it is fitting- 
ly crowned with a dome. It is situated on the 
site prepared for it by Nature, and chosen 
twelve years ago, on the axis of Baird Court, 
and in the open space midway between the Court 
and the Wolf Dens. In effect, it connects the 
two great groups of installations of the north- 
ern and southern regions of the Park which un- 
til now have been slightly separated. 

We believe that this effort represents high- 
water mark in zoological building construction. 
It is spacious, well lighted, beautiful in its lines, 
both externally and internally, beautifully orna- 
mented without being overdone, and also wholly 
free from useless extravagance. The interior 
lighting and cage “effects” are highly satisfac- 
tory, the light upon the animals being quite suf- 
ficient, without being too strong and glaring. 
It is clearly evident that the animals enjoy their 
cages; for were it otherwise. the African rhino- 
ceros would not, almost daily, gallop round and 
round, and with ponderous agility often leap 
into the air. 

In several important particulars the Elephant 
House is unlike all other buildings in the Park. 
It is high; it is entered at the center of each 
side, instead of at each end; it is built entirely 
of stone; it has a main roof of green tiles, and 
has a lofty dome covered with glazed tiles laid 
in an elaborate color pattern of browns and 
greens. The dome is finally surmounted by a 
“Jantern” of elaborate tile work, also in colors. 
Excepting the dome, the whole exterior struc- 
ture is of smoothly dressed Indiana limestone. 
Each entrance consists of a lofty and dignified 
archway, in which the doors are deeply recessed ; 
and each of these arches is grandly ornamented 
by animal heads, sculptured in stone. 

The color effects of the interior are particu- 
larly pleasing. The large, flat bricks of the 
Gustayino arch system are in their natural col- 
ors, and form a blending of soft brown and buff 
shades that not only avoids monotony, but is 
pleasing and restful to the eye. Combined with 
the vaulted ceilings of the main halls and the 
cages there are a few strong arches of mottled 
buff brick which harmonize perfectly with the 
ceiling tiles of the main dome. This scheme of 
vaulted ceilings is so new that few persons ever 
have seen a finished example. Both the main 
dome, and the arched ceiling below it, have been 


Or the building operations in the Zoological 


constructed by Gustavino without the employ- 
ment of either the steel rafters or ribs which one 
naturally expects to see in such structures. 

Each of the eight immense cages, that to-day 
contain elephants and rhinoceroses, has been de- 
signed to frame and display its living occupant 
as perfectly as a frame fits a picture. The 
vaulted ceilings and large central skylights are 
particularly well adapted to cages for extra 
large animals, and the lighting is quite perfect. 
The front of each cage—24 feet—is spanned 
aloft by a single Gustavino arch, and is un- 
spoiled by intermediate columns. Each cage is 
24 x 24 feet, which is ample for elephants and 
rhinoceroses of the largest size. To a height of 
6 feet the walls are lined with plates of quarter- 
inch steel; and nothing less powerful than a 
locomotive could break through or break down 
the front bars and beams. The outside doors 
are marvels of strength and smoothness in ac- 
tion. They are of four-inch oak, reinforced 
with quarter-inch steel plates, and on the inside 
they are strengthened against attack by three 
heavy movable beams of steel. 

The ground plan, and all cage and yard ar- 
rangements of the Elephant House, were de- 
signed by the Director of the Zoological Park. 
The architects were Messrs. Heins & La Farge. 
The animal sculptures on the southern half of 
the building were executed by A. Phimister 
Proctor, and those on the north half are by 
Charles R. Knight. The building was erected by 
the F. T. Nesbit Company, with John C. Coffey 
as Superintendent of Construction. The steel 
fences enclosing the yards were designed by 
George M. Beerbower, Civil Engineer of the 
Zoological Park staff, and the macadam and 
masonry construction work in the yards and 
surrounding walks was performed by our own 
force, under the direction of Hermann W. 
Merkel, Chief Constructor. 

The total cost of the building was $157,473, 
and of the surrounding yards, fences and walks 
$27,159, making for the entire installation a 
total of $184,632. This is $16,000 less than 
the original estimate. 

The Elephant House contains a surpassingly 
fine and valuable collection, consisting of 2 In- 
dian Elephants, 2 Sudan African Elephants, 1 
Congo African Elephant, 1 Great Indian Rhino- 
ceros, 2 African Black Rhinoceroses, 1 Hippo- 
potamus, 2 American Tapirs and 1 Indian 
Tapir. 


HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 


564 


“SGUVA SLI GNV ASNOH LNVHda 1d AHL 


DaeanHE 
1 sot ORG hm 
Ne ‘y tell 1! | 


nen Janes 


it Tn l mT 


at Ob ONDE 
| HA ABER 


(HHRESeROa 


nt 


oan eee za 


Tne 
oe tit 


a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


~— -~ 


MALE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


HUDSON-FULTON 


JAPANESE RED-FACED MONKEY AND YOUNG. 


CELEBRATION 


YOUNG MEXICAN PUMA. 


IMPORTANT ACCESSIONS FROM AFRICA IN 1909. 


SaBLE ANTELOPE. 
GREATER Kupv. 
Mountain ZEBRA. 
GRANT ZEBRAS. 
ConGAN SITATUNGA. 
SPEKE SITATUNGAS. 
Durker ANTELOPE. 


no St 


aoe 


Se ee 2 


Wart-Hoa. 
Hyarena Doe. 


Brack-Backep JACKALS. 


CaARACAL. 
CuEETAH. 
Hyrax. 


Broap-Nosrep CRrocopiLe. 


TAMANDUA: PREHENSILE-TAILED ANTEATER. 


wo eS et 


3) 


e 


— ei 2 


Buiack-Footep PENGUINS. 
Eeyptian GEESE. 
BavreLteur EaGues. 
VULTURINE SEA EaGLes. 
Touracous. 

GOLDEN ORIOLE. 

Rock Turusu. 


TREE PORCUPINE. 


ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS OF NEW YORK 


HOLDING EXHIBITIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF OR IN COOPERATION WITH SCIENTIFIC, HISTORICAL AND ART 
COMMITTEES OF THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMMISSION 


AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, Seventy-seventh Street, from Co- 
lumbus Avenue to Central Park West. Open daily, except Sundays, from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. 
Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Always free. Special Exhibition during the Hudson-Fulton Cele- 
bration, from September Ist to December Ist. Original objects showing the life and habits of 
the Indians of Manhattan Island and the Hudson River Valley. (Special illustrated catalogue 
for sale, price 10 cents.) 

Take Sixth or Ninth Avenue Elevated Railway to Eighty-first Street, or Subway to Seven- 
ty-ninth Street; also reached by all surface cars running through Columbus Avenue or Central 
Park West. 


BROOKLYN INSTITUTE, Eastern Parkway. Open daily, except Sundays, from 9 a. 
m. to 6 p. m.; Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30 p. m. Free 
except on Mondays and Tuesdays when admission fee is charged of 25 cents for adults and 10 
cents for children under six years of age. Collection illustrating various departments of Arche- 
ology, Mineralogy and Ethnography. Special Exhibition relating to past and present life of 
Indians on Long Island. Portrait of Robert Fulton painted by himself, the property of Col. 
Henry T. Chapman and loaned by him to the Museum. Open September Ist to December 31st. 
(Illustrated catalogue for sale.) 

Take Subway Express to Atlantic Avenue, or Flatbush Avenue Trolley from Brooklyn 
Bridge. St. John’s Place surface car from Atlantic Avenue or Borough Hall. 


CHILDREN’S MUSEUM (Brooklyn Institute), Bedford Park, Brooklyn Avenue. Col- 
lection illustrative of the fauna of Long Island. Open free to the public from Monday to Sat- 
urday (inclusive) from 9 a. m. to 5.30 p. m., and on Sunday from 2 until 5.30 p. m. 


NEW YORK AQUARIUM, in Battery Park, under the management of the New York 
Zoological Society. Open daily, including Sundays, from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. until October 15th. 
(October 16th to April 14th, from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m.) This building was erected in 1807 by 
the United States Government as a fort and after the War of 1812 was called Castle Clinton; 
later, as Castle Garden, it was the scene of Jenny Lind’s triumphs, and from 1855 to 1890 it 
was the portal of the New World for 7,690,606 immigrants. This is the largest aquarium in 
the world and contains a greater number of specimens and species than any other. All tanks 
containing fish indigenous to the Hudson River will be so marked. 

Take Elevated Railway to Battery Place Station, or Subway to Bowling Green Station; 
also reached by all surface cars which go to South Ferry. 


NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK, under the management of the New York Zoological 
Society, in Bronx Park. Open daily, including Sundays, from 9 a. m. until an hour before sun- 
set (November 1 to May 1 from 10 a.m.). Free, except on Mondays and Thursdays, when an 
admission fee of 25 cents is charged. Exhibition of a splendid collection of Animals, Birds 
and Reptiles. The fauna of Henry Hudson’s time on Manhattan Island and in the Hudson 
River Valley will be indicated by the flag of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. (Special illus- 
trated catalogue describing same for sale.) 

Take Subway trains marked “Bronx Park Express” to terminus at 180th Street, or Third 
Avenue Elevated to Fordham Station. The entrances are reached by numerous surface cars. 


CROTONA PARKWAY 


NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Administration Bldg.,8,.D 4 Elephant House, 20 .... 


Alaskan House, 3 
Alligator Pool, 36 
Antelope Hous: 
Bear Dens, 37 . 
Beaver Pond, 29 
Bivlogical Labor: 
2A... . 
Bird House, -D? 
Bird House, Large, 7 3 
Bison, 51 ... wd: 
Boat House, 
Buffalo Herd, 52 
Burrowing Animals, 42 
Cage, Flying, 4... .~C 3 Mountain Sheep Hill,44. 
Camel House, 39 2 Nursery, 18............ 
Deer, Asiatic, 1... 2 Ostrich House, = 5 
Deer, American, 30....H 2 Otter Pools, 31 H 
Deer, Axis and 2 Pavilion, Shelte: G 
Deer, Fallow, 5 4 Pheasant Aviary, 


»H 3 Elk Range 21 
-H 4 Feed Barn, 27. 
J 3 Flying Cage, 4..... 
Fountains, 


Deol 


Lion House, 15 

Llama Ho: 5 

Lydig Arch, ~S 
Mammal House, Small, 
N 


35 


Stott 


: ONG: 
Deer, Red, 1 .D 2 Polar Bear Den, 37 


Deer House. Small, 2 Prairie Dogs, 41... 


THE MATTHEWS-NORTHRUP WORKS, BUFFALO, N. Y. 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN 1909 


LATEST OFFICIAL MAP 


2 Totem Pole, 32... 


1 Q [1.13 Wolf Dens, 22)... 
Duck Aviary, 3 .......C 3 Primate House, 17,...E 4 Zebra Houses, 14 ..... 


Puma and Lynx 
House 33 A ......06 

Raccoon 's Tree, 44 A ., 

Reptile House, 34... . 


 f. 
ov 


bie 


~ 
ROLE CO OO 


Rocking Stone 45..... 
Sea Lion Pool, 12...... 
Service Bldg., 28 ...... 
Soda Fount's. * D2, G3, 
Subway Station, ....... 
Toilets, W. M., C3, 
E3, G3, 15, L6, 

Tortoise Yards... 


DODREE orto 


COPYRIGHT, 1907, N. Y. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 


‘ 
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nee 


| ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


No. 36 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


October, 1909 


REPORT ON EUROPEAN 


ERLE: 


By Raymonp L. Drrmars. 


ITH a special fund of two thousand dol- 
Wie for the purchase of mammals, birds 

and reptiles, the writer left New York on 
the 8th of last May, for a tour of the Zoological 
Gardens of England, Holland, Belgium, France 
and Germany, and an inspection of the animal 
markets in those countries. Besides the fund 
for the purchase of animals, needed for our col- 
lections, the writer took with him a large series 
of reptiles to be used in exchange with the Zoo- 
logical Gardens of London, in obtaining similar 
specimens for the Park. The east-bound pas- 
sage was made on the S. S. “Minnetonka” of the 
Atlantic-Transport Line. A trans-shipment 


7, 


from the Red D Line steamer “Philadelphia” 
from Venezuela, which lot was made up of mam- 
mals and birds collected and donated to the 
London Zoological Gardens by Captain Albert 
Pam was taken charge of by the writer, when 
the collection arrived in New York and cared 
for together with his shipment of reptiles. The 
writer arrived in London without losses during 
the voyage. 

The animal market in England during the 
spring and early summer of 1909 was the poor- 
est in some years. A thorough canvass of all the 
shops in London, Southampton, Plymouth and 
Liverpool, resulted in but few purchases of 


MOUNTAIN ZEBRA; FEMALE. 


568 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SALT-MARSH CROCODILE. 


mammals, although a fair series of reptiles was 
obtained. A month later, after returning from 
the Continent, the writer found conditions some- 
what improved, and two weeks steady work, 
spent among the animal shops of London and 
Liverpool, and watching the arrival of incoming 
vessels, from the Indian and African ports, re- 
sulted in an interesting series of purchases. A 
very large and valuable collection of reptiles was 
gathered. 

On the Continent the conditions were much 
the same. There was a marked scarcity of 
primates and miscellaneous small mammals. A 
large series of important and showy reptiles was 
purchased of Hagenbeck, at Stellingen, (Ham- 
burg). At the model menageries of Ruhe and of 
Reiche, at Alfeld on the Leine, some rare hoofed 
animals collected, 
Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra; a fine male ex- 
ample of the Greater Kudu, Strepsiceros capen- 
sis, a pair of Speke’s Sitatunga, Limnotragus 


were among these being a 


spekei, and a male Bontebok, Damaliscus pygar- 
gus. 


Review of the Animals, Birds and Reptiles 


Purchased. 


The writer’s purchases for the Park made a 


shipment of forty-eight cages, which were 
placed aboard the Atlantic-Transport, S. S. 
“Minnehaha,” which left London on the 3rd of 


July. 


hundred specimens, 


The shipment was made up of over four 
representing one hundred 
and eleven species. For the care of this big, 
miscellaneous lot of mammals, birds and reptiles, 
the writer arranged for a_ great 
variety of food to be placed on the steamship 


necessarily 


and owing to very courteous codperation on the 


vessel, he was enabled to so utilize the ship’s 


refrigerators, that the food remained in perfect 
condition throughout the passage to the home 
port; this relating to the meat, fish and soft 
fruits, during a period of nine days transit. 
The writer was fortunate in finding aboard the 
vessel several experienced hostlers returning 
with stock from the London Horse Show. These 
men were soon trained to assist him in the clean- 
ing of the cages, although all feeding operations 
were personally performed by the writer, this 
work consuming about three hours, daily. While 
the entire shipment was insured for full value 
in London, there were no losses during the trip. 

Among the mammals brought over is an in- 
teresting series of viverrines, including the 
African Kusimanse, Crossarchus obscurus,:Suri- 
cate, Suricata tetradactyla, North African 
Genet, Genetta vulgaris, Small Indian Civet, 
Viverra civettina, Large African Civet, Viverra 
civetta, White-faced Paradoxure, Paradozxurus 
and the Two-spotted African Palm 
“Cat,” Nandinia binotata. All of these species 
are new to our collection. Among the canines 
are a pair of Black-Backed Jackals, Canis meso- 
melas, and Thibet Fox, Vulpes vulgaris al- 
pinus, the latter an exceptionally rare and beau- 
tiful animal. A pair of almost black, South 
American Skunks, Mephitis suffocans, are 
Carnivores. 


MUSANLA, 


among the 

The most interesting animal added to the 
Park collection is a Cape Hyrax, Hyrax capen- 
sis. Although this animal looks much like the 
American woodchuck, in fact has all the gen- 
eral outlines and actions of a big rodent, it has 


long been classed by zoologists among the 
hoofed animals. It is characterized by the 


front teeth of the upper jaw, which protrude in 
tusk-like fashion. Though of chunky build it 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


NILE CROCODILE. 


is an agile climber, and is gifted with a par- 
ticularly vigorous temper. This animal was 
purchased from a London dealer, and is the 
first of its kind to be exhibited in the Zoological 
Park. 

Owing to the scarcity of Primates in the 
European markets, the writer obtained but few 
monkeys and lemurs. Among these animals his 
most important purchases were a Coquerel’s 
Dwarf Lemur, Microcebus coquereli, and a pair 
of Golden Marmosets, Midas rosalia. The lat- 
ter is a beautiful species, covered with long, 
silky hair, of a uniform golden color. Owing 
to the hair falling in a mane over the neck and 
shoulders, the species is sometimes called the 
Lion Marmoset. This was another 
quite new to the Park collection. 

A fine series of the larger Egyptian Jerboa, 
Dipus aegyptius, was obtained for the Small 
Mammal House. These curious rats make a 
lively exhibit. Two females and a male of the 
Coypu Rat, Myocastor coypus, were also among 
the rodents. A pair of Vulpine Phalangers, 
Phalangista vulpina, a pair of Sooty Phalang- 
ers, P. canina, Mauge’s Dasyure, Dasyurus 
viverrinus maugei, the Common Dasyure, D. 
viverrinus, Bridled Kangaroo, Onychogale 
frenata, and a fine example of the Tasmanian 
Devil, Sarcophilus ursinus, made up the list of 
marsupials. The latter was included in the 
material from the Zoological Gardens of Lon- 
don, offered in exchange for a list of reptiles 
taken over. 

In the series of birds brought over are the 
following: Patagonian Burrowing Owl, Speoty- 
to cunicularia, Tawny Owl, Syrnium aluco, 
Bleeding-heart Pigeon, Phlogoenas luzonica, 
Pied Flycatcher, Muscicapa atricapilla, Jack- 
ass Penguin, Spheniscus demersus, Varied Hem- 
ipode, Turnix varia, Satin Bower-bird, Ptilon- 


species 


orhynchus violaceus, Carrion Crow, Corvus 
corone, Rook, Corvus frugilegus. With one or 
two exceptions these birds formed part of the 
exchange list from the Zoological Gardens of 
London. 

It was among the reptiles that the most suc- 
cessful and elaborate series of purchases were 
made. Over fifty species new to the Park are 
now on exhibition in the Reptile House. For 
the first time since the opening of the Reptile 
House, we have a highly interesting series of 
the poisonous snakes of Australia, which we are 
exhibiting in a_ specially constructed case. 
Three species are exhibited—the Purple Death 
Adder, or Australian Black Snake, Pseudechis 
porphyriacus, the Gray Death Adder, Denisonia 
superba, and the Tiger Snake, Brachyaspis 
curtus. 

Of these the Purple Death Adder is repre- 
sented by a young male specimen. This is a 
handsome species, of a lustrous purplish-black, 
with a row of scarlet scales on each side of the 
body. There are six specimens of the Gray 
Death Adder, all fully grown (about five feet 
long) and looking much like our American 
“coachwhip snake.” The Tiger Snake is rep- 
resented by two mature specimens, each about 
twenty-four inches long. This reptile derives 
its name from the tawny bands that encircle 
the yellowish body. All of these snakes slight- 
ly dilate the neck, when angry, in cobra fashion. 
They are vicious, highly active and very poison- 
Of the three the Purple Death Adder has 
the most extensive range, being found over a 
great part of the Continent of Australia. The 
Gray Death Adder inhabits Southern Australia 
and Tasmania. Of the three species the Tiger 
Snake is particularly interesting. It attains a 
maximum length of two and one-half feet, is 


ous. 


very common in Western Australia and owing to 


570 


several phases of its make-up, is thought to rep- 
resent the ancestral stock (terrestrial) from 
which sprung the poisonous marine serpents of 
the East Indies. 

In addition to the exhibit of poisonous Aus- 
tralian serpents, two fine examples of Australian 
pythons, the Diamond Snake, Morelia spilotes, 
and the Carpet Snake, Morelia variegata, were 
placed in the collection. Of closely allied 
species, a beautiful young Regal Python, Py- 
thon reticulatus, from Borneo, two specimens of 
the Congo Python, P. sebae, a Madagascar Boa, 
Boa madagascariensis, and a Madagascar Tree 
Boa, Corallus madagascariensis, were added. 
The latter named species stand as spectacular 
types of freak distribution. In their structure 
they are wonderfully like the South American 
members of the Boide, which they also resemble 
in size and coloration. With South America 
the headquarters of the Boaine snakes, and the 
tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere, the habitat 
of the pythons, it seems remarkable that the 
Island of Madagascar should contain these two 
species of showy boas, absolutely separated from 
all allied forms. 

A very good series of the harmless serpents 
of Europe was obtained, which collection has 
been grouped as one of the features of the Rep- 
tile House. The following species of snakes 
are represented in this series: English Grass 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Snake, Tropidonotus natrix, Spotted Grass 
Snake, JT. natriz asteptrophorus, Dalmatian 
Water Snake, 7. natriz murorum, Tessellated 
Water Snake, T. tessellatus, “Viperine” Water 
Snake, J’. viperinus, Dahl’s Snake, Zamenis 
dahlii, Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca, Cat 
Snake, Tarbophis vivax, Leopard Snake, Colu- 
ber leopardinus, Four-Rayed Snake, C. quatour- 
lineatus, and Aesculapian Coluber, C. aesculapii. 
The latter named species is of great historical 
interest. In the time of the early Romans it 
was believed to be the messenger of Aesculapius, 
the God of Healing. Its appearance was al- 
ways considered the omen of some gracious ac- 
tion on the part of that particular deity. This 
belief gained such strength that writers of an- 
cient history record the fact that the Legions 
carried a number of these sacred reptiles on their 
great expeditions. 

Besides the species of European snakes a full 
series of the Continental lizards was obtained. 
The handsomest species among these is the Oc- 
cellated Lizard, Lacerta occellata, from southern 
Europe. The large males are of spectacular 
coloration—bright green with blotches of rich 
blue on the sides. The larger examples have a 
head slightly over two inches in width. Showy 
lizards of India, Africa and Australia were also 
added to the collection. The star specimen 
purchased is a huge Ceylonese Monitor, Vara- 
nus salvator, over seven feet long and with claws 
as large as those of a leopard. During the 
time the writer was finishing his purchases in 
England, this big lacertilian was placed on ex- 
hibition in the Reptile House of the London 
Zoological Gardens, where his great size, ac- 
tivity and habit of swallowing eight to ten hen 
eggs entire, attracted much interest. The Mon- 
itor is now on exhibition in a large cage on the 
main floor of our Reptile House, immediately 
west of the cage containing the big pythons. 
Chameleons of species, Spiny-Tailed 
liza diss, Gilbarsts 
“Snakes,” Slow 
“Worms” and the like 
figure among the bet- 
ter known lizards ob- 
tained. 

With the 


several 


purchase 


EGYPTIAN JERBOA, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


of an elaborate series of 
tortoises and turtles, the 
outside yards of the Rep- 
tile House are stocked 
with the best collection 
exhibited since the open- 
ing of the Park. The 
most showy of the new 
chelonians are the Radi- 
ated Tortoise, T'estudo 
radiata, three specimens 
from Madagascar, and 
four specimens of the 
Leopard Tortoise, 7. par- 
dalis, from Abyssinia. 
Over a dozen species, of 
five genera, are rated 
among the new aquatic 
chelonians. 

In the purchase of crocodilians the writer was 
fortunate in obtaining a half-grown example of 
the Broad-Headed Crocodile, Osteolaemus te- 
traspis, from Sierra Leone, the bony head of 
which causes it to be quite characteristic. In 
addition to this species were a young Nile 
Crocodile, Crocodilus niloticus, a Salt-Marsh 
Crocodile, C. porosus, from Sumatra, and a 
young example of the Broad-Snouted or Horned 
Caiman, Caiman latirostris, from the Amazon. 

- The Horned Caiman is also a great prize. Like 
the Broad-headed Crocodile it is for the first 
time exhibited in our Reptile House. 

The writer feels particularly proud of the 
collection of batrachians obtained abroad. The 
result of the addition of representative series of 
toads, frogs, salamanders and newts, are several 
grouped exhibits on the main floor of the Rep- 
tile House—features we have long needed, as 
the batrachians, with their varied strange forms 
and brilliant colors are always of great interest 
to the public. An enormous Japanese Giant 
Salamander was bought of Carl Hagenbeck and 
now occupies a commodious tank. A case con- 
taining a number of species of Tree Toads has 
been arranged and attracts much attention. 
This contains the gorgeously-hued Golden 
Tree Toad, Hyla aurea, of Australia and five 
other species. A series of fourteen cages now 
forms an exhibit showing the frogs and toads 
of Europe. ‘The most attractive among the new 
batrachians, however, are a dozen specimens of 
the strange Aquatic Toads, from Africa, these 
representing two species:—Xenopus laevis and 
X. muelleri. These eccentric creatures are 
strictly aquatic—never leaving the water. The 
hind feet are extremely broad and the graceful 
swimming movements of these animals at once 


SPINY-TAILED LIZARD. 


suggest the actions of broad-finned fishes. The 
eyes are small and placed directly on the top of 
the head. 

We have placed these toads in a conspicuous 
tank and they form a novel exhibit. Explana- 
tory labels tell of their relationship to the Suri- 
nam Toad, Pipa americana, of South Ameriea, 
which they resemble in structure and_ habits. 
They differ from the Pipa in the breeding 
habits, however, the eggs being attached singly 
to water plants or stones. The tadpole is 
provided with a pair of long tentacles, causing 
the larva to resemble an elongated catfish. 

With the close of his report the writer wishes 
to express his hearty appreciation for the hos- 
pitality extended in London, by Dr. P. Chal- 
mers Mitchell, Secretary of the Zoological So- 
ciety of London, and Superintendent R. Is EOE 
cock, of the London Zoological Gardens. With- 
out the valuable assistance given him, in pro- 
viding a headquarters with the presence of 
skilled keepers, it would have been practically 
impossible to care for his rapidly accumulating 
collection and to place the animals on board ship 
in good condition and well caged. The food 
required for this miscellaneous collection in- 
volved about everything used in feeding animals. 
Head-keeper Hockingdon, of the London Gar- 
dens, supervised his carpenters in making up a 
series of substantial travelling cages to take the 
places of those sent from the dealers—which 
latter cages were lacking in conveniences for 
feeding and cleaning. Scrapers and other 
trevelling paraphernalia were also made at the 
Zoological Gardens in London—in fact, every 
thing done to facilitate a successful shipment 
across the Atlantic—and with the results al- 
ready described. 


572 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


PURPLE DEATH ADDER. 


NEW FEATURES IN THE EUROPEAN 


ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
By Raymonp L. Dirmars. 
AVING recently returned from an inspec- 
tion of the zoological institutions of Great 
Britain and the Continent, the writer begs 
leave to present a general résumé of his obser- 
The 


tour in question embraced the zoological gar- 


vations on the newer features of interest. 


dens, private collections and museums, as fol- 
lows:—(England)—Gardens of the Zoological 
Society in London; the collection of hoofed ani- 
mals of the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn; the 
Natural History Museum and Aquarium in Liy- 
erpool. (Holland)—the Zoological Gardens in 
Amsterdam; the Zoological Gardens in Rotter- 
dam. (Belgium)—the Zoological 
Antwerp. (France)—the collection of animals 
in the Jardin des Plantes, and the Museum with- 
in the boundaries. (Germany )—Zoolog- 
ical Gardens, at Cologne, Frankfort, Dresden, 
Berlin, Hannover, Halle, Hamburg; Hagen- 
beck’s Tierpark, at Stellingen (Hamburg). 


Gardens, 


same 


Among the new features in the Zoological 


Gardens of London are the Prosectarium and 


Quarantine House. The former was well on its 
way to completion when the writer left London, 
in July. It forms a new floor over the Reptile 
House and is constructed along the lines of a 
research laboratory, with three large, separate 
working rooms, each brilliantly lighted with 
large windows facing the north. 
in the rear of the Reptile House is the new 


Immediately 


BULLETIN. 


Quarantine Building, a brick structure with all 
conveniences for the isolation and examination 
of newly arrived animals. 

Among the newly arrived animals in the 
London Gardens was the Takin, Budorcas tawi- 
color, exhibited for the first time alive in any 
zoological collection. Another rare animal was 
an Aard Vark, which was yet under observation 
in the Quarantine Building. In the Small Bird 
House was a magnificent series of Birds of 
Paradise of over half a dozen species—the 
series filling the big wall cages on each side of 
the building. All of these birds were in splen- 
did condition, and the writer was informed that 
once in captivity they are as hardy as crows. 
It is their capture in New Guinea, and the risk 
of extended transportation from the home coun- 
try, that cause their rarity in captivity. The 
collection of primates in the London Gardens 
was in superb condition—the coats of the ani- 
mals fairly glowing with health. Superintend- 
ent Pocock informed the writer that the tempera- 
ture of the Monkey House is kept quite low 
during the winter, 
40° Fahrenheit. 
vided with sleeping-boxes, packed with hay. 
The Rhesus Monkey, Mandrill, 
Thoth Chaema Baboons, remain out of 
doors throughout the winter. They are pro- 
vided with sleeping-boxes and hay bedding, but 


often registering as low as 
All of the monkeys are pro- 


Hamadryas, 
and 


the sleeping-boxes are not furnished with arti- 
ficial heat. All of these specimens were in su- 
perb condition. 

Zoological Amsterdam.—The 
Monkey House in Amsterdam is ideal. This 
structure appears to the writer to offer the most 
perfect sanitary conditions of any animal build- 
ing in Europe. It has many novel features, 
among them being elaborate skylights made up 
tiles. 
tage of ideal illumination, with its germicidal 
effects, yet without the heat in summer, or cold 
during the winter months, that comes with a 
building with a great area of illuminating sur- 
face. The writer noted the use of these vacuum 
glass tiles in Rotterdam, also, and it was ex- 
plained to him that they prevent the passage of 
heat or cold as they are cast hollow, and then 
subjected to an air extracting process. With 
its white tiled floor, its central fountain, cages 
with glazed tiles and brilliant, though diffused 
illumination, the effect of this building is that 
of beauty, wonderful cleanliness, and perfect 
sanitation,—particularly on account of the ab- 


Gardens in 


of vacuum This offers the great advan- 


sence of woodwork. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Amsterdam has the most interesting and in- 
geniously arranged collection of insects of any 
such installation noted by the writer. There is 
an elaborate series of cases containing feeding 
caterpillars and others hung with masses of de- 
veloping cocoons, from which numerous showy 
moths were hatching. On the walls were cases 
with fine mounted displays of the life histories 
of the lepidopterous insects of Holland. The 
most striking feature among the series of ento- 
mological exhibits was a display of ants. These 
were enclosed in narrow square glass cases, 
about three feet long and high. The nest was 
made of cement, and had been burrowed and 
channeled with great care to imitate the tortuous 
chambers naturally made by the insects. The 
exhibit was then mounted in the shallow ease to 
appear as a transverse section of a big ant 
mound. On the front of the case is a black 
cloth curtain, to keep the exhibit dark,—this 
may be raised at the will of the visitor. When 
the curtain is raised the channels are seen alive 
with ants performing their various duties. The 
workers are seen caring for the larve, and in 
one case, quite spectacularly quartered in the 
center, was a large queen ant, attended by her 


busy consort. Also exhibited in the Insect 
House was a curious collection of walking 


“sticks” and several jars of ant “‘lions,’ which 
little insects lie at the bottom of a funnel-shaped 
burrow of fine sand, the jaws only protruding. 
Unwary ants that pass near the edge of this 
burrow are brought down by a miniature shower 
of sand hurled up by the “lion.” The jars of 
aquatic insects demonstrated the interesting pos- 
sibilities in an exhibit of this kind. About 
every zoological garden on the continent has its 


insect house—several of these are of recent in- 
stallation. An installation of this kind would 


be of great interest in New York. 

Among the rare reptiles in Amsterdam, the 
choicest specimen was an example of the Bor- 
nean Gavial, Tomistoma schlegeli. The head 
and snout of this remarkable creature might be 


compared to a banjo with a long handle. The 
beautiful Aquarium was very fully stocked. The 


Electric Eel and Electric Cat-Fish were exhib- 
ited in adjoining tanks. In the batrachian 
room was a tank containing a number of exam- 
ples of the Blind Salamander from the Adels- 
berg Cave, in Austria. 

Rotterdam Zoological Gardens.—Through 
the courtesy of the Director, Dr. J. Biittikofer, 
the writer was enabled to witness and appreciate 
at the Rotterdam Zoological Gardens, one of the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 5738 


most interesting zoological spectacles in Europe. 
This consists of the heronry, tenanted by wild 
birds, and situated immediately outside of the 
big flying cage. A large collection of wading 
birds was on exhibition in the flying cage, and 
a number of these were nesting. Inside the 
cage was a stork on her nest, and the young 
could be observed lifting their heads for food. 
This presence and nesting of the captive birds 
had attracted the wild Blue Heron, many pairs 
of which had built the great rookery in the tall 
trees immediately outside the flying cage. From 
this rookery comes a continual gutteral croak- 
ing, and there is a constant procession of the 
old birds coming and going, their long legs 
trailing behind them in picturesque fashion. 
From the masses of nests may be seen the 
wobbly heads of the young, clamoring for food, 
or crowding out on dangerously swaying 
branches were well feathered youngsters un- 
steadily clutching their lofty perches in an 
eager watch for the parents’ return. Dr. Biit- 
tikofer informed the writer there were eighty- 
two nests in this wonderful rookery.. Seven- 
teen big nests, coarsely constructed of sticks and 
brush, were counted in a single tree. The old 
birds have a half-hour’s flight to get to their 
fishing grounds. 

The Monkey House in Rotterdam resembles 
the Amsterdam structure in the liberal use of 
glazed tile. The run into outside 
cages for the greater part of the year, passing 
through doors which swing either way, and 
which the animals operate with as much non- 
chalance as climbing their perches. 

The new Reptile House in Rotterdam is a fine 
and practical little building. Here the writer 
again noted the use of the glass vacuum tiles, 
—-practically the entire roof being of this con- 
struction—which causes the 
flooded with diffused sunshine. ‘The cage deco- 
rations were beautifully arranged,—a combined 
use of tuffstone, moss, earth and plants impart- 
ing a very natural effect. 


monkeys 


building to be 


The earth was neither 
too dry nor too wet—hence the reptiles ap- 
peared to be in exceptionally good condition. 
The brilliant illumination of the building ap- 
effect this condition. There was an 
The Rotterdam and 
Frankfort Gardens are way in the lead as re- 
gards reptile Continent. 
Among the more interesting reptiles noted in 
the Rotterdam Reptile House were the Gaboon 
Viper, African Cobra, American Diamond Rat- 
tlesnake, Regal Python, Black-Tailed Python, 


pears to 
excellent series of reptiles. 


collections on the 


574 ZOOLOGICAL 
Australian Diamond Python and Carpet Py- 
thon, a full series of Crocodilians, lizards of 
many species and a series of tortoises—among 
the latter being two specimens of Testudo ele- 
phantina, from the Aldabra Islands. 

Antwerp.—Although there appears to be no 
recent installation in the Antwerp Gardens, new 
specimens are constantly added. A long, high 
cage, with artistically painted background, of- 
fered a spectacular display owing to its con- 
tents, which consisted of over two dozen Flamin- 
goes and seventy-five Purple Gallinules. ‘The 
smaller, irridescent birds, running in every di- 
rection among the tall pink forms of the flamin- 
goes offered a striking display. 


Cologne-—Of particular interest in the Zoo- 
logical Gardens is the breeding of two Giraffes, 
both of which are in perfect condition. One ex- 
ample was born on May 26th, 1907, and the 
latest arrival, on April 4th, 1909. This young- 
ster was alert and active when the writer in- 
spected him the following June after his birth. 
He was about 6 ft. in height, with wisps of black 
hair standing on that portion of his head from 
which the horns will grow. 

Frankfort—The collection of reptiles in the 
Frankfort Gardens is particularly noteworthy. 
The reptiles are housed in the top of a grotto- 
like structure. The walls of the reptile enclosure 
are of the vacuum tiles previously mentioned, 
which, together with a glass roof floods the 
place with light. Among the lizards were a 
number of fine chameleons, the Australian 
Tiligua, Spike-Tailed Lizard, Zonurus, Tegus, 
and a full series of the lizards of Europe. 

The collection of batrachians was very com- 
plete, embracing the Blind Salamander of the 
Adelsberg Cave, Giant Salamander, Hellbender, 
South American Toads of several species and 
many Tree Toads. The collection of snakes 
was the finest on the Continent. Especially in- 
teresting among these were the Gaboon Viper, 
Puff Adder, Russell’s Viper, Horned Viper, 
Desert Viper, Sandnatter, Cape Viper, Austral- 
ian Blacksnake and Indian Cobra. There is a 
good representative series of North American 
serpents. 

Berlin—The magnificent Gardens in Berlin 
otfered nothing particularly new, but it is in- 
teresting to note the successful breeding of the 
Giraffe here, in April of this year. While noting 
this subject it should be mentioned that a 
Giratle was also bred in the London Gardens 
last year, and is in thriving condition. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Berlin is fortunate in having on exhibition a 
number of specimens of the wild Guinea “Pig,” 
Cavia porcellus, of South America. These ani- 
mals look like fat, tailless gray rats and are 
extremely timid. Owing to the rigid quarantine 
existing against South American rodents, it is 
now impossible to import this interesting animal. 

Zoological Gardens at Halle-—At Halle on 
the Saale, delightfully situated, ingeniously laid 
out, and with many novel features, is a zoologi- 
cal institution that promises to be among the 
most interesting in Europe. The gardens of Halle 
offer a series of surprises: for the winding walks 
that lead up the hill to the mountain goats, 
thence down to other installations, bring one 
unexpectedly upon changing scenes, exhibits and 
all sorts of pleasing nooks and vistas of the 
surrounding landscape. These gardens are 
young and the buildings not elaborate in num- 
ber as yet, but everything is ingeniously quar- 
tered and there is a valuable collection. There 
is a marked fraternal spirit in the exhibit of 
some of the animals. The Indian Blackbucks 
and Ostriches were running in the same en- 
closure. The Camels and Yaks roamed_ to- 
gether, and in a medium-sized cage was a rol- 
licking family of Raccoons and Coatis. Few 
zoological gardens can boast of a more pictur- 
esque site and such possibilities of interesting 
development as the Gardens at Halle. 

Hamburg.—A new feature of Hagenbeck’s 
Tierpark, at Stellingen, is the Ostrich Farm, 
situated immediately across from the main en- 
trance of the Tierpark, and being distinct in 
requiring a separate admission of 50 pf. It is 
well worth the visitor’s time to inspect this 
novel venture. Mr. Hagenbeck informed the 
writer that he expects his birds to grow much 
finer plumes in the cold climate of Hamburg 
than those ostriches on farms in the hot coun- 
tries. There are ten breeding houses, each with 
two long yards and separate compartments. 
Each of these houses is intended to accommo- 
date a pair of birds. A great central yard and 
commodious shelter building accommodates the 
main herd. A very complete incubator, with 
capacity for a great number of eggs, is part of 
the exhibit. The ostrich farm was opened in 
July, with one hundred and ten ostriches—all 
of the species being represented. 

Prior to the opening of the Ostrich Farm, the 
main herd of birds was running in a fifteen-acre 
pasture. The multitude of long necks, above 
which towered the heads of some really gigantic 
males, formed an imposing picture. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Elwin R. Sanborn, Editor, 


DEPARTMENTS 
MAMMALS 
EDITED BY W. T. HORNADAY, SC. D. 


AQUARIUM 
EDITED BY C. H. TOWNSEND 


BIRDS 
EDITED BY C. WILLIAM BEEBE 


REPTILES 
EDITED BY RAYMOND L. DITMARS 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, 50 Cents. 
Mailed free to members. 
Copyright, 1909, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Entered at the Post Office at New York as Second Class Matter. 


No. 36 OCTOBER, 1909 


Officers of the Society. 


President : 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN 


Executive Committee - 
MApIson GRANT, Chairman, 
JOHN S. BARNES, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Percy R. PYNE, LEvi P. Morton, 
SAMUEL THORNE, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio, 


The Mayor of the City of New York,. . . . HoN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN. 
The President of the Dep’t of Parks,. . . . Hon. HENRY SMITH. 


Glass of 1910. Glass of 1911. 
F. AugustusSchermerhorn Henry F. Osborn, 
Percy R. Pyne, William C, Church, 
George B. Grinnell, Lispenard Stewart, 
Jacob H. Schiff, H. Casimir De Rham, 
Edward J. Berwind, Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
George C. Clark, Charles F. Dieterich, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, James J. Hill, 
C. Ledyard Blair, George F. Baker, 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Grant B. Schley, 
Nelson Robinson, Payne Whitney, Frank K. Sturgis, 
Frederick G. Bourne, James W. Barney, George J. Gould, 
W. Austin Wadsworth Wm. PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills 


Glass of 1912. 


Levi P. Morton, 
Andrew Carnegie, 
John L. Cadwalader, 
John S. Barnes, 
Madison Grant, 
William White Niles, 
Samuel Thorne, 
Henry A. C. Taylor, 
Hugh J. Chisholm, 


Officers of the Zoological Bark : 
W. T. Hornanbay, Sc. D., Director 
H. R. MiTtcHELL - - = : Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles 
C,. WILLIAM BEEBE = = = Curator of Birds 
H. W. MERKEL - = > = Chief Forester and Constructor 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer 
ELWIN R, SANBORN - - - Editor and Photographer 
W. REID Buiair, D.V.S. - - Veterinarian 
W. I. MircHELL - = - - Office Assistant 


Officers of the Aquarium: 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director 


L. B, SPENCER - - - : = - Fresh Water Collections 
W.I. DENYSE - - = = - Marine Collections 


SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP. 


The Executive Committee desires to announce 
the following subscriptions to Sustaining Mem- 


bership: 


Archbold, John D. 
Auchincloss, Hugh D. 
Avery, Samuel P. 


Baker, George F. 
Barbour, William 
Barhydt, Mrs. P. Hackley 
Barnes, Miss Cora 
Barnes, Jr., J. Sanford 
Barnes, John S. 
Barney, James W. 
Blair, C. Ledyard 
Blodgett, William 'T. 
Bowdoin, G. S. 
Bowdoin, ‘Temple 
Burr, Winthrop 


Cadwalader, John L. 
Canfield, Richard A. 
Chisholm, Hugh J. 
Clark, George C. 
Crimmins, John D. 


de Milhau, Louis J. 
Dick, J. Henry 
Dieterich, C. F. 
Dodge, Cleveland H. 
Dunham, Edward Kk. 


Emmet, C. Temple 


Field, Mrs. Wm. B. Osgood 
Ford, James B. 
Fraser, Miss S. Grace 


Goodridge, Ethel M. 
Goodwin, James J. 
Gould, Helen M. 
Grant, Madison 


Hamilton, Wm. Pierson 
Harkness, E. S. 

Harkness, Mrs. Stephen V. 
Havemeyer, 'T. A. 
Higginson, James J. 

Hill, James J. 

Hoe, Richard M. 

Hoe, Mrs. Richard M. 
Hopkins, George B. 

Hyde, Mrs. Clarence M. 


Iselin, Jr., Adrian 


James, Arthur Curtiss 
Jennings, O. G. 


Kahn, Otto H. 


Langdon, Woodbury G. 
Lounsbery, R. P. 


MeMillin, Emerson 


Marling, Alfred E. 
Maxwell, Robert 
Mills, Ogden 
Morgan, J. P. 
Morgan, Jr., J. P. 
Morton, Levi P. 


Niles, W. W. 


Osborn, Henry F. 
Osborn, William C, 


Penfold, William Hall 
Perkins, George W. 
Phipps, Henry 
Phoenix, Lloyd 
Pierce, Henry Clay 
Porter, Clarence 
Pyne, M. Taylor 
Pyne, Percy R. 


Robinson, Nelson 


Schermerhorn, F. A. 
Schiff, Jacob H. 
Schiff, Mortimer L. 
Schley, Grant B. 
Schuyler, Mrs. Philip 
Sloane, William D. 
Stetson, Francis L. 
Stewart, Lispenard 
Sturgis, Prank K. 


Taylor, Henry A. C. 
Thompson, Mrs. Fred’k F. 
Thompson, Lewis S. 
Thorne, Samuel 


Vanderbilt, Alfred G. 
Vanderbilt, W. K. 
von Post, H. C. 


Wadsworth, W. A. 
Warren, Samuel D. 
White, Jr., John J. 
Whitney, H. P. 
Whitney, Payne 
Winthrop, Egerton L. 


DEPARTMENT OF 


AMERICAN 


AVICULTURE. 


Eprrep spy C. Witiiam BErEBE, 
Curator of Birds. 


FULL LENGTH VIEW OF THE DUCK AND SWAN ENCLOSURE. 


BREEDING CANADA WILD GEESE ON 
CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, VA. 
By C. Wiiu1aM Breese. 
dere ics RIES connected with semi-wild birds 


are becoming more and more important every 

day. We large Pheasant hatcheries 
which have been installed in many states during 
the last few years, while the providing of suit- 
able nesting sites for Eider Ducks has been in 
practice for many years in different places. As 
far as I know the only successful example of 
raising Canada Wild Geese for their feathers, is 
to be found on the estate of Mr. J. W. Wheal- 
ton on a good-sized island off the coast of Vir- 
ginia, close to the Maryland line. 

Chincoteague Island is about seven by two 
and a half miles in size, with a soil which is 
sandy but fertile. Low ridges run parallel to 
the coast, separated from each other by marshes, 
while a central depression filled with salt water 
extends transversely across the center of the 
island. There is considerable scrub pine and 
cedar growth with some underbrush, the trees 
and bushes being found mostly upon the ridges. 
Much of the island, 


have 


however, is 


open and 
marshy. Mink are very abundant and destruc- 
tive, and while Foxes are also common they 


seem to do little harm. 


More than fifty years ago Mr. Whealton ob- 
tained a pair of wing-tipped wild geese. 
These, however, showing no signs of breeding, 
he disposed of, and purchased a second pair 
which had been raised in captivity. These were 
the nucleus of his present flock which now num- 
bers about 450 birds. There has been no in- 
breeding as new blood has been constantly 
added by the capture of wing-tipped wild gan- 
ders every year or two. At times wild birds 
have come in from the bay with the tame ones, 
and fed with them for several days. Great ef- 
fort is made to get the big leaders of the flocks. 
Wild ganders breed at once, but it is years be- 
fore the wild geese will consent to lay. Mr. 
Whealton’s geese are divided into flocks of from 
four to fifty birds, running wild on this and 
several adjacent islands. All are pinioned when 
small goslings. 

There is considerable population on Chinco- 
teague, but the geese do no damage and the fact 
that they are all the property of Mr. Whealton is 
known to everyone. The geese rarely die from 
disease, although a few succumb to pneumonia. 
Negroes steal a small number, but the greatest 
loss is from dogs which kill quantities of the 
geese every year. In 1908 no fewer than twen- 
ty-six dogs were killed in the very act of slaugh- 
tering the geese. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


CANADA GEESE AND TOULOUSE HYBRIDS. 


The geese feed on the island in summer in 
small gangs; but in winter they spend most of 
their time in Chincoteague Bay, feeding on eel 
grass and sea lettuce. They become very fat 
on this diet and in addition are fed a little grain 
now and then to keep them tame. They are 
also supplied with fresh water throughout the 
winter. In the spring, on one of the first warm 
days in March, the Canada Geese pair off, gath- 
ering near the large breeding pastures, when 
they are let in, one pair at a time. There is a 
great deal of quarrelling among them and a 
few pairs are always brok- 
en up. 

The geese are grain fed 
for a short time before lay- 
ing, all through incubation 
and until they are set at lib- 
erty with their young. The 
birds are never infested 
with lice, and it is thought 
that their feathers 
some quality which keeps 
these pests out. 

The ‘breeding paddock 
encloses about 25 or 30 acres 
and is surrounded by a 
board fence about 3 feet in 
height. About 75 pairs of 
birds breed here and raise 
from two to three hundred 
young annually. There are 
a few small fresh water 
marshes in the paddock, 
and where these occur num- 


contain 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. S77 


erous hummocks are thrown 
up, which soon become cov- 
ered with and low 
brush. These tiny islands 
are the favorite nesting sites 
and five to seven eggs are 
laid on these nesting hum- 
mocks. When the young 
hatch, they are pinioned and 
turned into another pasture 
with their parents. If the 


goose is removed, the gander 


grass 


will rear the young success- 
fully. But if the gander is 
killed by accident or sent 
away, the female will not or 
cannot rear her brood alone. 

Some of the birds are al- 
most fifty years old. They 
breed better when _ thirty 
than when ten years of age. 
A few individuals never 
mate. In the spring, one 
familiar with the appearance of the birds can 
select those which will lay, by the condition of 
fatty deposits visible under the skin. If con- 
siderable yellow fat is visible about the abdo- 
men, there is no likelihood of the bird laying 
eggs that season. 

When the goslings reach the age of about one 
month, they are given their liberty. They usu- 
ally do not breed until three years old. Each 
pair of adult birds mate for life and invariably 
returns to the nest which it had occupied the 
previous spring. The geese will not as a rule 


apn al 
wai! ite tik 


DUCK AND SWAN ENCLOSURE; COMPARTMENT No. 1. 
Containing Black Australian Swans and C 


ygnets, Shoveller Ducks, Wood Duck 
and Black Brant. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SNOW GEESE HYBRIDS, CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND. 


allow other pairs to nest within fifty to one hun- 
dred yards. The ganders are very erratic in 
this respect, some being especially savage, while 
others do not object to new comers founding 
their nests a shorter distance away. The birds 
are strictly monogamous. In the fall, all de- 
formed or undersized birds are disposed of, and 
only the largest and finest are kept. Many 
young birds are sold for ornamental purposes 
and for decoys. 

According to Mr. Whealton and the men who 
have charge of the birds, there seem to be two 
so-called races, known as the Northern and the 
Southern Wild Geese. The latter are smaller and 
darker and differ greatly in their habits. They 
are very wild, never becoming tame; are sly and 
tricky, of a cowardly disposition, and do not 
interbreed with the other race. They have been 
eliminated from the flock because of their unde- 
sirable traits, but a few are kept by other people, 
as they breed fairly well. 

The geese are plucked three or four times each 
year, beginning with May first, and from then 
on at intervals of seven weeks; all of the con- 
tour feathers with the exception of those of the 
wings, tail and neck are taken, the down of 
course being left. An average adult bird yields 
about one-third of a pound at a picking, and the 
market value of these feathers is about 50c. a 
pound. The first picking (May Ist) occurs 
when the birds are tending their young. It 
stops to a certain extent the fighting which is 
always going on at this time; both by reducing 
the strength of the birds and by making it less 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


easy for them to obtain a 
good hold, or to strike each 
other with their wings. The 
first and last pluckings yield 
the heaviest feathers; the 
mid-summer plumage being 
lighter. At these times a 
large party of men and boys 
corral the geese from vari- 
ous parts of the island into 
a large pen. As the geese 
are picked they are liber- 
ated. 

That Chincoteague Is- 
land is adapted not only 
for the rearing of wild 
geese alone, is shown by the 
success which Mr. Whealton 
has had with other species 
of water birds. The swans, 
—Mute, Whooping and 
Black, are simply turned 
out in pairs, separated from others. They are 
kept there continually, and when once they have 
started to breed, they continue to do so every 
year. All of the paddocks have plenty of for- 
age, but the birds are fed daily on wheat and 
corn. During the present year the Black Swans 
made their nest and laid their eggs when the 
snow was on the ground, hatching their young in 
February, when the pond was frozen tight. A 
hole was cut in the ice and the young, four in 
number, were successfully raised. 

Hybrids have been produced between Canada 
Geese (‘“Northern” Race), and Toulouse, Emb- 
den and Chinese Geese. These hybrids lay 
eggs but they are never fertile. 

Crosses between the Common and Snow Geese 
are fertile and haye been bred back to pure 
Snows for several generations, the hybrids being 
indistinguishable from  pure-blooded Snow 
Geese. Toulouse hybrids are very large birds 
with the body color of a Toulouse, but with the 
head and neck very nearly white. They are in- 
variably sterile. 

The Chinese hybrids, when young, are a shade 
darker than the Canada Geese. When they 
reach adult plumage, they become lighter in 
color, and only one who is accustomed to them 
can distinguish them from pure-blooded Canada 
Geese. 

The Snow Geese hybrids were originally pro- 
duced with a white Common Goose and a Snow 
gander. The offspring are usually white with 
dark wings and sometimes dark tails also. They 
retain the mandibular hollow of the Snow Geese. 
When this hybrid is bred back with the pure 
Snow, a white goose is produced that can be 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


told from the pure Snow Goose, only by the very 
slightly smaller size. 

The only successful method of hybridizing is 
by confining a selected pair of geese together in 
a paddock. In the majority of cases the birds 
refuse to mate. 

Black Ducks are kept in a paddock of about 
four acres containing a fresh water pond well 
supplied with lettuce and eel grass of which the 
birds are very fond. Tall grass, weeds and 
bushes are thick, and the birds breed usually 
among this low vegetation. During the present 
seventy-five young Black Ducks were 
hatched, but every one was killed by a murder- 
our Egyptian gander. Black Ducks are wild in 
disposition, and will mate only in large pad- 
docks. 

The Snow Goose lays its eggs on the ground 
near the water, in an enclosed paddock, the eggs 
usually not being fertile. In 1900, 
four young Snow Geese were half raised but 
were killed by dogs. ‘The Common Brant Geese 
mate but never lay. 


year 


however, 


THE PONIES OF CHINCOTEAGUE.* 


By Ler S. Cranvatt. 


HINCOTEAGUE and Assateague Islands 

in Virginia each support a drove of ponies, 

numbering from fifty to one hundred indi- 
viduals. They forage for themselves winter and 
summer, receiving no more care than the wild 
mustangs of the West. 

Tradition has it that these semi-wild ponies 
are the descendents of Spanish horses, which 
came ashore from a foundered galleon. This 
seems a reasonable explanation, and is generally 
accepted. 

In general appearance the ponies closely re- 
semble mustangs, to which they are undoubtedly 
related. Rarely exceeding fourteen hands in 
height, they are thick and stocky, with the 
smallest of ears and hooves. The manes and 
tails are extremely long in typical specimens. 
and many of the little animals are very hand- 


some. In winter, of course, their coats are 


*Mr. Crandall recently made a trip to Chincoteague 
Island, Virginia, in the interests of the Zoological 
Society, and while there gathered the following in- 
formation concerning the semi-wild horses found in 
that region. The facts are of decided interest and 
well warrant publication. 


BULLETIN. 579 


rough and shaggy, but in summer they are as 
smooth and sleek as satin. All of the self col- 
ors known among the mustangs are found among 
the eastern animals, buckskins and even creams 
being common. Calicoes, pintos, and other pied 
forms are, however, never found among them, 
stockings and blazes being the extreme of white 
markings. 

In temperament, on the other hand, they are 
the perfect antitheses of their western cousins. 
Gentle and kind, they make splendid saddle 
ponies, and the savage bucking of the mustangs 
is absolutely unknown among them. Many are 
broken for driving, and are safe and reliable, 
thus differing radically from the western ponies, 
which are notoriously unruly in harness. 

They are prolific breeders (continued inbreed- 
ing has apparently not decreased their vigor), 
Each fall 
a roundup is held, when all of the colts are 
caught and branded. 


and each mare has a colt at her side. 


When surrounded, and no avenue of escape 
presents itself, the ponies at once commence to 
“mill” after the fashion of mustangs and cattle, 
working around the circumference of a circle, 
with the colts inside. 

The herds are, in each case, led by a splendid 
stallion, who has complete command. At vari- 
ous times, as the young stallions increase in age 
and weight, they challenge the leader to battle 
for his position. Many vicious combats result, 
which are often of long duration. Rearing on 
their hind legs, wrestling for an opening like 
skilful boxers, biting, striking and squealing, 
they will at times whirl from the top of a ridge 
into the surf, and out into the sea, often to the 
level of their backs. The old leaders are rarely 
overcome until weakened by age, because they 
have gained strength and experience from years 
of warfare, and the younger animals are usual- 
ly no match for them. 

These little animals range free over the two 
islands, feeding on the succulent young grass in 
summer, and getting a scantier livelihood from 
the dried blades through the winter months. 
When the mosquitoes and horse flies become un- 
bearable, the herds stand leg deep in the surf. 

The native owners guard their animals with 
jealous pride, never introducing new blood for 
fear of “spoiling the breed.” The ponies are in 
great demand both on the island and the main- 
land, and a very profitable traffic has been built 
up. 


580 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


WILD BIRDS BRED IN CAPTIVITY IN-THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 


GALLIFORMES 


Globose Curassow.... 
Ruffed Grouse es 
Cabot Tragopan................... 
Impeyan Pheasant 
Manchurian EKared Pheasant... 
Black-crested Nepal Pheasant... 
Melanotus Pheasant............ 
Anderson Pheasant........... 3 a = 
Lnaneated! (Pheasants <.6..: 44 hee 6 eae 
Silver Pheasant..... 
Swinhoe Pheasant. 
English Pheasant.. 
White Pheasant. 
Ring-necked Pheasant. 
Versicolor Pheasant 
Reeves Pheasant........ 
xolden Pheasant 


“ 


“ 


San Crax globicera 
_Bonasa umbellus. 
. Tragopan caboti 
_Lophophorus impeyanus 
. Crossoplilum manchuricum.... 
Gennaeus leucomelanus 


-Phasianus colchicus... 


Syrmaticus reevesi.. 
_Chrysolophus pictus... ee 
“ 


.. Gould. 

... Hodge. 

.. Kuser. 

Little. 

.. Little. 

.. N. Y. Zool. Park. 


melanotus.. Kuser. 
andersoni.. _. N. Y. Zool, Park. 
lineatus .. Little. 
nycthemerus N.Y. Zool. Park. 


swinhoei.. Kuser. 

N. Y. Zool. Park. 
N.Y. Zool. Park. 
.N. Y. Zool. Park. 
_ Kuser. 

_.N. Y. Zool. Park. 
.. N. Y. Zool. Park. 


“ 


va 
torquatus 
versicolor. 


Lady Ainherst Pheasant = amherstiae.. .N. Y. Zool. Park. 
TRUGCaN finn yds DINO Cee ke eee er fallus gallus... See ert cnet ena ts Ae N.Y. Zool. Park. 
LiraYo Geet: DEXS TN Ao cid eee een ca etesh ace Reete aicteseRensosoeere Pavo cristatus:........2..... Baw N15 . Park. 
Black-winged Peafowl. .- “  nigripennis -N. Y. Zool. Park. 
Wild Guinea Fowl Numida meleagris ....N. Y. Zool. Park. 
QYYAD GL AT TE ee ses cre oere ene eeoe tame ecte aoe Melagris gallopavo silvestris... N. Y. Zool. Park. 


Plumed Quail.............. 
California Quail. 


-Oreortyx pictus plumiferus 
Lophortyx californicus............ 


.N. Y. Zool. Park. 
..N. Y. Zool. Park. 


Bole wititeie nearer ere aa Spheres asc aete pene COURTUUER (DUN GRIUI ONES samen eee eee ee Hodge. 


Co.UMBIFORMES 


White-backed Pigeon... Columba leuconot@sn.c-. ee ee Whitman. 
Rock Dove oh e LATS ener tk meet ee eee eee Dee ee ccna N. Y. Zool. Park. 
Stock Dove a oends...... . Whitman. 


Triangular-spotted Pigeon 
Bare-eyed Pigeon 
Spotted Pigeon_......... 
White-crowned Pigeo 
Rufous Pigeon 
Band-tailed Pigeon... 
Wood Pigeon......... 
Passenger Pigeon. 
Mourning Dove... ... 
Venezuela Dove... 
White-winged Dove... 
European Turtle Dove 
Oriental Turtle Dove... 
Barbary Turtle Dove_...... 
White Turtle Dove... 
Damara Turtle Dove. ....... 
Indian Turtle Dove..................--------- 
Dwarf Turtle Dove... 
Chinese Turtle Dove. . 
Tigrine: Durtle Dove... 
Senegal Turtle Dove 
Barred-shouldered Dove a 
Peaceful Dove....... ....... ke 
Barred Dove...........- See “ 
Graceful Ground Dove 


“ 


Hetopistes migratorius 


.Zenaida vinaceo-rufa.. 

.Melopelia leucoptera... 

. Turtur turtur.... 

2 orientalis 

Streptopelia risoria..... 
“ 


_....Onopopelia humilis 
Siac ere Ce rrp Spilopelia chinensis..............--- 
Ff 
Stigmatopelia senegalen 
Geopelia humeralis....... 


guinea... Whitman. 
gymnopthalma. .- Whitman. 

maculosa Whitman. 
leucocephala.. Whitman. 

rujina .-.Whitman. 

fasciata.. .. Whitman. 
palumbus. -Whitman. 
Beers Whitman. 

Zenaidura macroura carolinensis..........--. Worthington. 

- Whitman. 


_ Kuser. 

..N. Y. Zool. Park. 
Whitman. 

.N. Y. Zool. Park. 


“ 


var. - Whitman. 
damarensis.. - Whitman. 
douraca.. -Whitman. 
- Whitman. 

_ Whitman. 


_. Whitman. 
N. Y. Zool. Park. 
... Thompson. 
. Whitman. 


TAGTIN Case at 


tranquilla. 
striata... 
cuneata. 


Inca Dove -.Scardafella inea.. .. Whitman. 
Northern Ground Dove....... -Chamaepelia passerina -Whitman. 
Talpacoti Ground Dove.......... ...... =e talpacoti........... Whitman. 
Bronze-winged Pigeon........... crceceeeeerconsiteceaticece PRG) 8) CROLCO DUCT C2 se nen cree nae eee enec reece Whitman. 


Australian Crested Pigeon. 


--Ocyphaps lophotes. 


.. Kuser. 


Wihite=tronted! DOVE een reece eee Leptoptila fulviventris brachyptera......... _. Whitman. 
Reichenbach Dove s NOUCI OND ACR Ys iss. oceec nants acer ee Whitman. 
Wonga-wonga Pigeon... ............. HR OUCOS CTCL) UC COE Orenene esate cnc renee warner emer Whitman. 


LARIFORMES 


Buropean ermine Grille eee cence TE CV AUS I CNG O1Ut OLS omen ttn cas cereenenee rans enna oa aeeeeeee .... N. Y. Zool. Park. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 581 


GRUIFORMES 


Memorsellen Graeme ne casera Anthropoides virgo... SR ee ee eee Ree Kuser. 


ARDEIFORMES 


VABSLGR MIDIS: oP ee ert ec ee Ree See (CLONTURGS (CUNY 8 tS er eossecocneenaceseree ¢ 2a eR rst ae N. Y. Zool. Park. 
Black-crowned Night Heromn-.........................Nycticorax mycticoraa N@e@vius.....---....---0--c-r-------- Nat'l Zool. Park. 


ANSERIFORMES 


Whooping Swan. _ Cygnus cygnis. ...Whealton. 
Mute Swan ee olor. ...... --» Natl Zool. Park. 
Black Swan PACH GTOP SSH CU: GEC cnr sete eee et Whealton. 


Wood Duck. 


h SAIS PONS... 
Mandarin Duck. . “  galericulata.. 
Greater Snow Goose. Chen hyperborea nivali 
Bean Goose..................-. a Ansen fabilis................... 
Canada Goose....... Branta canadensis. 
Ruddy Shelldrake _.Casarca casarea.. 
Mallard Duck... _dnas platyrhynchos 
Black Duck... = es obscura. 
Australian Gray Duck... .  “  superciliosa 
Gadwall .Chaulelasmus strepera. 


oe Nee Zoolwbank. 
Les iee Cox. 

Whealton. 
-Gallatin. 

-N. Y. Zool. Park. 
- Browning. 

.N. Y. Zool. Park. 
.. Gallatin. 

.._ Kuser. 
Hudson. 


European Widgeon... ..Mareca penelope... Cox. 
Green-wing Teal .. Vettion carolinensis. Ea Cox 
Blue-wing Teal. _.Querquedula discors.. ---. COX. 
Pintail Duck _Dafila acuta Be Coxe 


Chilian Pintail Duck _ “ — spinicauda.. .... Kuser. 
Shoveller Duck Spatula clypeata.... me COxe 
Red-head Duck.. Aythya americana. Gallatin. 
Canyas-back Due “ vallisneria -Lawrence. 
Indian Spotted-bill Duck - Polionetta poecilorhyncha Gallatin. 


PELECANIFORMES 


Florida Cormorant... pe ROLaCTO COR GR NQULOD serene eee ee Nat'l Zool. Park. 


ACCIPITRIFORMES 


Bap ap ers eee See es ees aN Flalnazetus) lewcoce ph ales acca cn seca scecee ect eeceeecscne + Buff. Zool. Gdn. 


PsirvActrorMES 
Cockateel_. 
Carolina Parrakeet. 
Grass Parrakeet. 


_Calopsittacus novae-hollandiae.. 
Conuropsis carolinensis 
. Melopsittacus undulatus 


Browning. 
.. Phila. Zool. Gdn. 
.N. Y. Zool. Park. 


Black-faced Lovebird... eee UP ONT CTS OTLUC era ene en ee eee Thompson. 
{ 1 1 
PASSERIFORMES 
MIMIDAE 
Curacao Mockingbird... ..Mimus gilvus rostratus............... See Nee 2/00 len eett ke 
g { 


Catbird Galeoscoptes) carolinensis cesses ene nce ce Kuser. 


TURDIDAE 


Planesticus tristis 

ny migratorius.. 
_Hylocichla mustelina. 
. Monticola savatilis 


Gray Robin 
American Robin 
Wood Thrush. 
Rock Thrush... 


Sse Bee eee ING er LOOlmean ke 

en oe ee N.Y. Zool. Park. 
POM at See NE ier OO aris 

ee pee VOntnimoton: 


Bitebind ees ee ea aM ee ISTE CULL ix SEUNG a nc ent sco 92 2U Lah eee ae eee N. Y. Zool. Park. 
SITTIDAE 
Wohite-breasted Nuthateh. 2... SS RUCR (COMO DUILETES IG 3c oe nh ee .. Worthington. 


FRINGILLIDAE 


Rose-breasted Grosbeak...._........-<--22c-2-c-ccccee--n- Zamelodia ludoviciana... Roce. b= eee PaNE SY ZO0ly barks 
Saffron Finch. Fees Bee GULLS JU OO LC pacman ere ee secu... Thompson. 
Song Sparrow. Me eee 3 Ma rene Seo ee Melospiza melodia melodia... ... ...... Worthington. 


PTOCEIDAE 


Cut-throat Finch. Pera aaaes Nie fis eke, Amadina fasciata Thompson. 
Zebra Finch : ee eeeee eee. Taeniopygia castanoltis Browning. 


Black-headed Mannikin 
Gray Java Sparrow 


_Munia atricapilla.... 
“oryzivora 


_..Worthington. 
N. Y. Zool. Parl. 


582 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


BALD EAGLES 65 DAYS OLD, TWO HOURS AFTER LEAVING NEST. 
Hatched April 18, 1909, at the Zoological Garden, Buffalo, N. Y. 


The list of authorities are the ones which, as 
far as I can ascertain, were the first to breed the 
species mentioned. The full names and locali- 
ties are as follows: 

Browning, Wm. H.—Rye, New York. 

Buttalo Zoological Garden—Dr. F. A. Cran- 
dally: 

Cox, John A.—Fieldstone Farm, East Brew- 
ster, Mass. 

Gallatin, Frederic—Noroton, Conn. 

Gould, Aviary of Howard—Mallory in charge 
—Port Washington, L. I. 

Hodge, C. F.—Worcester, Mass. 

Hudson, Perey K.—East Norwich, Long Is- 
land. 

Kuser, Col. Anthony R.—Bernardsville, N. J. 

Lawrence, W. B.—Flushing, Long Island. 

Little, Dr. Geo. W.—Glens Falls, N. Y. 


National Zoological Park—Frank Baker, 
Director—Washington, D. C. 
New York Zoological Park—W. T. Horna- 


day, Director. 
Philadelphia Zoological Park—A. I. 
Director. 
Thompson, Aviaries of Mrs. F. F.—E. A. 
Watts in charge—Canandaigua, N. Y. 
Whealton, J. W.—Chincoteague, Virginia. 
Whitman, C. O.—Chiecago, Ills. 
Worthington, Aviaries of C. C—C. W. Mil- 


ler in charge. 


Brown, 


It is hoped that anyone who has bred species 
of birds not on this list will send their records 
with full data to the Editor of this department. 


I have recently compiled the above tentative 
list of the species of wild birds which have been 
bred in captivity in the Eastern United States. 
It numbers 109 species, and this will doubtless be 
doubled or trebled when many persons who have 
not as yet replied to my inquiries, have sent in 
their reports. The list, meagre as it is, includes 
some interesting species and several are worthy 
of more detailed mention. 

European Herring Gulls——The European 
Herring Gulls formed a successful breeding 
colony in the New York Zoological Park several 
years ago until they were exterminated by wild 
minks which came down the Bronx River, thus 
carrying their depredations into the very heart 
of New York City. The mink danger has now 
been overcome and a new lot of young gulls has 
been obtained from Lake Champlain, through 
the kindness of Mr. Edward Hatch, for the pur- 
pose of re-establishing the colony. 

Bald Eagle—The breeding of the Bap 
Eacie in captivity in the Buffalo Zoological 
Gardens is, I believe, the first and only record. 
Dr. F. A. Crandall, Jr., has kindly furnished 
the following data and photograph of the young 
eagles: 

“The mother bird was caught in Georgian 
Bay. Canada, in 1898. The father was brought 
from Alaska in 1903. Both birds were between 
two and three years old when received.” 

“The female has had three mates, the first for 
two seasons, and one each for the last two years. 
She has laid four clutches of eggs, the first two 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


of which were not fertile. The eggs laid when 
paired with the second male proved good, and 
they were within one day of hatching when ac- 
cidentally destroyed by freezing.” 

“The last mate she chose was the Alaskan 
bird above described. Two eggs were laid, and 
on the third day incubation began. They 
hatched just thirty-one days later on April 18th, 
1909. The young eagles left the nest when 
sixty-five days old and were then in general ap- 
pearance larger than the father.” 

Carolina Parrakeets.—The Carolina Parrakeet 
was bred in the Philadelphia Zoological Garden 
on September 9th, 1885, when one bird was 
hatched from an egg which had been placed 
under a Turtle Dove. The period of incuba- 
tion was fourteen days. 

Curacao Mockingbirds—The Curacao Mock- 
ingbirds rear one or two broods year after year 
in a cage only four by five, by eight feet high 
in the New York Zoological Park. Thousands 
of people pass daily within six feet of the nest 
without disturbing the sitting bird, or causing 
the male to interrupt his singing, which he con- 
tinues long after his mate has begun incubation. 


Avicultural Magazine.—The best advice to 
anyone who is contemplating keeping an aviary 
of living birds is to subscribe to THe Avicut- 
TuRAL MaGazine. ‘This very interesting month- 
ly is published in England at $2.50 a year, and 
the officer who receives subscriptions is Mr. T. 
H. Newman, Harrowdene Road, Wembly, Mid- 
dlesex. 

In the far west of our own country, bird 
lovers may join the Avicultural Society of Cali- 
fornia, the official organ of which is Birp News, 
a modest but promising bi-monthly with a sub- 
scription price of 75c. a year. 

Interest in living birds is rapidly increasing 
in our country and, as has been well proven in 
England, there is no better way of arousing a 
wholesome, humane love of wild birds among the 
people than by encouraging the keeping of live 
birds. With roomy cages and suitable food they 
become tame, sing, play, nest freely and are as 
happy when well cared for as their brethren in 
the woods and fields. 


EXPERIMENTAL ACCLIMATIZATION. 


I1—American Robins in England. 
N experiment which has apparently proved 
successful is the introduction of the Amer- 
ican Robin (Planesticus migratorius) into 
England. Late in December of last year Lord 
Northcliffe took back eighteen American Robins 
which we secured for him, and all but one of 
their number reached their English home in 


BULLETIN. 583 


safety. Late in March these birds began to 
build nests and lay eggs, but all were confined 
in the same enclosure, and the constant rivalry 
and fighting resulted in many casualties. So 
the eggs were removed as soon as laid and 
placed in the nests of Thrushes and European 
Blackbirds who did well as foster parents, and 
successfully reared twenty-four young “Yankee” 
Robins. 

About the middle of June all the robins, old 
and young, were liberated on Lord Northclitte’s 
estate and at last report they were doing well; 
a number of nests had been made and young 
birds reared in the open, and but little propen- 
sity to stray was evinced. 

The crucial point of the experiment will come 
at the time of migration. Considering how 
many of our Robins winter with us in sheltered 
places it is not impossible that those in England 
may be contented to remain more or less seden- 
tary throughout the winter, especially as the 
English winter is so much milder than ours. 
If the birds should migrate and any can be 
located in their winter quarters, valuable data 
may result, in showing whether present geo- 
graphical conditions, or the mere accompanying 
of other migrant birds, will influence their choice 
of direction. Such an experiment in the south- 
ern hemisphere would be even more valuable in 
this respect. 


Il.— Birds of Paradise in Trinidad. 

Sir William Ingram sent an expedition last 
spring to the Aru Islands near New Guinea in 
search of live birds. Among other interesting 
species, fifty Greater Birds of Paradise (Para- 
disea apoda) were obtained which are now being 
prepared for shipment to our hemisphere. 
They will be liberated on the estates of Sir 
William Ingram in the Island of Trinidad, off 
the northeast coast of South America. The out- 
come of this attempt at the acclimatization of 
such rarely beautiful birds in a region so remote 
from their native haunts will be of the greatest 
interest. 


II1.—Mockingbirds and Cardinals Near New 
York. 

An extensive attempt will soon be made by 
the writer to introduce Mockingbirds and Car- 
dinals—or rather to reintroduce them—in the 
New York Zoological Park and at Bernardsville, 
New Jersey. The birds will be confined. in 
large flight cages and liberated in the spring 
after they have become accustomed to their new 
surroundings and have shown signs of pairing 
off. Several Mockingbirds which have been set 
at liberty in the Zoological Park have made 


themselves completely at home for several 


584 


months, and one individual has lived in the Bo- 
tanical Garden and the Zoological Park during 
the past two years, summer and winter,—find- 
ing its own food. 

The Cardinal is common in Central Park but 
almost unknown in the surrounding country, and 
Chapman records the Mockingbird as breeding 
for several years in succession at Tenafly, New 
Jersey. 


WHOLESALE REARING OF PHEASANTS. 


HE rearing of game-birds for the stocking 

of preserves and for the beauty which their 

splendid plumage adds to wood and meadow 
of country estates is an industry which is rapid- 
ly growing and, from an economic standpoint, 
becoming of more and more importance. The 
Department of Agriculture will soon publish a 
Bulletin devoted to Pheasant Propagation, and 
from many states pamphlets and reports are 
constantly being received, showing how wide- 
spread is the interest. 

In New York State a farm of two hundred 
acres near Sherburne has been acquired by the 
State Game Commission for the purpose of 
propagating game birds. Mr. H. T. Rogers, a 
practical game-keeper, is in charge and informs 
us that five hundred pairs of pheasants have al- 
ready been purchased, it being the intention of 
Commissioner Whipple to send out, in the 
spring of 1910, several thousand young birds 
and if possible fifteen thousand eggs.* These 
eggs will be sent to farmers with a printed cir- 
cular from the Game Commission giving explicit 
directions as to hatching the eggs under a fowl 
and caring for the young Pheasants afterwards. 
In this way it is hoped to introduce the Pheas- 
ant broadcast over the state, gaining thereby 
not only the addition of a beautiful bird to our 
coverts (now left so vacant by the depletion of 
Grouse, Bob-white and Woodcock), but also a 
splendid game-bird, and in addition valuable to 
the farmer in feeding on injurious insects. 

This is the first state work of the kind taken 
up in New York, but there are scores of private 
estates where Pheasants are bred and the state- 
ment that “tens of thousands of English Pheas- 
ants are reared every season on Long Island, in 
New Jersey and New York” is probably not ex- 
ageerated. 

Mr. Bayard Thayer writes me from Laneas- 
ter, Mass., concerning Pheasants, “I raised this 
vear about twelve hundred and have stocked the 


*A record was kept several years ago by Mr. 
Rogers of one hundred pheasant hens. During three 
months, April, May and June, they showed a vield 


of 4637 eggs, of which 80 to 90 per cent. hatched. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


country about here for ten miles from the over- 
flow, as I never shoot my coverts very hard.” 

The most successful introduction of Pheasants 
in the United States has been in the north- 
west, where in Washington and Oregon there 
are great numbers of Ring-necked, Golden and 
Silver. The abundance of these birds may be 
gauged from the fact that on the first open 
day of hunting in one of those states, more than 
fifty thousand Pheasants were bagged. 

To those of us who are interested in Pheas- 
ants from an aesthetic rather than a gastronomic 
standpoint, there remain the most wonderfully 
colored of all—the Impeyans, Tragopans and 
many others which are not prolific breeders, and 
whose beauty will not therefore become blood- 
bespattered bunches of feathers in the bag of 
every man who can own a gun. 

It is a great pity that our native game-birds 
are so difficult to hatch and rear in captivity 
that they will probably never be able to compete 
with their more prolific and adaptable Asiatic 
cousins. 


MY AVIARY AND ITS INMATES: 


By Witi1am H. Brownina. 
Member of the New York Zoological Society and of 
the Avicultural Society of England. 

N England the keeping of foreign birds in 

aviaries has long been practiced, as one can 

judge from the membership of the Avicul- 
tural Societies of that country. 

In America the private aviary is rapidly be- 
coming popular, and with reason, for it is a 
hobby out of which those who are naturally fond 
of birds can get a lot of genuine pleasure. 

Most people are fond of the singing of birds, 
and a well-selected aviary is a musical song box. 
Some admire birds for their plumage, while 
others make the experiment from a scientific in- 
terest in the breeding and rearing of rare for- 
eign species. In a well-constructed aviary, the 
birds are perfectly happy. 

My aviary, on my estate at Rye, New York, 
close to the waters of the Sound, is about fifty 
feet long by twelve in width. It is built of 
wood somewhat in old Dutch style. It faces 
south and the north side is placed as close as 
we could get it to some large elm trees which 
overshadow the roof, so that when the sun is 
high in summer, it is not too hot inside. The 
south side is glass for about seven feet from the 
ground, so that a sun parlor is available in 
winter. 

Inside the house is a passageway about four 
feet wide which runs straight through from end 
to end. From this the flights—and there are 


ten of them—are divided off by ordinary 3 wire. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


The flights resemble stalls, each being 5 ft. x 8 
ft. x 12 ft. high. They are divided with wood 
up to a height of about seven feet, and from 
there to the roof the = wire is used. The wood 
is set in a slot like the door of a coal bin, so 
that two flights can be easily made into one if 
it should be found desirable. 

I used = wire as mice cannot get through it 
and they can get through 3-inch wire. In each 
flight there is a door. It is purposely made 
low—about 44 ft. in height—and at the side of 
the door is a box jutting out about eight inches 
into the passageway. It is 2’ 6” high by 4’ 6” 
long, divided by a board in the middle, so that 
the same box runs from one flight to the one 
adjoining. The cover is hinged and divided in 
two, and by raising these covers the food can be 
placed in the flights without opening the doors. 

I have found this arrangement very satisfac- 
tory. If I had it to do over, the only improve- 
ment I could suggest would be to make a metal 
tray, like the tray of a bird cage, at the bottom 
of each box. 

There is a one-inch water-pipe running 
lengthwise through the middle of the flights, 
and in the centre of each flight is a tee from 
which a one-half-inch pipe comes up through 
the floor to a height of about four inches. The 
top of this short half-inch connection is thread- 
ed, and after it had been slit with a hack saw, 
I serewed on each one an ordinary half-inch 
cap. I found that I could adjust the flow of 
water by the distance I screwed the cap down, 
and that the spray was forced directly down- 
ward. 

Another hole was made through the floor, 
close to the inlet, and a one-inch coupling set 
flush with the bottom of the basin. In this 
a short piece of pipe about two and a half inches 
long is screwed loosely. If it is removed, all 
the water washes away and if left in, it will not 
rise above its level. 

My basins are made of concrete. I had a 
plumber make two galvanized iron hoops for a 
mould—the larger about 1’ 8” in diameter by 
5 inches high, and the smaller 1’ 6” in diameter 
by 4 inches wide. By setting the smaller in- 
side the larger, and raising the inside one, one 
inch from the floor, it is easy to see how each 
basin was made. 

The cost of the twenty basins—for there are 
ten in the outside flights besides the ten inside— 
was about twenty dollars. 

On the outside I used brass pipe and a brass 
cap for the short connection, and there is no 
waste, the water overflowing on the sand. 

One 10 x 10 pane in the lower sash, which 
raises outward and hooks back, is used as a door. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 585 
This gives access to the outdoor flights which are 
in dimensions 5 x 8 ft. by the height of the 
roof, which is hipped with about 2 ft. overhang, 
giving a little shelter up close to the house. 
The rest outside is a wooden frame covered with 
the 2 wire. The house is ceiled inside and 
painted white with cold water paint. The 
basins are enameled white. The outside wire is 
painted black and the frame black. The roof 
is shingled and stained black. From the eaves 
downward white boards are placed upright with 
round moulding over the seams for a distance 
of about 5 ft. from the ground, where a white 
round moulding runs around three sides of the 
house, and below this are old-fashioned long 
split shingles. 

The house is heated by four 3-inch water 
pipes running low against the north wall and 
so arranged that they can be used in pairs or 
not, as necessary. 

I planned the interior and let the Architect, 
Mr. Osear Blumner, frame around it as artistic- 
ally as he could. The cost of the house was 
about nine hundred dollars. If I had it to re- 
build, the only improvements I would make 
would be to ceil it inside with hardwood and use 
wire glass and metal sash on the windows, as the 
destructive bills of some of the cockatoos keep 
me busy patching it up. 

I do not like a concrete house for birds. It 
might do in some places but it is too damp 
with us close to the water. It would be all 
right in the winter, when the heat is on, but in 
the spring and fall the birds would suffer. We 
keep the place comparatively cool. In the 
winter the temperature ranges from 50 to 60, 
and even if it gets below that it never seems to 
inconvenience the birds. 

In winter I could not take a newly purchased 
bird which had probably been kept in a much 
warmer temperature, and turn him out suddenly 
in so cool a place, but birds that have been ac- 
climated are all the better for the low tempera- 
ture. 

The most essential thing for the birds is fresh 
air, and I allow them the outdoor flights from 
about the 10th of May to the last of October. 

I feed the seed-eating birds on canary seed, 
hemp and sunflower and more or less dried 
wheaten bread, which I purchase by the quan- 
tity for chickens at $1.75 per 100 Ibs. They 
also have green food from the garden. The 
insect eaters are fed on ordinary mockingbird 
food, Abraham’s preserved yolk of egg which I 
am obliged to import, and minced raw meat. I 
presume the total feed bill would average close 
to $10 per month. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


FRONT VIEW OF AVIARY. 


My gardener looks after the aviary and I 
have no regular keeper. My principal losses 
have been due to placing the wrong kinds of 
birds together, resulting in their killing each 
other, particularly at breeding time; and to over- 
eating and consequent fatty degeneration; while 
a few are occasionally lost from injuries caused 
by striking their heads when frightened, partic- 
ularly at night. On the whole, however, the 
losses are no greater than with chickens or any 
other domestic fowls. 

Now, as regards the inmates, in the first flight 
there are, at present, three Cockateels (these 
nest readily in confinement), a pair of Crimson- 
winged and a female Red-rump Parrakeet, be- 
sides three Green Love-birds. In the second: 
Dominican Cardinals, Java Sparrows and a few 
Canaries. In the third: a pair of Leadbeater 
Cockatoos. In the fourth: Zebra _ Finches, 
Manikins, Weaver birds and a lot of other small 
Finches. The Zebra Finches have bred so 
abundantly that they out- 
number the others three to 
one. 

In the fifth: Budgerigers, 
or Australian Grass Parra- 
keets, of which I have bred 
a large number. For breed- 
ing places, I first used co- 
coanut husks, imported from 
EK. W. Harper, Wolver- 


hampton, England, and lat- 


No. B logs made by Mr. 
Herman Scheid, Buren i., 
Westfalen, Germany, which 
can be imported for about 
50e. apiece. 

In the sixth flight there 
are a pair of Blue Mountain 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Lories, two Green Cardinals, 
an Indian Shama, and a 
lot of other small birds. The 
Blue Mountain Lories are 
spiteful with other parrots 
but they do not seem to pay 
much attention to the small- 
er birds. 

In the seventh: A pair of 
Rosellas and a male Ring- 
neck Parrakeet. I had two 
pairs of Rosellas, but this 
spring one of the cocks 
killed the other pair, and 
although the surviving hen 
laid eggs she did not hatch 
them. 

In the eighth is a pair of 
Minors, a Malabar Minor, a 
Green Barbet, a pair of Starlings, a Rose-Col- 
ored Paster, another Shama, a Mexican Solitaire 
(a very fine singer by the way) and an Indian 
Drongo. This last is supposed to be a very 
delicate bird, but he has now been in good health 
for over a year. 

In the ninth: A Red-vented Parrot and a male 
New Guinea Green Electus. The New Guinea 
Electus is a stupid bird, but I purchased him 
with the intention of procuring a mate which 
up to the present I have been unable to do. 

In the tenth: A pair of Pennants and a fe- 
male Slaty-headed Parrakeet. I lost the male 
through what was apparently sun-stroke. 

In conclusion let me say again that any one 
who is fond of birds will find the keeping of a 
private aviary such as I have described, a 
fascinating and inexpensive hobby, and that I 
shall be pleased to give any further advice I can 
on this subject to any one desiring it. 


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‘DECENNIAL-: 


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NEVV YORK | 
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_ PARK » MCMIX 


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NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Administration B 
Alaskan House. 
Alligator Pow 
Antelope Ho 
Bear Dens, 5 
Beaver Po: 
Bivlogical 

ZA. 
Bird House, 
Bird House, Large, 
Bison, 51 
Boat House. 


Deer, Axis ant 
Deer, Fallow, 5% 


THE MATTWEWS-NORTHRUP WORKS. BUFFALO. NY. 


COPYRIGHT, 


.4.D4 Elephant Louse, 20... 
»H% Elk Range 


.J 3 Flying Cage. aoe 

15 Fountains, Dr ng. 

G5 H2,M7 Puma and Lynx 
Fountain, ler, I3D4 House SA .. 

G 4 Fox Dens, 2 Raccoon’s Tree, 

D2 Goats, Mou Reptile House, 34 

D 3 Lion House. 3 Restaurant, 46 .. 

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4 Pheasant Aviary, 40 ...12 Totem Pole. 32 .. 
D 2 Polar Bear Den. 37 ....H 5 Turkeys, Wild, 33. 


2 Prairie Dogs, 41 ..13 Wolf Dens, 22... G3 
14 .100eE 2 


<C3 Primate Monse, 17....E4 Zebra Houses, 


MAP OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


1910, BY THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


PRESS OF THE KALKHOFF COMPANY, NEW YORK 


COPYRIGHT, 1907, M. ¥. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 


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ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


DECENNIAL 


Number 37 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


NUMBER 


January, TOTO 


HMisStORY"OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


By MADISON GRANT 
Secretary of the Society 


N the Fall of 1894 important political 
| changes occurred in the City of New York, 

which gave promise of a new era of munici- 
pal improvement. The Boone and Crockett 
Club, an organization of sportsmen, with 
Theodore Roosevelt at its head, was at that 
time actively engaged in game protection and 
was devoting its energies to the enactment of 
suitable legislation, and the establishment of 
game refuges. The Club had played a large 
part in the foundation and organization of the 
Yellowstone National Park, and some of the 
members of the Club thought that the occasion 
was propitious for the establishment in New 
York of a Zoological Park along new and 
modern lines. The Zoological Gardens in 
Europe, and most of those in America, were in 
the centers of dense population, and were of 
necessity limited in extent to some thirty or 
forty acres. They were also dependent for their 
maintenance, to a large degree, upon admission 
fees. The new conception of a Zoological 
Park was radically different, and called for a 
large area on the outskirts, rather than the 
center of the city, sufficient in extent to pro- 
vide natural surroundings for its inhabitants, 
while not being so vast as to preclude visitors 
from enjoying the rare spectacle of animals in 
open ranges. 


A proposal to establish in New York a 
Zoological Park along these lines was brought 
to the attention of the Boone and Crockett 
Club by the writer, and he was immediately 
appointed chairman of a Committee to secure 
the necessary legislation, and organize a 
Zoological Society. The other two members of 
the Committee were Mr. C. Grant La Farge and 
Hon. Elihu Root. As soon as the Legislature 
convened at Albany, the Committee found that 
there had been introduced a bill which had ap- 
parently the same objects, as it provided for 
the establishment of a Zoological Garden on 
City lands north of 155th Street. The bill had 
been introduced several years in succession by 
Mr. Andrew H. Green, who had long been in- 
terested in the scientific institutions of New 
York. The bill had been repeatedly defeated, 
chiefly on account of a clause it contained au- 
thorizing the Park Board to turn over to the 
new Society, the menagerie at Central Park. 
The proposed removal of the Central Park 
menagerie, at that time in a most disreputable 
condition, provoked violent opposition. The 
Committee called on Mr. Green and discussed 
the matter with him, outlining the views of 
the Club in regard to a proposed Zoological 
Park. To all these views Mr. Green gave 
cordial acquiescence, and the Committee de- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SITE OF THE 


cided to help pass the existing bill, rather than 
to introduce a new measure. Subsequent 
events, however, showed that it would have 
been much wiser to have started with an en- 
tirely new bill, instead of accepting the old 
one, as the original charter of the Zoological 
Society proved somewhat limited, and required 
subsequent amendments. It could be still fur- 
ther improved by enlarging the scope and pur- 
poses of the Society. In spite, however, of 
the somewhat cramped provisions of the bill, 
the Committee agreed to help Mr. Green in re- 
turn for his assurance that his purposes were 
identical with those of the Club, and that the 
control of the new organization would be 
turned over to the Club. 

The writer and Mr. C. Grant La Farge, the 
two active members of the Committee, there- 
upon interviewed Mr. William White Niles, 
Jr., then a member of Assembly, who had in- 
troduced the bill on behalf of Mr. Green, and 
who was seriously considering its withdrawal 
owing to the various annoying charges made in 
connection with the proposed transfer of the 


SOCIETY 


POLAR 


BULLETIN 


BEAR 


DEN. 


Central Park Menagerie. The Committee as- 
sured Mr. Niles that they not only had no in- 
tention or desire to secure the Zoological col- 
lection at the Menagerie, and would not, under 
any circumstances, accept the transfer of the 
animals in Central Park, or even the control 
of them. 

Mr. Niles accepted the assurances of the 
Committee, and proceeded to push the bill to a 
successful passage. The bill was, however, 
first amended by adding the names of the 
writer and of Mr. C. Grant La Farge to the 
list of incorporators, and by cutting out the 
objectionable feature which had reference to 
the menagerie in Central Park. 

The Committee thereupon interviewed the 
various opponents of the bill and satisfied them 
that their apprehensions as to the purposes of 
the proposed legislation were without founda- 
tion. 

Upon the enactment into law of Chapter 
435 of the Laws of 1895, the New York 
Zoological Society held its first meeting for 
organization on May 7, 1895. Of those pres- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


COM PLETED 


POI 


ent at that meeting, only Mr. La Farge and 
the writer are at the present time in any way 
connected with the Society. The Board of 
Managers which was selected contained the 
names of nine members of the Boone and 
Crockett Club. Mr. Andrew H. Green was 
elected President, and Mr. Charles E. wu hite- 
head and Mr. J. Hampton Robb, Vice-I 
dents, and Mr. L. V. F. Randolph, Treasurer. 
The writer was elected Secretary, and has held 
that office continuously ever since. It was at 
this meeting that Professor Henry Fairfield 
Osborn’s connection with the Society began, 
and his active interest in the welfare and de- 
velopment of the Society was the greatest ele- 
ment of strength that the Society possessed at 
that time, or which it has since acquired. 

A year was then spent in the consideration 
of various schemes for carrying out the pur- 
poses which the Committee of the Boone and 
Crockett Club had in mind, and which have 
since been embodied in the Zoological Park. 
The personnel of the Board of panaecls was 
eradually transformed by the addition, one by 


resi- 


SOCIETY 


-AR 


BULLETIN 591 


BEAR DEN. 


who have since carried on the 
and created the Park. Mr. 
Mr. John L. Cadwalader, Mr. 
Mr. Charles T. Barney and 
Mr. W. W. Niles, the sponsor of the original 
bill incorporating the Society, and an active 
helper from the beginning, joined the Board of 
Managers and Executive Committee at this 
time, and took active parts in the development 
of the Society and its work. 

The consideration of sites involved a care- 
ful study of nearly every park area then in ex- 
istence north of Central Park in Manhattan 
Island and in the Borough of the Bronx. Not 
much progress was made along these lines 
until on April first, 1896, when Mr. William 
T. Hornaday was engaged as Director of the 
Zoological Park. Mr. Hornaday had con- 
ceived, organized and developed the National 


one, of the men 
Society's work 
Philip Schuyler, 
Samuel Thorne, 


Zoological Park at Washington, which, at that 
time, was the only Zoological Park in exist- 
ence of anything like adequate size. Mr. 


Hornaday gave his first attention to a careful 
study of the various parks, and soon brought 


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GRAND CONCOURSE, FROM 


to the attention of the Committee the fact that 
the southern half of Bronx Park offered an 
ideal site for the proposed institution. The 
meadows, glades, forests, ponds and _ river 
areas were so distributed that buildings could 
be located and large ranges established thereon 
practically without injury to the existing land- 
scape conditions, or the splendid forest trees. 
The larger part of the area thus selected had 
formerly formed part of the Lydig Estate, to 
which fact was due the exceptionally favorable 
forest conditions. 

After a prolonged inquiry into the accessi- 
bility, drainage and topographical conditions 
of the Park, the Zoological Society, through 
its Executive Committee, approved this site, 
and on May 2tst, 1896, formal application was 
made to the Commissioners of the Sinking 
Fund for the transfer of Bronx Park, south of 
Pelham Avenue, to the Zoological Society. 
At first the application was not favorably 
viewed by the City authorities, and it was 
only after a prolonged discussion, and some 
changes in the officers of the Society, that the 
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund gave the 
matter their final sanction, on March 24th, 
1807. 

A portion of this second year of the So- 
ciety’s existence had been devoted by Mr. 
Hornaday to a thorough study of the Zoologi- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE ITALIAN 


BULLETIN 


GARDEN ; LOOKING NORTH. 


cal Gardens of Europe, the results of which 
were embodied in a report to the Committee. 
Mr. Hornaday also prepared the general 
ground plan of the Zoological Park, out of 
which has developed, during the last ten years, 
the existing scheme of the Park. Modifica- 
tions have been made in small matters, but on 
the whole the substantial manner in which Mr. 
Hornaday’s original design has been found 
to meet actual conditions has proved his fore- 
sight in its preparation. 

At this time, also, the active interest of Mr. 
Percy R. Pyne, in the affairs of the Society, 
began, and Mr. John S. Barnes, Mr. F. Au- 
gustus Schermerhorn, Mr. A. Newbold Morris, 
Mr. Andrew Carnegie and Mr. Morris K. 
Jesup, became members of the Board of Man- 
agers. Most important of all was the election 
to the Board of Managers and to the Presi- 
dency of the Society of the Hon. Levi P. 
Morton. The selection of Mr. Morton as the 
head of the Society was perhaps the determin- 
ing factor in securing the favorable action of 
the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, in 
giving to the Zoological Society the sole con- 
trol and management of the proposed Zoo- 
logical Park, under a contract which has 
proven a highly satisfactory working agree- 
ment hetween the Society and the City. 


The members of the Commission of the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 595 


Sinking Fund voting in favor of this contract 
were Mayor William L. Strong, Comptroller 
Ashbel P. Fitch, City Chamberlain Anson G. 
McCook, and Recorder John W. Goff. 

The chief feature of this contract of March 
24th, 1897, was an agreement, on behalf of the 
City, to provide an adequate maintenance fund 
in return for free admission to the Zoological 
Park during at least five days of the week. 
This maintenance fund began with a grant of 
$40,000, and was soon raised to $65,000. It was 
not until 1903 that the amount of $100,000 
was reached. The amount for the year 1910 
is $167,632. The Society pays all maintenance 
bills and is reimbursed, from time to time, by 
the City, up to the amount allowed for that 
year. For several years the annual mainte- 
nance fund was inadequate, and there was an 
annual deficit, which had to be met by the 
Society. Later on, however, the sums allowed 
were increased until they proved sufficient, 
with the aid of extreme economy, to maintain 
the Park without encroachment on the funds 
of the Society. It is, however, to be regretted 
that the staff of officers at the Park are not 
better recompensed for their exceptionally 
valuable services. It seems to be one of the 
inequalities of our present civilization that our 
scientific men, whose brains are of the great- 


est value to the community, should receive 
mere pittances, in comparison to what crude 
labor receives, and quite absurd when com- 
pared with the enormous salaries paid to suc- 
cessful singers and actors. 

The year 1897 was spent in developing the 
preliminary plans for the Zoological Park. All 
available expert opinion was obtained, and the 
plans were subjected to the closest scrutiny by 
the Committee. The final plan was adopted 
by the Executive Committee on November 
15th, 1897, and immediately afterwards ap- 
proved by the Park Board and Mayor Strong. 

The Society then entered on its first serious 
effort to raise money, and for the next two 
years the energies of the Committee were 
largely directed towards the accumulation of 
a fund of $250,000, upon the raising of which 
the whole scheme and the contract with the 
City was conditioned. 

The City at that time provided its first ap- 
propriation for the improvement of Bronx 
Park, by a bond issue of $125,000, which be- 
came law on May 8th, 1897. This was the 
first of a series of issues of bonds and corpo- 
rate stock, the total amount of which, to the 
first of January, 1910, is $1,900,000. 

In 1899 the Zoological Society inaugurated 
improvement work by expending nearly $250,- 


SITE OF THE GRAND CONCOURSE BEFORE IMPROVEMENT. 


Photographed from the same point of view as the picture on the preceding page. 


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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


ooo of its own funds in the erection of the 
Reptile House, the Aquatic Bird-House, the 
Bear Dens, Flying Cage and about eighteen 
smaller installations for animals. 

As soon as the Park was thrown open the 
public was surprised, both by the magnitude 
of the plan and the permanence of all improve- 
ments. Then the City of New York cheerfully 
joined the Society in the remainder of the 
work. The Society was given absolute con- 
trol of the Park, it furnished all plans, and 
virtually superintended all improvement work. 
The Park Department has stood in a position 
to safeguard all the interests of the taxpayers, 
and has awarded and superintended all large 
contracts for construction. 


Throughout eleven years of active improve- 
ment business, involving nearly a hundred 
contracts, great and small, the business of 
financing and building the Zoological Park 
has gone steadily on, without a single halt or 
an unpleasant episode between the representa- 
tives of the City and the Society. In their 
turn, Mayors William L. Strong, Robert A. 
Van Wyck, Seth Low, and George B. 
McClellan, and Comptrollers Ashbel P. Fitch, 
Bird S. Coler, Edward M. Grout and Herman 
A. Metz, have cordially cooperated in the 
work. The Park Department of The Bronx has 
been most helpful, and we recall with particu- 
lar pleasure the cooperation of the three long- 
term Commissioners, August Moebus, John E. 
Eustis and Joseph I. Berry, and their Chief 
Engineer and Chief Clerk, Martin Schenck 
and Gunther K. Ackermann. 

The portion of Bronx Park turned over to 
the Society was in a condition of extreme 
neglect. Excepting the survey and map made 
by the Directors, no map of it existed. An 
open sewer ran through the grounds, bogs 
were numerous, and the condition of many 
fine trees was deplorable. The Society took 
hold of the forest barely in time to save these 
trees from destruction by fire, vandalism and 
decay. 

Various extensions of the original tract have 
been secured by the Society from time to time. 
notably by the inclusion of an important block 
of land at r8oth Street and Boston Road, 
which had been acquired by the Interborough 
Railroad Company for the purposes of railroad 
yards. The construction of yards of that 
sort, it is needless to say, would have de- 
stroyed that corner of the Park, as well as 
one of the most beautiful water-views in New 
York parks. 

The Society experienced much trouble with 
propositions to despoil the Park in various 


BULLETIN 597 


ways, and had a long struggle to prevent the 
construction of an elevated railroad structure 
through the center of the Park. 

Another scheme, which was also defeated, 
proposed cutting off a wide strip along our 
western boundary to widen the Southern 
3oulevard. The demand for new entrances 
at various points, sometimes merely for the 
convenience of neighboring saloons, has been 
and still is continuous. 

The straightening and widening of the 
Boston Road is threatened at intervals, but 
with the increasing strength and popularity 
of this Park the danger from these attacks 
grows less. 

The location of the terminus of the Rapid 
Transit system at the village of West Farms, 
on the southern boundary of the Park, forced 
the Society to practically rearrange its original 
entrance plan, which had provided for a grand 
entrance from the north, through what is now 
the Concourse and Baird Court. As the City 
developed, new modes of approach became 
available, and the point of entrance of the 
largest crowds changed and will continue to 
change. The first visitors coming in numbers 
arrived through the entrance at the corner of 
Southern Boulevard and Pelham Avenue; but 
with the construction of the Interborough 
Railroad, the West Farms entrance became the 
favorite, and it may be that at some future date 
the Crotona entrance at the Southwest corner, 
being by far the nearest to the main center of 
the population, will become the chief point of 
approach. 

The acquisition of a large tract of forest 
land on the east of our present boundary, by 
the Park Department, and the elimination of 
the squalid little village of Bronxdale, will 
very probably result in a readjustment of our 
boundaries along the north and east. The 
Society is not anxious to assume any further 
responsibility for the care of additional land; 
but there is little doubt that all the land south 
of Pelham Avenue will be turned over to us 
by the City, and that as a matter of duty to the 
public, we will be obliged to protect and main- 
tain it. 

The Society assumed actual control of the 
Park on August 1, 1898. Work was immedi- 
ately commenced on the Aquatic Bird-House 
and on the Elk House, and immediately after 
on the Reptile House and Bear Dens. On 
November 8th, 1899, the Park was opened to 
the public. At that time the Committee felt 
that the exhibit was a very expensive and 
elaborate one, but compared with the present 


598 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


SITE OF THE 


size of our collection, it now seems absurdly 
small, both in scope and in numbers. 

With the Park in full swing, the work of 
the Committee assumed large proportions in 
the study and development of the plans, with 
problems of engineering, architecture, land- 
scape gardening and construction. Every de- 
tail was scrupulously studied, and the best 
available advice obtained. The first formula- 
tion of the scientific requirements and ground 
plans of buildings were prepared by the 
Director, passed on by the Executive Com- 
mittee with the utmost care, and then turned 
over for construction to the architects of the 
Society, Messrs. Heins and La Farge, who 
have provided the Park with many beautiful 
specimens of exterior architecture. The Di- 
rector also prepared a plan for the administra- 
tive force of the Park and rules of govern- 
ment, and recommended a staff of employees. 
The landscape features were submitted to and 
passed on from time to time by many different 
landscape architects, but the chief credit for 
the artistic development of details, for most 
of the planting plans, and for all the care of 
the forests, is due to the professional skill and 
unselfish devotion of the Chief Forester, Her- 
mann W. Merkel, who joined the force of 
the Park in 1808. 

On May 23, 1899, Mr. H. R. Mitchell was 


BEAR DENS. 


made Chief Clerk and Disbursing officer, and 
took entire charge of the finances of the Park. 
In addition to these functions he has been 
highly successful in developing the privilege 
business of the Park, until the receipts there- 
from are now nearly sufficient to maintain in 
numerical completeness the collections of 
animals at the Park. 

The rapid and continuous development of 
the Zoological Park has been stated elsewhere, 
and is recorded at length in the various pub- 
lications of the Society. It has taken ten years 
from the date of the opening of the Park, in 
November, 1899, until the present time, to 
bring it up to its present state of completion, 
and from now on the work of the Society will 
be directed more and more to scientific investi- 
gation in connection with the collections and 
the expansion of the work of the Society 
throughout other fields. 

The first important step taken by the Society 
outside of building a Zoological Park was in 
the acceptance of the Aquarium, under the 
administration of Mayor Low. At that time 
the Aquarium had been managed by the Park 
Department, and was in the condition usual 
in scientific institutions that are subject to 
frequent changes of administration. The So- 
ciety assumed control of this institution and 
asked Mr. Charles H. Townsend, of the United 


ZOOLOGICAL 


PORTION OF THE 


States Fisheries Bureau, be the Director. 
The Society has now managed this institution 
for seven years, and has so transformed it that 
it is now the foremost institution of its kind 
in the world. The collections represent 3,027 
living creatures, and show. splendid health 
conditions. The attendance during these years 
has increased until the year 1909 it reached 
nearly four million visitors. It is probably 
the most popular educational institution, public 
or private, in the world, and it has an attend- 
ance that is greater than that of all the other 
public museums of New York together. 

The chief need of the Zoological Society at 
the present time is not merely more members, 
but an endowment fund, the proceeds of which 
can be devoted to the general uses and pur- 
poses of the Society. Until such an endow- 
ment fund has been provided, the Society is 
not on safe ground. The relations of the So- 
ciety with the administrations of various 
political complexion have been, almost without 
exception, very cordial, and there is every 
reason to believe that they will so continue. 
But it is possible that a political upheaval 
might occur which would result in strained re- 
lations between the Society and the City, and 
the Society would be seriously handicapped 
for lack of funds, if the City withheld, even 
for a short time, its annual financial support. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


i i in ni bil i 


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COMPLETED BEAR DENS. 


Aside from this serious consideration, there 
remains scientific work which must be provided 
for in connection with the Park collections. 
The vast amount of material, in both the 
Park and the Aquarium, is now only partly 
utilized. The Society proposes to build a 
Biological Laboratory at an early date, but it 
will be of little avail unless we have funds 
sufficient to provide a staff of scientists in 
connection therewith. As an example, 1m- 
portant observations on the intelligence of 
anthropoid apes, which were begun in our 
Primates House, were stopped last year be- 
cause we did not have the money necessary to 
continue them. Lack of funds prevented simi- 
lar work at the Aquarium, where the Director 
made some most interesting studies on the 
color changes of fishes; but we were without 
funds sufficient to publish a 
plates showing the extraordinary phenomena 
connected therewith. 

Many other incidents might be quoted show- 
ing the need of adequate and permanent 
sources of income. The Executive Committee 
have made many sacrifices, but of course, there 
are limits to the resources of individuals, and 
work of this kind must be put on a permanent 
and broad basis. 

The officers of the Society, 
Director of the Park and the Secretary 


series of Cc rc red 


especially the 
have 


BAIRD COURT, 


LION HOUSE, 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 601 


PORTION OF THE HERD OF AMERICAN BISON, IN THE BREEDING CORRAL. 


been extremely active in matters of game pro- 
tection, and the game laws from Newfound- 
land to Alaska bear to-day the impress of the 
Society’s work. 

Much work has also been done in the matter 
of game refuges, and through its officers the 
Society has been instrumental in the establish- 
ment of the Wichita National Bison Range, 
which, with the Montana National Bison 
Range, on the Flathead Reservation, have 
secured for all times the continued existence 
of the American Bison. Similar refuges must 
be provided elsewhere, and when established 
must be stocked with native animals. The 
Society intends to take up the question of pre- 


venting the threatened destruction of our 
marine fauna. The whales, seals and sea- 
lions demand more legislative protection. 


There is no organization in existence capable 
of doing as effective work on a large scale as 
the Zoological Society; but all this work now 
halts for lack of funds. If money were pro- 
vided on a large scale there is no reason why 
the Zoological Society could not take a leading 
part in the great conservation movement which 
is just beginning. 


The Society has the confidence of its mem- 
bers, it has the confidence of the City authori- 
ties, and the confidence of the public at large; 
and it is only lack of funds which prevents a 
great and immediate expansion of its active- 
ness and usefulness. It is interesting to note 
the tribute bestowed by the present administra- 
tion of New York upon the efficiency of the 
management of the Society, in the fact that 
Mayor McClellan asked the Society to take the 
charge and control of the menagerie at Central 
Park. This the Society reluctantly declined to 
do, on the ground that no proper treatment of 
the menagerie could be made without prac- 
tically rebuilding the institution at a 
which could be more effectively used for simi- 


cost 


lar purposes elsewhere. 

The foregoing is a brief review of what 
has been accomplished in ten years by a young 
Society devoting a large amount of time and 
energy to civic and scientific institutions. 
With the expenditure of a similar amount of 
enthusiasm, the next ten years can easily be 
made even more notable in achievements in 
other and larger spheres. 


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ZOOLOGICAL 


BARBARY LION, 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


603 


“SULTAN. 


WILD ANIMAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CONTINENTS 


By W. T. HORNADAY 
Director of the Zoological Park 


the mammalian life of the world, the op- 

portunity to bring together a series of 
collections that will represent it, 1s irresistibly 
attractive. To gather from the remotest cor- 
ners of the earth a large number of strange 
and interesting animal forms, and render them 
available to the personal acquaintance of mil- 
lions of knowledge-seeking people, is a task 


ale any person who is duly appreciative of 


both pleasing and interesting. After all has 
been said, the agents of commerce go no far- 
ther nor faster than do the pioneers of science ; 
and they take no greater risks. 

The gathering, transportation and exhibi- 
tion of living animals is an industry in which 
trade and science must work hand in hand. 
The lines of every zoological society should 
literally go “out to the ends of the earth.” At 


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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


this moment we are reaching out to British 
East Africa for Reticulated Giraffes, Gerenuks 
and Hartebeests; to British Columbia for the 
Inland White Bear; to Yakutat for the Glacier 
Bear; to the Mishmi Hills for the Takin, and 
to South America for the Maned Wolf, Giant 
Otter and Spectacled Bear. During the year 
1909, we safely landed the Sable Antelope, 
Mountain Zebra, Greater Kudu and Musk- 
Ox; and we have every reason to hope that 
1910 will be equally fruitful. 


Through the force of inexorable conditions, 
the grouping of the collections in every well- 
regulated vivarium is based upon zoological 
classification. Manifestly, it is impracticable 
to arrange the beasts, birds and creeping 
things geographically; for such an arrange- 
ment would involve a duplication of buildings 
and other installations that would be almost 
endless. With 500 acres of land and water, 
and $10,000,000 in available cash, such an ar- 
rangement would be possible; but the end 
would not justify the waste of means. 


In previous publications we have reported 
upon our mammal collections as viewed by the 
zoologist and evolutionist, and now it may 
prove both novel and interesting to consider 
them faunistically, or, in plain English, as if 
grouped geographically, to represent the con- 
tinents from whence they have been derived. 
Indeed, there are times when the general stu- 
dent of animal life finds it difficult to decide 
which arrangement of living forms is the more 
interesting,—the systematic-zoological, or that 
which represents continental faunas. In our 
National Collection of Heads and Horns we 
have cut this delightful knot by forming and 
exhibiting two series of the large land mam- 
mals of the world, one zoologically arranged, 
the other geographically. 

In the stocking of a new zoological garden 
or park, the first principle to be observed is 
always the same: collect the animals that will 
make the greatest show of the local fauna (if 
there is one!) in the shortest time. It is 
natural that people should desire first of all to 
become weli acquainted with the wild life of 
their own land. In obedience to this natural 
law, our first care in 1899 was to gather the 
greatest possible number of representatives of 
the fauna of the North American continent. 

When we think of the contributions of the 
continents during the first decade of the 
Zoological Park, “the past rises before us like 
a dream.” It requires no imagination what- 
ever, nothing but fairly good memory, to call 
up before the mental vision six long proces- 
sions of four-footed animals, slowly but steadily 


BULLETIN 605 


wending their way to the woods of the Bronx 
that have been dedicated to zoology. It is not 
necessary to turn to printed or written records, 
for the memory is abundantly able to supply 
all the details of this bird’s-eye view that the 
mind has time to consider. 

The world has poured into the Zoological 
Park many of its richest zoological treasures, 
and all in order that the people of New York 
may know, by personal acquaintance, the best 
representatives of the vertebrate wild life of 
the globe. It is a great satisfaction to know, 
beyond a possibility of error, that the people 
of New York appreciate the effort that has 
been made for them here. During the year 
1909, the attendance of visitors at the Zoologi- 
cal Park, by actual turnstile record, rose to 
1,614,953,—a number equal to nearly one- 
half the population of the second city of the 
world. 

Let us for this occasion depart from the 
strict routine of the zoologist, and view our 
small animal kingdom through the field-glass 
of the geographer. Let us imagine that we 
stand on the summit of a tall peak which might 
have existed on Fordham Heights, and view 
the contributions of the continents, in living 
quadrupeds for the Zoological Park, as actually 
made from 1899 to 1900, inclusive. It will 
add to the interest of the spectacle if we state 
here that of the 244 large or otherwise spe- 
cially important species that without any book 
reference on our part will be mentioned in 
this review, exactly 191 are living in the Park 
to-day, and of the 53 that have disappeared, 
and have not yet been replaced, 25 are small 
forms. In our review of the species, those that 
to-day are missing will be printed in italics, to 
distinguish the quick from the dead> but it is 
to be remembered that we mention only the 
most prominent species, and many of those 
now missing will return. The total number of 
mammalian species now living in the Park 1s 
254, and the grand total of individuals is 
812. 

NORTH AMERICA. 


The first large mammal to reach the new 
Zoological Park was a Woodland Caribou, 
from Champlain County, Canada. That was 
in the summer of 1899. It was quickly fol- 
lowed by a herd of Elk, and seven American 
Bison, purchased in Texas and Oklahoma and 
delivered at the Park by “Buffalo” Jones. 
Four years later, Mr. William C. Whitney 
presented to us his fine herd of 26 bison, and 
since that time the herd has so rapidly in- 
creased by breeding that 20 individuals have 
been withdrawn from it for bestowal else- 


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ANTELOPE, 


SABLE 


MALE 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


where. To-day our herd contains 36 head, and 
easily fulfils all requirements, both for ex- 
hibition and breeding. 


Long before the opening of the Park, on 
November 9, 1899, we had assembled a herd 
of Prong-Horned Antelope from Colorado, 
several Moose from New Brunswick, Mule 
Deer from Colorado, Columbian Black-Tailed 
Deer from British Columbia and White-Tailed 
Deer from Maine. Notwithstanding the dif- 
ficulties that others had found in acclimatizing 
Moose, Caribou, Mule Deer, Antelope and 
Big-Horn Sheep on the Atlantic Coast, we de- 
termined to put forth our utmost efforts with 
each of those species, and try by every means 
to overcome the well-known obstacles to their 
acclimatization here. 


The Musk-Ox is represented by three speci- 
mens, one of which is now living. Our 
specimens of the Big-Horn Mountain Sheep 
came from British Columbia and Lower Cali- 
fornia, and represented two species; but 
neither of them elected to live long. The 
Prong-Horned Antelope herd has not been 
continuously maintained, for the average life- 
time of individuals of that species in captivity 
on the Atlantic Coast 1s only eighteen months. 

The flock of five Mountain Goats from 
British Columbia is maintained at its full 
numerical strength. Our herd of American 
Wapiti is thoroughly satisfactory. The Mule 
Deer, Columbian Black-Tailed Deer, White- 
Tailed Deer, and the Florida and Sinaloa 
White-Tailed Deer all have been successfully 
acclimatized in the Park, and all have bred 
here. 

The Woodland Caribou of Canada, that in 
1899 was the first large mammal species to ar- 
rive at the Park, was quickly followed by other 
Caribou, and enough Moose to constitute a 
herd. The struggle to acclimatize those two 
species on the Atlantic Coast has been long 
and continuous; but we believe that everyone 
who has attempted it has suffered defeat. The 
climatic conditions render it impossible for 
them to live south of Maine. On the other 
hand, the Peccary of Texas, is quite at home 
with us, and breeds freely. 

In the procession of North American mam- 
mals, the carnivorous species are very numer- 
ous. First in importance comes a long series 
of bears, headed by five species of Alaska 
Brown Bears,—the Kadiak, Peninsula, Yaku- 
tat, Admiralty, and an undetermined species 
from north of the Arctic Circle. The magnifi- 
cent monster, Ursus merriami, from the Alaska 
Peninsula, is the second largest bear in cap- 
tivity, and beside it the largest Polar Bear 


BULLETIN 607 
seems small. Our grizzlies have come from 
Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Yukon Territory 
and Alaska; and our all-too-numerous Ameri- 
can Black Bears represent Mexico, Florida 
Maine, New York, Wisconsin, Colorado and 
Alaska. 

The Raccoon we have with us always 

The odd Cacomistle and the White-Nosed 
Coati-Mundi from the Southwest always claim 
a share of our attention. 

Of the feline carnivores, five important 
species rise to view, headed by the Jaguar and 
Colorado Puma, which are supported by the 
Ocelot and the rare and little known Yagua- 
rundi Cat. 

The leading genera of the Dog Family 
are well represented by a long series of the 
wolves and foxes in which North America is 
commandingly rich. At this moment, our 
group of North American Carnivores contains 
the Gray Wolf, the Northern Coyote, the 
Mearns’ Coyote, the common Red Fox, the 
Black Fox, the Blue Fox, the Swift Fox, the 
Desert Fox, and the Gray Fox ; and, until very 
recently, we have also shown the Cross Fox 
and Arctic Fox species. 

Of the prominent fur-bearers belonging to 
the Marten Family, the species come and go, 
with rapid change. We know not what the 
experiences of other zological gardens and 
parks have been; but for ourselves, we can 
say that of all the small mammals, the mem- 
bers of the Marten Family are the most diffi- 
cult to keep alive for long periods. It is very 
unfortunate that this is true; because at this 
moment thousands of enterprising Americans 
are calculating the possibilities of breeding 
fur-bearing animals in captivity, for profit. In 
their turn, we have exhibited here the Otter. 
Marten, Fisher, Mink, Black-Footed Ferret, 
Wolverine, Weasel and Skunk. Without a 
mental reservation we can say that the above 
species are the most thankless and disappoint- 
ing of all the small mammals which we ever 
have kept in captivity. Although in their 
native haunts they are supposed to be excep- 
tionally hardy and brave-spirited, in captivity 
and on exhibition, they have no stamina what- 
ever, and are not long-lived. Their appetites 
are capricious, their digestive organs are easily 
upset, and their restless and fierce dispositions 
are conducive to early death. 

It is to be observed, however, that we have 
dealt strictly with exhibition animals, and have 
not attempted to keep or to breed any of these 
fur-bearers regardless ey Hee necessity of hav- 
mg them seen by visitors! It is quite to be 
expected that when these same species are kept 


608 


AFRICAN ELEPHANTS. 


only for breeding purposes, and for their fur, 
without regard to their being seen, it will be 
possible to establish them in ways which will 
enable them to live much longer than when 
forcibly kept on exhibition. 

With the Pinnipedia, or fin-footed mammals 
of sea and shore, our experiences have been 
varied, and mostly unsatisfactory. The Cali- 
fornia Sea-Lion, which we have kept continu- 
ously on exhibition, lives through the winter 
successfully —either outdoors or indoors,—but 
loves to die of pneumonia in April or May! 
The half-dozen Steller’s Sea-Lions that we 
were at great pains to procure, because we 
hoped that species might prove more hardy 
than that of Southern California, were the 
most disappointing of all. All of them died 
within one year of their arrival at the Park, 
and in each case without just provocation. 

The only IValrus that ever has entered the 
Park was that brought down by Commander 
Peary; but the long journey from the Arctic 
regions, and the almost insurmountable diff- 
culties involved in providing it with proper 
food from the time of its capture to its arrival 
in New York, were more than it could endure. 
It survived only one week. 

The Harbor Seals that were established in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


KARTOUM 


BULLETIN 


AND SULTANA. 


the Wild Fowl Pond, before the fence around 
it was erected, refused to remain there, and in- 
sisted in journeying overland to the Bronx 
River,—evidently intending by following that 
stream to reach the sea. 

North America is particularly well-stocked 
with animals representing the Order of Ro- 
dents, or Gnawers. The Squirrels, Chip- 
munks, Spermophiles and wild Mice and Rats 
form a vast legion. In the representation of 
this order, careful selection is necessary, in or- 
der that the most important genera may be 
represented, without too great an accumulation 
of species. Because of both its genius and its 
works, the Beaver is the North American ro- 
dent of most importance, and it should be the 
first to find a home in every well-regulated 
zoological park. In our Beaver Pond, the 
works of this remarkable animal are abun- 
dantly displayed ; but the animal itself is rarely 
seen. Thus far we have found no way,—save 
confinement in a small cage—which renders 
the Beaver available to view during the hours 
when it is most necessary that it should be 
seen. Because of the retiring nature of this 
animal during daylight hours, we maintain 
two exhibits——one of Beavers in the Beaver 
Pond, where they are permitted to cut trees, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


build dams and build houses, at will. The 
other consists of Beavers maintained in the 
cages of the Small-Mammal House, and one 
of the Otter Pools, in such a manner that they 
can always be seen by visitors during daylight 
hours. 

Muskrats, in a wild state, originally were so 
numerous in the Zoological Park that it was 
necessary to reduce their number. When kept 
in close confinement they fight fiercely, and as 
exhibition animals they are anything but satis- 
factory. As representatives of the respective 
groups to which they belong, we endeavor to 
maintain constantly in our collections the 
Canada Porcupine, Woodchuck, Prairie “Dog”’ 
and Pocket Gopher. 

The rare and little known Sezwelle] from the 
Far West——which is not nearly so well 
known in New York as the Okapi,—we have 
possessed and exhibited; but for exhibition 
purposes this species is not of commanding 
interest to the average visitor, and but poorly 
tepays the effort that its presence involves. 


The Squirrels are far more satisfactory ; for, 
being full of the joy of life, they are constantly 
in evidence. Our best exhibit of Gray Squir- 
tels is found, not in our squirrel cages, but 
running free in the Park, where scores of them 
daily go to and fro in the course of their regu- 
lar work, to the constant entertainment of 
our visitors. 

The Red Squirrels of the Zoological Park 
grounds became such an unbearable nuisance, 
in the destruction of birds’ nests and young, 
and by threatening to drive out the Gray 
Squirrels, that we were obliged to reduce their 
number to a reasonable limit. 

Our efforts to acclimatize the Fox Squirrel 
in the Zoological Park thus far have not met 
with success. The species does not enjoy oc- 
cupying territory as a joint tenant with the 
Gray Squirrel and the Red. The Spermophiles 
that are so very destructive in certain portions 
of the West, we have been at some pains to 
represent here by some of the most destructive 
species,—Franklin’s, Richardson’s and_ the 
Thirteen-Lined Spermophile. In the Small- 
Mammal House there may always be seen 
several species of Chipmunks, that represent 
various localities between New York and Cali- 
fornia. 

Our efforts to exhibit representatives of the 
Jack-Rabbit group have been unsatisfactory. 
Young animals do not mature well, and those 
which are caught adult and sent here despite 
their protests, nearly always brain themselves 
against the wire walls of their cages during 
the first fortnight after their arrival. 


BULLETIN 609 


Within a short time we will exhibit a large 
series of wild Mice and Rats, the nucleus of 
which is already in hand, and will soon be 
placed on exhibition. 

Both in species of mammals and in abun- 
dance of individuals, South America is poor 
to the verge of poverty. For a continent so 
great, so varied in topography and climate, and 
so rich in food for wild animals, her mam- 
malian fauna is very meagre. The collector 
who goes to any portion of South America 
must work his heart out in order to secure even 
a fair showing of results. Take, for ex- 
ample, the Ungulates (hoofed animals), with 
which North America, Asia and Africa are so 
richly stocked. In comparison with the output 
of those three continents, the procession of 
cameloids and deer from South America is 
painfully small. 

It is easy for any collector to secure all four 
of the cameloid species from the Andean re- 
gion,—Llama, Alpaca, Guanaco and Vicunia, 
—and it is also easy to keep them alive. 
Strange to say, they are as quarrelsome as the 
worst of the carnivores, and to anyone not 
familiar with their habits in captivity, the 
fierceness of the combats between the adult 
males is almost beyond belief. 

Of the very few species of deer found in 
South America, we have procured and ex- 
hibited the large Swamp Deer and the small 
Pampas Deer; but in this latitude both are so 
delicate in captivity that it is impossible to keep 
them on hand continuously. Of all the South 
American mammals, the Tapir is the most 
satisfactory to exhibit in captivity. It is pic- 
turesque and interesting, it lives long, and it 
breeds in captivity with the utmost readiness 
and persistence. 

Of the Carnivores, the Jaguar is by far the 
most conspicuous, and our large male speci- 
men, called “Senor Lopez,” has been in our 
possession for about eight years. The South 
American Puma, the Ocelot and the Coati- 
Mundi, are constantly on exhibition; but the 
little round-spotted Margay Cat is rare and 
intermittent. After ten years of continuous 
efforts, we have at last secured a bear from 


South America, representing the Andean 
Black Bear species, and a relative of the 
Spectacled Bear. Thus far, however, the 


Spectacled Bear has eluded our most strenuous 
efforts. The Crab-Eating Raccoon, Azara’s 
Dog, the Patagonian Fox, and the Kinkajou, 
almost complete the list of our South American 
carnivores. 

While the Rodents of South America are 
comparatively few in number of species, they 


610 ZOOLOGICAL 


SNOW 


are exceedingly odd and interesting. The 
Capybara,—the largest of all living members 
of the Rodent Order,—looks like a tailless and 
specially amiable species of swine. The Vis- 
cacha we regard as one of our permanent resi- 
dents; but the Chinchilla is intermittent, be- 
cause it is so nearly extinct in a wild state. 
The big Patagonian Cavy looks like an over- 
grown Jack-Rabbit, and both it and the Gray 
Cavy are exceedingly difficult to procure. The 
Paca, Agouti and Prehensile-Tailed Porcu- 
pine are much more common, and no large 
vivarium need be long without them. Per- 
haps the most interesting of all South Amer- 
ica’s odd mammals are the Edentates. This 
group contains the marvelous Great Anteater, 
the Tamandua, the Three-Toed Sloth, Hoff- 
man’s Sloth and the Six-Banded Armadillo— 
all of which, except the Great Anteater, we 
usually exhibit continuously. The latter, how- 
ever, is so rarely obtained, and lives in cap- 
tivity in the North for such short periods, that 
frequently it is absent from even the best col- 
lections. Of the few Marsupials of South 
America, the Murine Opossum is the one 
which most frequently reaches the North; but 
its representatives are so delicate they seldom 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


LEOPARD, OR OUNCE. 


live long. Occasionally, one of these small 
creatures comes to uS as a stowaway in a 
bunch of bananas, and does not appear until 
the hatches are taken off in New York. 

The Patagonian Guemal and the few repre- 
sentatives of the White-Tailed Deer group 
that are found in northern South America, 
have not yet appeared in the Zoological Park. 


EUROPE. 


Owing to the well-nigh extermination of the 
important mammalian species that once in- 
habited Europe, it is not an easy matter to 
bring together any considerable number of 
European mammals. The acquisition of a 
living specimen of the European Bison is 
always a notable event. Our pair was three 
years in becoming fully acclimatized in New 
York. The Mouflon is a permanent resident, 
but the Spanish Ibex, Chamois and Maral Deer 
are all so rare that when a species is taken 
out by death it is difficult to replace. The 
Reindecr lives here as badly as the Caribou, 
and it is useless to waste effort upon it. The 
Red Deer and Fallow Deer are quite as much 
at home in New York as the best of our 
American deer, and breed persistently. The 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Roebuck has not yet become as well settled 
here as the two preceding species, but within 
a reasonable time it should do so. 

Of our other mammals from Europe the 
most important are the Brown Bear, the lVolf, 
Otter, Red Squirrel, Marmot, Dormouse and 
Hedgehog. The Brown Bear breeds persist- 
ently, and the offspring of that species have 
become so numerous as to constitute a burden 
to the bear-keepers. 


ASIA. 


The wild-animal procession from Asia is 
second only to that of Africa; and the size of 
it and the richness of it are positively thrilling. 
It contains whole groups that to-day are un- 
represented in the mammalian fauna of North 
America, and whose absence is not entirely 
made good by the American genera that are 
unique. The Rocky Mountain Goat does not 
compensate us for the absence of the Elephant, 
the Rhinoceroses, the Ibexes, the Tahrs, the 
Tuhrs, the Takins and the Wild Horses, all 
of which are totally lacking here. 

Our caravan from Asia is led by the Indian 
Elephant, the great Indian Rhinoceros and the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 611 


Sumatran Rhinoceros. Fortunate indeed is 
the zoological institution that can number 
among its treasures the Indian “Rhino,” one 
of the greatest zoological wonders left alive 
upon this earth. Our specimen, now about 
one-third grown, is in fine health, (though 
blind), and is growing rapidly. Our Suma- 
tran Rhinoceros came to us so far in advance of 
the making of suitable quarters for it, it was 
found desirable to sell it. With its price we 
paid for the pair of Nubian Giraffes that for 
six years have formed the central and most 
commanding figures of the Antelope House— 
always in perfect health, and appreciated by 
millions of visitors. 

The Malay Tapir, half black and half white, 
follows closely aiter the Rhinoceroses, and 
behind it, separated by a zoological chasm, 
stalks with stately tread and (usually) serene 
temper, the big, hairy, double-humped Bactrian 
Camel. With this species, and the cameloids, 
we have been content without the Dromedary. 

Of the wild equines of Asia we have three 
important species: the Prejevalsky Horse 
(breeding here), the Kiang of Tibet and the 
Persian Wild Ass. 


SOUTH AMERICAN TAPIR AND 


PARK. 


YOUNG BORN IN THE 


INVA SLI NO ILIdVM NVOIMANV AO GNaH 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Asia is particularly rich in species of Ibex 
and Mountain Sheep; but unfortunately the 
largest and finest species are nearly as difficult 
to acclimatize and keep in captivity for any 
length of time as is our Prong-horned Ante- 
lope. Nevertheless, the Siberian Ibex and the 
Persian Ibex have been exhibited in the Park, 
and the latter species is thriving here to-day. 


The long-haired, wind-blown Tahr of the 
Himalayas is the hardiest of all the mountain 
animals of Asia that we have attempted to 
acclimatize. It is so well established here 
and breeds so successfully that our herd now 
contains nine individuals. The Burrhel, most 
beautiful of all the small mountain sheep, has 
inhabited the Park intermittently; but the 
Arcal Sheep has been with us always, and 
breeds here successfully. 


Of the Asiatic antelopes, we possess the rare 
and beautiful snow-white Beatrix from the 
Arabian Desert, the very large but well-nigh 
hornless Nilgai of India, the beautiful little 
Dorcas Gazelle of Arabia, and the Indian 
Gazelle of the plains of northern India. Very 
satisfactory, indeed, are the round-horned deer 
of Asia, with which we are well provided. Of 
the Wapiti group we possess the Hangul, the 
Tashkent Wapiti, and the Altai Wapiti, and 
all three are breeding here. The Malay Sam- 
bar and Indian Sambar both breed so success- 
fully that the increase has become positively 
burdensome. The same may be said of the 
Barasingha and the very rare Burmese Tha- 
meng, both of which are represented in the 
Park to the point of embarrassment. 

The Axis Deer, most beautiful and satis- 
factory of all deer to keep in captivity, comes 
the nearest to a cervine fixture of any species 
we have attempted to keep. The Molucca 
Deer, Hog Deer, Muntjac, Japanese Sika and 
Chinese Water Deer, all are permanent except 
the last-named, of which we have had only one 
specimen. 

Of the many. Carnivores of Asia, the Snow 
Leopard is the rarest of the larger forms, and 
also the most beautiful. Excepting at brief 
intervals, this species has been constantly an 
inhabitant of the Park, and the same may be 
said of the rare and beautiful Clouded Leopard. 

The Tiger, the Common Leopard and the 
Manchurian Leopard are permanent resi- 
dents; but the Cheetah is intermittent; and of 
the rare and beautiful Golden Cat we have 
had only one specimen. 

Most persistent of all Carnivores in cap- 
tivity are the members of the Civet-Cat Family 
(Viverridae), in species of which we have 
long been richly provided. There is time to 


613 


mention only the White-Whiskered Paradox- 
ure, which has been here ever since the Park 
was first opened to the public; the Malay 
Civet-Cat and the Binturong; but the group, 
as a whole, to-day contains about eight other 
species. 

Next to North America, Asia is the con- 
tinent best supplied with bears, and from its 
fauna we constantly exhibit six species. These 
are the Himalayan Black Bear, the Hairy- 
Eared Bear from Central Asia, the Malay Sun 
Bear, the Japanese Black Bear, the Great Yezo 
Bear of Japan, and the buff-colored Syrian 
Jear from Asia Minor. 

Of the members of the order of apes and 
monkeys (Primates), we have been able to 
exhibit the rarest and most interesting species 
found in the Old World outside of Africa. The 
red-haired and amiable Orang-Utan we are 
never without; but the rare and little-known 
Siamang, standing halfway between the 
Orangs and the Gibbons, never has reached us 
but once. Indeed, we doubt if any other speci- 
men ever came to America than the one 
brought to us by Captain Thomas Golding. 

Of the various Gibbons that have lived to 
reach the Zoological Park, all, without excep- 
tion, have been young and puny animals, and 
not one of them has long survived the fatigue 
of the journey and the reaction following 
arrival. Our most valuable and _ persistent 
primates from Asia are the Rhesus Monkey, 
Moor Macaque, Black Macaque, Bonneted, 
Pig-Tailed and Burmese Macaques, and the 
Wanderoo Monkey. The Gray Langur is 
beautiful and interesting, but delicate, and of 
the few specimens that have reached us, none 
have survived longer than two years. The 
Loris and the Slow Lemur are interesting, 
but lacking in the stamina that is essential to 
a long-distance change of location from a 
hot climate to a cold one. 

The Rodents of Asia are sufficiently numer- 
ous; but very few of them are so interesting 
in form and in color as to justify their trans- 
portation half way around the world. The 
number of species that have represented the 
Asian fauna in our collection has been very 
small, and the most conspicuous ones are the 
Indian Porcupine, the Malabar Squirrel— 
largest of all living squirrel species—and Pre- 
vost’s beautiful squirrel of black, white and 
gray. 


AFRICA. 


Zoologically, the procession from Africa is 
the richest in species of commanding impor- 
tance. Both from the standpoint of the show- 
man and the zoologist, the mammalian fauna 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ONE OF 


THE GREAT 
of Africa stands pre-eminent. If our wild 
representatives of the Dark Continent could 
really be marshaled in one long caravan, 
the spectacle would be highly impressive. 
Looming up in front would be a pair of Sudan 
Elephants, with the enormous external ear- 
area so characteristic of that species. Behind 
them would come the Pigmy West African 
Elephant of the French Congo, with small 
round ears, and tusks of great length for so 
diminutive an elephant. A pair of Black 
Rhinoceroses would come next, followed by a 
Hippopotamus, a Wart-Hog and the Red 
River-Hog, which, be it remarked, is the only 
beautiful swine species in the world. 

Of the wild equines there would appear the 
Mountain Zebra, rarest of all species ; the Grevy 
Zebra, one of the largest and in some ways 
the most remarkable; the Grant Zebra, and 
Chapman’s. To these the Somali Wild Ass 
must be added as soon as circumstances will 
permit. 

As all the world knows, Africa is singularly 
weak in species of sheep and deer. The whole 
of the Dark Continent produces only one 


SOCIETY 


ALASKAN 


BULLETIN 


BROWN BEARS. 

species of sheep, the Aoudad, which inhabits 
the mountains of the Barbary States of North 
Africa. Africa’s one species of deer, which 
also represents the Barbary States, never has 
been exhibited in the Park. 

When we approach Africa’s magnificent 
group of antelopes and giraffes, it is hardly 
possible to recall from memory the species in 
our collection without risking the omission of 
something important. If there is anywhere 
gathered in one spot a larger collection of 
African antelopes than is to be found here, we 
are not aware of it. 

Although the Giraffe is not to be regarded 
as an “antelope,” there is some excuse for 
placing our pair of Nubian Three-Horned 
Giraffes in the Antelope House, where they 
have thriven for five years, and during which 
time the male has grown from ten to fourteen- 
feet-six in height. 

The Eland, largest of all African antelopes, 
has been with us since 1903, and has bred here 
once. We rejoice in the possession of a fine 
male Sable Antelope, a Greater Kudu, and 

}aker’s Roan Antelope, three species of great 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


rarity and value. The White-Tailed Gnu, the 
Brindled Gnu, the Common Waterbuck, Leu- 
coryx and Reed-Buck, have been on exhibition 
ever since the Antelope House was opened in 
1903. 

Among the rarest of our antelopes are the 
Lecheé, the Addax, the Beisa, Congo Sita- 
tunga, Speke’s Sitatunga, Bontebok, Blesbok, 
and Redunca. Our only specimen representing 
the group of Duiker Antelopes was deposited 
by ex-President Roosevelt. It was the first 
game-animal of Africa to greet him at Mom- 
basa. 

The large Carnivora of Africa have been 
much in the public eye; but 1f the Dark Con- 
tinent has an extensive fauna of small carniv- 
ores, it remains to be exploited. The well- 
known species seen here include the Lion, 
Leopard, Cheetah, Serval, African Wild-Cat, 
Hyaena Dog, Black-backed Jackal, Genet, 
Mongoose, Meerkat, and a few others. All 
these, save the three species that are tempo- 
rarily absent through sudden death and slow 
replacement on account of rarity, are now 
among those present in the Zoological Park. 

Of all the large carnivora of Africa, the 
Cheetah is the most delicate and the most diffi- 
cult to keep in captivity for a term of years. 
The Lion and the Leopard are the species that 
are most nearly indestructible. 


So far as heard from, Africa, in proportion 
to its enormous area, is very poor in Rodents; 
and the only representative of that Order of 
which our collection to-day can boast, is the 
African Porcupine—he of the enormous black- 
and-white quills. But everything that Africa 
may lack in Rodents is made up many times 
over in her splendid series of Primates. 
Fortunate, indeed, is the Zoological Park, or 
even the museum, that can show representa- 
tives of all the most important species. 


Orang-Utans, old and young, from baby- 
hood to complete adolescence, and sometimes 
two species together, we have exhibited. 
Since the erection of the Primates’ House, it 
never has been without its Chimpanzees, and 
usually several specimens have been visible 
together. The Long-Haired Chimpanzee from 
Central Africa is distinctively different from 
the Bald-Headed species of West Africa. 

The group of Baboons contains several spe- 
cies scarcely less wonderful in form than the 
great apes. To-day we exhibit a full-grown 
male Mandrill, in all his panoply of variegated 
skin colors—scarlet, blue, purple and white. 
The Gelada Baboon species, which we have 
shown for several years, is, in a mature 
state, strongly suggestive of a high-class male 


BULLETIN 615 


African lion of miniature size. Among the 
Baboons, adult males of this species may justly 
be regarded as the rarest of the rare; but it 
has been our good fortune to possess two. 

The Hamadryas also is highly picturesque, 
especially on account of his grand side-whisk- 
ers and hair shoulder-cape of aristocratic gray. 
The East African Baboon and the Long-Armed 
Yellow Baboon have bred here successfully, 
and reared their. young. The huge Chacma 
was for several years an inhabitant of the 
Primates’ House, but not long since passed 
off the stage. 

Of the species belonging to the African 
Genus Cercopithecus, we have had and still 
retain many species; but it is out of the 
question to enumerate them here. 

Of the beautiful and mild-spirited Lemurs, 
our great lemur cage furnishes a comfortable 
home for a number of species, the most con- 
spicuous of which are the black-and-white 
Ruffed Lemur, the Ring-Tailed Lemur, the 
Black Lemur and the Brown. 


AUSTRALIA. 


Last to arrive, but by no means last in zoo- 
logical importance, is the queer procession 
from Australia. Although zoologically it 
stands as the lowest of mammals, the first 
species that comes to mind is the Echidna, two 
specimens of which delighted and amazed 
visitors to the Zoological Park throughout 
twenty months. Even more rare than the 
Echidna was the Tasmanian Wolf, or Thyla- 
cine, which we successfully acclimatized and 
kept for several years, winter and summer, in 
one of our large fox-dens. 

The Tasmanian Devil—black, large-headed, 
fierce-tempered and ugly—is a more frequent 
visitor, and we know that in the United States 
there are at this moment eight or nine speci- 
mens. The Dingo, or Australian Wild Dog, 
breeds readily in captivity, and is irrepressible. 
Of Kangaroos our collection contains the 
Great Gray Kangaroo, the Red, the Brush- 
tailed Wallaby, the Rock Wallaby and the Rat 
Kangaroo. We have diligently sought the 
Koala and the Wombat; but neither has 
deigned to visit us. 

On the whole, we have every reason to be 
thankful for the good fortune that has sent to 
us, during the past ten years, so many rare and 
interesting species of mammals. With the 
stress of building construction once ended, 
at least for the immediate future, it will be a 
ereat pleasure to strengthen our collections 
generally until they reach a point much above 
their present standards. 


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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 617 


HiStORY OF TEE BIRD DEPARTMENT OF THE 
ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


By C. WILLAM BEEBE 
Curator of Birds 


INTRODUCTION. 


IKE everything in this world which makes 
L life worth living, a collection of living 
birds can never reach a point where it 
may be said to be perfect. But there is a 
period in the history of a collection of birds in 
a zoological garden when we may say “enough 
for the present’; and that is when all the 
principal Orders are represented, and when 
the visitor, completing his survey of the 
collection, has passed in review birds typical 
of every continent and ocean, every zone and 
every walk or flight of avian life. 

To my mind, a collection of living birds 
achieves its highest ideal when it appeals to 
the wisest range of humanity. At one time 
or another I have heard all the following ex- 
clamations : 

The sympathetic lover of birds: “How happy 
and contended they all seem; how clean their 
quarters; how fresh their food and water; 
how delightful to study them at close range!” 

Milady of fashion: “Never will I wear 
aigrettes again after seeing them adorning the 
living form of their rightful owner!” 

The artist: “The grace of movement and 
perfection of color and form of a bird are 
my despair!” 

The ornithologist: “Here is opportunity for 
the solution of a hundred problems; the 
Bower-bird’s play-house—the mystery of song 
and color and courtship!” 

The foreigner: “Ach, das Heimweh! Der 
Nachtigal von der Vaterland!” 

And the child of the slums at first sight of 
a cageful of brilliant birds stands speechless 
with delight. 

The success or failure of a collection such 
as the one under consideration, which is 
primarily for public exhibition, lies altogether 
with the visitors. If they are pleased, enter- 
tained and instructed, the collection is a suc- 
cess. And this satisfaction lies altogether in 
the human imagination; in the cases men- 
tioned, it is affection, sympathy, esthetic ap- 
preciation, the desire for knowledge, remin- 
iscence, or childish wonder. And the only 
true method of achieving success is by cater- 


ing to all these tastes, putting oneself again 
and again in the place of the visitor, and ask- 
ing the question, “If I were he, would I de- 
light in this cageful of birds; or in the word- 
ing of this label?” 

If I have dwelt on the human rather than 
the avian point of view, it is because the one 
depends altogether upon the other. None but 
the most depraved could take pleasure in the 
bloody contests of birds, caged with unsuit- 
able companions. All but the most hardened 
would cry out against badly fed and badly 
housed feathered creatures, or the keeping of 
birds under conditions which induced sickness 
or disease. 

Birds are beings with emotions and traits re- 
markably like our own, although they are close 
kin to the lowly reptile, so close, indeed, that 
they have still to shake off the last traces of 
scales and fingers. But with all their extreme 
emotions of love and hate, fear and courage, 
they are creatures almost entirely of the 
present. In all my experiences with thous- 
ands of living birds, I have never known one 
which did not give every evidence of content 
and happiness when provided with suitable 
surroundings, food and companions, adapted 
to its wild habits of life. When a bird mopes 
or dashes its life out against its “gilded cage,” 
there is something radically wrong with its 
owner’s knowledge of what conduces to avian 
happiness in captivity. Birds in captivity 
should sing and moult, regularly and in due 
season; they should build nests and rear their 
young, and, lastly, when they escape, they 
should return or linger near their home of 
plentiful food and unknown foes. When, as 
a result of all this, thousands of our fellow 
human beings derive pleasure and knowledge 
from the collection, then the birds have indeed 
fulfilled a worthy destiny. 

DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLECTION. 

Statistics are always an abomination, but 
there is, unfortunately, no other adequate 
method of showing the growth of the collec- 
tion. On November 9th, 1899, the Zoological 
Park was formally opened to the public. At 


HARPY EAGLE. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


this time there were two installations for birds, 
the Aquatic House and the Duck Aviary, and 
the collection consisted of thirty-six species, 
numbering 175 specimens. 

Ignoring for the moment the ratio of in- 
crease, the department of birds at present, on 
January I, 1910, is exhibited in ten installa- 
tions: the Ostrich, Aquatic and Perching Bird 
Houses, the Flying Cage, Pheasant and Duck 
Aviaries, the Wild-Fowl Pond, Wild-Turkey 
Range, Macaw Tree and Crane Paddock. At 
this date the collection is probably the largest 
in point of numbers in the world, and includes 
27 Orders, 665 Species and 2880 Specimens. 

Three additional structures will complete 
the installation plans for the department; the 
Eagle and Vulture, the Upland Game Bird 
and the Crane Aviaries. 

The rate of increase of the collections of 
Birds is shown in the following table: 


Orders Species Specimens 
January 1, 1900 10 43 185 
1901 13 104 425 
1902 14 163 659 
1903 13 193 680 
1904 13 175 706 
1905 14 165 643 
1906 26 soe ia505 
1907 26 491 2104 
1908 20 543 2530 
1909 25 563 2015 
1910 27 665 2880 


The only check to numbers in gather- 
ing a collection of living birds is accommoda- 
tion; and with the world-wide interest in 
birds which exists among men, together 
with modern methods of transportation, it 
is not a difficult matter to assemble several 
thousand living birds. The gain of more than 
100 per cent. in species and specimens during 
the year 1905 hence reflects merely the com- 
pletion of the large bird house with its series 
of 125 cages. 

The critical and difficult problems with 
which a Curator of Birds has to contend are 
those of housing, feeding, and doctoring. 

It is not my intention here to enlarge upon 
these subjects, as I have treated them in de- 
tail in my contribution to the volume on the 
“Care of Birds in Captivity,” soon to be pub- 
lished by the Zoological Society. But some 
idea of how a pioneer worker in this field 
learns by experience may prove of interest. 

When I use the word pioneer, I refer, of 
course, to the scientific care of birds in cap- 
tivity in the United States. In Europe there 
has been such a keen interest taken in birds 


BULLETIN 619 
for hundreds of years that a great deal of ex- 
perience has been gained. But no one has ever 
taken the trouble to put this on record for the 
benefit of others. So, after poring over many 
English and German works on private aviaries, 
I gave it up and began experimenting for my- 
self. 

The problem of “small cage” vs. “flight 
cage” was decided in favor of the latter, and 
to-day the loss of life from accident or fighting 
is practically nothing. In the first few years 
considerable time was devoted to the study of 
avian diseases and their cure, and while much 
was accomplished, it was soon discovered that 
prevention was the keynote to success. To- 
day the most careful attention is given to 
prophylactic treatment. When a bird arrives 
it is quarantined, its eyes, throat and body ex- 
amined, and its feathers dusted with insect 
powder. Then, before being placed in a cage, 
the pugnacity of its prospective cage-mates, 
the temperature, water supply, etc., are con- 
sidered. 

For the thousand and one contingencies 
which constantly arise in work of this kind 
no hard and fast rules can ever be framed. 
Snowy Owls are most interesting and beautiful 
birds, but they invariably sickened and died in 
the intense heat of summer. But instead of 
putting this species on the black list, whose 
keeping would mean only cruelty, the ex- 
pedient was tried of putting the birds in cold 
storage as it were, placing them in a cool, 
dark, damp cellar—the nearest approach to the 
conditions of an Arctic night. It worked like 
magic, and at the first frost in the fall they 
appeared in perfect plumage, fat and with 
every feather cleanly moulted. 


Or, when we found ourselves with a score 
or more of recently hatched terns and skim- 
mers clamoring for predigested fish, starvation 
seemed imminent until the thought of the 
wood ibises came to mind. Two hours after a 
hearty meal these birds, if slightly annoyed, 
will regurgitate a clean mass of half-digested 
fish, which proved to be the salvation of the 
little terns. 

The macaws were the bane of the bird 
house. Kept together in one cage they 
screamed from dawn until dark; they cut 
through the wire and gnawed the floor, and 
occasionally they committed murder. The 
Raccoon Tree gave a hint, and a big dead 
cedar was set up in Bird Valley; a two-foot 
sloping wall of metal was placed around it, the 
primaries of the half dozen macaws were 
clipped and the birds turned loose upon the 
tree. Result: their voices were lost in the 


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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


open air; their colors and gymnastics in- 
terested circle upon circle of visitors; they 
forgot to chew their perches and each other, 
and life was made bright for them and their 
keepers ! 

The evolution of the perfect label has been 
gradual, but thorough. It was at first only a 
mere tag giving the name and habitat, awk- 
ward in size and altogether uninteresting, 
upon which new ideas have been engrafted, 
until now no further improvement seems pos- 
sible. On each label is a well-executed paint- 
ing, in oils, of the bird; its names, common and 
scientific ; its range, and one or two carefully 
worded sentences giving two or three facts 
of greatest interest in life history or value to 
mankind. 

A tedious labor, but one which has well re- 
paid the time and thought spent upon it, has 
been the forming and keeping up to date of a 
day-book, a sheet catalogue and a card index 
of the history of every specimen ever included 
in the collection. In the card index all the 
label data has been added for reference. 

These are a few of the fascinating pursuits 
demanding attention in our daily work. 


THE PROMOTION OF ZOOLOGY. 

The primary object of such a collection as 
that of the Zoological Park is, of course, the 
entertainment and instruction of the people; 
but the promotion of Zoology is one of the 
chief secondary objects. Birds have been 
studied far more thoroughly as skins and 
mounted specimens than as living organisms, 
and this field of research for the ornithologist 
is almost illimitable. As contributions to this 
branch of ornithological work, the following 
has been accomplished : 

During the ten years of development of the 
Department of Birds, the Curator has made 
eight expeditions, at his own expense, cover- 
ing about twenty-three thousand miles, and 
making studies of the bird life of the following 
regions: Nova Scotia, Gardiner’s Island, the 
coast and interior of Virginia, Florida, the 
Keys, Trinidad, Venezuela, and British Gui- 
ana. 

These trips have been valuable in many 
ways, as the discovery of the food and other 
requirements of little-known birds. One di- 
rect result which comes to mind, was the 
adoption of a new diet for trogons, birds 
usually so delicate that they survive only a 
few months, but which now thrive for many 
years in perfect health. The expeditions have 
also contributed directly to the collection, 


BULLETIN 621 


about seventy-two species and 390 specimens 
of living birds having been collected and 
brought to the Park. 

Five volumes have been written and six 
scientific contributions have been published by 
the Zoological Society forming the first six 
numbers of Zoologica. The most important oi 
these relate to the effects of humidity on the 
colors of birds, and the solution of the prob- 
lem of racket formation in the tail feathers of 
the Motmot. 


THE COLLECTION ITSELF. 

At first every bird offered was accepted, but 
as cages were filled and space became more 
valuable, careful selection became necessary. 
The deciding factors at present are length of 
life, beauty, and scientific interest. To us it 
seems hardly worth while to attempt to ex- 
hibit birds such as humming-birds, whose lease 
of life in captivity is at most only a few weeks. 

It is now our endeavor to acquire birds of 
special interest. An entire cage of the common 
birds of one locality, such as Cuba or Trinidad, 
or one containing the dull-hued forms of our 
western deserts—flycatchers, thrashers, road- 
runners and quail—we regard as of special in- 
terest. 

The policy of the Zoological Society has 
been to advance with caution, and the success 
of the installations show the wisdom of this 
method. Thanks to the thorough study made 
by Director Hornaday of the European zoo- 
logical gardens, we have been able to avoid 
many errors. 

The Pheasant Aviary, with its fifty-four en- 
closures and runways, is well adapted for the 
exhibition of this “difficult” group. Among 
the especial features of excellence is the com- 
prehensive use of cement and wire, thus bid- 
ding defiance to that ever-present plague of 
all zoological parks—rats. An upper tier of 
cotes provides accommodation for a collection 
of pigeons and doves. The pheasants, being 
terrestial, form a lower stratum of life, seldom 
leaving the ground, while the pigeons spend 
their time among the branches of the shrubs 
and on the perches, and thus the entire runway 
is put to account. This idea of making a cage 
or aviary do double duty has worked out ad- 
mirably with many other species. 

Our Pheasant Aviary has contained nearly 
all the species of pheasants ever imported to 
this country, or which have been on exhibition, 
besides other interesting game-birds such as 
the Capercailzie and Black Grouse. A small 
flight of pigeons, having their cote in the upper 


JABIRU 


STORK. 


part of the aviary, represent all the more choice 
and more interesting domestic breeds. 

Ring doves have been bred in large num- 
bers, and an opening in the roof of their run- 
Way permits them to fly out and in at will. 

Che Wild-Fowl Pond is a paradise for ducks 
and geese, and hundreds of ducklings have been 
hatched in the wilderness of reeds and grass 
along its eastern border. The wings of many 
of these have not been clipped, and toward 
dusk the free-flying flocks begin to come in not 
only from the other ponds in the parks of the 
Bronx, but even from the Bay and Sound, 
sometimes two or three hundred ducks assem- 
bling before dark. On this pond all the seven 
species of Swans known to exist have been ex- 
hibited at one time. 

The Wild Turkey Range 
underbrush, almost invisible fencing, and ab- 
sence of all artificial shelter, is the least arti- 
ficial enclosure for birds in the Park. Sum- 
mer and winter the splendid gobblers strut up 


with its dense 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


and down in full view, and at night fly up 


with their mates and roost among the 
branches. The one drawback is the impos- 
sibility of rearing turkeys near New York 


City, and farmers are no more successful than 
we. Disease invariably attacks the young 
birds, in spite of all precautions. 


After years of endeavor, Dr. Hornaday has 
just succeeded in obtaining specimens of the 
rare and delicate Ocellated Turkey of Yucatan, 
which, so far as we are aware, has never be- 
fore been exhibited alive in America. The 
collection is rich in species of the South Ameri- 
can turkey-like birds, curassows, guans and 
chachalacas, and the day i is coming when these 
birds will require a special installation. Un- 
fortunately, they are not hardy and must be 
warmly housed in winter. 


The Macaw Tree, already described, has 
been successful beyond expectation, and will 
be elaborated in the near future. These birds 
are splendid for exhibition, but, up to the 
present time, their successful accommodation 
has been a difficult problem. A constant sup- 
ply is being offered by friends of the Society, 
and as these birds seem never to die natural 
deaths, this exhibit gives promise of being a 
large one. We have found that after being 
confined by a chain on the leg for a time, they 
may be set at liberty, and will not leave their 
comrades, but delight the eye by flying from 
tree to tree, all through the summer. 

Ever since its erection in 1899, the great 
outdoor Flying Cage has been a _ constant 
source of pleasure, a success from the point of 
view both of the birds and the visitors. The 
deaths in this avian community have been very 
few and far between, and the activity and 
glossy appearance of the birds shows their 
perfect condition. In the great pool the peli- 
cans, flamingos, herons and rare tropical ducks 
disport themselves es, while in a partitioned part 
of the pool the curious penguins spend their 
time. Curassows keep much among the 
branches of the trees, contrasting oddly with 
the vultures. The latter, indeed, are a most 
useful adjunct, as they are ever hungry and 
never allow a stray bit of fish to remain after 
the water birds have dined. Here in this great 
cage the California Condor has his summer 
home. In the matter of these all but extinct 
condors, the Society has been very fortunate, 
having obtained three individuals. The first 
died a victim of some cruel visitor who gave 
it a rubber band; but the other two are now 
living. Both are very tame and most interest- 
ing birds. The fully adult specimen is just 
now acquiring the brilliant colors in its third 


ZOOLOGICAL 


year, while the other has not yet shed all of its 
natal down. 

As a place for rearing birds the Flying Cage 
is not successful, chiefly on account of the mis- 
chievous magpies and crows who delight in 
pulling apart the nests of herons and ibises; 
but the magpies add so much to the beauty of 
the cage that they are permitted to remain. 

Toucans have been tried in this cage, but in 
spite of their brilliant colors, they are all but 
mvisible amid the sunlit green leaves. The 
egrets have attracted a great deal of attention, 
and the sight of their graceful plumes has 
doubtless added not a little to the efforts of 
bird lovers to stop their slaughter for milli- 
nery purposes. 

Owing to the lack of a Crane Aviary and an 
Eagle and Vulture Aviary, the Ostrich House 
has been put to divers uses. The great birds 
of the African deserts dominate it, however, 
and no fewer than twelve species of ostriches 


and their allies, including rheas, emus and 
cassowaries have been on exhibition. The 


experiment is now being tried of keeping 
ostriches outdoors in winter, with a very 
slightly heated shelter. 

In summer, the large runways of the Os- 
trich House have been utilized to hold a varied 
assemblage of birds. Rheas, cranes, brush- 
turkeys, Java peacocks, screamers and serie- 
mas have been found to live amicably together, 
and the sight of birds so unlike one another, 
associating peaceably, seems to arouse great 
interest in the mind of the average visitor. 

The first installation to be thrown open to 
the public was the Aquatic Bird House, and 
considering what it has been called upon to ac- 
commodate, it has rendered valuable service. 
Its metal cage frames and wooden floors have 
been literally worn out with usage, and the 
latter have been replaced with concrete. 

In the central flying cage the tropical water- 
fowl and waders are housed during the winter. 
A large diving-tank is occupied from time to 
time by penguins, snake-birds and cormorants. 
Thirty-five species of ibises, storks and herons 
have been exhibited, from the rare Great 
White Heron of the Florida Keys to the Lit- 
tle Green Heron of our mill-ponds. Most in- 
teresting of all the ibises is the Sacred Ibis of 
Egypt, the species so often figured in the 
ancient hieroglyphs that decorated the monu- 
ments of that country. Rarest of the whole 
group, however, is the Jabiru, of which hardly 
a half dozen skins exist in our museums! An 
unusually large specimen is now living in the 
Park, an individual so pugnacious that he 
must be caged alone. Indeed, he is as little 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 623 


WHOOPING CRANE. 


afraid of his keeper as of his fellow storks. 
Fortunately, such an idiosyncrasy is rare 
among birds. At present there are in the col- 
lection three other featured individuals of the 
same temperament—a golden eagle, a cuban 
robin and a red-crested cardinal. These will 
kill, or try to kill, any bird with which they 
are caged, and will hurl themselves with frenzy 
at one’s hand if it approaches their cage. 

Still another example of individuality is seen 
in three American bitterns now in the Park, 
which are tame and in perfect health, while the 
half-dozen others which we have had from 
time to time were all vicious and murderous. 

It is of interest to note that at present the 
collection of American storks is complete, in- 
cluding the Maguari Stork, Wood “Ibis” and 
Jabiru. 

Like the Ostrich House, the Crane Paddock 
is a conveniently elastic installation which, 
beside cranes, occasionally includes  casso- 
waries, herons, marabous and other birds. In 
winter, however, all migrate to their winter 
quarters save the two American cranes, the 


624 


Sandhill and Whooping. The Whooping 
Crane appears to be as rare as the California 
condor, and its history in the Zoological So- 
ciety collection has been much the same. Three 
specimens have been exhibited. Of these the 
first was killed by a dog. In partial return for 
many favors, the second has been sent to the 
Duke of Bedford, and the third is thriving here 
in solitary state. 

The Duck Aviary is for the systematic col- 
lection of ducks, geese and swans, of which 
the flock on Wild-Fowl Pond is the overflow. 
About seventy species of these birds have been 
exhibited, and a large number of species are 
always living in the Park. 

There are probably only one or two other 
places in the world where Trumpeter Swans 
may be seen alive. The Tree-Ducks are well 
represented—seven out of the nine known 
species being now in the collection. The north- 
ern end of the Duck Aviary has been given up 
to herring gulls. Five or six years ago a small 
flock of these birds began breeding in this en- 
closure, but unfortunately they were extermi- 
nated by an inroad of fierce minks. No fewer 
than eleven of these really wild animals were 
trapped in the Park during the next few years, 
and they now seem to be eliminated. A new 
lot of gulls has been obtained from Lake 
Champlain, and it is hoped they will establish a 
strong colony. 

The specimens of PELECANIFORMES which 
have been in the collection, and the long lease 
of life in captivity of these specialized birds, 
is a matter of unusual interest. Every group 
is represented; cormorants, snake-birds, gan- 
nets, frigate-birds, tropic-birds and, of course, 
pelicans. 

The collection of hawks, eagles, vultures and 
owls, although an excellent one, is still with- 
out a home, and has been temporarily housed 
here and there, wherever opportunity offered. 
The collection of New World Vultures is com- 
plete,* there having recently been added the 
Yellow-headed Vulture which, I believe, has 
never before been exhibited in this country. 
I brought home several of these birds from my 
last expedition to British Guiana. 

Between thirty and thirty-five species of 
hawks and eagles are quartered in the outside 
Aquatic House cages, in the Ostrich House 
and elsewhere. Among the most interesting 
species are the Caracara, Lammergeyer, Bate- 
leur Eagle, White Gyrfalcon and Osprey. 

Owls to the number of twenty-three species 
have found accommodation in the outside 
Aquatic cages. A whole flock of Burrowing 
Owls has recently been secured. 


See Zoological Society Bulletins Nos. 31 and 32. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


In connection with the hawks, mention must 
be made of a new type of installation recently 
adopted, which has combined economy with 
great usefulness. This is a series of medium- 
sized portable cages, measuring eight by four 
feet, by six feet high. In summer these are 
placed on the grass in any convenient paddock 
or range, and in winter on movable bases in 
the Ostrich House. Hawks, owls and many 
small birds have been kept in them with good 
results. Species which scratch among the 
grass for insects can be shifted every few days 
to new pastures if necessary. 

The beginning of the perching-bird exhibit 
was marked by the gift of a baby robin which 
had fallen out of the nest, and was reared by 
hand in the Aquatic House. The following 
year fifteen species of native birds were thus 
reared from the nest, but the group, as a 
whole, had no proper home until 1905. In 
that year the crowning exhibit of the depart- 
ment of birds was opened—the Large Bird 
House, for perching birds and their allies. In 
this building there are at present quartered 
almost two-thirds of the entire collection, both 
of species and specimens. A single building 
which will successfully accommodate no less 
than 370 species and over 1,700 specimens of 
living birds is one well worth visiting. These 
birds are quartered in a single large central 
flying cage. and in 124 wall flight cages, thirty- 
four of which are outside. These enclosures 
average four by five feet, by nine feet high. 

It is possible that parrots thrive equally well 
in smaller cages, but all other small and 
medium-sized birds, without exception, do bet- 
ter and appear to far greater advantage in 
these flight cages. Here the stratum arrange- 
ment is carried out in almost every cage; terns 
and rails on the floor, thrushes and jays flying 
and perching overhead; trumpeters and small 
quail below, tanagers and flycatchers above. 


It would be tedious even merely to enumer- 
ate all the rarities of this houseful. In the 
Parrot Hall, where some seventy odd species 
of parrots and cockatoos have clambered and 
shrieked to their heart’s content, there are 
three species worthy of mention, not only from 
their rarity, but also because of their unusual 
colors. The great Banksian Cockatoo of Aus- 
tralia, with its black plumage and_ scarlet 
tail; the huge Hyacinthine Macaw of Brazil, a 
study in blue with a beak like a lineman’s 
wire-cutter; and the dainty and unsurpassed 
Spectrum Parrakeet, a bird with every color 
of the rainbow in his plumage. 

To pass rapidly in review the “odd birds” in 
this building, we find rollers, laughing king- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


CRESTED SCREAMERS, 


fishers, hornbills, hoopoes, motmots,  tro- 
gons, toucans and bower birds. The Trogon 
lives on in spite of his delicacy; the Motmot 
preens the webs from his tail-feathers before 
our eyes; the blue-eyed Bower-bird pays no 
heed to the visitor as he arranges his garden 
and ornaments, and dances before his mate. 

Here the Road-Runner leaps from floor to 
roof of his cage in play, and the quaint Ani 
Cuckoos or Witch-Birds sit closely huddled, 
two or three deep on their perches. 

If one wonders how the tremendous beak of 
the toucan ever came about, he may follow 
back the graduations as shown in the next 
cage by the toucanets, and farther on by the 
barbets. The woodpeckers, represented by the 
Greater Spotted species from Europe, and 
Golden-Fronts from the tropics, with our own 
Northern Flickers, clamber and dig holes in 
their trunks with the splendid virility which 
always marks these birds. 

What shall we say of the two hundred and 
fifty or more sparrows, thrushes and _ their 
kin? They sing in their delight at the never- 
failing food and the lack of danger. 

Not a country in the world is unrepresented, 
from the Hoary Redpoll, fresh from the ice- 


bound shores of Greenland, to the brilliant 
Tanager of the tropics; from the Bulbul of 
the far east, to our own Mocking-Bird. 

The European hears with delight the Night- 
ingale, Robin Redbreast and Bullfinch. The 
myriad Weavers of Africa weave and chatter 
in a cage with a hundred of their fellows. The 
warble of the Australian Piping-Crows must 
bring memories to the mind of every visitor 
from that country, just as the Solitaire and 
the Kiskadee Flycatcher recall to mind our 
own tropics. 

The collection of native American birds is 
probably unsurpassed, and many a _ student 
checks off his vaguely filled note-book from 
the living bird here within arm’s reach. 

No matter how enthusiastically one may go 
about forming a collection of living birds, 
without capable and willing help all is of no 
avail. In the matter of keepers the Zoological 
Park has been particularly fortunate in ob- 
taining men who love their charges, who 
gladly work over-time and who devote many 
spare hours at home to thought and planning 
for the birds in their care. To these men is 
largely due the credit for the successful main- 
tenance of the collection. 


“USOOM AULA 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 62 


~I 


REVIEW OF THE REPTILE EXHIBITS OF THE 
ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


By RAYMOND L. DITMARS 
Curator of Reptiles 


ITH the object always in view of keep- 
W ing a representative collection of reptiles 

of the world on exhibition, the curator 
of this department has been constantly in 
touch, during the past ten years, with the 
various sources whence come interesting rep- 
tiles and batrachians of the tropical and tem- 
perate latitudes. An imposing aggregation of 
scaled and plated creatures from many widely 
separated localities has occupied the cages of 
our Reptile House during its ten-years’ ex- 
istence. Several of these reptilian exhibits 
have been recorded as the first living examples 
ever transported from their native wilds. 
Among these have been many deadly snakes— 
the educational and practical value in the ex- 
hibition of which may be immediately sur- 
mised. 

With the close of our work at the end of 
our first ten-year period, comes the realization 
that we have reliable agents to represent us in 
many parts of the world, and our resources 
may be relied upon to quickly close gaps made 
in our collection by death among the specimens. 
As an example of the care taken to maintain 
a complete series of the reptiles and batra- 
chians of the United States, it must be ex- 
plained that we have agents in all the various 
districts corresponding to the many life zones 
of the reptilian fauna of this country. The 
divisions of this fauna cover the deserts of 
the Southwest, the Pacific slopes, the Great 
Plains, the Texas region, the rich coastal 
swamps of the Southeast, and other regions 
of lesser area. 

For the purpose of making the Reptile 
House as comprehensive and instructive as 
possible, a number of expeditions have been 
organized, in order that quantities of certain 
important species might be collected. Several 
of these expeditions were for the purpose of 
collecting reptiles not before exhibited col- 
lectively. One of these trips, to the low 
grounds bordering the Savannah River, re- 
sulted in the capture of over five hundred ser- 
pents, representing a great number of species. 
After several years this expedition was re- 
peated. Regular expeditions to the ledges of 
the Taconic Mountains, in Massachusetts, with 


their dens of rattlesnakes, have made possible 
the exhibition of large colonies of these poison- 
ous reptiles. 

The collection is thus kept at a uniformly 
high standard. Orders are always outstanding 
with our agents for those particularly interest- 
ing species of the tropics that are notoriously 
short-lived. As many of the smaller rep- 
tiles are very delicate, gaps caused by death are 
immediately filled by specimens from different 
localities. Thus our collections are varied 
from time to time. New specimens are being 
constantly added during the warm months, and, 
if possible, grouped to form fresh and striking 
features, the significance of which is shown 
on explanatory labels. The average number of 
serpents, lizards, crocodilians and chelonians 
on exhibition in the Reptiles House is about 
fifteen hundred. These represent an average 
of about two hundred species. 

Besides presenting a review of the work 
done in the Reptile Department since the open- 
ing of the Park, it is the purpose of this article 
to mention some of the rarer reptiles that have 
lived in the collection. Before so doing it will 
be of interest to mention some of the reptiles 
that have lived longest since the opening of the 
Park a little more than ten years ago. 

A series of alligators, captured in the vicinity 
of the Indian River, and purchased of Mrs. C. 
F. Latham, Florida, was installed ten years 
and four months from the present date. All of 
these animals are to-day in perfect condition, 
with the exception of one large specimen that 
died from old age. These animals have all 
increased to twice their size upon arrival. One 
example has grown from a length of five feet, 
into a monster of slightly over twelve feet. 
Our oldest alligators have been twenty-two 
years in captivity. These were donated to the 
Society by the writer at the opening of the 
Park. 

Among the turtles and tortoises are many 
specimens that have thrived ever since the 
official opening of the Reptile House. The 
oldest serpents in the building are two Cotton- 
Mouth Moccasins, a pair, bred in separate 
litters by the writer over fourteen years ago. 
These snakes have bred several times since 


they were placed in the Reptile House. The 
fine example of the King Cobra, occupying the 
third from the east end of the large north 
cages, has flourished for the past nine ‘and one- 
half years. The two examples of Cobra-de 
Capello have been on exhibition for the past 
nine years, and are as vigorousiy malicious as 
upon the day of their arrival. 

To best review the more interesting and 
valuable reptiles exhibited in the Park during 
the past ten years, we will consider them from 
the standpoint of the countries they inhabit, as 
follows 

NORTH 


AMERICAN REPTILES. 


As an important section of the exhibition 
of the North American reptiles and batrachians 
there has been steadily maintained since the 
completion of the Reptile House, a series of 
the chelonians, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads and 
salamanders inhabiting New York and the 
adjacent States. These local species have been 
shown collectively, and supplied with descrip- 
tive labels. The poisonous reptiles occurring 
locally have been furnished with special labels. 
Species of economic value have been accredited 
with their usefulness to the agriculturist 

This scheme of collectively exhibiting rep- 
tiles that naturally fall into particularly inter- 
esting groups, has been generally followed as 
space and public interest have prompted us. 
One series of the kind, always popular with 
visitors. is a collection of desert reptiles, col- 
lected in northern Mexico, New Mexico, Ari- 
zona, and southern California. Upon their 
native soil, some of which we have had boxed 
and sent us from the Southwest, and with 
cage settings of cacti and other curious plants 
of the sterlie regions, we have exhibited an 
aggregation of creatures of monotonously 
pallid hues, though grotesque and even un- 
canny in their incongruously varied forms and 
habits. In the series of the rarer lizards of 
the southwestern United States we have shown 
the beautiful Fringe-Toed Lizard, (Uma 
notata), a lacertilian of extraordinary pattern, 
having a fringe of flattened spines along the 
toes to prevent it sinking into the yielding 
sand as it skims over sunburnt wastes in search 
of insect prey; the greater number of the 
species of the Horned Lizards, (Phrynosoma), 
some of which are very rare, even in the alco- 
holic series of the great museums; the Chuck- 
awalla, (Sauromalus ater) ; the several species 
of large Spiny Swifts, (Sceloporus); the 
strikingly colored Leopard Lizard and the 
the Collared Lizard, (cr otaphytus), which run 
at great speed upon the hind legs; the Zebra- 
Tailed Lizard, (Callisaurus draconoides), ap- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


pearing ordinary enough until it dashes away 
with the long tail curled over the back showing 
the under portion of that appendage to be 
boldly marked with alternate black and white 
bars; and the Gila Monster, (Heloderma sus- 
pectum), which, with the other American 
member of its genus stand as the only known 
poisonous lizards. 


Both species of the Desert Tortoises, (Tes- 
tudo agassizi and T. berlandieri) are exhibited. 
Among the serpents of our home deserts the 
Horned Rattlesnake or Sidewinder, (Crotalus 
cerastes) is a conspiciously strange represent- 
ative. Like all viperine snakes of the desert 
regions of all parts of the world,—at least 
those species that actually live in the areas of 
yielding sands,—it progresses by throwing 
forward lateral folds of the body, in rapid 
fashion, imparting rather the effect of a wallk- 
ing motion than the sinuous movements of 
a typical snake. Many specimens have been 
collected by our agents in the Southwest, and 
we have the gratification of knowing that those 
examples lost by death have gone to fill gaps 
in museums lacking representatives of this 
eccentric species. One specimen of the rare 
White Rattlesnake, (Crotalus mitchelli), was 
obtained for Se five years ago; and 
with it came several examples of the Tiger 
Rattlesnake, (Crotalus tigris). Both are 
desert animals. Though we have made re- 
peated attempts, we have since been unable to 
obtain other examples of either species 

The Red Rattlesnake, (Crotalus atrox 
ruber), of southern California, is a reptile that 
has puzzled visitors to distinguish it from the 
sandy floor of its cage. The most extraor- 
dinary rattlesnake displayed in this series 
came to us from a desert region in Central 
America. This was a distinctly bluish reptile, 
looking precisely as if powdered with pumice 
dust. Investigation showed it to be a new spe- 
cies, and it was given the technical name of 
Crotalus pulvis. Among harmless serpents of 
the American desert regions we have shown a 
number of phases of the Whip Snake, (Zaments 
fagellifornis frenatus), ranging in hue from 
specimens of clay color into gorgeous shades of 
coral red. Several examples from Arizona 
tended to shake the theory of “protective” 
coloration. These were of a lustrous purplish- 
black, with a coral-red abdomen. Our collector 
explained that they were captured in a region 
of vellowish sand. The smaller desert ser- 
pents, such as the Cone-Nosed Snakes or 
‘Candy-Stick” Snakes, genera Ficimia and 
Chilomeniscus have been often exhibited. 
Several examples of the gorgeously colored 


ZOOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. BULLETIN 629 


Scarlet King Snake, (Ophibolus zonatus), and 
the boldly ringed Chain Snake, (O. getulus 
boylu), are at all times in the collection. 

The reptiles of the central and eastern 
portions of the United States are easier to 
obtain, and only a very small proportion of 
their number can be rated as extremely rare 
in captivity. Our collection is always rich in 
this material, and the student finds a fine series 
for observation. Among the serpents of the 
southeastern portion of the United States, 
where the coastal swamps possess an imposing 
reptilian fauna, is the huge Diamond Rattle- 
snake, (Crotalus adamanteus), of Florida, 
Georgia and South Carolina. We have ex- 
hibited specimens seven feet in length. Of the 
rarer snakes of the Floridian fauna, we have 
had several examples of a peculiar species 
with an exceedingly slender body, but propor- 
tionately very short tail. This is Stilosoma 
extenuatum, attaining a length of about 
twenty inches, of burrowing habits, and first 
described by Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown, of 
Philadelphia. This snake has, thus far, been 
captured only in a restricted area of Florida, 
in Orange and Marion Counties. We never 
have induced our specimens to take food. 

In summing up our efforts to maintain a 
large series of the North American reptiles it 
iS appropriate to state that we have exhibited 
thirteen of the seventeen known species of 
poisonous serpents, and fifty-four out of ninty- 
six species of the innocuous species. Of the 
Lizards we have exhibited a like proportion. 
Of the chelonians—the turtles and tortoises— 


RHINOCEROS VIPER. 


however, we have exhibited about ninety-five 
per cent. of the species inhabiting the United 
States. Members of both species of the North 
American crocodilians occupy our tanks. A 
number of our too-abundant alligators have 
been hatched in the Reptile House, from eggs 
collected by the Society's expeditions. Of the 
Florila Crocodile (Crocodilus americanus 
foridanus), which inhabits the extreme 
southerly portion of the Florida peninsula, and 
is not at all easy to obtain, we display two 
large examples in the crocodile pool, and 
several young specimens in the smaller (nurs- 
ery) tanks. 

REPTILES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 

These countries possess a rich and varied 
reptilian fauna, and through the many lines of 
steamers plying to tropical ports we receive 
much good material. Unfortunately, the in- 
tense fear of poisonous snakes among the 
natives, and the general spirit of unwillingness 
to transport these creatures on the steamship 
lines, have resulted in our collection of the 
intensely interesting vipers of the New World 
tropics being continually ae ee Br 
interest and courtesy of Mr. Mole, 
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, B. we i ‘the Reptile 
House has been kept supplied with specimens 
of the deadly Bushmaster or Surocucu, (La- 
chesis mutus), and the Fer-de-Lance, (L. 
atrox), while Mr. Mole has also furnished the 
Society with examples of the South American 
Rattlesnake, (Crotalus durissus), and _ the 

— Coral Snakes, (laps lem- 

~* *. wniscatusand E. corallinus). 

™ He has sent.on to New 

York a considerable num- 

ber of the harmless snakes, 

lizards and other creatures 
of the tropics. 

While noting our South 
American exhibits, our col- 
lection of Giant Tortoises 
should be mentioned. The 
Galapagos Islands, off the 
coast of Ecuador, are in- 
habited by a race of practi- 
cally prehistoric monsters, 
tortoises so huge as to be 
out of all proportion to the 
terrestrial chelonians inhab- 
iting the continents of the 
New and Old Worlds. We 
have two of the several 
species of tortoises inhab- 
iting the Galapagos  Is- 
lands. Our specimens rep- 


630 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


SUMMER HOME OF THE ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES. 


resent Testudo vicina and T. nigrita, respect- 
ively, the largest and the smallest species of 
the group. These specimens weigh 220 and 
‘90 pounds. Occupying the same large com- 
partment with these New World monsters are 
two specimens of the Elephant Tortoise, 
(Testudo elephantina), a species inhabiting 
the Aldabra Islands, a group similar to the 
miniature archipelago formed by the Gala- 
pagos Islands, but situated on the other side 
‘of the globe, in the Indian Ocean. 

The large lizards of Central and South 
America and the West Indies are probably the 
most contented members in our reptilian col- 
lection. In summer they occupy large sandy 
yards, which connect with indoor stalls of the 
eastern end of the Reptile House. Here are 
shown the big iguanas from the tropics, the 
West Indian Rhinoceros, Iguana, (Metapo- 
ceros cornutus), the Black Iguana, (Cyclura 
baeolopha), and the Turk’s Island Iguana, 
(C. carinata), all three species inhabiting the 
West Indies. Of the mainland species are the 
Spine-Tailed Iguana, (Ctenosaura acanthura), 
the Banded Iguana, (C. hemilopha), the 
Tuberculated Iguana, (/guana tuberculata), 
and the nose-horned variety of the latter— 
rhinolopha. In these yards the Tegus are 
quartered, of which the most showy species is 
the Black Tegu, (Tupinambis nigropuncta- 
tus), the examples of which are as gorgeously 


decorated in spots and stripes of golden yellow 
as the uniforms of the most resplendant 
soldiery. Of the more eccentric South and 
Central American lizards we have exhibited 
the two species of “Dragons,” (Basiliscus), 
the Tree Runners, (Uraniscodon), and several 
species of the worm-like members of the Am- 
phisbaenidae. 

The greater number of our visitors are 
much interested in the “big snakes,” and South 
America supplies a liberal number of these. 
With the exception of the Anaconda, (Eunec- 
tes murinus), however, of which we have fine 
examples, the big constrictors of the New 
World tropics are not nearly so imposing as 
the gigantic serpents of the Indo-Malayan 
region. In our series of the large snakes of 
the New World we have the several species of 
the genus Boa, these popularly known as the 
“Boa Constrictor,” the Diviniloqua Boa, 
Central American Boa and Mexican Boa, rep- 
resenting the genera Epicrates and Corallus, 
our collection contains the Bahama, Rainbow, 
and Cuban Boas of the former genus, and 
Cook’s, Rushenberg’s and the Green Tree Boas 
of the latter. One specimen of the Dog- 
Headed Boa, (Corallus caninus), has dis- 
played its beautiful emerald coils in the cage 
assigned to these reptiles. 

The coastal regions of Mexico and Central 
America and the great waterways of tropical 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


South America abound wiih crocodilians, and 
of these we have exhibited three species, 
namely the Black Caiman, (Caiman niger), 
the Spectacled Caiman, (C. sclerops), and the 
Broad-Headed Caiman, (C. latirostris). From 
South America and from Central America we 
have received several examples of the large 
American Crocodile, (Crocodilus americanus). 


INDIAN AND MALAYAN REPTILES. 


India, with its 
mystery, appeals to 
its own; hence, the 


strong atmosphere of 
us with a fascination all 
oriental reptiles are par- 
ticularly interesting. The works of Kipling 
and tales of travel in India and the Malay 
Archipelago have prompted our visitors to 
make many queries concerning the reptilian 
fauna of these regions, and we have sought to 
prepare a general answer in the shape of an 
exhibit of the representative scaly creatures 
that excite especial interest. This has been 
no moderate task, and it is never-ending. 
Among the oriental creatures two types of 
reptiles are the most eagerly looked for. These 
are the giant constricting serpents of India, 
the Malay Peninsula and the great islands, 
and the poisonous snakes. The former are 
not so difficult to obtain, as they are im- 
ported for speculative purposes by the com- 
manders of the big East Indian freighters 
plying between America and the Far East. 


Sieg 


CALIFORNIA NEWT. 


BULLETIN 631 


Such snakes as are well cared for on their 
three-months’ journey usually arrive in Amer- 
ica in good condition. Yet, it is difficult to 
obtain really large specimens, and a /arge spe- 
cimen means a snake about twenty-four feet 
in length. It is about once in two years that 
a reptile actually this size arrives in our home 
ports. 

The question of obtaining the poisonous. 
serpents is much more serious. With the ex- 
ception of representatives of a single species, 
we have been unable to purchase any Indian 
poisonous snakes in four-years’ time. A 
personal canvass of the animal markets of 
Great Britain and the Continent revealed the 
some scarcity that exists here. Fortunately, we 
have had excellent luck with our Indo-Malayan 
poisonous reptiles. We have had no losses 
among them in the past three years. Of these 
important reptiles we have fine specimens of 
the Cobra-de-Capello, showing two phases of 
Naja tripudians, namely the Spectacled Cobra, 
or typical phase, and the Masked Cobra, (XN. t. 
semifasciata), of Borneo, Java and Sumatra. 
The former, with its brilliant “hood” mark- 
ings is the most spectacular, and it always re- 
mains so. The specimens that have been with 
us for the past nine years are just as vicious as 
they were upon arrival. A slight jar upon 
their cage-door or the movement of a hand 
sends them rearing into their dramatic post- 
ures from which they frenziedly strike, upon 
the least provocation. Our 
magnificent specimens of the 
King Cobra, Naja bungarus, 
two in number, are familiar 
among many thousands of 
visitors from various parts 
of this country and Europe. 
These snakes are fed every 
Sunday morning, each con- 
suming a freshly killed ser- 
pent about four feet long. 
They are strictly cannibal- 
istic and will eat nothing 
but other serpents, receiving 
food only at intervals of 
seven days. While poison- 
ous snakes generally are 
delicate and short-lived as 
captives, it is a remarkable 
fact that the cobras and all 
of their immediate allies are 
to be rated among the most 
hardy of the inmates of a 
reptile house. Among these 
snakes disposition ranges 
to extremes. The Cobra- 


632 


.de-Capello is excessively nervous and vicious, 
while the King Cobra is calm and bold, pos- 
sessing a treacherous degree of hostility that 
makes it the most dangerous of all deadly 
reptiles. 

Another famous and very dangerous snake 
of India and the Malay Islands is the Tic Po- 
longa or Russell’s Viper (Vipera russelli). 
We have exhibited specimens of this snake, 
but the species is a delicate one and short- 
lived. The proposition of obtaining further 
specimens of the poisonous Indo-Malayan 
reptiles is now a serious one. There appears 
to be a rule among the English lines of steam- 
ers prohibiting these animals being carried. 
With the coming spring it is our intention to 
enter into negotiations with the Indian Govern- 
ment in order to obtain additional specimens. 

The great Kabara-Goya, or Giant Lizard, 
sometimes called the Monitor, (Varanus sal- 
vator), is an Indian reptile that attracts im- 
mediate attention. Our seven-foot specimen 
is large and powerful enough to kill and 
swallow a young gazelle. It is one of the 
largest of its kind to be exhibited. 


AFRICAN REPTILES. 


The reptilian fauna of Africa is at all times 
strongly represented in. the Reptile House. 
The tortoises are attractive owing to their 
large size, variability of structure and bold 
markings. We have the Abyssinian Tortoise, 
(Testudo calcarata), (as heavy as_ sixty 
pounds), the Leopard Tortoise (7. pardalis), 
the Geometric Tortoise, (T. geometrica), the 
Radiated Tortoise, (T. radiata, of Madagas- 
car), and two species of the Hinge-Backed 
Tortoises, (Cinixys). 

Three species of African crocodiles have 
been shown our visitors. These are the Nile 
Crocodile, (Crocodilus niloticus), the gavial- 
like Sharp-Nosed Crocodile, (C. cataphrac- 
tus), and the Broad-Nosed Crocodile, (Osteo- 
lacmus tetrapis). Of the lizards we have had 
an elaborate series, including an aggregation of 
the strange forms of the Sahara. These range 
in size from the powerful Egyptian Monitor, 
(Varanus griseus), to the several species of 
Spike-Tailed Lizards, (Uromastix and Xo- 
nurus) and the agile Agamas down to the 
Skinks with their highly polished scales, the 
latter ranging in form from creatures with 
flattened toes to support them on the desert 
sands, to worm-like forms with a sharp snout 
that literally swim into the yielding soil at the 
slightest alarm. Four species of the genus 
Chamaeleon have been exhibited. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


hued 


BULLETIN 


Africa is the home of the most malignant- 
looking serpents of the world. Some of these 
reptiles might be described as all head, fangs 
and stomach; yet Nature has seen fit to decor- 
ate the hideously formed bodies of these deadly 
creatures with the most dorgeous hues and 
patterns. Prominent among the big vipers, 
with their dagger-like fangs, are the Gaboon 
Viper, (Bitis gabonica), the Rhinoceros 
Viper, (B. nasicornis), and the Puff Adder, 
(B. arietans). All of these serpents figure in 
our list of specimens. The strange little Cape 
Viper, (Causus rhombeatus), and the pallid- 
desert vipers—the Cerastes, (lipera 
cerastes), the Yellow Viper, (l’. vwipera), and 
the Pigmy Viper, (l”. eva), have been shown 
in the Reptile House with surroundings to 
represent their native wilds. Several trans- 
parencies made from photographs of the sterile 
regions have been fitted against the backs of 
the cages containing the desert snakes. Of the 
African cobras we have exhibited the famous 
Asp, (Naja haje), the Black Cobra, (N. me- 
lanolcuca), and the Ringhals, Ring-Necked 
Cobra, (Sepedon haemachates). Representa-, 
tives of several species of the African pythons 
are at all times in the Reptile House. 


REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA. 


At the time of preparation of this article 
a fine series of Australian reptiles is on ex- 
hibition. This includes five species of lizards 
and eight species of snakes. The Frilled 
Lizard, (Chlamydosaurus kingit), with its 
dilatable neck-flaps, the two species of the 
Giant Skinks, (Cyclodes), and Cunningham’s 


Skink, (Egernia cunninghamt), show the 
eccentricities of the Australian lacertilians, 


while the Black Snake, (Pseudechis porphyri- 
acus), the Tiger Snake, (Brachyaspis curtus), 
and the Gray Death Adder, (Denisonia su- 
perba), illustrate how remarkably inoffensive 
is the demeanor of the many deadly serpents of 
that country. The Diamond Snake, (Morelia 
spilotes), and the Carpet Snake, (MM. varie- 
gata), are both on hand as illustrations of the 
prettily marked pythons that range over a con- 
siderable part of Australia. 


EUROPEAN REPTILES. 


Our collection of the turtles and tortoises, 
the lizards and the snakes of Europe is very 
full. In fact, these reptiles are as well repre- 
sented here in the Park as in the continental 
zoological gardens of Holland, Belgium, 
France and Germany. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


RARE BATRACHIANS EXHIBITED. 


Crowded as we are for cage space in the 
Reptile House, the curator has done his best 
to continuously present a good series of the 
batrachians, the frogs, toads and salamanders. 
The collection always on hand meets the re- 
quirements of the student, but, at their best, 
the majority of the batrachians make a poor 
display, owing to their secretive habits. Dur- 
ing the spring the metamorphoses of the frogs, 
toads and the salamanders are fully displayed. 
Of the rarer species exhibited it is appropriate 
to mention the Golden Tree Frog, (Hyla 
aurea), of Australia, Anderson’s Tree Frog, 
(Hyala anderson), and the Brown Frog, 
(Rana virgatipes), both of the eastern United 
States: the South American Frog, (Lepto- 
dactylus pentadactylus), the Surinam Toad, 
(Pipa americana) and the South African 
Smooth-Clawed Toads, (Xcnopus laevis and X. 
Clawed Toads, (Nenopus laevis and X. 
muelleri). The Blind Salamander, (Proteus 
anguinus), has twice figured among our ex- 
hibits. 


WORK OF THE REPTILE DEPARTMENT. 


It will be of interest to our members to give 
a brief résumé of work performed in the de- 
partment during the past ten years. 

One of the branches of work has been the 
preparation of many semi-technical and popu- 
lar articles that have appeared in our publica- 
tions. It has been the intention of the writer 
to produce as much practical matter as pos- 
sible in order that our observations may have 
a wide value. With this object always prima- 
rily in view, he begs to refer, as results, to 
his article on the growth and care of the 
American alligator, pointing to the prac- 
ticability of alligator farming, and appearing 
in our ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT; a series 
of articles relating to the venomous snakes, 
their habits and virulency and general dis- 
tribution; articles dealing with the diseases 
and care of reptiles, with the breeding of rep- 
tiles, best methods of exhibition and the ex- 
periences of the collector in the field. Almost 
synonymous with the matter for publication is 


BULLETIN 633 


the work of preparing labels, the great major- 
ity of which are descriptive. While the greater 
number of our labels are painted in oil, on 
zinc, there is a generous number of labels 
containing elaborate details, that are printed, 
framed and protected with glass. In addition 
to these labels there are colored maps and 
charts showing the distribution of important 
groups, or giving a simple and concise view of 
classification. 

To answer the frequent queries of visitors, 
a collection of skulls of reptiles illustrating 
the differences in dentition between the non- 
venomous and the poisonous species was 
mounted and placed in a conspicuous position 
on the main floor of the Reptile House. In 
this case is exhibited the latest paraphernalia 
employed in the treatment of snake-bites. The 
exhibits in this cabinet are changed from time 
to time, in order to emphasize anatomical 
characteristics of the living specimens on ex- 
hibition in the surrounding cages. All of the 
skulls exhibited are prepared and mounted in 
the Reptile House. 

In the routine work of maintaining our col- 
lection of reptiles and in making this depart- 
ment as attractive as possible, may be men- 
tioned our surgical operations upon a number 
of valuable specimens, and the successful 
termination of the curator’s endeavors to com- 
bat the dreaded snake “canker’’ and necrosis 
of the jaw. This work has often involved the 
handling of the poisonous serpents, but we 
have the satisfaction of realizing that about 
eight years ago our very popular King Cobra 
was cured from what at first appeared to be 
a hopeless malady. One of the Indian Hooded 
Cobras now on exhibition was likewise suc- 
cessfully operated upon several times for 
necrosis of the jaw-bone about five years ago. 

The very satisfactory process of force-feed- 
ing several of the great pythons from the 
Malay Peninsula and Borneo, which  stub- 
bornly evinced a dramatic inclination to starve 
to death, is demonstrated by the presence of 
the splendid examples now occupying the 
big central cage. It took two years of this 
treatment to induce them to feed of their own 
accord. 


punos, 1894 AY} a19y PAT] [Moj-193e AA JO Siaquinu adie] 


“MUVd TVOIDOTOOZ *ZISSVOV AMVT AO AYOHS HILMON 


\S4\\ 


Aquarium Number 
PREPARED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 38 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


March, 1910 


FISHING 


HE New York Aquarium, while the largest 

institution of its kind in the world, is still 

sadly limited in its collections of aquatic life, 
and the Director does not always have new ex- 
hibits to draw upon for matter for this BuLie- 
TIN. Let us leave our restricted field in New 
York for a few minutes and visit the world’s 
great center of fish life—Polynesia. 

The aborigines of many countries resort at 
times to methods of fish catching that are 
scarcely known to the civilized world. Al- 
though practiced in widely-separated regions, 
the methods of taking fishes by poisons, have a 


WITH POISONS. 


common resemblance in that they all involve the 
temporary stupefying of the fishes taken. 
Wherever practiced, the catching is done with- 
out apparatus of any sort, other than the locally 
prepared drug employed for the purpose, which 
is placed in the water in large quantities. This 
in apparently all cases, consists of the juices of 
crushed plants, different kinds being used in dif- 
ferent countries. 

The plant, of whatever species is available, 
is gathered in great quantities and crushed until 
a sufficient supply of the thick, gummy juice is 
procured the gathering and preparation of the 


TONGA ISLANDERS POISON FISHING ON THE REEF. 


636 


“poison” requiring the associated efforts of 
many persons. 

When the tide recedes entirely from the reefs 
about the islands, many large and deep pools 
remain filled with fishes of all sizes and colors. 
Into these pools the “poison” is placed and in 
a few moments the fishes come to the surface in 
such distress that they can easily be picked up. 
Schools of small fishes coming in across the 
reef with the rising tide are also affected by the 
drug and are easily secured. 

While most of the species of plants used are 
distinctly poisonous to the -human stomach, there 
is no unwholesomeness attached to the eating of 
fishes captured by their use. 

Necessarily this wholesale method of fish- 
catching cannot take place very often on account 
of the great effort required to make it success- 
ful. Whenever a “fish-poisoning”’ occurs, it is 
the occasion of a general picnic accompanied, 
like other South Sea functions, with feasting, 
the wearing of flowers and much jollity. Fish- 
ing of this kind is practiced in many parts of 
Polynesia. 

The accompanying photograph which I se- 
cured in the Tonga Islands some years ago, 
shows the natives picking up stupefied fishes 
from a portion of a reef which had been thor- 
oughly “poisoned” with plant juices. 

At Raratonga they use the grated nut of a 
plant known to botanists as Barringtonia spe- 
ciosa, which is scattered over the bare reef to 
paralyze the fishes which return to their feed- 
ing ground with the incoming tide. Then the 
people with baskets wade into the shallow water 
and gather the finny harvest, dip-nets and spears 
being merely used to facilitate the work. 

Another Raratongan 
plant, (Tephrosia pisca- 
toria), is also used for fish 
poisoning, the whole plant 
being pounded and put in- 
to the water. Such fishing 
is sometimes practiced 
nearer home. On Eleuthera 
Island in the Bahamas, the 
negroes use the bark peeled 
from the roots of a plant 
locally known as dogwood, 
which is placed in gunny 
sacks and pounded. The 
juice of the plant discolors 
the water in a few mo- 
ments, bringing the gasp- 
ing fishes to the surface 
where they are easily 
picked up with dip-nets. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


The Indians of Arkansas and doubtless other 
sections of the middle west, formerly resorted 
to similar methods of fish-catching. 

Bates long ago described in his classic Natu- 
ralist on the Amazons, a method practiced by 
the Indians of the Tapajos in taking fishes. 
The plant used was the poisonous liana, (Paul- 
linia pinnata), which was crushed for its milky 
juice. This placed in the water soon discolored 
it and brought the fishes to the surface with the 
gills wide open, in an apparently suffocated con- 
dition. 


THE BURBOT. 


HE only fish of the cod family inhabiting 

the fresh waters of North America is the 

burbot, (Lota maculosa), which is shown in 
the accompanying photograph of a specimen liy- 
ing in the Aquarium. It is variously known as 
burbot, ling, lawyer and fresh-water cusk, and 
frequents the rivers of our northern States, ex- 
tending through British America to Alaska. 

In the Yukon River, where it is known to the 
natives as losh, it often weighs as much as sixty 
pounds. It is an important food fish to the na- 
tives of the far north, but in the southern part 
of its range where it is of smaller size, it is con- 
sidered coarse and tasteless and seldom eaten. 

The burbot frequents brackish waters at the 
mouths of some of the large Alaskan rivers, run- 
ning up into the lower Yukon after the river 
freezes, where it is taken by the natives through 
the ice in fish traps. 


Great quantities of the fish are used as food 
for the native dogs, the liver yields an abun- 


BURBOT. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 637 


Jenue: 


PUBLIC MUSEUMS . 
| OF NEW YORK 


NEW 


YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 


MUSEUM OF THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE 


POSTER GIVING THE LOCATION OF THE PRINCIPAL MUSEUMS OF GREATER NEW YORK. 


dance of oil suitable for cooking purposes, and 
the roe is also edible. 

Our four specimens, the largest being about 
eighteen inches in length, were obtained by ex- 
change with the Detroit Aquarium. 


A MUSEUM POSTER. 


AST spring the public museums of New 

York united. in the production of a large 

poster containing information respecting 
our City museums, two of which are under the 
control of the Zoological Society. As the ac- 
companying reproduction shows, it states the lo- 
cation, hours of admission, character of exhibits 
and how to reach each museum. The six illus- 
trations and the map are in colors. 

This poster, framed, has already been located 
in universities, high schools, libraries, Y. M. C. 
A. buildings and in several railway and ferry 
houses. It is to be located in other public places 
with a view to bringing the public museums of 
the City closer to the people and to the educa- 
tional institutions, generally. 


SPAWNING OF THE WHELK. 


S an illustration of the opportunities which 

a large aquarium affords for natural his- 

tory observations, attention is called to the 
two photographs by Mr. L. B. Spencer, showing 
the spawning process of the channelled whelk, 
(Fulgur canaliculata). 

The empty shell of this large mollusk is a 
common object around the shores of Long 
Island, but the living animal is seldom seen un- 
less special search is made for it. Its range is 
from Massachusetts to Florida. Specimens are 
often brought from Gravesend Bay, north of 
Coney Island, to the Aquarium, where they may 
be seen in the exhibition tanks throughout the 
year. The dry egg-cases of the animal all con- 
nected by a ligamentous cord, are frequently 
found along the beaches, but comparatively few 
persons know what they are. Although natural- 
ists have described the manner in which the eggs, 
or rather the egg cases, are cast off under natural 
conditions, very few have had the opportunity 
of seeing the process in an aquarium and of 
recording the time actually required for its com- 


638 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


CHANNELLED WHELK SPAWNING. SECOND DAY. 


Rear view of the shell. 
Photo by L. B. Spencer. 


pletion. Although the animal has been under 
almost constant observation in the New York 
Aquarium for a dozen years, the spawning 
process has never taken place there until re- 
cently. 

On the morning of October 4, 1909, a whelk 
with six of the connected egg-cases protruding, 
was found in one of the tanks. In the evening 
when ten cases were visible, the animal was re- 
moved for closer observa- 
tion to a small tank of flow- 
ing sea-water in the labor- 
atory. By the next even- 
ing there were sixteen cases 
in sight, and on the even- 
ing of the 6th, twenty-four 
cases. 

The spawning proceeded 
steadily and the protrud- 
ing egg-cases were counted 
each evening. On the 7th, 
twenty-nine cases bad ap- 
peared, on the 8th, thirty- 
five, on the 9th, forty-two, 
on the 10th forty-eight and 
on the 11th, sixty-three, 
when the string of cases 
seventeen inches in length 
was complete. The length 
of shell of the mother 
whelk was eight inches. 

During the whole eight 


BULLETIN. 


bottom of the tank with the 
open side of the shell 
turned upward and the 
soft parts but slightly pro- 
truding. The position was 
not changed at any time, 
but when the egg laying 
was completed, the animal 
at once turned and attached 
itself to the glass front. 
In nature the whelk buries 
itself in the sandy bottom 
at spawning time, the 
string of egg-cases push- 
ing up through the sand as 
they are cast off. 

Professor Jungersen 
of the University of Co- 
penhagen who called at 
the Aquarium a few days 
later, inquired as te the 
exact portion of the body 
from which the egg-cases 
had been cast off, stating 
that in his opinion, “Cunningham’s explanation 
on this point was incorrect.” It is to be re- 
gretted that the animal was not dissected before 
the conclusion of the spawning in order that this 
point might have been determined. 

Each egg-case of the whelk contains several 
embryos, which after a period of development, 
escape from their membranous case to lead in- 
dependent lives. 


days process of egg-lay- 
ing, the whelk rested on the 


CHANNELLED WHELK SPAWNING. EIGHTH DAY. 


The egg-cases are shown floating diagonally across the picture. 
Photo by L. B. Spencer. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 639 


turtles could purrow for the 
purpose of cleaning them- 
selves and hiding when at 
rest. They were very ac- 
tive, frequently chasing each 
other about the large tank, 
and occasionally climbing 
out on the floating log. The 
soft-shell is the most active 
of all our native turtles. 
They took to the sand quite 
naturally, darting into it 
and with a few quick move- 
ments covering themselves 
completely. 'requently the 
entire lot would be under 
the sand, their small heads 
and long slim necks alone 
protruding. Since these 
changes were made, the tur- 
tles have fed freely and 


SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 


none of the specimens has 
Upper side. 


been lost. A supply of 
sand to hide in, seems to be 
SOFT-SHELLED TURTLES IN a necessity with this species. Upon such ap- 
CAPTIVITY. parently insignificant details of management, the 
EVERAL specimens of the soft-shelled successful keeping of wild creatures in captivity 
turtle from Lake Erie, known as Aspido- depends. All captive animals should be under 
nectes spinifer, are living and thirving in — the care of keepers interested in their welfare. 
their tank at the Aquarium. 
While the species has 
long been represented in 
our collections, it was only 
by annual renewals that 
the supply of individuals 
could be maintained. Three 
years ago the soft-shells 
were removed to a larger 
and deeper tank with a 
view to discovering, if pos- 
sible, some means of 
lengthening the period of 
their lives in captivity. 
The depth of the water 
in their tank was increased 
to two feet, and a small 
floating log introduced, 
upon which they could 
climb for an occasional air- 
ing. Two bucketsful of 
clean sand were poured in- 
to one end of the tank, in- 
to which these mud-loving 


SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 


Under side. 


640 


OUR MOST IMPORTANT FUR BEARER. 


HE muskrat has not yet been added to the 

collections of the Aquarium, but being an 

aquatic animal of convenient size there is no 
reason why it should not have a place there. 

It is not its size nor the value of its pelt, but 
its sheer abundance which makes the muskrat 
our most important fur bearer; it predominates 
in the fur trade not by quality but by quantity. 

A report on furs sold by Lampson & Co., of 
London, during the year 1909, states that they 
handled during the year, 2,892,000 skins of 
“musquash,”’ which is the fur trade name for the 
muskrat. From publications of the United 
States Fisheries Bureau and from other sources, 
it appears that the annual yield of muskrat skins 
is considerably in excess of five millions, about 
one-quarter of the catch being made in Canada 
where it is generally known by the Indian name 
“musquash.” 

The yield may in fact exceed six millions, as 
recent advices from Louisiana indicate a catch 
for that state of probably more than a million 
skins during the year. 

The muskrat, (Fiber zibethicus), is a North 
American animal, abundant in nearly all marshy 
and well-watered regions from Virginia and the 
Mississippi Valley, northward to Labrador and 
Alaska. Although it bears one of the cheapest 
pelts, its great abundance makes it very impor- 
tant—exceeding any other species by more than 
a million skins. 

It is principally used for imitating fur seal, 
the hair being plucked which exposes the soft 
under fur, but it does not wear as well, the fur 
having a tendency to become matted down. The 
so-called “electric seal” of the fur trade is made 
of muskrat skins. ‘‘French seal” is another name 
applied to the muskrat counterfeit. It is often 
dyed to imitate other furs of a higher price and 
has long been in great demand for coat linings 
and trimmings. 

Judging from the prices of the Lampson sales 
catalogue, the average value in the market ap- 
pears to be less than fifty cents, but the price 
received by trappers in the United States would 
probably range from ten to twenty cents apiece. 
Skins from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, 
Maine, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin 
bring a higher price. Black skins which are 
quite common are more valuable than those of 
the normal brown color. 

The muskrat flourishes quite as well in the 
great salt marshes of the Atlantic Coast, as it 
does in fresh water marshes in the interior. A 
large proportion of the United States catch is 
made in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Recent inquiries by the United States Bureau of 
Biology show that muskrat trapping is a very 
important industry in this region, Dorchester 
County, Maryland, alone producing about 250,- 
000 skins in 1909. Along the eastern shore of 
Maryland the marshes are regularly leased for 
such trapping. 

The muskrat is a cleanly animal and a vege- 
table feeder, subsisting largely on roots of water 
plants such as lilies and calamus. It is not 
known to consume much animal food except 
fresh water mussels. During canoe trips on the 
upper Delaware River I found numerous small 
heaps of mussel shells on the rocks along the 
shore, showing where the muskrats had been 
feeding. On one evening I observed a group of 
muskrats diving persistently in shallow water 
near the shore and on the following morning 
found there a large bed of fresh water mussels. 

In most localities where the muskrat is taken 
in abundance, the flesh is used extensively for 
food. 

It is captured chiefly by means of steel traps. 
Spears are used to a considerable extent, being 
driven through the tops of their mound-like 
houses which may be found all about the 
marshes. Many are taken by shooting but this 
injures the value of the skin. 

It is a very prolific animal, breeding several 
times a year and having from three to twelve at 
a litter, which accounts for its wonderful abund- 
ance. The aquatic and nocturnal habits as well 
as the fecundity of the muskrat serve to protect 
it. Man is its principal enemy, but it is preyed 
upon to some extent by minks, otters and owls. 
In some states where its capture is important, it 
is protected by law for a portion of the year. 

It is rather abundant in the lower courses of 
the Yukon, Kuskokwim and other Alaskan rivers 
and I have seen muskrats in the Kowak River 
above the Arctic Circle. The natives use the 
skin to some extent for clothing. 

Although restricted to North America the im- 
portance of the muskrat to the fur trade should 
warrant its introduction into the marsh lands of 
other northern countries especially Europe, 
where the sale of muskrat skins is very great. 
In most localities it is harmless and unobjection- 
able, but it causes some loss to real estate by bur- 
rowing in the banks of streams and is quite 
troublesome for this reason along the banks of 
canals. Its introduction into Holland would not 
be appropriate. 

The writer has recommended its introduction 
into the fresh water lakes of the Pribilof Islands 
where there are 300 resident natives of Alaska 
employed in the taking of fur seals. If there 
were muskrats on the islands, their capture 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THREAD FISH. 
Photo by F. W. Hunt. 


would furnish some employment to the natives 
during the season when there is no work avail- 
able; the skins would represent considerable 
value, and the flesh would be available as food. 
The muskrats would also furnish a supply of 
food to the blue foxes, which are taken there in 
abundance for their very valuable skins. The 
natural food supply of the foxes has always 
been limited at certain seasons of the year. As 
the muskrat could do no harm in any way, the 
Bureau of Fisheries has favored the plan of in- 
troducing it. 

A large muskrat is about two feet from nose 
to the end of the tail. The tail is hairless and 
flattened laterally; it may be useful for swim- 
ming but so far as I have observed, the swim- 
ming is done with the hind feet, without any 
motion of the tail. 

Like the groundhog, the muskrat is credited 
with being a prognosticator; when muskrat 
houses in the marshes are built larger and 
stronger than usual, it is said to indicate a 
severe winter. An ordinary sized muskrat 
house is about five feet in diameter and projects 
from two to four feet above the water. Its 
doorways are all under water. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 641 


PRIVATE AQUARIUM. 


A letter has just been 
received from Capt. J. A. 
M. Vipan, who has a pri- 
vate fresh-water aquarium 
at Stibbington Hall, 
Wansford, England. It 
states that there are ster- 
lets now living in the 
building which were re- 
ceived in 1888; golden orfe 
and mirror carp received 
in 1883; Protopterus (the 
African dipnoid fish) re- 
ceived in 1897 and other 
interesting species. These 
are probably the best rec- 
ords in existence for fishes 
in captivity. The temper- 
ate tanks are unheated ex- 
cept in winter; the warm- 
water tanks are kept at 
75° to 78 Fahrenheit. 
Capt. Vipan has also had 
remarkable success in 
breeding exotic species in 
captivity. 


THE THREAD FISH. 
On of the most grotesque of the fishes 


which visit our shores in the summer time 

is the thread fish, (Alectis cilaris). It is a 
southern form, generally common in Florida 
and large specimens are used for food. 

In the young the dorsal and ventral fins are 
excessively elongated and filamentous but be- 
come shorter with age. In some specimens the 
filaments keep growing even after portions have 
been broken off, sometimes being about twice 
as long as the fish itself. 

The thread fish is wonderfully iridescent and 
presents a variety of rainbow tints as it changes 
position in drifting about the tank. 

A few specimens are taken in the lower part 
of New York Bay nearly every summer, some 
of which come to the Aquarium. The species 
lives well in our tanks during the summer, but 
has not yet been carried through the winter. 

No specimens have been secured since the new 
water system was put into operation at the 
Aquarium, and it is hoped that the coming sum- 
mer will bring specimens which can be kept to 
better advantage than heretofore. 


642 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELWIN R. SANBORN, EDITOR. 
Bepartments : 


MAMMAL BIRD 
W. T. Hornabay, Se. D. C,. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
AQUARIUM REPTILE 


CH. TOWNSEND, Se. D. RAYMOND L, DITMARs. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 1U Cents; Yearly, 50 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1910, by the New York Zoological Society. 


MARCH, 1910 


NumBer 38 


Ofticers of the Society. 


President : 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
Mapison GRANT, Chairman, 

SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 

Levi P. Morton, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio, 

General Officers : 

Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
freasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 


Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND,Sc. D., BATTERY PARK. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Board of Managers: 

Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York -— - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Glass of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn 
William C. Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir De Kham, John S. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuei Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Nelson Robinson, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Payne Whitney, Frank K. Sturgis, W. Austin Wadsworth. 
James W. Barney, George J. Gould, Emerson MeMillin, 
Wm. PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills Anthony R. Kuser 


Ofticers of the Zoological Park ; 
W. T. Hornabay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MitcHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - Curator of Birds. 
W. Rep BLAIR, D.V.S. Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H,. W. MERKEL - = = Chief Forester and Constructor. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL - - = - Office Assistant. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN = = = Editor and Photographer. 


Officers of the Aquarium: 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 


L. B, SPENCER = - - Fresh Water Collections. 
W. I. DENYSE : = = Marine Collections. 


HON. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER 


Glass of 1913. 


ENLARGEMENT OF THE 
BUILDING. 


The year 1909 brought to the Aquarium 
3,803,501 visitors—an average of 10,417 a day. 
Every year shows an increase, and the total at- 
tendance for the past thirteen years exceeds 
twenty-five and one-half millions. 

The Annual Report of the Zoological Society, 
now in press, contains plans for an enlarged 
building, which is greatly needed. The number 
of people visiting the Aquarium is greater than 
that of all the other museums of the City com- 
bined, and there is every reason to believe that 
it will continue to increase. The time has come 
for a larger building, and the Aquarium should 


AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


be given its rightful place among our institu- 
tions as a great marine museum. It should be 
large enough to contain three times the number 
and variety of aquatic forms it now contains, 
and should have a scientific staff capable of do- 
ing properly the museum work already being 
demanded of it by the people. 

The Director with the aid of a single stenog- 
rapher finds himself unable to attend to the cor- 
respondence, office and museum work thrust upon 
him. The Aquarium should be enlarged, should 
have a staff of curators, and be given the com- 
mon facilities for museum work that are freely 
granted to the other museums of the city. 

These important matters are set forth in de- 
tail in the Annual Report, and their careful con- 
sideration is urgently recommended to the mem- 
bers of the Zoological Society and the citizens 
of New York. 


CAN WE SAVE THE FUR SEAL? 


The American fur-seal herd breeding on the 
Pribilof Islands in Bering Sea, has been 
shrinking in size and commercial value ever 
since the business of pelagic or ocean sealing 
came into really active existence, about 1880. 

A careful census of the herd made on the 
islands last summer by the Bureau of Fisheries, 
shows that there are about 150,000 seals of all 
ages remaining, the important class of breed- 
ing females numbering about 50,000. The cen- 
sus of 1897 revealed 150,000 breeding females. 

The cause of the decline has been the continu- 
ance of pelagic sealing, which is destructive to 
the mother seals, and results in a further loss of 
equal numbers of young by starvation. 

For some years after the regulations of the 
Paris Award, restricting the operations of the 
pelagic sealing fleet, within a zone of 60 miles 
of the Pribilof Islands, were put into operation, 
the decline in the seal herd was comparatively 
slow, although certain. 

More recently a fleet of Japanese vessels has 
been engaged in sealing close to the territorial 
limit of three miles from the islands, Japan not 
being a party to the regulations framed by the 
Paris Arbitration. 

This has resulted in transferring our long 
standing pelagic sealing problem from Canada 
to Japan, while the advance of the seal killing 
line from the 60 mile limit to the immediate vi- 
cinity of the breeding grounds of the seals, has 
accelerated the rate of destruction of seal life. 

United States vessels have long been prohib- 
ited from engaging in pelagic sealing. 

The large catches formerly made at sea by 
vessels, and on land under Government super- 
vision, can no longer be made. Canadian ves- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


sels have largely withdrawn from the unequal 
contest with Japanese vessels, and the Govern- 
ment land catch of surplus, non-breeding males, 
has dwindled to a paltry fourteen thousand in 
1909. ‘Twenty-five years ago the island catch 
of surplus males was 100,000 a year without 
detriment to breeding stock. Pelagic sealing 
has caused us losses, in one way or another, of 
at least twenty millions of dollars. 

As the supply of first-class sealskins is now 
so small, the very business of manufacturing 
sealskin garments is likely to die out, and the 
expert workmen engaged in it be scattered, to 
the great detriment of the fur trade. If sealskin 
garments should pass entirely out of fashion, it 
would take many years to train new workmen 
and to re-introduce the fashion. 

If the cessation of pelagic sealing can be 
brought about without delay, it will be possible 
to preserve the very special art of sealskin man- 
ufacture, as well as the seal race itself. 

It is the small catch of prime skins of sur- 
plus male seals from the Pribilof and Com- 
mander Islands that is keeping the industry 
alive, the pelagic catch being inferior in many 
ways. 

The fur-seal is a highly polygamous animal, 
which habit naturally results in a large surplus 
of males. It is from the “bachelor” class of 
surplus males, that the catches on the Pribilof 
and Commander Islands have always been made 
by the United States and Russian governments, 
respectively. The utilization of the surplus 
males involves no more injury to the separate 
and distinct class of breeding seals than the 
utilization of the surplus male animals would on 
a cattle ranch, which is none at all. 

With sealing vessels actively destroying fe- 
male seals, the surplus male life would, if not 
removed and utilized at maturity, fill up the 
breeding grounds with an unnatural preponder- 
ance of mature males, destroying both females 
and young by their furious fighting. This is a 
zoological fact. There could of course be no 
injury to the herd itself by a cessation of land 
killing, provided there be a cessation of pelagic 
killing of females at the same time. 

The habits of the fur-seal have been studied 
exhaustively for years by many of the foremost 
zoologists of the country, whose views are unan- 
imous respecting the surplus male life of the 
breeding grounds. 

The fur-seal herds can be saved only by the 
immediate and complete suppression of pelagic 
sealing. No restrictions upon the killing of 
surplus males on land can be of any benefit to 
the herds. On the other hand, there would be 
a loss of revenue to the Government, a loss of 


BULLETIN. §43 


prime skins now serving to keep alive the fur 
dressing industry, a loss of occupation for hun- 
dreds of resident natives on the islands, and a 
larger catch of damaged pelts by pelagic sealers, 
whose suicidal industry is on its last legs. 

The whole matter of the fur-seal industry, in- 
cluding the administration of the seal rookeries 
on the Pribilof Islands, as well as the workings 
of the pestiferous pelagic sealing business, is re- 
ceiving the most careful consideration at the 
hands of the officers of the Bureau of Fisheries 
and the advisory Board of the Fur Seal Service. 
It is in the hands of men who understand the 
matter in all its details, who have had personal 
experience with it both afloat and ashore—on 
the vessels and on the seal islands—and who are 
moreover familiar with the international aspects 
of the subject. 

At a meeting in Washington on November 
23, 1909, various recommendations were made, 
on each of which there was unanimous action. 
While these recommendations included some 
changes in the administration of the islands, 
there was no uncertainty about the attitude of 
the meeting on the subject of pelagic sealing, 
which is alone responsible for the diminution of 
the seal herd. 

The pelagic sealing question is unfortunately 
one of jurisdiction over the high seas, and re- 
quires international action. Any nation could 
engage in it. Urgent recommendations for its 
suppression have been made to the Department 
of State, and everything depends upon the suc- 
cess of the international negotiations now being 
conducted. 

With Great Britain and the other governments 
concerned, the Bering Sea controversy is no 
longer a matter of maintaining pelagic sealing, 
the fatal destructiveness of which they all rec- 
ognize, but one of rights on the high seas. 
Whenever we recognize those rights in full, and 
announce our readiness to pay for their with- 
drawal, the sealing fleets will be called off. If 
we had done this twenty years ago, we would 
have saved money and long since restored our 
seal herd to its normal size. It is up to the 
State Department. 


AN AQUARIUM IN INDIA. 

“Nature,’ a weekly journal of science pub- 
lished in London, announces that a marine 
aquarium has just been established at Madras, 
India. It is described as being of small size 
and stocked with marine species from the ad- 
jacent coast. It is equipped with glass-fronted 
tanks, a reservoir, filter, aeration plant, elevated 
cistern and one large open pool. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


HARBOR SEALS. 


RARE TROPICAL SEALS. 


HE West Indian seals which were received 
Vs the Aquarium in June, 1909, still consti- 

tute the most noteworthy exhibit in the 
building. 

The possession of three flourishing specimens 
of a large species near the verge of extinction, 
is a fact both interesting and important. These 
seals are the only ones of their kind on exhibi- 
tion anywhere and may be the last that will ever 
be seen in captivity. 

In the time of Christopher Columbus, this 
seal was abundant in many parts of the West 
Indies, its range extending eastward from Yuca- 
tan to the Bahamas, Hayti, Cuba and Jamaica. 
It was gradually exterminated for its oil and 
skin, and is at the present time known to exist 
only on the Triangle and 
Alacran reefs off Yucatan. 

The West Indian Seal, 
(Monachus tropicalis), is 
closely related to Mona- 
chus albiventer of the 
Mediterranean, the seal of 
the ancients, a living speci- 
men of which was exhibit- 
ed at Marseilles in 1907. 
Both species are nearly ex- 
terminated and with their 
disappearance the genus 
Monachus will be classed 
with the extinct animals. 

The Aquarium seals will 
not live forever, and by 
the time they are gone the 
man with the gun will more 
than likely have finished 
off the remnant of the race 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


in Yucatan. Our seals 
have not posed to the best 
advantage for the photog- 
rapher, but the photo- 
graphs reproduced in the 
present BULLETIN, repre- 
sent so far as we know the 
only ones in existence of 
the living animal. 

T he photographer has 
been requested to try again, 
so that the scientist of the 
future may have all possi- 
ble documentary evidence 
as to the general appear- 
ance of the animal in life, 
and its actual existence as 
late as the year 1910. 

These seals, an adult 
male and two young, are not altogether pleasant 
as near neighbors, their harsh voices penetrating 
The West In- 
dian seal is, so far as our experience goes, the 
only member of the Phocidae or earless seals, 
that uses its voice in captivity. 

The two young seals, a male and a female, 
have been growing amazingly during the nine 
months of their life in the Aquarium. They 
take a fair amount of exercise in the pool, but 
after being fed usually haul out on the platform 
along with the large male for a nap, all three 
huddling close together. 


to every part of the building. 


The big male amuses himself occasionally by 
tossing a flipperful of water in the faces of visit- 
ors, with the same effect as his predecessor (a 


WEST INDIAN SEALS. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


WEST INDIAN SEAL. 


seal of the same species, formerly kept at the 
Aquarium) used to accomplish by blowing water 
from his mouth. 


THE SWELLFISH AND ITS INFLATING 
HABIT. 


HIS fish, (Spheroides maculatus), inhabit- 
‘Lee our coast from Massachusetts to Florida, 

is often abundant in New York Bay in the 
summer time, and the tanks of the Aquarium 
usually contain specimens of both the adults and 
the young. It is the only species of its genus 
to be found outside of the tropics and is known 
by several names, the commonest of which are 
putter, swellfish and blower. 

All fishes of this family 
have the habit of rising to 
the surface when disturbed 
by their enemies and rapid- 
ly filling the stomach with 
air so that they float about 
on the water, belly upper- 
most. The fishes distend 
themselves to such an extent 
that they become almost 
globular in form. One lo- 
cal species of the puffer 
family (the common spiny 
boxfish) inflates itself until 
its fins and tail appear to be 


mere excrescences upon an 
animated globe. When in- 


flated and floating, these 
fishes are often driven 
ashore by the wind, where 
they die and slowly become 
dried inthe inflated condition. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 645 


The habit is without 
doubt a protective one. 
When hooked by the an- 
gler and drawn to the sur- 
face, they are sometimes 
found to be tightly ex - 
panded with water. The 
inflated condition can usu- 
ally be produced in Aquar- 
ium specimens by merely 
lifting them from the water 
with a dip net, the fishes 
continuing to suck the air 
until the stomach is dis- 
tended to its utmost capac- 
ity. The air is retained 
by a valve in the throat 
and is usually discharged 
instantly when the fish is 
returned to the tank. 

At rare intervals these fishes have been ob- 
served to inflate themselves with water while in 
their tanks at the Aquarium, without disturbance 
of any sort. It is quite possible that the habit 
of inflating with water under natural conditions 
is more common than is imagined. 

Pictures in this Butietin show the fish ex- 
panding itself with air while being held in the 
hand and doing the same with water while in an 
aquarium. The picture showing the fish ex- 
panded with water is especially interesting as it 
is so rarely seen among captive specimens. Cer- 
tain large species of puffers are inflated, dried 
and made into lanterns by the Japanese. 


SWELLFISH INFLATING UNDER WATER. 


646 


SWELLFISH INFLATING OUT OF THE WATER. 


The puffing practice is quite as common in 
the very young fishes as it is in the adults. 

Putters are not used for food and the flesh of 
some species is known to be poisonous. Ordi- 
nary teeth are lacking in the putters, the jaws 
being armed with heavy parrot-like beaks. 
They are rather active in the tanks, the young 
especially so. ‘They often bury themselves in 
the sandy bottoms of the exhibition tank with 
only the eyes exposed. At such times they are 
pale and colorless and would scarcely be no- 
ticed in the sand where they lie, if it were not 
for the protruding eyes. On being disturbed 
the whole upper surface of the fish instantly be- 
comes dark, mottled with still darker spots, 
while along the sides of the body six or eight 
vertical blotches of black appear. 

The swellfish attains a length of about eight 
inches, and spawns in this region early in June. 
A month later the young become exceedingly 
abundant along sandy beaches. It is a migra- 
tory species and departs on the appearance of 
cold weather. 


ITEMS OF INTEREST. 


Aquarium Tablet.—This tablet was placed on 


the Aquarium building on September 25, 1909, 
as a historical contribution of the New York 


Zoological Society to the Hudson-Fulton Cele- 
bration. 


American Fisheries Society—The Fortieth 
Anniversary Meeting of the American Fisheries 
Society will be held at the New York Aquarium, 
September 27, 1910. Everything possible is 
being done to make this a notable gathering of 
men who are interested in fish culture and com- 
mercial fisheries. 


Skylights——The work of placing several new 
skylights in the Aquarium is now being com- 
pleted, and the effect is apparent in a decidedly 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


better illumination of the main floor exhibits. 
The collection of seals, sea turtles, alligators, 
fresh-water turtles and invertebrates in small 
aquaria can be viewed to much better advantage. 

Black Sea Bass——Mr. M. G. Foster, a mem- 
ber of the Zoological Society, has presented to 
the Aquarium a large mounted specimen of the 
black sea bass, (Stereolepis gigas), taken by 
himself at Santa Catalina Island, California. 
The fish is nearly six feet long, weighed 250 
pounds when captured, and was landed in the 
boat in forty-five minutes after being hooked. 

This is one of the very large sea fishes often 
caught with rod and reel in that locality. Speci- 
inens have been taken weighing 700 pounds. 
It is an important food fish, common along the 
southern coast of California. 


The Aquarium Society.—Sometime ago “The 
Aquarium Society” was granted permission to 
use the laboratory of the New York Aquarium 
for its monthly meetings. This Society is made 
up of persons interested in the keeping of small 
aquaria, and several of the members have con- 
tributed interesting fresh water forms to our 
collections. At the meeting held January 28, 
1910, Dr. Louis Hussakof of the Museum of 
Natural History gave an illustrated account of 
the Aquarium at Naples. ‘Teachers in the pub- 
lic schools who are interested in the subject of 
school aquaria have been invited to attend the 
meetings. 


Correspondence.—The New York Aquarium, 
like other museums, carries on a considerable 
correspondence with the public at large. Occa- 
sionally a letter is received which is too rich to 
be lost in the files. 

A letter received from Ulster Co., New York, 
says: “The dam on my place is broke and the 
water is all run out. We have fix the dam and 
want some more fish. Pleas attend to this at 
once.” 

Another letter from nearer home, inquires: 
“Are you troubled with rats? If so my method 
of killing will clean them out.” 

The answer was: “The Aquarium has plenty 
of rats but we do our own killing or rather the 
alligators do it. If you care to empty your 
traps into our alligator pool you will see rats 
killed with neatness and despatch and nothing 
left for the garbage can.” 

A Large Lobster—On February 22, 1910, 
the Aquarium received a lobster weighing six- 
teen pounds, or a pound and a half more than 
the giant lobster received in January, 1908, and 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BRONZE TABLET ON THE WALL OF THE AQUARIUM. 


described in the April number of the Zoological 
Society Butietrn for that year. 
the coast of New Jersey. Big lobsters are rare 
in these days of excessive lobster fishing. Ac- 
cording to Professor Herrick, author of an im- 
portant monograph on the American lobster, 
twenty-five pounds is the limit of size attained. 
A large lobster taken off Atlantic Highlands, 
New Jersey, in 1897, and brought to the Aquar- 
ium, is recorded to have weighed thirty-four 
pounds. This specimen is now in the American 
Museum of Natural History, and its size indi- 
cates that the weight recorded is not far from 
correct. Some of the largest lobsters taken dur- 
ing recent vears have been found off New Jer- 
sey. This is doubtless due to the fact that lob- 
stering is but little practiced so near the south- 
ern limit of the lobster’s natural distribution, 
and the small numbers existing there have a 
chance to grow. 


It came from 


Dear Mr. Aquarium: A fair correspondent 
of the “New York World” lately visited Florida 
and thinking that I possessed every necessary 
and comfort of this life except a live alligator, 
sent me one which I am forwarding to you un- 
der separate cover. While the lady’s intentions 
were of the best, her conclusions were wrong. 
I really do not need an alligator this winter. 
Another reason for parting with my gift is that 
affairs in this office may resume their normal 
business level and the lady clerks do their work 


BULLETIN. 647 
sitting in their chairs in- 
stead of standing on them. 

As to a name, he 
been called “Frankie” for 
the week he has been with 
me, but this is not to be 
considered as binding upon 
you. 


has 


If your experts de- 
cide that the name is inap- 
propriate call her “Josie.” 

The specimen was ac- 
cepted and the following 
answer sent to the donor: 

Please accept my thanks 
for the specimen of Alli- 


gator MiSSISSippPiensis 
which you have been so 
kind as to send to the 


Be pleased al- 
so to accept my thanks 
for your sprightly letter 
of transmittal which you 
will pardon my saying, is werth more than the 
‘gator, being much rarer. 

The Aquarium gets a million or two baby alli- 
gators a year from returning Florida tourists, 
but there is of course always room for a few 
more. When they get too thick, we send ’em 
back to Florida for the restocking of depleted 
waters, as alligator leather is becoming scarce 
owing to the activity of the above mentioned 
tourists. 


Aquarium. 


The name is no longer a matter of importance 
as we ran out of names so long ago that the 
clerk’s “Accession number” serves the same pur- 
pose, hope that the lady clerks in your office 
are now enjoying freedom from alarm. 


Young Sea Horses.—As an illustration of the 
importance of pure sea water to an aquarium, the 
keeping of the common sea horse will afford a 
good example. A few of these fishes procured 
a year and a half ago, after the new water sys- 
tem was placed in operation, lived more than a 
and one still They were all 
young specimens of less than two inches in 
leneth when received. 

Early in April of last year some of the 
females spawned, depositing their eggs, after 
the manner of these fishes, in the brood pouches 
of the males, after which the females died. On 
April 22, three of the males liberated from their 
pouches from 150 to 200 young, each. Every 
effort was made to supply the young with nat- 
ural food but without none of them 
surviving longer than two weeks. One of the 


vear, survives. 


success, 


648 ZOOLOGICAL 


parent males is still living 
and has reached a larger 
size than any sea horse 
ever kept in the Aquarium, 
being six and a half inches 
in length. 

Our observations appear 
to indicate that the female 
sea horse arrives at matur- 
ity in less than one year, 
and dies after the first 
spawning. 

The latter point is of 
course not yet demonstrat- 
ed, but a hundred more 
small sea horses procured 
during the past summer, 
have grown rapidly and 
will afford ample material 
for further observations as 
to breeding habits next 
month. 


THE OCTOPUS. 


UR efforts to acclim- 

atize the octopus in 

the Aquarium have 
not been crowned with suc- 
cess. Specimens have been brought from Ber- 
muda each summer, only to be lost within a few 
days. It was believed that the new system of 
pure sea water would make the conditions of 
captivity for the octopus, such, that our trouble 
would come to an end, but the experiences of the 
past summer showed that the hope was in vain. 
In the tanks of the Bermuda Aquarium, the oc- 
topus lives and thrives as well as it appears to do 
at Naples, and our specimens have been derived 
from stock inured to captivity in Bermuda. Our 
stored sea water is pure and is kept at the proper 
temperature, while our specimens have been sup- 
plied with live crabs, just the kind of food they 
like. They have been carried in large trans- 
portation tanks on the steamer, supplied with 
flowing sea water during the voyage and have 
been under the care of Mr. Mowbray who has 
had abundant success in keeping them in cap- 
tivity in Bermuda. 

As most of the animals of each shipment died 
during the voyage, and the survivors arrived in 
New York too weak to feed, it is now apparent 
that the cause of the trouble lies in the system 
of transportation. 

Fishes brought to New York from Bermuda 
usually arrive in good condition, and losses on 
board the steamer are trifling. The difficulty 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


OCTOPUS IN THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


The picture shows a weakened specimen. 
Photo by L. B. Spencer. 


may rest with the galvanized iron shipping 
tanks, which while satisfactory for fishes, may 
be all wrong for the octopus. The fish remains 
suspended in its natural element in the tank, but 
the octopus clings with all its suckers to the 
sides. It is possible that it thus absorbs some- 
thing injurious from the metal walls of the tank, 
and in view of this possible source of injury, 
the next season’s shipments will be made in 
wooden tanks painted with asphaltum, which has 
been found a safe coating for wooden troughs 
used in the hatching of fish eggs. 

The octopus is a prize exhibit in any aquarium 
where it is kept, and should be represented in 
our collections—especially as there is no serious 
difficulty about the capture and feeding of speci- 
mens. With live spiny-lobsters, crabs or mus- 
sels as bait, it is often taken in the large wicker 
fish traps used everywhere in the West Indies, 
but in Bermuda it is usually captured by divers, 
who seize it with their hands. The use of the 
fish-trap requires time, and the octopus may be 
killed by morays or rock fishes entering the trap. 
It would not venture into a trap already con- 
taining any large fish. 

It is frequently caught with hook and line, 
but when hauled up clings so tightly with its 


ZOOLOGICAL 


OCTOPUS IN RESTING POSITION. 


One specimen white, the other changing color. 


Photo by L. L. Mowbray. 


sucker-covered arms to the side of the boat that 
it cannot be loosened without injury. 

The hiding place of the octopus is discovered 
with the aid of a water glass which renders ob- 
jects on the bottom quite distinct at a depth of 
two or three fathoms. This contrivance, used 
by fishermen generally in the West Indies, is 
nothing more than a box or bucket with a bottom 
of glass. Placed on the surface of the water 
alongside the boat, it is easily managed by in- 
serting ones face in the open top. The lair of 
the octopus is indicated by the scattered shells 
of mollusks or crustaceans, 
such as oysters, clams, mus- 
sels, scallops, spiny lobsters 
and crabs of many kinds ly- 
ing in front of it. The ani- 
mal carries most of its food 
to its hiding place, and the 
quantity of rejected shells 
thrown in front of it forms 
a conspicuous mound some- 
times a yard in diameter 
and a foot in height. 

In capturing the octopus 
alive, the diver thrusts a 
handful of salt wrapped in 
dough into the hole oceu- 
pied as a hiding place. 

The immediate softening 
of the dough envelop liber- 
ates the salt, which irritates 
the animal causing it to dart 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 649 


out, when it may be seized 
with the hands. The diver 
wears a bathing suit and 
holds the octopus against 
his breast with one hand 
as he swims up to the boat, 
being careful not to injure 
it by getting his fingers 
under the edge of its man- 
tle. The animal of course 
takes hold of the man with 
its arms, but the diver is 
not bitten. Contrary to 
general belief the octopus, 
at least when of ordinary 
size, although armed with 
a formidable  parrot-like 
beak, is perfectly harm- 
less, never attempting to 
bite. 

The octopus does not 
discharge the contents of 
its ink bag until after it 
has darted from its lair. It attempts to retreat 
under the cover thus afforded, which is sufficient 
to cloud the water for a couple of feet. While 
occupying its lair it has the habit of clearing 
the entrance of any small objects that may be 
thrown there, by a discharge of water from its 
siphon. When disturbed it gathers the nearest 
empty shells, which adhering to the strong suck- 
ers of its arms, are used as a shield to guard the 
entrance. Ordinarily it lies quite out of sight, 
except for one arm held over its eyes, ready to 
seize prey or protect the entrance. When un- 


OCTOPUS ATTACHED TO THE GLASS FRONT OF THE TANK BY ITS SUCKERS. 
Photo by L. B. Spencer. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


THE AQUARIUM BUILDING IN 1871. 
From the painting by Edward Moran in the Fairmount Park Museum, Philadelphia. 


der cover in this position the eyes are forward, 
the body and the other arms being behind. The 
immediate vicinity of its hole is kept clear of 
debris for about six inches. 

While the water glass is necessary in search- 
ing for it in deep water, the animal sometimes 
lies in a pool between tide marks, hidden of 
course under a ledge, and its shell heap then 
may be entirely out of water at low tide. 

The large Bermuda crayfish or spiny lobster 
greatly fears it, and the fishermen can drive a 
hiding lobster from its hole by placing a dead 
octopus near it. It does not attempt to carry 
home a large lobster, but making an opening 
under the side of the carapace, cleans the flesh 
out entirely, leaving the ‘empty shell intact. 

The octopus is also a crab eater, and frequent- 
ly pursues a crab entirely out of water, follow- 
ing it over the rocks for several feet. When 
live crabs are thrown into the tank of a captive 
octopus, they are seized by the suckers on the 
arms and drawn under the web which connects 
them at the base. Several crabs may be stowed 
away under the web together. 

In captivity, and doubtless in nature also, the 
octopus is more active by night than by day. 
In Bermuda the octopus is sometimes found 
large enough to measure seven feet across the 
outspread arms, but those of the ordinary size 
that come to the Aquarium, measure little more 
than four feet in expanse. 


The octopus sometimes attains a much larger 
size, and West Indian specimens have been re- 
corded with a length of nine feet and a weight 
of sixty-eight pounds. A species on our Pacific 
Coast reaches a length of sixteen feet, or near- 
ly twenty-eight feet across the outspread arms. 

While octopi are known to be timid creatures, 
there is probably no reason why very large spec- 
imens should not be dangerous to man, although 
authentic cases of unprovoked attacks are lack- 
ing. 


THE AQUARIUM BUILDING IN 1871. 


ROM time to time the Bulletin has repro- 

duced old prints or other pictures of the 

Aquarium building. This structure dating 
back to 1807 and successively known as “West 
Battery,’ “Castle Clinton,’ ‘Castle Garden” 
and the “Aquarium,” possesses for many persons 
a decided historical interest. 

The picture presented in the present number 
is from a reproduction of a platinum print, of 
the painting by Edward Moran in the Museum 
of Art, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. It shows 
the building in its Castle Garden stage, shortly 
after the extensive filling-in of earth which 
brought it within the limits of Battery Park. 
According to Mr. Thomas Moran, the painting 
was made in 1871 or 1872, prior to the building 
of the present sea wall. 5 


ENDOWMENT FUND. 


HE Executive Committee of the New York 
NE aise Society has decided, in order to in- 

sure the permanency of the Society’s work in 
the Zoological Park and in the Aquarium, to es- 
tablish an Endowment Fund, the income of 
which will be available for the uses and purposes 
of the Society ; $350,000 are needed at once, and 
the Committee has determined to ask for six 
donations of $25,000 each; ten donations of 
$10,000 each, and twenty donations of $5,000 
each. The following letter has been prepared, 
signed by the officers and Executive Committee 
and was sent out to the friends of the Society 
in the latter part of February: 

“The Endowment of the New York Zoological 
Society is necessary to give permanence to the 
great work which it is conducting for the educa- 
tion and civilization of the City of New York. 
The visitors for the twelve months to November 
1, 1909, are: Park, 1,620,582; Aquarium, 3,739,- 
133; a total of 5,359,715. 

“The creation out of a wilderness, in the short 
period of ten years, of a Zoological Park which 
is unequalled in the world, and the establish- 
ment of an Aquarium which is also without 
rival, are unparalleled achievements which are 
entirely due to liberal appropriations by the 
City of New York and to the intelligence and 
public spirit of those members of the Society to 
whom the management of these great institu- 
tions has been entrusted. The Society itself, 
by annual contributions of $171,520, and by 
to the Park of $316,594.60, 
has munificently supported these undertakings 
The 


total annual income from membership dues is 


outright gifts 
and loyally stood behind the management. 
insufficient to carry on all the executive, admin- 


istrative, scientific and artistic work which the 
Society has contributed to make the Park and 


the Aquarium the institutions they are. None 
of this is paid by the City. 
“The Executive Committee has, therefore, 


determined to raise an Endowment Fund similar 
to that which makes permanent the work of the 


American Museum of Natural History, of the 
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and of the Botan- 
ical Garden. 

“Pending the raising of an Endowment, 
which should amount to not less than $1,000,000, 
one hundred members of the Society, in addi- 
tion to their previous gifts, have enrolled them- 
selves as Sustaining Members, contributing 
$4,000 a year for five years, or until such time 
as the Endowment Fund ean be raised. 

“Tt may be supposed that the other institu- 
tions of the city as well as the exhibitions in the 
Park itself, are doing all that should be done 
toward public education and _ enlightenment 
along these lines, but there are three especial 
grounds for this undertaking by the New York 
Zoological Society. 

“First.—PERMANENCE OF THE Society, and 
thus of the Park and Aquarium, when the present 
initial enthusiasm wanes through the loss of 
members. 

“Second.—Scientiric ExpLoratTioN AND 
Pusxication, such as is conducted by other sim- 
ilar societies in other parts of the world. 

“Third-—PrRotEcTION oF ANIMAL LIFE, as 
the Society’s part in the great conservation 
movement which is going on not only in the 
United States, but in all parts of the world. 

“You are invited to contribute to Endowment 
either by an outright subscription, or by a sub- 
scription conditioned upon the raising of $250,- 
000 during the coming fiscal year.” 

The Committee has the satisfaction of report- 
ing that up to the present date subscriptions 
have been received as follows: 

Of the six $25,000 subscriptions needed, two 
have been received. 

Of the ten $10,000 subscriptions needed, four 
have been received. 

Of the twenty $5,000 subscriptions needed, 
eight have been received. 

The Committee hopes that the members and 
friends of the Society will aid in raising the 


needed Endowment Fund. 


Je Aly 
bal A Pe.) “ 


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ZOOLOGICAL 
POGIETY  BUREE TIN 


Number 39 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


May, 1910 


PHOTOGRAPHING 


T has again been forcibly illustrated that wild 

animal photography, if carried on in a way 

to secure perfect results, is a very hazardous 
pursuit. 

During the winter our female Russian brown 
bear has been exhibited in one of the outside 
cages of the Lion House, while repairs have 
been going on at the Bear Dens. During her 
stay at the Lion House, on January 18, she 
gave birth to a litter of three fine cubs, making 
the fourth litter from this mother while she has 
been exhibited in the Park. Owing to restrict- 


THE BEAR CUBS. 


ed cage accommodations at the Lion House, 
Mr. Sanborn was unable to obtain good photo- 
graphs. “Caché’” and her cubs were moved 
down to the Bear Dens on April 26, during a 
day of brilliant sunshine, and Mr. Sanborn im- 
mediately took advantage of the perfect weather 
conditions for photographing the mother and 
her young. 

With Keeper Richard Spicer, he entered the 
den, provided with a large “reflecting” camera, 
and obtained several pictures of the bear fam- 
of which herewith shown. 


ily,—some are 


RUSSIAN BROWN BEAR 
This picture was taken immediately before ““Caché” attacked Keeper Spicer. 


“CACHE.” 
The three cubs are 


standing in the opening 


of the shelter, into which ‘‘Caché’’ afterwards tried to drag the keeper. 


652 


“Caché,” up to that time a uniformly good-na- 
tured bear, with or without cubs,—spent many 
minutes in picking up the peanuts that were 
thrown to her by Spicer, as he endeavored to 
thus entice her into the best lighted portions of 
the cage. 

Without warning, she suddenly rushed at 
Spicer, knocked him down, seized him by the 
left forearm and at once started to drag him 
into one of the sleeping-dens. Mr. Sanborn, re- 
covering from the momentary surprise, dropped 
his camera, rushed for a club which had been 
taken into the den and was leaning against the 
bar-work, and with it dashed back to Spicer’s 
assistance. By that time “Caché’” had dragged 
her keeper almost into the door of the sleeping- 
den. Mr. Sanborn belabored the bear over the 
head with the club so vigorously that she quick- 
ly released her hold of Spicer, and backed into 
her sleeping quarters. 

Without waiting for assistance from without, 
Mr. Sanborn gave instant attention to the keep- 
er’s badly lacerated forearm, which was bleeding 
freely. As quickly as possible he tied his hand- 
kerchief around the injured arm, and with the 
flow of blood well checked, assisted the keeper to 
the gate. By that time the door of the den had 
been unlatched, and one of our soda-fountain at- 
tendants, William Kansky, after arming himself 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


with a club, pluckily rushed in and rescued the 
camera. 

Mr. Sanborn’s brave attack upon the infuriat- 
ed “Caché’” undoubtedly saved Keeper Spicer, 
for the bear evidently intended to drag the latter 
into her sleeping-den. It was a case of brave 
action, without a second’s loss of time, and, as 
stated before, demonstrated the danger of enter- 
ing the enclosures of wild animals, even for an 
experienced keeper like Spicer, who knew the 
animal well and was known by her, and who had 
entered her cage on many previous occasions. 
In a previous accident, Mr. Sanborn was the 
victim, being hurled to the ground by an infuri- 
ated llama, and in an attempt to rescue the 
camera had his upper lip completely split by 
coming in contact with the lens barrel. 

Keeper Spicer was immediately removed to 
the Fordham Hospital, where he is receiving 
every attention at the hands of Dr. Alfred S. 
Taylor, operating surgeon, and Doctors Pace 
and Black, house surgeons. The bite of the 
bear inflicted upon the keeper's forearm, two 
long, ragged lacerations, in which the two main 
arteries were destroyed. As a result of this, it 
is now feared that the thumb, and either one or 
two fingers, will be lost. 

On the whole, the loss of the two blood-sup- 
plying arteries renders the results of this acci- 
dent particularly distressing. R. L. D. 


“CACHE’S” THREE CUBS. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SERIES OF RODENT-REPTILE CAGES IN THE REPTILE HOUSE. 


AN ECONOMIC RODENT-REPTILE 
COLLECTION. 


By Raymonp L. Dirmars. 


S an answer to an oft-repeated question— 
“Of what use are reptiles?”—a new fea- 
ture that is being rapidly completed in the 
Reptile House, will serve several purposes. In 
the first place it will present for exhibition for 
the first time in the Zoological Park, an elabor- 
ate series of the small gnawing animals, or 
rodents, a great number of the species of which 
are highly injurious to the interests of agricul- 
turists. Secondly, the exhibition will contain a 
large series of those species of snakes that prey 
upon the destructive rodents,—thus presenting 
for observation those serpents of marked econ- 
omic value. Finally, the entire series will stand 
as a clear demonstration of the perfect scheme 
of Nature in which the production of all animal 
life is balanced; for a part of the exhibition will 
be cages containing representative species of 
those mammals that, in turn, prey upon the ser- 
pents, thus keeping even the destroyers of the 
smaller injurious creatures within bounds. 
While this exhibition will be made a perma- 
nent feature, the character of the exhibits will 
be changed from time to time, as is the case with 
all of the smaller creatures displayed in the 
Zoological Park. During the present summer, 
both the injurious mammals and the reptiles of 
economic value will embrace species for the 
greater part inhabiting North America. This 
arrangement will be followed by an exhibition 
of Old World species. A few very striking Old 
World species will, however, be displayed dur- 
ing the present season. 


The smaller injurious rodents or gnawing 
animals of North America are many and yaried. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 653 
Of the Sciurid@, the Squir- 
rel Family, we have a very 
elaborate series comprising 
eighteen species on exhibi- 
tion in the Small-Mammal 
House. 


nomic 


In the present eco- 
series of mammals 
and reptiles, the Sciwride 
is being limited to the ex- 
hibition of 


those species 


really injurious to agricul- 


ture. The tree squirrels, 
genus Sciurus, cannot be 


properly embraced under 
this head. While the hab- 
its of some species might 
be rated as not friendly to 
the farmer, the various spe- 
cies have so rapidly decreased in number of rep- 
resentatives, that some of them are now actual- 
ly protected under the game laws,—this provi- 
sion relating particularly to the Carolina gray 
squirrel, (Sciurus carolinensis), it being now il- 
legal to keep specimens captive other than in 
zoological institutions, for public exhibition. One 
well-known species of the tree squirrel group 
that is rated as injurious, is the North American 
red squirrel, (Sciurus hudsonicus). Several re- 
lated species occur in the United States, Mexico 
and Central America. These smaller members 
of the group are notorious destroyers of birds’ 
eggs, and the recently hatched birds in the nest. 
Whether or not their habits are injurious to 
man, owing to their bird-destroying inclination, 
is a subject for considerable study; for it is 


SURICATE. 


654 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THIRTEEN-LINED SPERMOPHILE. 


right here that we evidently note one of the 
phases of balance in animal life that we are en- 
deavoring to illustrate in the exhibition of the 
animals under discussion. 

The ground squirrels of the United States, 
together with the members of the Mouse and 
Rat Family, the Muridew, stand as a_ positive 
menace to the agriculturists—some of them 
constituting a menace to 
humanity generally. If 
these creatures were not 
kept in vigorous check 
they would literally 
overrun vast regions of 
the globe. The march 
of civilization has re - 
sulted in the marked in- 
crease of a number of 
species that thrive upon 
the products of tilled 
soil. The ground squir- 
rels, forming a large 
North American group, are particularly common 
in the western portion of the United States, 
where they are commonly called “gophers.” They 
have also been grouped under the title of sper- 
mophiles;—meaning seed-lovers. This title is 
quite appropriate, as the vast majority of the 
species feeds principally upon grain and seeds. 
They live in burrows in the prairie country, 
some in actual desert regions, and in the great 
wheat belts are altogether at home, in the midst 
of plenty. 

Of the spermophiles north of Mexico, there 
are thirty-one full species and forty-two sub- 
species. In the cultivated areas their most de- 
structive habit is the digging up of seed grain. 
Yet it should be explained that some species eat 
quantities of destructive insects, such as grass- 
hoppers, beetles, cut-worms and crickets, and in 
this way partly compensate the farmer for the 
grain they devour. The ground squirrels or 
spermophiles are prolific, bringing forth seven 


to ten young in a litter. Their enemies are the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


rodent-eating snakes, foxes, badgers, skunks, 
hawks and owls. Of these little animals exhib- 
ited in our series to demonstrate the destructive 
species and their natural destroyers, the thir- 
teen-lined spermophile, (Citellus tridecemlinea- 
tus), is one of the smallest, though most widely 
distributed 
and characteristic, consisting of pale yellow 
bands, separated by rows of yellow spots on a 
dark brown ground-color. 


species. The pattern is striking 


The Richardson spermophile, (Citellus rich- 
ardsoni), of northern Montana, North Dakota 
and the region immediately northward as far as 
the Saskatchewan, is another of the ground 
squirrels in our special collection. It looks much 
like a miniature prairie ‘dog,’ except for the 
proportionally longer tail. It is notoriously 
destructive to grain. 
Like a number of other 
species among the sper- 
mophiles, it passes the 
winter in a state of hi- 
bernation, during which 
period its blood circula- 
tion is greatly retarded, 
to such an extent, in 
fact, that a hibernating 
squirrel might be mis- 
taken for a dead crea- 
ture. 


JERBOA. 


As examples of mam- 
mals that constantly menace the welfare of man- 
kind, owing to their persistent multiplication, 
our series of the destructive rodents necessarily 
embraces a number of species of the rats and 
mice, these representing the largest of the fami- 
lies among the rodents, or gnawing animals, the 
Muride. ‘The common rat, (Mus decumanus), 
despite its insignificant size, must be rated as a 
distinctly destructive species, and one actually 


dangerous to man. With the gradual solving of 


KANGAROO RAT. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


the long train of puzzles that confront scientific 
workers, comes the decision that the appalling 
spread and the great difficulty of eradicating 
the deadly bubonic plague, are evils traced di- 
rectly to that mean-tempered slinking creature 
that must be rated as one of the greatest pests 
of civilization. The decision is, that the rat is 
susceptible to plague infection, and is infested 
with fleas that are always quite willing to leave 
the original host, when the blood of the latter 
is well tenanted by the formidable bacilli, and 
add variety to their sanguinary instinct by biting 
members of the human family. The proboscis 
of an infected flea hypodermically transfers the 
plague culture to the human. Numerous reput- 
able writers have emphatically explained that 
the multiplication of the common rat menaces 
the world, and, if left unchecked, would mean 
And in the face 


of this, it appears unfortunate enough that many 


the annihilation of human life. 


common enemies of the rat are being persistently 
persecuted and exterminated. Among these are 
the snakes, hawks and owls. The reptiles are 
of especial importance owing to their prowling 
and subterraneous habits. They destroy the en- 
tire litters of young rodents in the nests, and a 
single snake may perform the work of a dozen 
hawks. 

While the ravages of the common rat may be 
rated as most formidable among the North 
American members of the Murid@, the rice-field 
rat, the cotton rat and the wood rats are other 
rodents that Nature must keep in constant check 
for the good of the great general scheme of life. 
This also relates to the innumerable species of 
mice. The rats and mice are well represented 
in the collection to which this article relates, as 
well as those curious gnawing animals known as 
the pocket mice, (H/eteromyid@), and those ugly, 
strong-jawed creatures known as the pouched 
rats, or pocket gophers, Family Geomyide. 


RODENT DESTROYERS. 


In tiers of cages beneath those containing the 
rodents, we are now arranging the series of eco- 
nomically important serpents, the greater num- 
ber of these North American species, for the 
opening of this display. As enemies of the 
common rat, however, which dangerous pest has 


BULLETIN. 655 


extended its domain to all parts of the world, 
will be shown a series of rat-eating serpents 
from various widely separated parts of the 
globe. 

Among the North American serpents, one of 
the most useful species is the indigo snake, or 
gopher snake, (Spilotes corais cowperi), a spe- 
cies confined to the southeastern portion of this 
country. It is a handsome, glossy, blue-black 
reptile, with a dash of red on the throat, attains 
a length of nine feet, and prefers rodents over 
all other prey. This fine and useful reptile 
should be protected by the state laws of South 
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Texas, 
for several species of rats, besides the omnipres- 
ent domestic species, abound in those states. 
The Brazil 
through Central America, Mexico, thence into 


species ranges from northward 
the United States; the range in the latter fol- 
Central 


America the valuable habits of this rodent-de- 


lowing the east coastal region. In 


stroying reptile are well appreciated and the 
species is protected. 

In the western United States are several large 
and powerful serpents belonging to the genus 
The bull snake,—also called the 
yellow gopher snake, (P. sayi), is the most 
widely distributed. 
feet and its color is yellow, with a chain of 


Pituophis. 
It attains a length of eight 
brownish dorsal saddles. It ranges over a great 
part of the country inhabited by the grain-de- 


stroying ground squirrels, where, together with 


hawks and several species of the carnivorous 


small mammals, it wages constant warfare 
against the small gnawing animals. The im- 


portance of the work performed by this serpent 
cannot be fully appreciated without due realiza- 
tion of the reptile’s habit of entering the deep 
burrows of the rodents and destroying whole lit- 
ters of young in the course of a meal. 


Among the serpents of marked economic im- 
portance inhabiting the United States east of 
the Mississippi and northward into the New 
England States, is the familiar blacksnake, or 
racer, (Zamenis constrictor), which is a busy 
The “milk” snake, (Ophi- 


bolus doliatus triangulus), sometimes called the 


destroyer of mice. 


checkered ‘“‘adder,’—is of great value to the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


TYPE OF REPTILE CAGE. 
Economic Rodent-Reptile Series. 


farmer. It never steals milk from the cows, 
and the reason why it so persistently haunts 
the neighborhood of the barns is to prey upon 
the small injurious mammals that collect in such 
plaees, and which constantly elude the traps of 
the farmer, who chafes under the constant an- 
noyance of finding his grain sacks being gnawed 
full of holes, and his fodder riddled by mice, 
voles and rats. 

The pilot blacksnake, (Coluber obsoletus), 
and the pine snake, (Pituophis melanoleucus), 
are other economically valu- 
able reptiles of the eastern 
states, and in the southern 
part of that region. 
central North 
Carolina southward, we find 
the (Coluber 
guttatus), and other species 
of the Coluber, the 


coachwhip snake, (Zamenis 


Rang- 


ing from 


to) 


corn snake, 


genus 


flagelliformis), besides a 
number of species of ground 
snakes that prowl into the 
burrows of mice and voles, 
and destroy the young. All 
of the serpents mentioned 
will be represented in our 


series of the snakes rated as 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


of economic importance in 
this country, and moreover, 
all are absolutely innocuous. 
While the poisonous snakes 
are also constant destroyers 
of rodents, and assigned to 
the scheme of Nature for 
some specific purpose, it is 
of course imperative, owing 
to the advance of civilization 
and the danger man is ex- 
posed to in coming in con- 
tact with them, that they 
The 


slaughter of the harmless 


must go. senseless 


snakes, however, should be 
as effectively stopped as the 

wanton killing of birds. And 

to counteract, if possible, a very silly prejudice 
that has prevailed in Nature since the tale of 
“Eve” and the “apple,” was one of the sug- 
gestions in preparing the series under discussion. 
To fully demonstrate that Nature has her 
own ideas in establishing a balance in animate 
will exhibit several species of 
In the United States 


the chief enemies of the larger snakes in the 


creation, we 
snake-killing mammals. 
wilds, are eagles, hawks and owls. In certain 


areas adjacent to cultivated regions, domestic 


Mitch: 


PEE EET ET TT et 


TYPE OF RODENT CAGE. 
Economic Rodent-Reptile Series. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


swine are destroying all kinds of reptiles,— 
particularly the useful species; which is not a 
part of Nature’s plan. The natural enemies of 
the smaller snakes (the mouse-eating species), 
are skunks, weasels, otters and foxes. The rac- 
coon is also a snake-eater. While our economic 
series is new, we will present to our visitors the 
better known snake-killing mammals, in the 
shape of the mongoose, the kusimansé and suri- 
eate,—all Old World species that are notorious 
snake-eaters. While mentioning these animals, 
it is well to explain that these nimble creatures 
do not hesitate to attack the deadly species. 
While the general idea is to the effect that in 
their combats with cobras and vipers they are 
bitten, then, after the inevitable death of the 
deadly creature the courageous little mammal 
rushes off to some secret patch of shrubbery, 
gnaws on some wonderful leaves, and by so do- 
ing immedately counteracts the deadly effects 
of the poison, the truth of the matter is that 
these snake-fighters are seldom bitten. If such 
is the case, they die. Their motions are so won- 
derfully active that the snake is bewildered and 
is unable to strike effectively. The reptile’s 
enemy dashes about it in circles, or cuts eccen- 
tric angles at such a speed that the attacking 
animal looks like a mere streak. Then there is 
a dash at the snake, a crunch of powerful jaws 
supplied with long, sharp teeth that penetrate 
vital parts, and the fight is over. 

We hope that our economic series will be of 
interest and instruction to teachers and their 
classes, to agriculturists and many who have 
asked us about the possible value of snakes. 
The series will be supplied with descriptive 
labels, which will be duly elaborated according 
to the trend of questions coming from our visit- 


ors, a practice that we have always followed. 


A NEW BUSHMASTER. 
5 collection in the Reptile House has 


been enriched by the addition of an excep- 
tionally fine example of the bushmaster, 
(Lachesis mutus), from the Island of Trinidad. 
Like all of our former specimens, about five in 
number, during the past ten years, the speci- 


BULLETIN. 657 
men was obtained through the courtesy of Mr. 
R. R: Mole and his son Mr. Howard Mole, of 
Trinidad. These 
and deadly vipers, representing the largest and 
of the New World 


poisonous serpents, are very delicate and nery- 


Port-of-Spain, magnificent 


most formidable species 


ous as captives. Adult captive specimens have 
never been known to feed, but it is our constant 
endeavor to make one of these reptiles feel 
The 


present specimen has been given a big cage, 


enough at home to take food voluntarily. 


with a generous bed of damp sphagnum moss, 
and a rustic shelf on which to climb. 

The 
length of twelve feet, and inhabits tropical 
It is boldly marked with 
inky black rhombs on a pale orange or pinkish 


bushmaster, or “‘sirocucu,” attains a 


America generally. 


ground color, with a scalation so rough as to 
suggest the surface of a pineapple. 

Following is an interesting letter from Mr. 
Mole, describing the capture of our new speci- 
men :— 

“T send you per S.S. ‘Marowipue,’ sailing 
to-day, two Lachesis mutus, each about eight 
feet. 
and in the same neighborhood, within two days 


They were both caught by the same man 


of each other, and I believe them to be a pair. 
My father tells me that he has never had or 
seen two Lachesis mutus together at the same 
time and he thinks it an extremely rare occur- 
rence, and the chances are that they will feed. 
I shall be glad to hear of any results of any 
experiments you make, and whether they can be 
made to feed. 

“IT am sorry to inform you that the price 
of Lachesis mutus has gone up. It is owing to 
the mongoose, whose destructive work is going 
on at a great pace. Our hunters say that they 
cannot catch poisonous snakes at the old price, 
as they are extremely rare, and the risk is too 
great. 


* * * * * * x * 


“T regret to say that while the second and 
smaller snake was being bagged, he twisted 
and broke his neck, striking through the bag 
and squirting poison on my father’s chin. I 
am, therefore, only able to send you one.” 


Reale? 


658 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELWIN R. SANBORN, EpITorR. 
Departments : 


MAMMAL BIRD 
W. T. Hornanay, Sc. D. C, WILLIAM BEEBE. 
AQUARIUM REPTILE 


C. H. TOWNSEND, Sc. D. RayMonD L, DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1910, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numrer 39 MAY, 1910 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee - 
MADISON GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
LEvi P. Morton, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers - 
Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND,Sc. D., BATTERY PARK. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PyNgE, 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Glass of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
William C. Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir De Rham, John S. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuei Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Nelson Robinson, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, Frederick G. Bourne, 
James W. Barney, Frank K. Sturgis, W. Austin Wadsworth. 
Wm. PiersonHamilton, George J. Gould, Emerson McMillin, 
Robert S. Brewster Ogden Mills Anthony R, Kuser 


@Officers of the Zoological Park : 


W. T. HornaDAy, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MIrcHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE Curator of Birds. 
W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W. MERKEL = = Chief Forester and Constructor. 
G. M. BEERBOWER Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MitcHELL = Office Assistant. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN Editor and Photographer. 


Officers of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 
W.I. DENYSE - - - - - - In Charge of Collections. 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B, STOVER 


Glass nf 1913. 


ANOTHER DELAY. 


The vicissitudes of the Administration Build- 
ing continue to be prolonged. At present it is 
the furniture. 

It was found that the necessary furniture, 
rugs and window draperies could be purchased 
only by a public letting to the lowest bidder. 

After most painstaking consideration of every 
point involved, an elaborate series of designs 
and specifications was prepared and submitted 
to the Park Department. With all possible dis- 
patch a contract was advertised, and bids were 
opened on April 14. Then a firm that failed to 
put in a bid, cheerfully filed a protest because 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


the specifications were not, in one small detail, 
worded to suit it; as a result, the Park Board 
threw out all the bids, thus making it necessary 
to re-advertise. In time—as compared with 
eternity,—we hope to succeed in getting a con- 
tract for our furniture actually awarded. After 
that Rubicon has been crossed, the goods will be 
expected in sixty days; but when they will be 
received, no one can say. 

At present only one thing is certain: we will 
not secure our household goods, nor actually oc- 
cupy our new offices, before autumn. 


ENDOWMENT FUND. 


The raising of the Endowment Fund is pro- 
gressing substantially. Of the six $25,000 sub- 
scriptions needed, three have been received; of 
the ten $10,000 subscriptions needed, four have 
been received; of the twenty $5,000 subserip- 
tions needed, seventeen have been received, mak- 
ing a total of $200,000. 

At least $250,000 must be raised before July 
1, 1910, in order to comply with the conditions 
upon which some of the foregoing subscriptions 
have been made. It is hoped that the members 
of the Society will aid the Executive Commit- 
tee in securing the balance needed. 

The following contributions have been either 
paid into the Treasury, or else subscribed in 
some cases conditionally upon raising $250,000 
prior to July 1, 1910:— 


Samuel Thorne - $25,000 
Jacob H. Schiff - 25,000 
George F. Baker 25,000 
Est. Phoebe Anna Thorne._____....-.- 10,000 
Cleveland grit) Dod cee =e eee 10,000 
Ogden Pi Minlllish s.r eee ee 10,000 
ievage-. Mortons ee eee ee 10,000 
Bdiwanrd Ses blamine ss sss eee eee 5,000 
JeAva(o hen AK CE YANN 9 oe aaeeecornenseatcerecoste: 5,000 
IW Eieeey 1S penile AE O1P oe see ctec ease eneesercecs 5,000 
Samuel mB eA eriyza sacs seere eee 5,000 
Tear ceo 6a UU LS eee een 5,000 
John L. Cadwalader 5,000 
Percy R. Pyne 5,000 
George C. Clark. 5,000 
Georges Wee kerkins == se 5,000 
ispen andes te welt b eee ne ee ene 5,000 
A Basten di ese, Soccer ee eee eee 5,000 
Robert sae bi ewstersee ees 5,000 
Fe hig eG bison ee 5,000 
Elennya Avs C= al avons ee 5,000 
Georges Goul dies ere 5,000 
tolmy 1) SeAc-c bib oll cleeters se ee eee 5,000 
Frederick G. Bourne 5,000 
F. Augustus Schermerhorn. 1,000 
Est. Marguerite Carter 100 


ZOOLOGICAL 


NEW MEMBERS 
January 1, 1910-Aprin 30, 1910. 


PATRONS. 


Gould, Jr., Edwin, 
Harrison, Jr., George L., 


Hornaday, William T., 
House, Edward J. 


LIFE MEMBERS. 
Agnew, Cornelius R., Norton, John W., 
Agnew, George B., Madeira, Percy C., 


Bradley, John R., 
Cauldwell, Dr. C. M., 
Church, Willard, 
Collier, Robert J., 
Disston, Jr., Henry, 
Dressler, Oscar, 
Dugmore, A. Radclyffe, 
Gould, George H., 
Guthrie, William D., 
Hart, Frank, 
Newland, V. M., 


Moore, Frederic P., 
Osborn, Mrs. Wm. Church 
Phelps, Mrs. von R., , 
Phillips, John M., 

Potter, Wilson, 

Sanford, Henry, 

St. John, Frank L., 
Tarlton, Leslie S., 
Tritton, Claude H., 
Whitney, Caspar, 
Whitney, Harry. 


ANNUAL MEMBERS. 


Adams, Miss Maude, 
Alexander, Mrs. Henry A., 
Allien, Frederick, 
Altschul, C., 

Amend, Robert F., 
Armstrong, John H., 
Barbey, Henry G., 
Benkard, Mrs. Harry H., 
Bennett, W. H., 

Blagden, George, 

Blair, Mrs. Ledyard, 
Birckhead, Hugh, 

Bowne, Francis D., 
Brackett, George C., 
Bronson, Edgar B., 
Brower, George V., 

Bull, Mrs. Wm. Lanman, 
Burden, Jr., Mrs. James A., 
Butler, Mrs. P. H., 
Butler, Miss Virginia, 
Cahen, Julius P., 
Callender, Miss Mary R., 
Cassard, William J., 
Clark, Jr., Louis C., 

Colt, Richard C., 

Conway, Mrs. Maud Allis, 
Cross, W. Redmond, 
Cunningham, W. delL.., 
Cuyler, Mrs. C. C., 
deForest, Miss Caroline, 
Demarest, Mrs. Warren G., 
Douglas, William Harris, 
Dun, Mrs. R. G., 

Duryea, Mrs. H. B., 
Hilers, Carl, 

Evarts, Miss Mary, 

Falls, Mrs. DeWitt Clinton, 
Ferguson, Rey. Henry, 
Feuss, Capt. Andrew W., 
Fraser, Miss J. K., 
Gaunt, James, 


Gianini, Charles A., 
Goldman, Julius, 
Goodwin, Mrs. J. J., 
Graves, George Coe, 
Greenwood, J. Wm. 
Griswold, Geo., 

Hall, Clinton M., 
Harriman, Mrs. H, M., 
Hill, Robert C., 
Hitcheock, Frank, 
Hotehkin, W. B., 
Huntington, Mrs. A, M., 
Huntington, Mrs. R. P., 
Huyler, Frank DeK., 
James, Mrs. Walter B., 
Keyser, Mrs. Samuel, 
King, Beverly S., 

King, Miss Ethel, 
Kohlsaat, Miss Edith M., 
Kremer, Mrs. Wm. N., 
Ladenburg, Mrs. Adolf S., 
Lewis, Mrs. August, 
MacVeagh, Charles S., 
McLane, Thos. L., 
MeWilliams, Daniel W., 
Mahony, Miss Helen F., 
Mason, William, 
Mayer, Jesse, 

Meyer, Miss Heloise, 
Minturn, Mrs., 

Morgan, Wm. Fellowes, 
Moseley, William H., 
Myers, William S., 
Obermayer, Charles J., 
Offerman, John, 
Parsons, Miss Gertrude, 
Perry, Rufus Lewis, 
Peter, Emil, 

Platten, J. W., 

Plaut, Albert, 

Poel, Frank, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Post, Mrs. Charles A., 
Rascovar, James, 
Redmond, Miss Emily, 
Rice, Mrs. William B., 
Richard, Miss Elvine, 
Ridder, Herman, 
Robertson, Albert, 
Rogers, Mrs. William B., 
Sands, Miss Anne A., 
Schaefer, Edward C., 
Schmidt, Charles, 
Schmidt, Wm. H., 
Schnabel, R. A., 
Schwarez, Max M., 
Schwerin, Clarence M., 
Scoville, Robert, 

Senff, Mrs. Charles H., 
Smith, Mrs. FP. Hopkinson, 
Sparrow, Edward W., 
Spencer, Edwards, 
Speyer, Mrs. Ellin P., 
Starke, Albert G., 
Steele, Mrs. Charles, 
Stewart, Mrs. Percy H., 


Stillman, C. C., 

Stillman, Mrs. C.C., 
Strong, Miss Alice E., 
Stroock, Louis S., 
Sutphen, John S., 

Yams, Mrs. J. Frederick, 
Thorne, Mrs. Jonathan, 
Thorne, Mrs. Samuel, 
Thorp, W. Edwin, 
Trowbridge, Louise A., 
Turnbull, Mrs. Ramsay, 
Utz, Edward G., 

Van Ingen, Mrs. Edward, 
von Lengerke, Justus, 
Waterbury, Miss, 

Webb, Mrs. Wm. Seward, 
Weir, Mrs. C. Gouverneur, 
Werner, C. H., 

White, Harold T., 
Williams, R. H., 

Wolf, Arthur D., 
Woodward, Robert B., 
Worrall, P. B., 

Yorkwitz, Albert. 


MALICIOUS MISCHIEF CONVICTION. 


During this spring, the officers and keepers 
of the Zoological Park have been specially on the 
lookout for a particularly malicious type of mis- 
chief-maker—the man who throws matches into 
the animal cages. The bedding in a cage was 
deliberately set on fire last summer, and a 
calamity was narrowly averted. 

On Sunday, April 24, in the afternoon, dur- 
ing a heavy attendance in the Park, Keeper 
Engeholm, of the Primate House, discovered 
an offender of this type. Quietly notifying 
Policeman William King, the man was fol- 
lowed and observed while he repeated the of- 
fense. He was immediately arrested. 

On being taken to the Bronx Park Station, 
the man gave his name as Abraham Lipsky, and 
his address as 724 East 5th Street. Lipsky was 
locked up at the Bronx Park Station. 

Later on the prisoner was arraigned at the 
Market Court. We quote from the 
New York World its record of what took place 
in the court:— 


Jefferson 


“When Lipsky was arraigned in the Night 
Court, Magistrate Herbert lectured him. * * * 
‘There have been two serious fires in the Zoo, 
and those animals, placed there for your in- 
struction and pleasure, are too valuable to be 
played with by men like you.’ Lipsky was 
fined $10, and not having the money was sent to 
the workhouse for ten days.” ily 1% 1D): 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


HIPPOPOTAMUS. 
Ghizeh Gardens, Egypt. 


THE GHIZEH ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


HE Ghizeh Zoological Gardens are a de- 
light to the lover of beauty as well as to the 
zoologist. Captain Stanley S. Flower, the 
Director, deserves the greatest credit for having 
brought order out of chaos, and with the able 
help of his assistant, Mr. Nicoll, is building up 
a most valuable and interesting collection of 
African animals. It would be well if a similar 
segregation of the indigenous fauna could be 
made in all zoological gardens, as it possesses 
a peculiar interest both for tourists and natives, 
more than the usual heterogeneous assemblages. 
The Ghizeh Gardens cover an area of about 
fifty acres and were once part of an old palace 
garden. The beautiful mosaic walks and rustic 
bridges bear witness to this former use. A 
unique and enviable feature is the absence of all 
provision for cold weather. The cages of the 
birds and monkeys are open and_ portable. 
This makes it possible to remove an infected 
cage and replace it at once by a fresh one. 
The vegetation is luxuriant and the animal 
and bird exhibits are so arranged that one 
comes upon them unexpectedly, this one partly 


concealed by a grove of plane trees, another 
aviary shaded by a mass of purple Bougain- 
villia. 

Every pond and marsh near Cairo is dotted 
with ducks, but one can rarely get near enough 
to identify them before they are up and away 
when still far out of gun-shot. They circle 
around and around and finally set out toward 
the city itself. If we go to the Zoological Gar- 
dens we shall discover their haven of refuge. 
On a lake only a few acres in extent are literal- 
ly thousands of ducks. The majority are 
shovellers, paired and in full plumage, with a 
lesser number of green-winged teal and a few 
score of pintails. They sleep or preen their 
plumage or come for a bit of bread almost with- 
in arm’s reach, but as twilight falls they will 
betake themselves to the marshes outside, 
changing in character from the tamest of ducks 
to the wildest of water-fowl. 

So dry is the climate that the small bird 
cages are cleaned only about once a year, a few 
daily scrapes with a stick through the wire re- 
moving completely all vestiges of food or other 
debris. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SHOE-BILL STORK. 
Ghizeh Gardens, Egypt. 


The most interesting species of bird is the 
shoe-bill, (Balaeniceps rex), three individuals 
of which stalk solemnly about near the house of 
Captain Flower. When approached they clat- 
ter their bills like a stork, bringing them gradu- 
ally forward and downward until they touch the 
ground. In spite of all accounts in books of 
natural history,- the shoe-bills refuse to touch 
shell-fish, and in fact all fish except a certain 
species of mullet. In the same paddock are 


two magnificent saddle-billed storks, reared 
from the nest. The eyes, small side wattles 


and frontal plates are brilliant yellow, while 
the basal and terminal parts of the mandibles 
are intensely scarlet, and the remainder black. 

Among the mammals, two from Madagascar 
were the prizes,—the tenrec, a long-snouted 
nondescript in appearance, and_ the 
(Cryptoprocta ferox). This brought to mind a 
yaguarundi in general appearance, but when it 
leaped up and clung to a branch the resemblance 
ceased. In its facial expression and the car- 


fossa, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 661 


riage of its tail, it was decidedly 
lemurine. The Director told me that 
its method of progression varied 
from plantigrade to digitigrade. 

The young white-tailed gnus, bred 
in the Garden, are remarkable in ap- 
pearance, in that their horns are 
straight spikes, pointing upward. 
The curved portion does not appear 
until after the first year or two. 

Many young mammals, and birds 
either building nests or sitting on 
their eggs, bore witness to the excel- 
lent conditions of captivity, while 
there were many wild birds breeding 
at this time in the trees and shrubs 
along the walks. 

To an American visitor, not only 
are the exhibits interesting, but the 
Arab attendants, the veiled native 
women visitors, the mosques of the 
city beyond, all hold one’s attention. 
And when the Director, escorting 
one out to the main entrance, points 
to the reeds of the Nile shore, a hun- 
dred yards away, as the reputed spot 
of the discovery of the infant 
“Moses,” one feels that this Zoolog- 
ical Garden is indeed one of varied 
and unique interest! 

A mile or two away is the aquar- 
ium, containing seventeen tanks, 
placed in an artistic artificial grotto 
of cement. A huge electric catfish 
from the Nile wins our respect when 
we learn that he would be capable of giving a 
fatal shock to a man. This aquarium has re- 
cently been put under the direction of Captain 
Flower. 

One other institution worthy of mention in 
Cairo is the Museum of Geology, again with a 
collection representative only of African, indeed 
of Egyptian, minerals, metals and fossils. The 
credit of arrangement and labelling is due to 
Dr. Hume. 

At the Museum of Zoology the Anderson col- 
lection of Reptilia and Amphibia and the Bou- 
langer collection of fishes are very fine, but the 
lighting is so poor and the general labelling and 
arrangement so inadequate, that the casual vis- 
itor can gain little by visiting them. The visit- 
ing ornithologist can profit much by looking 
over Mr. Nicoll’s excellent collection of skins 
made at Ghizeh. 

I have intentionally omitted mention of the 
great Museum of Antiquities, as my object in 


Sos &. 


SADDLE-BILLED STORK. 
Ghizeh Gardens, Egypt. 


this brief article is only to point out the lesser 
known zoological points of interest in Egypt. 


CSWib: 


BOSTON’S ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
A FTER several years spent in the considera- 


tion of ways and means, the proposition of 
the Massachusetts Zoological Society for a 
Boston Zoological Park is now about to mate- 
rialize. The original proposition of the Society 
was that the new institution should be located 
in the Middlesex Fells Reservation; but it was 
found that sufficient funds could not be ob- 
tained with which to develop a great vivarium 
in that particular locality, which happens to be 
outside of the corporate limits of the City of 
Boston. The financial aid that was hoped for, 
and expected from the state legislature, was 
finally refused. 
It was then that the Mayor of Boston pro- 
posed that the Zoological Park should be located 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


in a portion of Franklin Park, 
which would enable the City to 
utilize funds from the Parkman be- 
quest, with which to pay for the 
necessary improvements. Inasmuch 
as this appeared to be the only al- 
ternative, the Mayor’s proposition 
was finally accepted by the Zoolog- 
ical Society, and it is understood 
that forty acres of Franklin Park 
will be devoted to the new institu- 
tion. 

It is a satisfaction to be able to 
state that throughout the entire 
course of the movement for a Bos- 
ton Zoological Park, the Metropol- 
itan Park Commission has stead- 
fastly and earnestly favored it and 
has done its utmost to further the 
plan. The Commission offered to 
the Zoological Society a site in 
any one of the metropolitan parks, 
and long ago promised financial aid 
to the limits of its powers. On 
some accounts, it is rather unfor- 
tunate that the legislature did not 
choose to support the undertaking. 
The locating of the new institution 
in Franklin Park necessarily means 
a restricted area of land; but per- 
haps this will be compensated by 
superior accessibility. 

It goes without saying that all zoologists, and 
especially those who are interested in zoological 
gardens and parks, will rejoice in the fact that 
the plans of Boston are now about to material- 
ize. That the new institution will universally 
be called by its right name is too much to hope 
for; for in all probability it will be “‘zooed” from 
We re- 


call that in one article published in the Boston 


the beginning to the end of its chapter. 


newspapers regarding the proposal of the Mas- 
sachusetts Zoological Society, the thing desired 
was referred to sixteen times as a “zoo,” and 
never once was it called by its right name. We 
respectfully call the attention of all Boston 
editors to the fact that a sufficiently persistent 
misnaming of a zoological park can, in a meas- 
ure, belittle the best vivarium in the world, and 
outside of its own immediate sphere of influence 
persistent “zooing’”’ can attach to it an idea of 


cheapness that is far from beneficial. Let it be 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 663 


YOUNG TURKEY VULTURES. 
Bred in Morris County, New Jersey. 


known in Boston and elsewhere that a zoological 
park, or zoological garden, is a public institu- 
tion of large size and more or less dignity; but 
a “zoo” is a small, cheap and usually smelly af- 
fair, with little scientific standing, or none at 
all, and is the identical kind of an affair that the 
good people of Boston assuredly do not wish to 


Wie. ET 


see developed in their midst. 


BREEDING OF TURKEY VULTURES, 
MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 
ee gradual but steady intrusion of a num- 


ber of species of austral birds into the avi- 
fauna of more northern districts, is a phe- 
nomenon that is greatly interesting American 
The 


dinal and the mockingbird are no longer rare 


ornithologists at the present time. car- 


stragglers in the vicinity of New York; the 


Carolina wren and the tufted titmouse have 
been recorded in the note-book of many an en- 
thusiastic observer. Previous to 1909, there 


were but two records of the occurrence of the 
Florida gallinule at Ithaca, N. Y., but in that 
year no less than three pairs of these birds nest- 
ed near the lake.* 


“Wright and Allen, ‘The Auk, Vol. XXVIII, No. I, 
p- 65. 


Since so many of the smaller birds appear to 
be extending their summer habitats, it is not re- 
markable that some of the larger forms should 
do likewise. Because of its large size and con- 
spicuous sailing, the turkey vulture could not 
long escape notice, and it must now be added to 
the list of summer visitors near New York. 

The mention of the turkey vulture always 
The 


come north of 


brings to mind a warm, sunny climate. 
birds have for years very rarely 
southern New Jersey. During the past few 
years, however, turkey vultures have increased 


At Mor- 


ristown and Bernardsville, they were very com- 


in the northern portion of that state. 


mon in the summer of 1909. Perhaps the most 
interesting fact concerning the northern exten- 
sion of the range of this species, is the record- 
ing of the breeding of the turkey vulture in 
Morris County, New Jersey, at a point midway 
Boonton and Butler, on the estate of 
Mr. Morris Kinney, who has kindly furnished 


the following data: 


between 


The nest was discovered about June first, an 
old fox den, high up on a rocky cliff, having 


been pressed into service. The nest proper was 


at the end of a rather lengthy passage and lit- 


tle could be seen of it. It was found, however, 


to contain two young birds, very recently 


hatched. They were covered with pure white 


ZOOLOGICAL 


MALLARD DUCKS NESTING TOGETHER. 


down, with the exception of the heads, which 
were bare and reddish in color. The photo- 
graph was taken by Mr. Kinney on June 25, 
when the birds were 
probably about five 
weeks old. Unfortu- 
nately, no record was 
kept of the date at 
which the youngsters 
took flight, but this 
event finally took 
place, late in the sum- 
mer. 

It will be most in- 
teresting to note if the 
birds return to their 
nesting-place in 1910, 
and it is to be hoped 
that a more accurate 
account will be kept of 
the important points in the life-histories of the 
young. Iba Ss Gs 


NESTING OF THE MALLARD. 
a ee the great readiness which the mallard 


evinces for putting on the empty cloak of 

civilization was appreciated and taken ad- 
vantage of by our very remote ancestors, is evi- 
denced by the innumerable multitudes of the 
effete descendants of these splendid birds, rang- 
ing from the lowly “puddle-duck” of the coun- 
try roadside to the great Rouen, which has 
To thus 
captivity, a wild 
creature must possess adaptability in an extreme 
degree. 


retained the original color of plumage. 


endure the vicissitudes of 


This is admirably developed in the 


SOCIETY 


NEST OF A MALLARD IN THE MULE-DEER SHELTER. 


BULLETIN. 


mallard, and not least strongly in the selection 
of nesting sites. 

The flock of mallards in the Zoological Park, 
starting from a very unpretentious few, now 
numbers several hundreds, the majority of 
which are un-pinioned and hence have the lib- 
erty of the Park, even exceeding its limits, 
sometimes disastrously, for the ubiquitous small 
boy is ever ready with the proverbial “rock” 
for the straying bird. The nesting sites within 
the confines of the Wild Fowl Pond are neces- 
sarily limited and are usually claimed early in 
the year by the pinioned females, that cannot 
“gad” about as freely as their full-winged sis- 
ters. Most of the latter, therefore, must seek 
temporary homes elsewhere, and some of their 
selections are well worth notice. 


ple of 


A better exam- 
protective coloration than a female 
be difficult to find. The dark 
brown mottled feathers seem to blend admirably 
into every color scheme 
of nature. One bird 
made her nest on a 
narrow bit of sod 
which has grown in a 
crack in the face of a 
large rock west of the 
Wild Fowl Pond. The 
crack is horizontal and 
about one foot from 
the ground, protected 
only by a stray branch 
or two; yet only the 
sharpest eye can de - 
tect the sitter. An- 


mallard would 


other has wedged her- 
self between the roots 
; : 

There is absolutely no cover, yet 
it is almost impossible to make out the patient 
mother. 


of a giant elm. 


When intruders are near, a leaf blown 


MALLARD’S NEST IN ALASKAN INDIAN HOUSE. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


NEST OF A MALLARD IN THE ELEPHANT YARD. 


against the bird’s face will not cause her to 
move in the slightest degree. Even her eyes re- 
fuse to blink. An extended hand may almost 
touch her back, but an instant before the actual 
contact she will rush from her nest with loud 
cries of protest, and will not return until some 


Both 


of the tiny houses in the enclosures of the coypu 


time after the departure of the disturber. 


rats have been pressed into service as temporary 
nurseries by the ducks. 
by a 


young are ever disturbed by the rightful owners 


Each is presided over 


demure mallard, and neither eggs nor 


of the shelters. One of the houses, measuring 
perhaps eight by twelve feet, used for shelters 
for the mule deer, has a duck nest in each of two 
corners. The deer sleep here nightly and seek 
protection during storms, yet seem to exercise 
great care to avoid disturbing their guests. 
But perhaps the most eccentric nest of all is 
one placed in the yard of “Luna” the great 
Indian elephant, close up against a wall, be- 
hind a refuse box. “Luna” seems very proud 
of her little friend, and appears to have no de- 
sire to disturb her. 


Another queer habit, which is doubtless a re- 
sult of semi-domestication, is communal nesting. 
generally participated in by two ducks. These 
birds will either lay all their eggs in one nest, 
each incubating half, or they may build two 
nests, so close together that when both birds are 
sitting, it is quite difficult to say just how many 
there are on the nests. This joining of inter- 
ests is a very strange peculiarity, and difficult 
of explanation, for it seems to serve no particu- 


lar purpose. Ibe Ss (Ge 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 665 


A WHITE RHINOCEROS HEAD. 


HREE weeks ago, President Roosevelt ad- 

vised the Zoological Society that he proposed 

to present to the National Collection of 
Heads and Horns the head of one of the white 
rhinoceroses that fell to his rifle in the Lado Dis- 
trict. Naturally the news of this accession was 
hailed with the keenest satisfaction, partly be- 
cause of the extreme rarity of the specimen, and 
partly because Colonel Roosevelt is to be repre- 
sented in the National Collection by a specimen 
that is worthy to stand as a gift from the fore- 
most sportsman of the world. At this moment 
there is not in all America a single mounted skin, 
nor even a mounted head, of a white rhinoceros; 
and we know of only one skull. In a short time, 
however, it is probable that more than one 
American museum will be enriched by the gift 
of a complete mountable skin of a full-grown 
specimen of that species. 

To all zoologists and sportsmen who have not 
closely followed the explorations of Major 
Powell-Cotton in the Lado District, the develop- 
ment of a new territory containing white rhino- 
ceroses has been overlooked. We must confess 
to profound surprise from the news that west 
of the Nile and Lake Albert there is a large 
area that evidently is well stocked with the 
“square-mouthed”’ which, until re- 
cently, was regarded as being on the point of ex- 
tinction. The narrative of Colonel Roosevelt’s 
hunting explorations in that territory should be 
awaited by the public with very keen interest. 
Meanwhile, we find profound satisfaction in the 
fact that the National Collection of Heads and 
Horns is so soon to be enriched by another pro- 


rhinoceros, 


foundly interesting, and also imposing, zoolog- 


ical rarity. Weiies vee 


A GREAT ELEPHANT HEAD. 


HROUGH the kindness of Mr. Samuel 
Thorne,—for eleven years a member of the 


Board of Managers of the Zoological Park, 
and a member of the Executive Committee—the 
National Collection of Heads and Horns has re- 
ceived, as a loan, the magnificent elephant head 
shot in British East Africa in 1906 by Mr. 
Richard Tjader, and mounted in the following 


year by Mr. Herbert Lang, at the American 
Museum of Natural History. The acquisition 
of this grand trophy, even as a loan, may well 
be regarded as a notable event in the history of 


the Heads and Horns Collection; and it is a 


666 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


AFRICAN ELEPHANT HEAD. 
Loaned by Samuel Thorne, Esq. 


double satisfaction that it will be found duly in- 
stalled when the Collection is first shown to the 
members of the and to 
It will play an 
important part in hastening the day when a 
special building will be provided for the heads 


Zoological Society, 


American sportsmen generally. 


and horns, in order that the millions of visitors 
to the Park may have free access to a collec- 
tion that certainly has provoked much curiosity. 

The Tjader elephant head is assuredly one of 
the most perfectly and beautifully mounted ele- 
phant heads that we have ever seen. It is to 
be borne in mind that the taxidermist, Mr. Lang, 
saw the animal shot, and it was he who photo- 
graphed it, measured it, skinned it, and pre- 
served the skin in the field. The anatomy of 
the head has been reproduced with marvelous 


fidelity, and the specimen is even more true to 
life than if the head had been cut off the animal 
and hung in the flesh upon the wall. The pe- 
culiar reddish-brown color of the skin is evi- 
dently due to the color of the ground on which 
the animal lived. Because of the industry and 
persistence with which elephants cover them- 
selves with dust, to keep off insects, every ele- 
phant is bound to partake of the color of the 
dust of its environment. The animal measured 
ten feet, at the shoulders. The 
tusks are six feet, nine inches in length, and 
weigh 160 pounds. It rarely happens that a 
mounted elephant is permitted to possess, in a 
museum, such fine tusks as these. Very often 
the tusks are reproduced in plaster, or papier- 


mache. We hogle 


four inches, 


veal 


Heads and Horns Number 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 40 Published by the New 


York Zoological Society 


July, 1910 


NATIONAL COLLECTION 
HEN Mr. Madison Grant declared in his 


address on June 2, that “as big-game 

sportsmen, we are the last of our race,” 
the statement startled his audience; but the sen- 
tences that followed quickly convinced every 
listener of its truth. The occasion was the 
luncheon given by the Zoological Society at the 
Boat House Restaurant in the Zoological Park, 
for the contributors to the National Collection 
of Heads and Horns.* 


*Mr. Grant’s address will be published in full in 
annual. 


’ 


the next number of the “Heads and Horns’ 


a & : co F 4 j A 


ANGE sols 


OF HEADS AND HORNS. 


The key-notes of Mr. Grant’s address were— 
the inexorable disappearance of the grand game 
animals of the world, and the imperative neces- 
sity of gathering now the collections that will 
adequately represent them hereafter when rem- 
nants of the wild species of to-day will exist 
only in protected game preserves.—or not at all. 

As an illustration of what the immediate fu- 
ture has in store, take the wild-animal paradise 
that still exists in British East Africa. There 
are few men who know more of the wild life of 
that region, by actual daily contact, than Mr. 


wet Y 


AFRICAN ELEPHANT TUSKS, PRESENTED BY THE LATE CHARLES T. BARNEY. 
Some of the heads and horns from the Barber Collection may be seen on the wall. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SERIES. 
Portions of the Barber, Madeira and House Collections are shown. 


Arthur Jordan, of Nairobi and the veldt. We 
asked him recently, “How long will the game 
of British East Africa last in anything like 
abundance, as it is now being shot, and as the 
country is being settled up?” 

He replied, “Oh, it will last quite a long time. 
But outside of the 
serves, it is bound to go.” 

Another authority, when asked the same ques- 
tion, thoughtfully answered, “Outside the pre- 


At least ten years! pre- 


serves, the best of the big game will be gone in 
ten or fifteen years.” 

It is indeed time for the men of to-day who 
care for the interests of the men of to-morrow, 
to be up and doing in the forming of collections 
that a hundred years hence will justly and ade- 
quately represent the vanished wild life of the 
world. 

It is impossible to give in this short article 
anything more than a brief sketch of the Na- 
tional Collection of Heads and Horns as it ap- 
peared at the private view afforded the sports- 
men of America, and the contributors, on June 
2, 1910. Owing to the unfortunate delay that 
it seems must yet ensue in the furnishing of the 
Administration Building, by contract made at a 
public letting, the building is fated to remain 
closed and unused until—Heaven alone knows 
when! 


As the collection hangs to-day, it is to be 
regarded only as a serious beginning. In some 
features it is already strong, in others it is con- 
fessedly weak. Already it crowds the walls of 
the two picture galleries that we once thought 
would hold it rather handsomely for about five 
Already we are compelled to apologize 
because the specimens of the Barber Collection, 
the Donaldson-Smith Collection, and _ others 
also, are so crowded that even the “record” 
horns are cramped for room. 

The promptness and enthusiasm with which 


years. 


the sportsmen and nature-lovers of America— 
and England also—have come forward in sup- 
port of the plan inaugurated only three short 
years ago, have surprised and delighted the 
Zoological Society. At first there was some fear 
that the effort might not receive much support 
outside of New York City; but that apprehen- 
sion quickly proved to be groundless. We have 
received valuable gifts from British East Africa, 
Kashmir, London, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, 
Doylestown, Victoria, Barbara 
Chung King, China. 


Santa and 

In heads and horns of African big game, we 
begin to be strong. Beginning with the largest 
forms, the magnificent African Elephant head 
loaned by Mr. Samuel Thorne, and the great 


“record” tusks presented by Mr. Charles T. 


‘uMOYS ale auIOY] Janweg Aq peuvoy peayH juvydaq ay} puB ‘UOorjOaT[OD UN[[IWOW-PaeY PY} JO Wed 
“LSVA AHL GUVMOL ONIMOOT SAIMHS OIHdVeDORD 


X00 ce 


Did wag 39 


679 


Barney, will not soon be surpassed. The F. H. 
Barber South African Collection, presented by 
Messrs. Frederick A. Schermerhorn, Lispenard 
Stewart, Frederick G. Bourne, Charles F. 
Dieterich and William D. Sloane, contains not 
only a great number of species, rare and com- 
mon, but also many records. Such collections 
as this are brought together only through years 
of patient and industrious effort, and many sac- 
rifices; and we say again that when Mr. Grant 
secured the subscriptions that purchased this 
important series, he scored another grand coup 
for New York. The most important specimens 
of the Barber Collection are the following 
records: Cape Buffalo, Greater Kudu, Water- 
buck, Lechee Antelope, White-Tailed Gnu, 
Wart-Hog, Springbuck and Steinbuck. 

The gift of Edward J. House is at once ren- 
dered noteworthy by its magnificent Reticulated 
Giraffe head, with a full-length neck. Mr. 
Perey Madeira’s gift is made conspicuous by its 
Hippopotamus head. Mr. George L. Harri- 
son’s beautiful group of antelopes and gazelles 
contains the rare Addra Gazelle, White-Eared 
Kob and the Thomas Uganda Kob. 

The Donaldson-Smith Collection, presented 
by Mr. George J. Gould, through Mr. Grant, 
contains four large heads of special value and 
interest, of Abyssinian Buffalo, Gaur, Indian 
Butialo and Reticulated Giraffe. The collec- 
tion given by Newland, Tarlton and Company, 
of Nairobi, is particularly strong in specimens 
of Jackson Hartebeest, of which there is a large 
Mr. J. W. Norton’s Eland, Waterbucks 
and Pallahs make a very satisfactory feature of 
the African continental exhibit. 

With the matchless Reed-MeMillin Collection 
from Alaska, New York is now fairly familiar. 
It was the first—and the largest—individual 
gift, and fortunately was in such shape that it 
was immediately presentable to the public, pic- 
torially. It is very rich in Giant Moose from 
the Kenai Peninsula, Grant Caribou and 
Alaskan Brown Bear. At first the two largest 
and finest bear skins were hung upon the wall; 
but a little later it was found that the great 
space they occupied was so imperatively de- 
manded by the heads and horns of the continent 
of North America that it was necessary to take 
them down. 


series. 


In planning the arrangement as a whole, it 
was decided that so long as the collection re- 
mains in the Administration Building, several of 
the individual-gift collections will be kept to- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


gether, even in the zoological series. This idea 
has been carried into effect, and because of this, 
the systematic arrangement of about one-third 
of the zoological series is imperfect. The 
groups representing the Deer Family, the Wild 
Cattle, the Sheep, and the Goats, Ibexes and 
Rupicaprines, are fairly satisfactory, and they 
at least serve to indicate what will be possible 
when we secure a building of ample size, spe- 
cially designed to accommodate the National 
Collection for the next hundred years. 

In the Geographic Series, the Asiatic exhibit 
is weak, chiefly because of the fact that what 
would have been its strength has been bestowed 
in the Zoological Series. From Asia we need 
all the Markhors, nearly all the Sheep, and 
many Deer. And this reminds us of a very 
pleasing episode. 

At the very moment when the Contributors’ 
Fund became exhausted by important purchases, 
Mr. H. Casimir de Rham subscribed to that 
fund $2,500! Forthwith, portions of it were 
used in acquiring the monster eighty-nine inch 
horns of an Indian Buffalo—now in the Asiatic 
section—the head of an Astor Markhor for the 
Zoological Series and two fine sheep heads— 
Ovis karelini and O. nigrimontana—that were 
collected only last year in Eastern Turkestan 
by Mr. Douglas Carruthers. The last-named 
species had not before existed in the collection; 
and we doubt whether there are more than four 
or five specimens in all the museums of the 
world. In Mr. Rowland Ward’s fifth edition of 
his Records of Big Game, the species is not 
mentioned. It is like a small edition of O. 
karelini, which in turn is like a small edition of 
Ovis poli. 

The Contributors’ Fund, to the making of 
which thirty-six sportsmen subscribed, has been 
of very great service in the founding of this 
collection. By means of it thirty-four speci- 
mens representing thirty-one species of particu- 
lar scientific value and rarity, have been pur- 
chased; and through it a number of gaps have 
been filled. 

In the Zoological Series, we can contemplate 
our Deer Family with considerable satisfaction; 
for it is much more than a beginning; and the 
same is true of the Wild Cattle, Sheep, and the 
Goats and their allies. All these are so far 
along that the zoological gaps in them are not 
very conspicuous. As Captain John S. Barnes 
trenchantly remarked after viewing the Zoolog- 
ical Series, “It will now take a smart man to 
tell what this collection lacks!” 


ZOOLOGICAL 


A CORNER OF THE 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 671 


ZOOLOGICAL SERIES. 


Showing some of the Wild Cattle and Sheep. 


The collection representing the Deer Family 
begins to be strong, especially in Moose and 
Caribou. Of the former, we have heads and 
horns from the Kenai Peninsula, the Atlin Dis- 
trict, Wyoming, Canada, New Brunswick, 
Europe and Siberia. Of the Caribou and Rein- 
deer the following species are present: 

European Reindeer, Greenland Caribou, 
Peary Caribou, Barren-Ground Caribou, New- 
foundland Caribou, Woodland Caribou, Black- 
Faced or Mountain Caribou, Osborn Caribou, 
Kenai Caribou and Grant Caribou. 

We must confess to a weakness where strength 
might fairly be expected. We have only begun 
to represent the American Bison of the plains; 
and as yet we have not even one head of a bull. 
This is because a thoroughly satisfactory head 
is not easy to find, nor easy to procure when 
found. A mediocre head will not serve. 

We are also weak in specimens of the Amer- 
ican Elk, our only representative being a head 
from Wyoming, with antlers extremely massive 
but not long, presented by Mr. Thomas D. 
Leonard. We need two or three heads with 


antlers of great length—at least exceeding 
Of the White-Tailed Deer, 
we have only one surpassing head, the gift of 
Mr. George Bird Grinnell. Of the Mule Deer 
we have three splendid specimens: the _first- 
record antlers from Mr. Frank Hart, the mag- 
nificent freak head from the Lawyers’ Club of 
New York, and the enormous head from Kalis- 
pell given last fall by Mr. Henry Disston, Jr. 
The total number of specimens in the Na- 


fifty-eight inches. 


tional Collection to-day is 665; but we have not 
yet had time to finish our catalogue in good 
form, and count the species. Up to date, sixty- 
eight persons have contributed specimens and 
thirty-six have subscribed funds for purchases. 


The money value of the collection is not less 


than $50,000, but its zoological and educational 
value is not to be computed in commercial terms. 
Of world-record horns and tusks the collec- 
tion contains to-day sixteen firsts, ten seconds, 
three thirds and two fourths. 
As the collection hangs in the upper rooms 
of the Administration Building, it is utterly im- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


possible to make it accessible to the millions of 
people who visit the Zoological Park. It is pos- 
sible only to show it to the specially interested 
few who can properly be permitted to penetrate 
to the farthest corners of an office building. But 
the present home of the collection is only tem- 
porary. Already the Zoological Society has 
been unofficially invited to submit an estimate 
for a special building, to stand between the 
Primate House and the Administration Build- 
ing. The public is anxious to see the collec- 
tion, and the Society desires that every portion 
of it shall be made accessible to the millions 
interested in wild-animal life. We 
hope that a suitable building will be provided 
by the City, in the future. WiioMtodek 


who are 


MALLARD DUCKS 


Zoulogical Park Calendar. 


May 1-Junr 20, 1910. 


Births —Five American Bison, six European 
Red Deer, one Barasingha Deer, one Sika Deer, 
one Equine Deer, one Axis Deer, twin Mule 
Deer, three American Wapiti, one Altai Wapiti, 
two Fallow Deer, one Rocky Mountain Goat, two 
Himalayan Tahr, four Ring-Tailed Lemurs, two 
Peccaries, one Bactrian Camel. 


Young birds.—Three hundred Mallard Ducks, 
seventeen Canada Geese, five Cereopsis Geese, 
seven White Call Ducks, five Formosan Pheas- 
ants, five Canaries. 


¥ * # 


Accessions.—Two Elands, three Black Apes, 
one Red-Headed Mangabey, two Sooty Manga- 
beys, one Green Monkey, two Lion Marmosets, 
four Slow Lemurs, one Spotted Lemur, one 
Mouse one Marbled Cat, Black- 


Lemur, one 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Backed Jackal, one African Skunk, four Sea 
Lions, one Brazilian Porcupine, one Brush- 
Tailed Porcupine, one Prehensile-Tailed Porcu- 
pine, six Asiatic Squirrels, six Jerboas, two 
Common Opossums. 

Mitred Guinea Fowl, Red-Billed ‘Toucan, 
European Curlew, Temminck Tragopan, Amer- 
ican Oyster-Catcher, Riippell Spur-Wing Goose, 
Adelaide Parrakeet, Red-Rump  Parrakeet, 
Brazilian Teal, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, White- 
Necked Crane, Manchurian Crane, Rosy-Head- 
ed Parrakeet, Ruddy Turnstone, Marbled Quail, 
Pileated Tinamou, Viellot Fireback Pheasant, 
Bornean Fireback Pheasant, Pennant Parra- 
keet, Blue Mountain Lory, Crimson-Winged 
Finch, Striated Coly, Gray-Winged Ousel, Yel- 
low-Vented Blue-Bonnet Parrakeet, Yellowish 
Slender-Billed Weaver. 


* * * 


Sales-—The following specimens from the 
surplus stock bred and reared in the Zoological 
Park, have been sold to various zoological gar- 
dens and menageries :— 

Seven Japanese Sika Deer, one American 
Wapiti, one White-Tailed Deer, two Sambar 
Deer, two Axis Deer, two Hog Deer, one Euro- 
pean Red Deer, two Fallow Deer, one American 
Bison, one Bactrian Camel, two Himalayan 
Tahr, two Hybrid Bears, three Ocelots, three 
Opossums, two Deer Mice, twelve Painted Tur- 
tles, two Gila Monsters. 


* * * 


Heads and Horns.—The National Collection 
of Heads and Horns now hanging in the new 
Administration Building was shown at a private 
view to the members of the Society on May 16 
and a gathering of sportsmen from various 
places on June 2. An article in this issue is il- 
lustrated with several views of the collection. 


xe % ¥ 


A New White Goat.—The second addition to 
the little herd of white goats occurred on June 
8, when the remaining female from the original 
The kid 
is a lusty specimen and promises to equal the 
first one, “Philip,” which is nearly matured. 
The mother is one of the herd of five that came 
to the Park in 1905. The collection now num- 
bers six animals, but two losses having occurred, 
—the mother of “Philip” and a young female 
that was received on deposit, May, 1909. “The 


herd gave birth to a fine young male. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


goats have attained maturity, and apparently 
are thoroughly acclimated and healthy. An ac- 
count of the capture of the goats is printed on 
page 680 of this issue. 

* * * 


A Municipal “Zoo.”—The City of Rochester 
has for several years maintained a municipal 
“zoo” with such marked success that they have 
established a new one in the Durand-Eastman 
Park,—a tract of land embracing 500 acres, do- 
nated by a Mr. Durand and George Eastman of 
Kodak fame. The site selected is admirably 
adapted to the maintenance of a varied collec- 
tion. Two large, swampy areas will be con- 
verted into artificial lakes for water-fowl and 
aquatic animals. A den for bears has already 
been constructed and three American black bears 
are on exhibition. By far the greater part of 
the collection is composed of hoofed animals, all 
of which have been purchased by C. C. Laney, 
Supt. of Parks, Rochester, from the Zoological 
Park. 

x oe # 

Buffalo Jones’ Lioness —‘‘Buftalo” Jones has 
deposited with the Society the two-year-old East 
African lioness which he captured near Kijaba, 
British East Africa, and the animal was safely 
quartered at the Lion House in the Park, June 
15. To effect her capture, the lioness was 
trailed with dogs and lassoed when she came to 
bay. Some difficulty was encountered in accom- 
plishing this feat, as the lioness displayed great 
bravery in fighting the dogs and men. She took 
refuge in a fissure in the ground from which 
place she was finally dislodged by a cannon fire 
cracker. As she bounded out of the shelter, 
two ropes were cast over her from opposite sides. 
A third rope over the bough of a tree raised her 
from the ground and a pair of tongs, specially 
constructed for the purpose, was then clamped 
upon her nose. In this helpless state she was 
speedily transferred to a sledge and dragged to 
camp. She has an abundance of her fighting 
spirit, which a long, tedious voyage seems not to 
have dampened. 


MOULTING OF THE PTARMIGAN. 
OR many reasons, the ptarmigan is the most 
It is 
associated in mind and fact with bleak moun- 
tains and drifting snow, while its tameness is 
almost proverbial. In the early days of the 


interesting of American game birds. 
g g 


gold fever many a famishing prospector blessed 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 673 


the trusting ptarmigan which he found such 
easy prey to a bit of ice or even a stick. Now, 
however, the birds have learned the error of 
their ways, and are far less abundant near the 
habitations of mankind. 

In spite of its confiding manner, this grouse 
does not take kindly to captivity; in fact, it is 
very difficult to keep alive for any length of 
time, particularly through the summer months. 
In the fall of 1909, however, there arrived at 
the Zoological Park, three unusually fine speci- 
mens of the Willow Ptarmigan, (Lagopus lago- 
pus), that are now in faultless condition, as the 
result of great assiduity on the part of their 
keepers. These birds were practically pure 
white at the time of their arrival at the Park. 

It is well known that ptarmigan are extreme- 
ly aberrant in their moulting processes. There 
are certainly three plumages: white in winter, 
chestnut brown more or less barred with black 
in summer, and black barred with light brown 
in the fall. Those individuals which range 
farthest north never come nearer summer plum- 
age than the growth of a few brown feathers 
in the upper parts; the most southerly are al- 
ways pure white on the breast and abdomen 
when in summer dress. 


There are of course all 
sorts of variations in intermediate birds, de- 
pending on the temperature of their habitats. 
The actual process of feather change is very 
much prolonged; the old feathers dropping 
singly, long intervals often intervening, so that 
the entire moult may be prolonged several 
weeks. 

The finest bird in the present lot, a very vig- 
orous male, commenced dropping a few feathers 
from the region of the head and neck about 
March 1, 1910. ‘These were slowly replaced 
by others of a rich chestnut hue. This process 
was steadily continued, but it was nearly May 
1 when the change of plumage seemed to have 
progressed as far as it would in this individual. 

Far more interesting, however, is the case of 
the remaining two birds, a male and a female. 
In these specimens, the first feathers were not 
dropped until about May 15. But instead of 
the rich chestnut of summer, these feathers are 
being gradually replaced by the brown-barred 
black ones of the fall plumage! 
coat has been entirely omitted. 


The summer 
This instance 
is simply another illustration of the disregard 
of the ptarmigan for the seasons, excepting in 
the most general way. ee osiGe 


BULLETIN. 


The People of the State of New York, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as fol- 


Section 1. Section six of chapter four hun- 


674 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN, EpiTor. 
Ba ae Bepartments : aie. lows: 
W. T. Hornabay, Sc. D. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
AQUARIUM REPTILE 


C. H. TOWNSEND, Se. D. RayMonpD L, DITMARs. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1910, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numpser 40 JULY, 1910 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
MApISsON GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
LEvI P. MorRTON, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STURGIS. 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers : 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HoRNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND Sc.D., BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers : 

Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York - - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Class of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorna, 
William C, Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir de Rham, JohnS. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuei Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, W. Austin Wadsworth, 
James W. Barney, Frank K. Sturgis, Emerson MeMillin, 
Wm. PiersonHamilton, George J. Gould, Anthony R, Kuser 
Robert S. Brewster Ogden Mills 


@fficers of the Zoological Park : 
W. T. Hornapbay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MIrcHELL - = = - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE = = - Curator of Birds. 
W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. - - Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H, W. MERKEL - - - - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN - - - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL - - = en 


Officers of the Aquartum 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 
W.I. DENYSE - - - - - - - In Charge of Collections. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B, STOVER 


Glass of 1913. 


Office Assistant. 


SPECIAL ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE 
CONCERNING THE SOCIETY. 

An Act to amend chapter four hundred and 
thirty-five of the laws of eighteen hundred 
and ninety-five, entitled “An act to incorpor- 
ate the New York Zoological Society and to 
provide for the establishment of a zoological 
garden in the city of New York,” in relation 
to real and personal property. Accepted by 

Became a law May 6, 1910, with 

Passed, three- 


the city. 
the approval of the Governor. 
fifths being present. 


dred and thirty-five of the laws of eighteen 
hundred and ninety-five, entitled “An act to in- 
corporate the New York Zoological Society and 
to provide for the establishment of a zoological 
garden in the city of New York,” is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 


§ 6. Said corporation may take, purchase and 
hold real and personal estate necessary for the 
purpose of its incorporation, and shall possess 
the general powers and be subject to the restric- 
tions and liabilities prescribed in article two of 
chapter twenty-three of the consolidated laws, 
entitled “general corporation law,” being chap- 
ter twenty-eight of the laws of nineteen hun- 
dred and nine. 


§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 


* * * 


An Act to amend chapter four hundred and 
forty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred and 
two, entitled “An act to authorize a further 
appropriation to the New York Zoological So- 
ciety for the support of the New York Aquar- 
ium,” in relation to the amount of the appro- 
priation. Accepted by the city. Became a 

law May 6, 1910, with the approval of the 

Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. 


The People of the State of New York, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as fol- 
lows: 

Section 1. Chapter four hundred and forty- 
one of the laws of nineteen hundred and two, 
entitled “An act to authorize a further appro- 
priation to the New York Zoological Society for 
the support of the New York Aquarium,” is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 


§ 1. The board of estimate and apportion- 
ment of the city of New York may annually, in 
its discretion, include in the budget for the then 
next ensuing financial year, in addition to any 
sum or sums which may be appropriated for the 
adequate support and maintenance of the New 
York Zoological park or gardens, situated in the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


borough of the Bronx, and administered and 
controlled by the New York Zoological Society, 
a further sum or sums, in its discretion, for the 
use of the said New York Zoological Society, 
provided, however, that the additional appro- 
priation hereby authorized shall be made only 
in case an agreement is entered into between the 
said New York Zoological Society and the city 
of New York, acting by its board of estimate 
and apportionment for the adequate keeping, 
maintenance, extension, preservation and exhibi- 
tion of the building and approaches thereto and 
collections of aquatic animals and plants con- 
tained therein, known as the New York Aquar- 
ium, situated in the Battery park in the borough 
of Manhattan in said city, and also for furnish- 
ing opportunities for study, research and pub- 
lication in connection with said collections, 
which contract the said board of estimate and 
apportionment is hereby expressly authorized, 
in its discretion, to make upon such terms and 
conditions as may be agreed upon with the said 
New York Zoological Society, and which con- 
traet shall also provide how the duty of the 
commissioner of parks for the boroughs of Man- 
hattan and Richmond in respect to maintaining 
the said aquarium now imposed upon him by 
law shall be performed. 


§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 


THE NATIONAL BISON HERDS. 
Very satisfactory reports have been received 
from the wardens in charge of the Montana Na- 
Herd, and the Wichita Herd. 
Concerning the former, Warden Andrew F. 


tional Bison 


Hodges reports that the herd came through the 
winter in very fine condition, and that up to 
May 20, several calves had been born. 

From Warden Frank Rush, in charge of the 
Wichita National Herd, we have received the 
following report:— 

“The five calves which were due to arrive in 
the Wichita Buffalo herd are all here, 3 bulls 
and 2 heifers. This brings our total number 
to 23 head, 10 males and 13 females, all in the 
very best condition. I wish you could see them. 
They certainly look very prosperous, and if you 
were here you could see in reality what you had 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


675 


predicted for the Wichita Bison herd many years 


Pernice 
ago. 


The last remark of Warden Rush refers to 


immunity from Texas fever. 


MEMBERS NEWLY ELECTED. 
May 1-JuneE 15, 1910. 


BENEFACTOR. 


Kuser, Col. Anthony R. 


FOUNDER, 


Trevor, Miss Emily 


LIFE MEMBERS. 


Bird, Charles Sumner 
Monell, Ambrose 


Webb, W. Seward 
Rungius, Carl 


ANNUAL MEMBERS. 


Billings, C. K. G. 


Brewster, Mrs. Charles O. 


Bridges, Robert 
Broughton, Mrs. N. H. 
Brown, Horace 
Bowdoin, Mrs. Temple 
Cabot, F. H. 
Cockcroft, Edward T. 
Cole, Mrs. Rufus 
Corlies, Howard 
Draper, William K. 


Duer, Mrs. John Beverley 


Eckstein, George 
Fairchild, Mrs. C. S. 
Fay, Francis B. 
Gerstle, Edward G. 
Fall Ar Ge 

Harkness, Harry S. 
Hartshorne, J. M. 
Hooker, Dr. Ransom S. 
Hornaday, Mrs. J. C. 
Iselin, Mrs. William E. 
Jenkins, Mrs. Helen H. 
Johnes, Wm. Foulke 


King, Augustus F. 
King, Mrs. J. Howard 
Knight, Charles R. 
Ledyard, Edgar Madison 
Ludeke, Henry A. 
Malone, G. Halsey 
Martin, John S. 

Martin, Newell 
Metcalfe, Captain Henry 
Milton, Mrs. William F. 
Neilson, Wallace Platt 
Ohmeis, P. M. 

Painter, Dr. H. McM. 
Preston, Veryl 

Pyne, Mrs. Percy R. 
Reid, John 

Russell, Dr. John F. 
Singer, Arthur J. 
Stoddart, L. B. 

Tuttle, Dr. G. M. 

van Beuren, M. M. 
Vondermuhl, Alfred 
Wheeler, Walter S. 
White, A. M. 


All those interested in the work of the Society 


in the Zoological Park, or Aquarium, are cor- 


dially invited to become members. 


Information 


concerning membership may be obtained at the 
office of the Society, 11 Wall Street, at the Zoo- 


logical Park or the Aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


AMERICAN WATER FOWL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


AN AMERICAN COLLECTION OF GEESE. 
By Ler S. CrRanvattu. 


HE confinement of wild birds has been 

practiced throughout the ages by people of 

many classes, in the pursuit of both pleasure 
or material gain. While the gallinaceous birds 
have doubtless been accorded premier honors, 
the water fowl have always been deservedly 
popular, as witnessed by their universal culture. 
In this country one of the most enthusiastic 
collectors is Mr. T. A. Havemeyer, who has 
gathered together on his estate at Mahwah, New 
Jersey, an imposing collection of about 300 
specimens, including seven species of swans, 
twenty-eight of geese and eight species of 
ducks. 

The grounds include about 3,200 acres of 
broad, rolling lowlands, beautifully situated be- 
tween heavily wooded mountains, and their at- 
tractiveness is greatly enhanced by the herds of 
European red deer and the numerous English 
ring-neck pheasants that have been acclimatized. 

The water fowl are divided among three en- 
closures, all of which include miniature lakes 
and an ample expanse of grazing ground. 

The first paddock encountered includes half 
an acre of pasture and a pond of double this 
area. In it are kept a pair of Hawaiian Geese, 
(Nesochen sandvicensis), three Little White- 
Fronted Geese, (Anser erythropus), two pairs of 
Magellan upland geese, one pair of cereopsis, 
four spur-wing, two semi-palmated, three young 
European white-fronted geese and four black- 
necked swans. 


Two of these species are of sufficient interest 
to deserve detailed comment. 

The Hawaiian geese are the rarest and most 
beautiful of the birds in this enclosure, and per- 
haps they are the first of their kind to be seen 
in this country. Their general color is brown, 
each feather bordered with white; the head and 
face and a band around the neck are black, with 
the throat creamy-brown. The bird weighs about 
three pounds. Like other Hawaiian birds, this 
goose may soon become extinct as the result of 
indiscriminate slaughter by Japanese immi- 
grants. It is found almost solely in Kona, a 
district of Hawaii, where it breeds on the old 
lava fields, feeding on grass and berries, notably 
those of a very abundant Vaccinium, and rarely 
going near water. For some reason, this goose 
never breeds on any of the adjacent islands, sey- 
eral of which are in sight. 

A very interesting fact, confirmed in living 
birds in the Gardens of the Zoological Society 
in London, is the giving off of a musky odor 
from the neck of this goose. In Europe, the 
Hawaiian goose has proved quite hardy, and 
has even been induced to breed. It is very do- 
cile by nature and affectionate toward man. 

The little white-fronted geese are handsome 
They 
are easily distinguished from the young speci- 
mens of the European white-fronted goose in 
the same paddock, by their smaller size, larger 
frontal patch and pink beaks. 


birds, and far from common in captivity. 


These two spe- 
cies of geese were confused for many years, and 


ZOOLOGICAL 


it is only recently that their specific identity 
has been admitted. 

The little white-fronted goose breeds in Lap- 
land, and the northern coast of Siberia, migrat- 
ing in large numbers in the fall to Europe and 
Asia, going as far south as Greece and Turkey 
and even into Northern Egypt. In these re- 
gions a great deal of damage is often done to 
the winter crops; young corn and wheat being 
destroyed in. great quantities. 

The second paddock is the smallest of all, 
and includes perhaps one-half acre, with a small 
pond. In this are kept the wonderful Little 
Maned Goose, (Chenonetta jubata), of Aus- 
tralia, two pairs of the Emperor Goose, (Phi- 
lacte canagica), with a pair of black swans, a 
flock of the vicious Egyptian geese, and a num- 
ber of ducks—wood, Mandarin, mallard (one of 
these is a perfect albino), red-head, pintail, 
European widgeon and blue and green-wing 
teal. 

The maned geese are tiny creatures, no larger 
than widgeon. In Australia they are known as 
“wood ducks,” and the females do, in a way, 
resemble those of our own handsome little birds. 
In general color, the males are dark above and 
light gray on the breast, where the feathers are 
mottled with black and grayish white; the lower 
abdomen is a glossy black, and the black wing 
speculum is bordered behind and in front with 
white. The female is duller and the breast 
feathers are more heavily mottled with white. 
The feathers of the back of the head and neck 
are somewhat lengthened, especially in the 
males, giving the bird a “maned” appearance. 

This species ranges throughout the whole of 
Australia and Tasmania. The eggs, nine to 
twelve in number, and creamy white, are de- 
posited in a hole in a tree standing near the 
water. It is said that the female brings the 
voung to the ground in her bill. 

The Emperor Goose is the rarest of the spe- 
cies found wild in America, and with its blue 
body, finely barred with white, and pure white 
head, makes a striking appearance. It inhabits 
northeastern Asia and northwestern America, 
and breeds near the mouth of the Yukon, and 
the north coast of Siberia, laying its eggs on the 
marshy shores. Late in the summer, when the 
birds have moulted their wing feathers and are 
unable to fly, thousands are taken in nets by the 
Eskimos. This doubtless accounts for the in- 
creasing rarity of the species. 

The third paddock of Mr. Havemeyer’s wild 
fowl enclosures is the largest and most impor- 
tant. In the center is a pond of about two 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 677 
acres; to the left stretches a splendid four-acre 
grazing ground, and to the right a two-acre 
marsh, heavily grown up with aquatic plants 
and marsh grass. 

The collection of water fowl in this paddock 
presents a wonderful spectacle. One might find 
it difficult to believe that such a number of spe- 
cies could live together so amicably; yet the 
only friction that has ever occurred is that 
caused by the ever-quarrelsome Egyptian geese. 


This gathering includes about 200 swans and . 
geese representing the following twenty-eight 
species :— 

Whooping swan, Bewick swan, whistling 
swan, trumpeter swan, mute swan, black swan, 
cereopsis goose, blue goose, lesser snow goose, 
greater snow goose, Ross goose, gray-lag goose, 
European white-fronted goose, American white- 
fronted goose, bean goose, pink-footed goose, 
bar-headed goose, Chinese goose, emperor 
goose, Canada goose, Hutchins goose, white- 
cheeked goose, cackling goose, barnacle goose, 
black brant, Magellan upland goose, Egyptian 
goose. 

The collection of swans is complete and in- 
cludes specimens of all of the known species— 
seven in number.* 


The trumpeters are of course the most rare 
and interesting, as this species is thought to be 
nearly extinct in the wild state. 

Hitherto the black-necked swan has rarely 
lived for long in this country, but Mr. Have- 
meyer’s specimens are kept out all winter and 
are in perfect health. 

Four of the species of the genus Branta are 
extremely interesting in their relations to each 
other, and here offer an unusual opportunity for 
comparison. The familiar Canada Goose, (B. 
canadensis), may be taken as the type. The 
White-Cheeked Goose, (B. c. occidentalis), is the 
western representative of the Canada, and _ is 
distinguished by its slightly darker color and 
a white ring around the neck. The Hutchins 
Goose, (B. c. hutchinsi), is a diminutive of the 
Canada, and hardly differs from it in color and 
comparative proportions. The Cackling Goose, 
(B. c. minima), bears the same relation to the 
white-cheeked as the Hutchins does to the Can- 
ada. The white neck-ring is very clean-cut, 
and the head and bill much smaller in propor- 
tion to its size, approaching in this respect the 
Barnacle Goose, (B. leucopsis). 


*For a detailed account of all the known species of 
swans, see “The Swans” by C. Wm. Beebe, Tenth 
Annual Report of the N. Y. Zoological Society, 1905. 


678 


The Blue Goose, (Chen caerulescens), is an- 
other great rarity. In color it resembles the 
emperor, but the blue body is not barred, the 
white is more extended and the beak shows the 
heavy mandibular groove of the genus Chen. 
For many years this goose was considered to be 
the young of the snow goose, and only recently 
has been accorded specific rank. 


Where these geese breed has never been dis- 
covered, but they are said by the Eskimos to nest 
_in the interior of Labrador. It is fortunate for 
the race that such an inaccessible site has been 
chosen, for it is less likely to share the fate of 
the emperor goose. 

While this method of keeping geese makes a 
splendid display, it is not conducive to success 
in breeding, which, after all, is the most inter- 
esting feature of keeping wild birds in captivity. 
In the rearing of wild fowl, seclusion is the 
most important factor; without this, success can 
rarely be obtained. It is planned to build this 
year a number of smaller paddocks in which a 
pair of birds may nest in peace and it is hoped 


that many rare species will be raised. So far, 
the following have bred:— 
Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Magellan 


upland goose, European widgeon and mallard 
duck. 

The breeding of the upland goose is very in- 
teresting, and as far as known is the first record 
for this country. 

One point which forcibly impresses the visitor, 
is the entire absence of the detailed care and 
feeding which might be expected in so large a 


gathering. Once a goose has been placed in a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


paddock, it must be satisfied with the staple fare 
of grain which is provided for all the inmates, 
and the excellent condition of every bird testi- 
fies to the efficacy of this method. 

In the early years of the collection, the rarer 
species were kept indoors during the winter, 
but last year every bird was kept in the pad- 
dock and not one was lost. If received in the 
fall, newly imported specimens which have been 
kept away from water for protracted periods, 
and whose plumage has become dry, cannot 
safely be wintered out. Those that have be- 
come accustomed to the place, endure the cold 
splendidly and are much healthier and stronger 
than birds kept indoors. It is quite surprising 
how many tropical birds withstand the rigors of 
our northern climate. 


* * * * * * * * 


Since the writer’s visit to Mr. Havemeyer’s 
estate, importations have added to the collection 
two beautiful and uncommon species—the Ashy- 
Headed Upland Goose, (Chloephaga polioce- 
phala), and the Ruddy-Headed, (C. rubidiceps). 
In the wild state, the latter is confined entirely 
to the Falkland Islands, while the gray-headed 
is found in Patagonia, going up to Chili and Ar- 
gentina to escape the hardships of the Antarctic 
winters. 

Both of these rare species have been bred in 
Europe, and all of Mr. Havemeyer’s specimens 
were reared in captivity. This fact is of great 
advantage in the attempt to induce birds to 
breed, and it is hoped that Mr. Havemeyer will 
be able to establish more records for the first 
breeding of wild geese in captivity. 


CANADA GEESE AND YOUNG HATCHED IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
This photograph is interesting as showing the swimming formation of the old birds—when alarmed—for 
the protection of their young. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


CEREOPSIS GEESE IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


BREEDING OF THE CEREOPSIS GOOSE. 
By Lue S. Cranpattu. 


HEN a bird or animal is known to be on 

the verge of extinction in the wild state, 

it is well to know that it will reproduce 
its kind successfully in captivity. It is particu- 
larly gratifying when this interesting event 
takes place in one’s own country. 

The Cereopsis or Cape Barren Goose, (Cere- 
opsis novae-hollandiae), formerly was found in 
great numbers in the southern parts of Australia 
and among the neighboring islands. The early 
settlers were greatly pleased with the finely- 
flavored geese, which were so abundant and so 
easily killed. It has ever been 
the custom among pioneers in 
a new land to take freely of 
the natural resources; the bar- 
ren geese were slaughtered by 
thousands. ‘To-day, the rem- 
nants of the great flocks, wild 
as the winds, are confined to 
a few grassy, uninhabited is- 
lands. Their only protection 
lies in their stone-colored 
plumage; as they feed among 
the lichen-covered rocks, it is 
difficult to detect the birds be- 
fore they take flight. 

Like most of the geese— 
this species has no close rela- 
tives—the cereopsis takes 
readily to captivity. Itis one 
thing, however, to persuade a 
bird to live, and quite an- 
other to get it to breed. There 


BULLETIN. 679 


have been a number of pairs of 
cereopsis geese in America; but 
as far as known, no successful 
attempt has been made at repro- 
duction, in this country, prior to 
the series of events recorded in 
this article. 

On August 6, 1909, the So- 
ciety’s first pair. of these birds 
arrived at the Park, the gift of a 
bird lover. Placed in the spa- 
Wild Fowl Pond, they 
lived peacefully through the win- 
ter, avoiding the other inmates, 
never entering the water, and 
feeding on the grain provided 
only when snow 
withered grass. 


cious 


covered the 
Early in Feb- 
ruary, the devoted pair showed 
marked propensities for wandering; they es- 
caped from the paddock during the nights in all 
sorts of mysterious manners, and their clandes- 
tine wanderings were sure to land them in some 
remote corner of the Park. In an attempt to 
satisfy the apparent longings of the birds for 
new surroundings, they were removed to the 
Crane Paddock, where they settled down in ob- 
vious comfort. 


Several sporadic attempts at nesting occurred 
but it was not until the middle of May that a 
small round depression in the ground was final- 
ly surrounded with twigs and leaves, built up 
and moulded into a beautiful nest. On May 23. 
the first white egg appeared, slightly smaller 


CEREOPSIS GEESE IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
In both pictures the male bird is shown retreating last, leaving the young to the 
protection of the female while he stands guard. 


680 ZOOLOGICAL 
than that of the Canada goose. It was im- 
mediately covered with soft down. Four other 
eggs were deposited beside the first, and incu- 
bation was commenced on the first day of April. 

About this time the male developed the sav- 
ageness which has since marked his conduct. 
He attacked the cranes that inhabited the pad- 
dock with such fury that these great birds had 
to be removed to save them from the vengeful 
beak! During the period of incubation every 
intruder was savagely attacked by the bird, who 
made amazing leaps in the air in the endeavor 
to reach his supposed adversaries. 

On May 1, a tiny head was seen protruding 
from under the mother’s wing, but it was not 
until the 3d that she left the nest, accompanied 
by five beautiful goslings, remarkably weak in 
comparison to young geese of other species. 
During the two days spent in the nest by the 
young birds, the female occasionally left to 
feed, covering the young with down as care- 
fully as she would have covered her eggs. As 
the cereopsis gosling appears never to have 
been fully or correctly described, such data 
may be in order here. 

The goslings are slightly smaller than those 
of the Canada goose. Above, they are yellow- 
ish-white, a brownish-black streak extending 
from the base of the bill to the tail, and a sec- 
ond on the flank. The scapulars, wings, the 
posterior aspect of the thighs, and also the face, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


lores and ear coverts, are brownish-black. The 
under surface is uniform smoky-white, with the 
throat pure white. The eyes are dark brown 
and the legs and feet black. The bill also is 
black, presenting a transverse groove at about 
one-quarter inch behind its tip; this marks the 
anterior border of the bill caruncle in the adult. 
At the age of one week, this groove had become 
slightly green, and the egg-tooth had not been 
shed. 

Fully two weeks elapsed before the young 
were really strong. After this period had 
elapsed, they were removed to the large grassy 
paddock at the north end of the Duck Aviary, 
where they have since remained. At first their 
sole food consisted of the tender leaves of clover 
and grass, all else—even the succulent worm— 
was refused. Later, however, in spite of the 
assertions of various writers, the young birds 
learned to take a little of the grain provided for 
the occasional use of the parent birds. 

It is a significant fact that while the adults 
abhor water and never enter it unless compelled 
by necessity, the goslings take to their pond as 
freely as young ducks, although they have, ap- 
parently, no idea of feeding in it. 

It is earnestly hoped that some, at least, of 
these interesting little creatures, will reach ma- 
turity, and in the process of growth yield many 
valuable facts concerning their habits and color 
changes. 


MOUNTAIN GOATS WERE CAUGHT. 


By Cuartes A. CHapMan. 


It has often been remarked that if visitors to the Zoological Park could know the circumstances 
under which our animals have been caught in the wilds, public interest in the animals themselves 
would be greatly increased. Through the courtesy of Rod and Gun in Canada, we are enabled to 
publish the very interesting story of how the five mountain goats constituting our herd were cap- 
tured in southwestern Montana, in the spring of 1905. The article appears in the magazine named 
above for June, 1909, on page 1194, under the caption “Catching the Kids of the Mountain 


HOW OUR WHITE 


Goats,” and its author is Mr. Charles A. Chapman. 
We are able to report that four of the original five animals are now living in the Zoological 


Park, in fine health. 


ago, and which in another year will reach adult size. 


ROM Fort Steele, East Kootenay, to Canal 
Fist. and running parallel with the Kootenay 

River, the main range of the Rocky Moun- 
tains rises sharply like a huge rock-wall to the 
east, pierced here and there by the outfalls of 
different streams such as Wild Horse Creek, 
Bull River, Tracey Creek, Sheep Creek and so 
on. Around the heads of these creeks, where 
they back into the deep recesses of those great 
mountain masses, is a wonderful game country 
in part covered by the new game preserve fig- 
ured in your March issue. Grizzly bear, black 


The fifth, a female, gave her life in rearing the kid that was born two years 


Wed pele 

* * * * * * * 
bear, moose, elk, sheep, goats and deer in plenty 
range there with as much security as do any 
wild animals on earth owing to the extreme 
ruggedness of the country. It is no holiday 
jaunt for weaklings to climb those mountains 
and suffer the hardships and rough life that is 
the sauce of existence for those who love the 
high tops and the secret something that makes 
a pleasure of the hardest toil. 

Some months ago the front cover of “Rod 
and Gun” showed a picture of the mountain 
goats now in the Zoo at the Bronx, New York. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


As I had something to say to the capture of 
them when they were but little kids it may in- 
terest your readers to have an account of my 
experiences in the pursuit. 

In the spring of 1904 I started out from Fort 
Steele accompanied by a Swede boy named 
Jimmy White. We had two saddle horses and 
two for packing, one of the latter being the 
famous Skookum, reputed the best and wisest 
of pack animals. We made for the head waters 
of White River, a tributary of the Kootenay, 
some sixty miles north of our starting point 
and pitched our camp at an elevation of 
some five thousand feet over sea level. Four 
days of the most severe and exhausting climb- 
ing resulted in four days of blank failure as 
far as the capture of the kids I was after was 
concerned. On the fifth we caught one little 
chap after a desperate chase amongst surround- 
ings where the kid was all at home and we were 
all at sea—if I might use the expression. Still 
we had him, and back we fared for camp where 
I acted as his nurse. I had provided myself 
with an ordinary feeding bottle, exactly such as 
is used for the human kid, fitted with a nozzle, 
or whatever they call the arrangement out of 
which the nutriment is. sucked. After some 
amount of difficulty I got it to drink a mixture 
of St. Charles cream and warm water, and after 
the third or fourth feeding all trouble as to the 
giving of the food ceased as the kid understood 
his side of the business perfectly. This re- 
lieved me of my nursing to some extent, so fit- 
ting up a little corral for his kidship we took to 
the tops again and after some exhausting agility 
amongst the rocks we got another. This one 
proved of the Nanny variety, and a very suit- 
able companion for the first. I considered I 
had a bit of fortune in my hands and hurried 
back to Fort Steele where I kept them during 
the summer. They turned out to be wonderful- 
ly amusing pets and would follow me all over 
the town, though wild and shy as hawks with 
strangers and with dogs, especially. At first 
they throve well on cream and warm water— 
just as I fed them in camp, but later on I found 
they did better on birch brush which I cut for 
them along the creek bottoms. They did not 
grow very fast and I fancied there was a 
chance of my over-feeding them; but as a mat- 
ter of fact I now believe I did not feed them 
sufficiently. In the fall of 1905 I sent them to 
the Bronx, where, I am sorry to say, they died 
soon after their arrival. 

Our trip had shown us that we had hit on a 
part of the mountains where goat were plenti- 
ful, so in the spring of 1905 we returned to our 
camp and began operations on a very high 


681 


mountain which, as far as I know, is yet un- 
named. Here we saw a considerable number of 
kids and chased them till our hearts were sore 
and our feet and hands if possible a shade more 
sore. We reached camp after dark weary and 
almost too tired to eat. Still a hot supper, a 
warm fire, a smoke or so and a sleep ten fathoms 
deep started hope in our hearts again. By 
daylight we were breasting the heights once 
more, this time with Jimmy partly dressed i 

goat skin. It was an idea of mine—that out 
skin disguise. By and by we marked an old 
Nanny aod a kid feeding out on a snow slide, 
whereupon we started to stalk as close to them 
as we dared. Tying a white handkerchief over 
Jimmy’s head, to still further make him resem- 
ble a goat, I started him on his hands and knees 
towards the mother and kid, hoping that the 
mater would mistake him for an overgrown 
Billy of her acquaintance. I cannot say what 
she thought of the arrangement, but when he 
got within about twenty yards of the pair the 
old lady put down her head and came for Jim- 


my with vengeance in her motherly eye. Goat's 
horns are sharp, and Jimmy knew it. It was 


no fault of his that he didn’t strike Sweden in 
three jumps, for standing up he sprang back 
with more hurry to the square inch inside his 
skin than I thought dignified. Jimmy -came 
back, all right. But the old goat when she 
found what it really was, quit that region at a 
pace that words won't describe very easily. 
The kid went with her, but not all our hopes. 
We followed after them and about dark we 
caught the kid at a place where there was an 
overhanging cornice of rock which the old one 
managed to negotiate but which was too much 
for the little one. Back to camp was the order, 
arriving there after dark. Much the same ex- 
perience was had with this number three kid as 
with those of the previous spring, but I was now 
becoming quite an experienced goat nurse with 
knowledge of the rules of the game. 

During the following four days our luck was 
decidedly in the ascendant, as we captured one 
each day, making five in all. I meant to get 
eight if I could, but our shoes were worn so that 
our toes were all but visible, our clothes were 
fitting for scare-crow duties and no more. 

Plainly it was for us to get back to civiliza- 
tion, but [ had the education of the kids to com- 
plete in the direction of absorbing St. Charles 
cream and to this end erected a little corral of 
Jack pine about twelve feet square and covered 
in at the top. We called this establishment 
“The Nursery” and here I took up my duties. 
Truth to tell I had not much trouble with the 
little fellows and used to feed them about every 


682 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


MULE DEER FAWNS. 
These fawns, born in June of this year, are a valuable addition to the herd of mule deer, which now contains six specimens. 


three hours day and night. If they got hungry 
they would either jump on me or climb all over 
my body—for I slept in the little corral with 
them. I found if I left them they got uneasy 
and tried all manner of ways to escape. Old 
Skookum, the pack-horse, seemed to take no end 
of interest in them, looking at them as if he had 
a mind to herd them. Poor little orphans, when 
I had them fed they would all lie down close be- 
side me and go to sleep, I suppose, or, at any 
rate let me get forty winks, till hungry again 
when they would beat me with their fore feet. 
Their mothers must have a hard time with them, 
but not many mothers had as many as I was 
blessed with. 

After haying fully graduated on the sucking 
bottle, I made them three small crates and fitted 
them as side packs on the trusty back of Skoo- 
kum, placing two kids in each of those on the 
sides and one on top. It was a bulky pack, and 
necessitated a deal of chopping by Jimmy and 
myself to get rid of the trees that obstructed the 
narrow trail down by Sheep Lake and so down- 
wards to Sam Cadeux’s place above Sheep Creek 
road house and the open ease of the wagon 
roads home to Fort Steele, where we built an 
enclosure about one hundred feet square close 
to our shack and enclosed with close wire fenc- 
ing. It was something of a sight for Fort 
Steele people to behold those little fellows come 
climbing over myself and each other to get the 


first drink from the feeding bottle and follow- 
ing me around the streets. 

As in the case of the two we captured in 1904, 
I found they did better on birch brush (the 
leaves and small twigs), than any other food, 
though, of course, while on that class of dietry 
they had their cream as usual. In the fall I 
weaned them from the kidlike folly of mere 
cream and feeding bottles and began to feed 
them with bran -and oats mixed. They got 
along splendidly on this, but seemed to greatly 
like good clover hay of which they got all they 
cared to eat. 

I was sorry the day I parted with them to go 
on their long journey to the Bronx Zoological 
Gardens, for they were really interesting little 
pets. It is true they would never permit a 
strange hand to be laid on them, and if a 
stranger approached too close to them they 
would at once stampede to me for protection. 
I suppose they looked on me as their parent, or 
protector, or Special Providence. Anyhow, I 
trust they are proving a credit to my educational 
establishment. I did the best that in me lay 
to perfect them for the great outside world and 
the perils and pitfalls of Gotham. Here, by the 
way, Mr. 0: i. MeVantie, SRS sl Si; of <Bort 
Steele, saw them the other day, and from his 
account of them I feel that “My Kids” are 
maintaining the reputation of the land of their 
nativity. 


2 as D.N\0- 
Vo.\\\ 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 41 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


September, 1910 


THE 
AST year, Hon. Mason Mitchell, American 
Consul at Chung King, China, and now sta- 
tioned at Apia, Samoa, presented to the 
Zoological Society, for the National Collection 
of Heads and Horns, the entire skin, skull and 
horns of the very rare and little known Takin 
which inhabits southwestern China. The speci- 
men proved to represent the Chinese Takin, 
(Budorcas tibetanus, Lydekker), of which there 
are probably fewer than half a dozen specimens 
available for study. 

For several months, the founders of the Na- 
tional Collection were in doubt regarding their 
duty to science respecting the zoological rarity 
so unexpectedly placed in their possession. To 


CHINESE 


TAKIN. 


mount a specimen entire and place it in the Col- 
lection, seemed like establishing an embarrass- 
ing precedent; but on the other hand, it seemed 
impossible to do otherwise. At last it was 
agreed that “the promotion of zoology” demand- 
ed the utilization of the entire animal. The 
specimen was placed in the hands of Mr. Wilson 
Potter, of Philadelphia, and forthwith he and 
his taxidermists began a careful study of the 
Takins. 

The finished specimen reached the Collection 
last week, and the work bestowed upon it re- 
flects great credit upon Mr. Potter. Judging 
from photographs of the living Takin in the 
London Zoo, the form of the animal has been 


CHINESE TAKIN. 


684 ZOOLOGICAL 


very correctly wrought out. Fortunately, the 
presence of the entire skull leaves no room for 
argument regarding the external anatomy of the 
head. 

The Chinese Takin, which is quite distinct 
from the Mishmi species, is a genuine zoological 
oddity, like the musk-ox, prong-horn and moun- 
tain goat. It has the heavy, burly body and 
hump of an overgrown mountain goat, thick and 
clumsy legs like a musk-ox, hoofs like a Texas 
steer, and horns that are quite unique. The 
shoulder height of our specimen is fifty inches, 
girth sixty-seven inches, and when alive it must 
have weighed about 600 pounds. Its longest 
horn has a length of nineteen and five-eighths 
inches, and a basal circumference of eleven and 
one-half inches. The widest spread at the base 
of the horns is seventeen inches, and between 
the tips, thirteen and three-quarter inches. Mr. 
Mitchell shot the animal in the Province of 
Szechuan, western China, near the eastern bor- 
der of Tibet, in 1908. We 0 EL: 

THE SECRETARY BIRD. 
By Ler S. CRANDALL. 


O matter what may be the age or standing 

of a zoological collection, there are always 

certain elusive creatures which are con- 
stantly sought to increase its scientific value and 
interest. Whenever a special desideratum is ac- 
quired, somehow another long-felt want prompt- 
ly rises to take its place. As every collector 
knows, one of the greatest pleasures in gather- 
ing a collection of living creatures is the sudden 
acquisition of a species that has eluded all ef- 
forts to procure it. 

The Secretary Bird, (Serpentarius serpen- 
tarius Miller) is not the rarest bird among 
European zoological gardens. In fact, these 
birds have many times been exhibited in the 
older institutions, and have there gained an en- 
viable reputation as entertainers and educators. 
It is said to be a popular amusement among 
a certain class of Englishmen to give a zoo 
bird-keeper a “bob” to see the Secretary Bird 
stamp on a rat! Under ordinary conditions, it 
would seem that a Secretary Bird should not be 
particularly difficult to secure; but it happens 
that as a rule every arrival in European ports 
is instantly purchased by some enterprising col- 
lector, and therefore living specimens are seldom 
offered in America. 

Last winter, however, a New York dealer in- 
formed the Director that his foreign agents had 
secured a very fine pair of Secretaries, which he 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


PREPARING TO STRIKE. 
The bird advances with deliberation. 


offered to deliver at the Park for a sum none too 
modest. Needless to say, the offer was imme- 
diately accepted, not without misgivings as to 
the ability of the dealer to fill his contract. 
Great was our delight, therefore, when word 
was received that the coveted pair was about to 
be delivered at the Park! Their wings having 
already been clipped, they were turned at once 
into one of the large runs at the Ostrich House, 
which had been prepared for them. After a 
much-needed stretching of the great expanse of 
wing and length of limb, they graciously ac- 
cepted their first meal of rats, cheerfully swal- 
lowing them whole! 

The Secretary Bird is a huge ground hawk, 
with legs as long as those of a sand-hill crane. 
It is a handsome bird, stately in pose and very 
alert and quick in movement. When erect the 
male is easily four feet high, the greater part of 
it being contributed by his neck and legs. 

In general color the bird is a soft, ashy-gray, 
the wings, thighs and abdomen being black, and 
the breast white. The gray middle tail feathers 
are so long as nearly to touch the ground when 
the bird is standing. In the male, the naked 
skin of the face is yellow, and the long, heavy 
eye-lashes well set off the handsome, gray eyes. 
The crowning beauty of the bird, however, lies 
in the two, long, black cockades which grow at 
either side of the back of the head. These 
feather tufts are said to have suggested the pop- 
ular name of the species, from their supposed 


ZOOLOGICAL 


resemblance to a quill pen stuck over the ear of 
a clerk. Vosmaer, however, who first described 
the species in 1769, states that the bird was 
known at the Cape of Good Hope as the Sagit- 
tarius or Archer, from its long strides. Sagit- 
tarius is said (but the idea seems far-fetched) to 
have become corrupted to Secretarius; hence 
the origin of the very appropriate name perhaps 
may be traced to accident, after all. 

The zoological status of the Secretary Bird 
has occasioned a great deal of controversy. By 
various authors it has been placed in various 
groups, from spoonbills to bustards. Many 
modern authorities, however, admit its affinities 
with the accipitrine birds, and place it in a sep- 
While the Sec- 
retary, at first glance, seems to be simply a 


arate sub-order of that group. 


long-legged hawk, very much specialized for 
ground hunting, the fact that a fossil form of 
the same genus is known from the Miocene of 
France, suggests the possibility of the truth of 
the theory advanced by Newton, that the modern 
bird has descended, little changed, from the an- 
cient ancestors, not only of present-day hawks, 
but even of herons, storks and others. 

The peculiar degree of parallel development 
found in the Secretary Bird and the seriemas. 
(particularly Cariama cristata), is too marked 
Both are aberrant forms of 
well-marked families (the seriemas being com- 


to escape notice. 


THE FIRST BLOW. 
The right foot is slightly raised for the strike. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 685 


FIRST STROKE OF THE BEAK. 
The reptile is seized and dropped so quickly as to barely leave 
the ground. 


monly referred to the cranes) differing radical- 
ly from the types, and yet approaching each 
Not the least 
interesting of these resemblances is the sharp- 
ened, of the talon of 
found both in the Secre- 
tary Bird and in the seriemas, not only in the 
crested, as first made known by C. William 
In each 


other in a most singular manner. 
raised condition inner 


each foot, which is 


Beebe, but in the Burmeister as well. 
case, this specialized nail assists in holding the 
prey during the process of tearing it with the 
bill. 

The hunting and feeding habits of Serpen- 
tarius are unusual. The killing is not done with 
the beak, but with the feet. 
long, sinewy leg-muscles is surprising. 


The power in the 
The bird 
strikes a hammer-like, maiming blow, by rais- 
ing the tarsus to a position at right angles to 
the thigh, and bringing it down with great ve- 
locity. In striking, both feet are used, neither 
being given preference, although alternation is 
not perfect. The talons are drawn together 
when the blow is started, straightened out while 
in the air, and brought together slightly at the 
instant of impact with the body of the victim, 
so that the latter receives not only the force of 
the blow, but the piercing of the sharp nails. 
Whenever possible, the food is swallowed entire, 
fur, scales and all; but if the animal should be 
too large, it is eaten piecemeal, the fur, if pres- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


DEVOURING THE HEAD. 
The bird removes the head, swallowing it entire. 


ent, being discarded. The bird regurgitates 
pellets of indigestible matter after the manner 
of many other flesh-eating birds. 

It is as a snake-killer that the Secretary Bird 
has gained its greatest renown. The most 
fabulous tales are told of the feats of the bird 
as a slayer of venomous serpents, but there is no 
doubt that it bears a greatly exaggerated repu- 
tation in that respect. It does, however, destroy 
a great many of the cobras, vipers and other 
poisonous reptiles that infest certain portions of 
Africa. As the methods of attack and defense 
of the snake killer seemed to be so inaccurately 
reported and so greatly exaggerated, it was de- 
termined to attempt to learn something of the 
truth by experimenting with our captives. 

Some small garter snakes were first intro- 
duced, all of which were quickly dispatched, 
with little attempt at self-protection by the 
Secretaries. Next in order we offered an active 
blacksnake about four feet long, and then the 
birds seemed to realize that this was no mean 
antagonist. The male bird, warily approach- 
ing with wings outspread so that their slightest 
forward movement would carry him out of 
danger, found that dodging the vicious lunges 
of the combative snake was none too easy a task. 

In avoiding the reptile, the bird raised itself 
about two feet from the ground, its talons ex- 
tended to protect its abdomen. It did not make 
an attempt to receive the blow on its extended 


FINAL PREPARATION. 
Drawing the reptile under the foot. 


wing, as has been stated by various writers. 
This dodging and feinting continued for several 
minutes, the birds circling about their intended 
prey, watching for an opening, but keeping well 
out of danger. Suddenly, the right foot of the 
male bird shot out with great force, striking 
the reptile fairly on the head and _ partially 
stunning it. The snake was by no means in- 
capacitated, however, and the bird found it well 
to maintain its former caution. Soon another 
chance presented itself, and this time the first 
blow was followed very rapidly by several more, 
which sufficed to quiet the snake. 

In this case, the talons were too wide spread 
to pierce the scales of the victim’s head, the 
blow being delivered flat-footed. It would not 
go well with a Secretary Bird whose claws be- 
came fastened in the skin of a cobra! In such 
battles this bird displays another ability. It’s 
blows are in general very accurately delivered, 
and always are aimed at the victim’s head. If 
the snake’s position does not change, the crush- 
ing foot is sure to find its mark. 

When a snake is not too large to be swal- 
lowed entire, (and this seems to include every- 
thing under three or four feet), its head is seized 
by the bill of its captor, and being held down by 
the bird’s foot, while the sharp inner claw comes 
into play, the body is stretched and pulled a 
number of times, presumably for the purpose of 
rendering it less rigid. It is then swallowed 
without further ceremony, and usually head first. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


The Bird is found practically 
throughout central and southern Africa wher- 
ever dry, open country exists. By some au- 
thorities, the northern birds are classed as a dis- 
tinct species called Serpentarius gambiensis, but 
by others this distinction is deemed unwarranted. 
The birds are usually found in pairs, each hay- 
ing a certain hunting ground which they defend 
fiercely against intrusion by their neighbors. 
The nests are very large and bulky, built of 
sticks and generally placed in a thick bush, or 
small tree, although they have occasionally been 
found at great heights. Here the bluish-white 
eggs, usually two in number, are deposited. 

The long, slender tarsi of the birds, particu- 
larly in the young, are extremely brittle, and 
care must be taken to prevent the sudden alarm- 
ing of captive birds, lest their legs be snapped. 
The young are frequently taken from the nests 
and raised by the native farmers as_ pets. 
Their only fault in that capacity is said to be 
their fondness for young chickens, which often 
proves their own undoing. 


Secretary 


ZOOLOGICAL GOSSIP. 


IND, rain and the moulting season have 

sadly bedraggled our pea-fowl, and the 

pride of every peacock has long since 
passed away in the hands of various visitors. 
Even though deprived of their glory, their spirit 
remains undaunted, and wherever a male bird 
finds an audience, he still makes heroic efforts to 
entertain it. 

The dazzling appearance of the white pea- 
cocks instantly made them popular, and when 
their timidity had been quite overcome, they 
frequented the paths where visitors were most 
numerous. A short time ago a large crowd was 
gathered near the Wolf Dens, intently watching 
the antics of an ordinary Indian cock courting 
a hen, when suddenly from the shrubbery a 
white bird stepped into the open space. He evi- 
dently meditated an immediate conquest, for he 
strutted proudly before the hen and threw erect 
—not a whole, magnificent tail—but, alas, only 
a single feather. Such a shout of laughter 
greeted this display that his composure was 
completely shattered, and he turned and made a 
hasty retreat. 


One branch of surgery that Dr. Blair is oc- 
casionally called upon to practice, is the setting 
of broken bones. The number of these frac- 
tures, the subjects, and the causes, present prob- 
lems often of great complexity. Usually the 
cause is unknown. and with some of the dumb 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


YOUNG CHIMPANZEE. 


patients it is difficult to understand just why so 
agile a creature could suffer such an accident as 
a fractured leg or arm. 

Not so puzzling when the subject is a tall 
wading bird, for a sudden twist and the fragile 
leg bones are snapped. Even a mountain sheep 
may find himself with a broken leg by the sud- 
den thrust of a foot into the crevice of a rock; 
but when a fracture occurs in the leg of a 
primate—and a particularly strong and active 
primate, such as an orang, determining the cause 
is difficult. During the first week of August, 
our youngest orang was found lying on the floor 
of the outdoor exercising cage, apparently suf- 
fering great pain. In the absence of Dr. Blair 
it was hastily concluded that the trouble was in 
the bowels, as the abdomen was distended. 


The 


usual remedies were administered, but 
without relief. When our surgeon arrived a 


minute examination was then made, which re- 
sulted in the discovery of a fracture of the left 
femur, near its head, close to the pelvis—a 
particularly bad break. In fact, this is about 
the most serious place in which a break can oc- 
eur, on account of the heavy muscles which pre- 
vent the perfect resting of the leg, and the pos- 
sibility of the fracture lying within the capsu- 
lar ligament. Dr. Blair reduced the fracture 


688 


and encased the leg in a plaster-of-Paris band- 
age, with a long splint, to secure perfect 
rigidity. Should the fracture be located within 
the capsular ligament, there is a possibility that 
the knitting of the ends of the bones may result 
in a change of the fluid and a consequent per- 
manent stiffness of the leg. A similar accident 
happened to a large African monkey, but with a 
perfect recovery and entire use of the limb, 
the animal living five years after the splint was 
removed. 

So many and varied are the cases now on rec- 
ord, that Dr. Blair believes that an operation 
for the displacement of a vertebra of some rep- 
tile alone is required to complete the entire round 
of possible accidents. 

x * # 

In July we received a chimpanzee represent- 
ing the species known as Pan schweinfurthi, 
probably about one year old, and the smallest that 
we have ever seen. As shown by the picture of the 
little fellow in the scales, he weighs only thir- 
teen and one-quarter pounds—not a great deal 
more than the average newly-born human infant. 
As a companion for “Baldy,” the present repre- 
sentative of the Genus Pan, he would have fitted 
nicely into the order of things at the Primate 
House; but “Baldy’s”” muscular development has 
been so rapid that he has long ago passed the age 
of succoring his orphan and disconsolate broth- 
ers. Even the largest orangs do not relish a frolic 
with “Baldy,” and lately Keeper Riley has had 
several very strenuous arguments with this very 
turbulent youngster,—not always emerging 
from the encounter with all of the glory. On 
Friday, August 12, there occurred between 
“Baldy” and Keeper Riley a regular battle for 
the supremacy of the Primate House, and we 
are glad to be able to report that the keeper still 
remains master of the situation. As the placid 
disposition of the orangs is more suited to hover- 
ing infants, the new baby has one of the orangs 
as a companion, and is quite happy with 
“Mimi.” 

* * * 

In spite of “Baldy’s” perversity, and decided 
inclination toward haying his own way, he still 
evinces, in a sprightly and cheerful manner, an 
aptitude for delineating many of the accomplish- 
ments of his human associates. So aptly has he 
acquired some of them that the Director and 
Mr. Ditmars decided that he should display his 
intelligence in public. Each afternoon, at 4.15 
o'clock, “Baldy” gravely sits at a table, upon 
a raised platform at the south end of Baird 
Court, and with great deliberation eats his 
luncheon. There has been no attempt to garb 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


the exhibition with any display that would de- 
prive it of its ape-like character, other than to 
use a table, chair and eating utensils. 

The ape leaves the Primate House with his 
keeper, and walks erect to the platform, ascend- 
ing the stairs and seating himself at the table, 
unaided. He uses either fork or spoon, with 
commendable skill; devours an ice-cream cone 
—for which he has a decided fondness—and 
drinks a mixture of milk and eggs from a bot- 
tle, which he raises with a great flourish. An 
interesting element of the entertainment is 
“Baldy’s” evident pleasure in performing in 
public. The size of the audience is in no way 
disconcerting. Until the accident of the frac- 
tured leg, his companion had been the injured 
orang-utan. 

x & 


Violent exceptions to all forms of surgery, es- 
pecially dentistry, are no more frequent among 
men than among animals. Excepting the great 
apes, who are always the best of patients, the 
practice of dentistry with certain groups, is a 
trying and dangerous science. As most animals 
make use of their teeth and claws as weapons 
of offense and defense, working around the head 
of a strong animal—even though the feet may 
be rendered helpless—is decidedly hazardous. 
Tales are frequently told of the abnormal de- 
velopment of teeth, tusks and mandibles that 
seem incredible, and yet actual observation of 
singular cases in the Park would convince the 
skeptical of their possibility, and that with care 
and skill, relief can always be given. A golden 
agouti received early this year, was so emaciated 
that the keepers believed it had been starved, 
and promptly gave it individual attention and 
an abundance of food. They were soon quite 
certain that it ate the food, but that it remained 
weak and thin. The case was so singular that 
a watch was kept, in order that the actual process 
of eating could be noted. After some time had 
elapsed, the keepers detected flecks of blood on 
the animal’s jaws and referred the matter to Dr. 
Blair. The agouti was captured, and upon 
opening the mouth, the secret was instantly 
solved. The lower incisors had grown so long 
that they had completely passed the upper ones 
and were cutting into the roof of the mouth. 
Carefully placing a thin piece of wood lateral- 
ly between the jaws, the doctor inserted his 
bone forceps, cutting the two teeth back to their 
original chisel-like shape. After cleansing the 
wounds, the agouti was liberated, and immedi- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


ately improved and became fat upon its now 
properly-eaten food. 


* * * 


Technically speaking, the use of the word 
dentistry for an operation upon the mandibles of 
a bird might seem a misnomer; and yet, as the 
mandibles properly take the place of teeth, it 
may justly be termed dentistry—especially 
when it concerns the mandibles of a Harpy 
eagle, the largest and fiercest of the rapacious 


birds. The Harpy is rare, and like all rarities, 
costly. When Doctor Blair learned that the 


Harpy could open his mandibles only with dif- 
ficulty, he was worried. With the thought of 
tetanus in his mind, he ordered the capture cf the 
bird. An examination showed that at some time, 
possibly in his wild state, the upper mandible 
had been bruised, causing it to turn from the 
normal growing line and press so firmly against 
the lower as to nearly make the jaws immovable. 
The inner surface was carefully cut away and 
filed smooth. As the mandibles have now 
reached their normal size, it will require but a 
few treatments to effect a complete cure. 


BK. R.S. 


THE BONGO. 


HE National Collection of Heads and Horns 

has recently been enriched by a pair of 

Bongo horns, grft of James L. Clark—the 
hunting companion of Mr. Radcliffe Dugmore. 
According t6 the records of Rowland Ward, 
these horns are fifth in length and first in cir- 
cumference. 

“The Bongo,” said Mr. Clark, “is not a rare 
animal, but is exceedingly difficult to shoot, by 
reason of its great shyness. The natives refuse 
to guide a white man on the trail of the ante- 
lope, because, as they say, he wears too many 
clothes to run quietly, and has not sufficient lung 
power to run fast. The Bongo frequents the 
thick bush and bamboos in the foothills of the 
country around Escarpment—a station on the 
Uganda R. R., about fifty miles from Nairobi— 
and Eldoma Ravine, between Nairobi and the 
terminus of the railroad in Uganda, usually at 
an elevation of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. It is ex- 
tremely sensitive to wounds, however slight, 
presumably on account of its high-strung, nerv- 
ous temperament, and if followed, is frequently 
found dead from a trivial hurt. With but few 
exceptions, most of the specimens are brought 
in by the natives, who get them in pitfalls dug 
for other game. The Bongo comes out of hid- 
ing at night, and probably if one climbed into 
a tree and waited, they might obtain a shot. 


BULLETIN. 689 
The natives are keenly aware of the worth of 
specimens, and put a high valuation on Bongo 
heads. In Nairobi a head, by no means as 
large as the one presented to the Society, had a 
market value of $150.00.” 

So strict are the British hunting laws, Mr. 
Clark experienced great difficulty in shipping the 
specimens he obtained. One came through on 
his hunting license, but the other two were 
passed only upon a promise to deliver them to 
the American Museum,—a promise that the 
Government Game Ranger verified by writing to 
the Museum, stating that the heads were con- 
signed to it. BH. R. S: 


AFRICAN BONGO SKULL. 


690 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. — ated. They are vicious and pugnacious, besides 
: Ee devouring the young and eggs of other species. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN, EpiTor. . = P 2 : 
mi purtincnta: Like the cuckoo, they seldom build their own 
ee a prea cit ae nests, but prefer to eject the eggs of other birds 
ao a and take possession of their building. 


C,H. TOWNSEND, Sc. D. RAYMOND L, DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1910, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numper 41 SEPTEMBER, 1910 


Officers of the Society. 


President: 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
MADISON GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
LEvI P. Morton, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STURGIS. 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 
General Officers - 
Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 


Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND Sc.D., BATTERY PARK. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Board of Managers : 

Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York -— - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Glass of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
William C. Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir deRham, John S$. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuei Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, W. Austin Wadsworth, 
James W. Barney, Frank K. Sturgis, Emerson MeMillin, 
Wm. PiersonHamilton, George J. Gould, Anthony R. Kuser 
Robert S. Brewster Ogden Mills 


Officers of the Zoolagical Park - 
W. T. Hornabay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - = - Curator of Birds. 
W. REID Barr, D.V.S. = = Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W. MERKEL - - - - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN - - - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL - = - - Office Assistant. 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER 


Glass of 1913. 


Officers of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 
RAYMOND C, OSBURN, Ph.D. Assistant Director. 
W. I. DENYSE > In Charge of Collections. 


A FEATHERED PESTILENCE ABROAD. 


In the Apia Samoanische Zeitung, Mr. Mason 
Mitchell, American Consul and a life member of the 
Zoological Society, publishes a very interesting article 
under the caption “A Pest in Samoa.” From _ it, 
which we reproduce entire herewith, it appears that 
in comparison with the mynah our English sparrow 
is a veritable dove of peace. The inference,—be- 
ware of the mynah!—Ep. 


Sometime since, a cage of mynah birds (d4eri- 
dotheres tristris) was brought to Apia. The 
party who landed the birds was undoubtedly 


ignorant of their habits, and the consequences 
of his act, as they were soon afterwards liber- 


Honolulu at the present day is bereft to a 
great extent of its beautiful song and perching 
birds, owing to the introduction of the mynahs. 

Mr. Rothschilds in his ornithological work, 
Vol. III of the “Avifauna of Laysan,” page 
300, states that the mynah “kills and eats the 
young and eggs of small birds.” 

More recently still Mr. Perkins (Ibis for Oc- 
tober, 1901) affirms that the mynah “not only 
attacks and drives away other birds, but also 
devours their eggs and young.” He adds fur- 
ther (p. 580) that he has himself seen the 
mynah “devouring both young and eggs of other 
species.” 

Such evidence is conclusive, and establishes 
the habits of the bird. In addition, in China I 
have seen them attack smaller birds, and what 
they have done in other lands will doubtless re- 
occur here. 

In Samoa we have many beautiful specimens 
in the avifauna of the forty-nine known species 
that inhabit or visit these islands. Among them 
the crimson-headed honey-sucker (Sega 
segamauu), and the iao, another species of the 
same family; the painted pigeons, manutagi 
and manuma, also the beautiful little loriquet of 
the parrot tribe (Sega samoa). These and 
others will be driven from the Island or de- 
voured unless the mynah is exterminated. There 
are but few at present, and found in the bush 
back of the German Firm, but it is hoped that 
both whites and natives will kill them whenever 
opportunity offers, for the mynah is a wary bird 
and the traps or poison that have been tried in 
the Hawaiian Islands were of no avail. They 
multiplied with rapidity, and to-day overrun 
that country. 

They are of brownish color and may be easily 
recognized by the white patches on the tips of 
the wings. Head and neck blackish, a bare 
spot of yellow behind the eye, wings barred 
with white, under parts and under tail-coverts 
white, bill yellow. Length about nine inches. 

The mynah comes originally from India, and 
belongs to the starling family. 


are 


Mason Mrircuetu. 
PROTECTION OF BIRDS IN NATAL. 


We are informed that the Government of 
Natal issued on May 28 last a proclamation 
amending the Act of 1896 for the protection of 


ZOOLOGICAL 


wild birds in such a way as to give protection 
throughout the year to 46 genera (including in 
each case all species). The effect is to protect 
practically all the native birds of Natal. The 
old Act included only six species ——London 
Times. 


MR. DITMARS’ “REPTILES 
WORLD.” 

The appearance of such a work as ““The Rep- 
tiles of the World,’ by Raymond L. Ditmars, 
Curator of Reptiles in the Zoological Park, may 
fairly be regarded as a noteworthy event. Its 
chief interest is found in the fact that the effort 
covers a new field, and is adapted to the wants 
of the millions rather than to those of the scien- 
tifie few. 

It is a stately octave volume, admirable in 
typography, and very satisfactorily illustrated. 
It is not an illustrated catalogue of genera and 
species, but a book that is “readable,” from be- 
ginning to end. It treats of the reptiles of the 
world, quite as comprehensively as could reason- 
ably be expected in one volume of practicable 
size; and it affords the reader an excellent gen- 
eral view of the little-known world of turtles 
and tortoises, crocodilians, lizards and serpents. 
So far as we are aware, this is the first popular- 
scientific work ever published on the reptiles of 
the world; and in saying this we take due note 
of the existence of sections on reptiles in the 
natural histories, and also of Dr. Gadow’s sci- 
entific treatise. 


OF THE 


Naturally, it will be to the members of the 
Zoological Society some cause for satisfaction 
that this valuable contribution to zoology has 
emanated from the Zoological Park, and con- 
tains scores of fine illustrations reproduced 
photographically. from Park specimens. The 
volume is published by the Sturgis and Walton 
Company, of New York; it contains 373 pages, 
and nearly 200 illustrations of representative 
species. The author sets forth only those spe- 
cies that best represent the important genera, 
and has wisely refrained from attempting to 
handle a great number of forms. Vie dita Jet 


THE LESSER VASA PARROT. 


Pronounced black is the last color one would 
expect to find among the members of the Parrot 
Family, and it really is very uncommon. Its 
occurrence is best known among the nine species 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 691 
of splendid black cockatoos of Australia, one of 
which, the Banksian, is represented by a very 
fine specimen in the collection of the Zoological 
Society. The highest quality of iridescent black 
is found among a few species of the Loriidae or 
Lories, but among the true parrots of the Fam- 
ily Psittacidae, this color is rare, and is confined 
to six species, five of which are members of the 
genus Coracopsis, the Vasa Parrots, inhabiting 
Madagascar and the small neighboring islands. 
These birds have been brought into the United 
States on very infrequent occasions, and the few 
arrivals have generally been the Greater Vasa, 
(C. vaga). 

The Lesser Vasa Parrot, (C. nigra), is found 
solely in Madagascar, also the home of the 
Greater. The individual of the former species 
which recently has been added to the Zoological 
Society’s collection, is of an ashy-black color, 
slightly inclining to rusty on the head. The 
bill is somewhat lighter in tone than the body, 
forming a striking contrast to the sombre plum- 
age. 

Although closely related to the gray parrots, 
which are unquestionably the finest talkers of 
the entire group, the Vasas do not appear ever 
to acquire any great degree of linguistic ability. 
Consequently they are not popular as pets, even 
in Europe, having the added drawbacks of rarity 
and funereal coloration on the wrong side of de- 
sirability. They are, however, very quiet and 
docile, seldom giving way to the violent spasms 
of rage which too often mar the pleasures of 
parrot keeping. Ses 


ANNOUNCEMENT. 

Dr. C. H. Townsend, Director of the New 
York Aquarium, has been appointed Acting Di- 
rector of the American Museum of Natural His- 
tory until December 15, 1910; Director H. C. 
Bumpus having been granted leave of absence 
until that time. Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, of 
Columbia University, has been appointed As- 
sistant Director, to take charge of the Aquarium 
under the general supervision of Dr. Townsend. 


All those interested in the work of the Society 
in the Zoological Park, or Aquarium, are cor- 


dially invited to become members. Information 
concerning membership may be obtained at the 
office of the Society, 11 Wall Street, at the Zoo- 


logical Park or the Aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


692 


ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CALCUTTA. 


Breeding colony of wild night herons, egrets and snakebirds. 


THE CALCUTTA ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. 
By C. Wini1am Brese. 


HE Zoological Garden of Calcutta is situ- 

ated in one of the suburbs of the city Alipur, 

three or four miles from the main thorough- 
fares. It is a Zoological Garden seen through 
the small end of the field glass—complete, but 
everything in miniature. As an example of 
landscape gardening it probably has few equals 
in the world. 

It dates from the year 1875, when the Goy- 
ernment of Bengal granted about thirty-three 
acres for this purpose. At present, although 
under the nominal control of a 
Committee, consisting of doctors 
and civilians, it is practically a 
government institution. 

From the Bengal Government 
it receives an annual maintenance 
grant of 20,000 rupees, while the 
gate receipts furnish an addi- 
tional 36,000 rupees. In Amer- 
ican coinage these sums repre- 
sent about $6,800 and $12,000, 
respectively. The amount of the 
gate receipts seems all the more 
remarkable when we learn that 
the ordinary admission charge is 
one anna, about ten cents. 

There are about thirty-four 
installations, of 
them are called, although many 
are hardly deserving of more 
than the title of sheds, kennels 


houses most 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 

or shelters. But in this cli- 
mate of perpetual summer, no 
more is required. The more 
pretentious installations have 
each been presented by some 
person interested in the Gar- 
den, and each of these bears the 
name. For example, 
we have the Abdul Ghuni 
House for bears, the Murihida- 
bad House for birds of para- 
dise, and the Burdwan Raj 
House for the larger carniy- 
ores. 

During the few brief visits 
to this interesting little Zoo- 
logical Garden, which my 
pheasant studies at the Mu- 
seum allowed me to make, I 
was able to note the more strik- 
ing exhibits. 

The Calcutta climate is such that few crea- 
tures hailing from cold or desert regions will 
long If Himalayan pheasants are 
brought down at the beginning of November 
they will live for a few months and then succumb 
to the increasing heat. Although numerous orang- 
utans, old and young, have been procured from 


; 
donor’s 


survive. 


Singapore, all die from tuberculosis within a 
short time, having contracted the disease before 
they reach the country. The hoolock gibbon is 
one of the prominent features of the Garden, 
both from its strange “travelling ring” method 
of progression back and forth across the roof 
of its large cage, and its human hoots and howls 


LAKE IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CALCUTTA. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CALCUTTA. 
Enclosure for the Indian Rhinoceros. 


which it sends to the farthest boundary of the 
Garden. These have a remarkable echo quality 
as when one calls in a great empty stone hall. 
These animals live well and are easily procured. 

A small but attractive exhibit is the Peafowl 
Pavilion, consisting of a large wire-covered oval, 
with a slighter shelter in the center. In the 
four divisions into which this is divided are 
magnificent specimens of the Indian, 
black-winged and white peafowl, and when the 
males of all four are simultaneously spreading 
their trains it forms a beautiful sight. 


Javan, 


Judging from the number of porcupines on 
exhibition, death must be unknown to them. 


Thanks to a regular system of 
exchange with Australian Zoo- 
logical Gardens, marsupials are 
well represented, especially 
tree wallabies and kangaroos, 
which breed freely. 
kangaroos placidly perched on 
the topmost branches of tall 
trees is a shock to one’s ideas 
of the life of these saltatores. 
The exhibition of ruminants 
is unusually full and complete, 
especially as regards Indian 
The most 
Formosan deer. 
(Cervus taevanus),a pale gray- 
ish-brown animal of the axis 
type, with extremely faint spots. 
Small herds of the mithan, or 
(Bos frontalis), and 


(Bos sondaicus), 


To see 


and Chinese species. 
unusual is the 


gayal, 


banting, in- 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 693 
cluded magnificent males, as 
full of fire and spirit as the 
most high-bred bull. An in- 


teresting, although un-geo- 
graphical association is that of 
a herd of Indian gazelles 
number of 


and a 
emeus peacefully 
feeding together in a 
paddock. All the 
cattle breed freely. 

The Indian 
stallation is a perfect one. 
acres of low 


large 
deer and 


rhinoceros in- 

Two 
partly 
shaded by palm trees and bam- 


boos, 


ground, 


a low ce- 
which one can 
In the 
center is a large natural morass 
and_ lily-covered and 
here a splendid pair of rhinos 
enjoy themselves. A few years 
ago a hybrid rhinoceros was born in the Garden. 
A single young elephant is exhibited, this ani- 
mal bei ing common in the country as a domestic 
beast of burden. 

Of all the mammals in the Garden none de- 
lighted me more than the cat bear, or panda, 
(Aelurus fulgens). it was beautiful; 


is bounded by 
ment wall, on 
easily rest one’s elbows. 


lagoon, 


In color 


in form and gait most comic. Bright golden 
yellow, with dark chocolate legs and under- 


parts, the quaint, absurdly small, round face and 
lower lip were a conspicuous white, while the tail 
fluffy and ringed like a coon’s. 
The gait was a rolling one, and a favorite sleep- 
ing posture was to lie at full length on a perch 


was very long, 


ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CALCUTTA. 


Flying aviary for large water-fowl. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CALCUTTA. 
Small double aviary, Mynah in foreground. 


or beam with all four legs dangling. These 
strange Himalayan forms are gentle and affec- 
tionate, and are now breeding regularly in the 
Garden. 

The reptile exhibit is uninteresting. Cobras 
alternating with king cobras and Russel vipers 
in cage after cage. 

Fine specimens of black and clouded leopards 
are the only carnivores worthy of mention, but 
the collection of foxes, jackals and smaller cats, 
as well as of squirrels, contains many rare 
species. ‘The wolf-like wild red dog, 
(Cyon dukhunensis), is one of the most danger- 
ous animals in India. The tapirs breed freely 
here, as do the kiangs and wild asses. 

To an ornithologist from the western world, 
the wild birds of the Calcutta Zoological Garden 
vie in interest with those confined in the aviaries. 
The shortest walk through the Garden will re- 
veal a score of species—drongos, wandering 
tree-pies, golden-backed woodpeckers, mynahs 
and bulbuls, in the trees; egrets and house 
crows perched on the backs of the ruminants; 
griffon vultures and kites soaring in mid-air. 
In a clump of trees and bushes on the shore of 
one of the tiny lakes is a large breeding colony 
of wild night-herons, egrets and snakebirds, a 


great 


most enviable possession for any zoological 
garden. 


The captive birds are scattered about in small, 
isolated aviaries, half hidden among luxuriant 
trees, flowering vines and shrubs, all of course 
unheated and exposed to the open air. 

One circular aviary has an artistic winding 
cement rivulet, along whose gradually descend- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


ing course are perched silver 
pheasants, Mandarin ducks 
and beautiful lories and parra- 
keets. 

A well-planned water-fowl 
flying-cage fifty by seventy- 
five, by twelve feet high, con- 
tains a large flock of sacred 
and scarlet ibis—the latter 
breeding regularly and never 
losing their brilliant color. 
Great comb ducks, Asiatic 
spoonbills with fluted mandi- 
bles and scarlet eyes; big gal- 
linules sitting on their eggs, 
and most remarkable of all, 
an Indian pink-headed duck— 
a dull, blackish bird with bill, 
eyes, head and neck of intense 
pink. A weird little stone 
plover trots along the wire 
netting, keeping pace with you as you walk 
around the cage, hoping for food or attention. 

Loud cries attract our attention, Wok! Wok! 
Wok! Wok! and in an octagonal aviary, amid 
orchids and other flowers we find five species of 
birds of paradise, which for years have lived in 
perfect health. The lesser, the greater, the red, 
the twelve-wired, and, clad like the impeyan 
pheasant in pliant metal, the magnificent rifle 
bird. All defy description, putting to shame 
our mounted museum specimens. 

The most pretentious building for birds is 
known as the Sarnomovi House. In character- 
istically native Indian style, we read that “this 
house has been erected at the cost of Maharaja 
Manindra Chandra Nandy, the worthy nephew 
and successor of the late Maharani Sarnomoyi 
of Cossimbazar.” 

On three sides of the building are as many 
lofty cages, containing 
bamboos and banana trees. Here, or in the in- 
door cages, are quartered the parrots and cock- 
atoos, the crowned pigeons, pheasants, franco- 
lins and hornbills, besides numerous smaller 
birds. The smaller hornbills fly about freely 
and do not disturb birds of the size of a jay or 
roller. The crowned pigeons breed every year. 

A Javan jungle fowl quartered here was as 
brilliant as any kind I have ever seen, with an 
enormous drooping comb, rainbow-hued,—yel- 
low, violet, green and blue, in close and startling 
combination. 

In the cool of the morning, or of late after- 
noon, a drive out to and through the Calcutta 


wire-covered outdoor 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Zoological Garden will be one of the most de- 
lightful memories of India. The splendid Indian 
Museum, and the tablet marking the historic 
Black Hole, together with the Zoological Gar- 
den, completes the list of definite “sights” which 
Calcutta has to offer to the visitor, although to 
western eyes, every street is an absorbing spec- 
tacle, every native shop a treasured memory. 


SOLENODON. 


Scale 4”=1 inch. 


THE SOLENODON. 


OR the past three years we have watched 
with keen interest and sympathy the scientific 
chase of the elusive Solenodon. For a brief 
period the standing-offer price for living speci- 
mens was $50 each; and for a period, the price 
asked in this country was cheerfully prohibitive. 
But a change has come over the Solenodon 
market. Quite recently Mr. Franklin Adams, 
Secretary of the Bureau of American Republics, 
and his wife, Mrs. Harriet Chalmers Adams, 
the well-known traveller, author and lecturer, 
captured six specimens in Hayti, and brought 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 695 
five of them to New York, alive. Three of them 
were generously presented to the New York 
Zoological Park, and two to the Washington 
Zoological Park. The finest specimen that 
came to us is shown herewith. Since the arrival 
of these specimens we have received news of the 
great success last year of Mr. Thomas Barbour 
in his efforts to secure Solenodons for the 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Cambridge. 
The scientific results secured by him are now 
available to the world in the form of an elabor- 
Solenodon Dr. 


ate memoir on the genus, by 


Glover M. Allen. 

The Solenodon is an animal about two sizes 
smaller than a Virginia opossum, belonging to 
the Order Insectivora, which contains the moles 
and shrews. Its nearest 
shrews. At present only two species are known, 
one of which is found in Hayti and the other in 
Cuba. In appearance the Haytian animal is 
very odd. It has a very long, slender, conical 
snout; thick legs, and powerful, naked feet and 
claws for digging; a body like an ant-eater, and 
a long, naked, opossum-like tail. Its dentition 
is clearly insectivorian, but its strong teeth and 
really powerful jaws go far beyond the demands 
of an insect bill of fare. The Solenodon does 
not hesitate to crunch and devour a whole Eng- 
lish sparrow, and its best food in captivity is 
said to be the heads of freshly-killed chickens. 
This strange creature is nominally a burrowing 
animal, but it is quite at home in a hollow log, 
or a standing tree with an interior apartment to 
let. 

In captivity, thus far it appears that the life 
of the Solenodon is usually very brief; though 


relatives are the 


one specimen has been known to live as long as 
Our experience with our three speci- 
mens has been very tantalizing. All three of 
them died during the first week following their 
arrival, despite the elaborate attention that was 
given them by men skilled in the care of difficult 
animals. Dr. Blair’s autopsy revealed, as the 
cause of death, a large stock of internal para- 
sites of a kind new to him, which had invaded 
the peritoneum, and even the stomach itself, and 
produced acute peritonitis, which was the cause 
of death. 

Of course the time will come when Solenodons 


a year. 


will be obtained in goodly numbers, and settled 
down in captivity for exhibition. In such cases 
as the present, a thorough breaking of the spell 
that originally binds every new species soon 
leads to more specimens, and better knowledge 
regarding their care. 
dons should be as plentiful in zoological gar- 


VG tea se 


Five years hence Soleno- 


dens as sloths now are. 


696 ZOOLOGICAL 


Zoulogical Park Calendar. 


JUNE 21 To AvueGustT 15, 1910. 


Births—Three American Elk; two White-Tailed 
Deer; one Fallow Deer; one European Red Deer; 
four Rainbow Boas. 

Accessions.—M ammals.—One Chimpanzee; two En- 
tellus Monkeys; four Vervet Monkeys; one Chacma 
Baboon; one Black Ape; one Two-Toed Sloth; one 
Ring-Tailed Lemur; two Elands; one Florida White- 
Tailed Deer; one Sea Lion; one Black Bear; three 
Cape Hyrax; one Mongoos; one Common Opossum; 
one South American Opossum; three Solenodons; two 
Striped Zorillas; one African Porcupine; one African 
Hare; three African Ground Squirrels; four Suma- 
tran Squirrels. 

*¥ x 

Birds—One Jardine Parrot*; three  Pileated 
Herons*; two European Jays; two Quail Finches; 
one Long-Tailed Glossy Starling*; one Masked Wood 
Swallow*; two White-Eyebrowed Wood Swallows*; 
One Barnard Parrakeet*; one Vinaceous Amazon*; 
one Red-Cheeked Coly; three Ruffs; two Bank My- 
nahs*; two Green-Winged Glossy Starlings*; two 
South African Thicknees*; two Secretary Birds*; one 
Superb Calliste; one Brazilian Silver-Beak Tanager* ; 
six Sooty Terns; one Noddy*; one Black Parasite 
Cassique; two Horned Screamers*; one Scarlet-Head- 
ed Oriole*; four Giraud Flyeatchers*; one Derby 
Kiskadee*; four White-Throated Kingbirds*; one 
Red-Billed Pigeon*; two Mourning Doves; one White- 
Necked: Flycatcher*; two Ferruginous Pygmy Owls*; 


Denotes species new to the collection. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


two Golden-Breasted Buntings*; one Cinnamon- 
Breasted Bunting*; one Cape Bunting*; two Mexican 
Brown Jays*; one South American Condor; one 
Maguari Stork; two Marsh Hawks; one lesser Vasa 
Parrot*; two Rock Doves; one Hooded Siskin; one 
Pin-Tailed Nonpareil; one Reichenow’s Yellow-Shoul- 
dered Weaver*; one Ariel Toucan; two Blue-Bearded 
Jays*; four Gouldian Finches; two Bronze-Winged 
Pigeons*; two Australian Crested Pigeons; two Yel- 
low-Bellied Parrakeets*; two Black-Backed Gallin- 
ules; one Cheer Pheasant*; two Indian Wood Ibises; 
one Anderson Pheasant. 

Reptiles —One Box ‘Tortoise; three Radiated Tor- 
toises; one Muhlenberg Turtle; one Spotted Turtle; 
one Terrapin; two Snapping Turtles; four Alliga- 
tors; three Rough-Eyed Caimans; one Broad-Nosed 
Crocodile; one Keeled Lizard; one Gila Monster; six 
Horned Toads; one Carpet Python; two Hog-Nosed 
Snakes; four Copperhead Snakes; four Garter 
Snakes: three Chicken Snakes; eight Pine Snakes; 
three Ring Snakes; one Corn Snake; one Coachwhip 
Snake; one Blacksnake; one Green Snake; two large 
shipments of reptiles from London. 


MEMBERS NEWLY ELECTED. 
JuNnrE 16 ro AvuGusr 15, 1910. 
Easton, Charles P. 
Ledlie, George 
Mitchell, A. M. P. 
Packard, Mrs. E. W. 
Pouch, A. B. 


Ryle, Graham 
Schaff, Hermann 
Slaughter, R. B. 
Smith, Erskine M. 


CLASS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. 


PUBLIC SCHOOL 


HE growth of an institution upon the scale 
Wea by the Society in the Zoological 

Park, has no doubt often occasioned mental 
inquiry as to its ultimate purpose. To many, 
a satisfactory answer would be,—‘‘A pleasant 
place to spend a day’’; but to the great majority, 
its possible value as an educational factor would 
strongly appeal. 


177 AT THE ANTELOPE HOUSE. 
VISITORS. 


It would be an idle thought, indeed, to imag- 
ine that such a concentration of effort would 
have been made for the purpose of amusement 
alone. The “menagerie” and the “show” fur- 
nish that; the Zoological Park is neither. 

Ten years ago the Society experienced diffi- 
culty in convincing its critics of the educational 
possibilties of a great collection of animals. To 


ZOOLOGICAL 


CLASS FROM MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL. 


the layman, any zoological collection embodied 
but one thought, a prison for the animal and a 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 697 
their turn are preyed upon by small carnivores 
especially equipped for that purpose. 

“As the proof of the pudding is the eating,” 
the general attendance for ten years—over 11,- 
000,000—would that the 


value of the Park is thoroughly known. 


educational 
Our 


statistics include a carefully kept record of 


indicate 


classes from the public schools and from many 
of the public institutions of New York City 
and the surrounding country, which also con- 
tributes a fair percentage. 

All these classes are not only cordially wel- 
comed, but are encouraged to come on the days 
when no admission is charged, in order that they 
may see all the collections at the least possible 
expense. The figures appended herewith will 


prove conclusively to what extent the Zoological 


BOYS FROM THE SHELTERING GUARDIAN SOCIETY. 


mob to watch either its struggles for liberty, or 
pitiful resignation to its fate. 


Since that time, the development of the Park 
has been sufficiently broad to convince not only 
the critics but the world at large that such a col- 
lection could be made upon lines that are a rad- 
ical departure from those of the typical zoo; to 
exhibit the animals and not imprison them, and 
to so arrange the species as to show their places 
in the zoological scale, with elaborate labels ac- 
curately describing their function in maintaining 
nature’s equilibrium. ‘To make this arrangement 
more graphic, groups have been selected to show 
the species that depend for existence upon cer- 
tain forms that are destructive to crops; the 
rodents that destroy grain, that are themselves 
devoured by reptiles; and the reptiles that in 


Society has contributed to the cause of education 
in New York: 


CLASS FROM WEST FARMS PUBLIC SCHOOL. 


698 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


CLASS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL 


1909 and 1910. 


Public Schools, 
Greater New York 
Suburban Schools 


Other Institutions, 


City and Suburban 


Classes. 


310 


Pupils. 


12,596 


1,065 


22 SHERIFF STREET, ON BAIRD COURT. 


These figures represent only the children who 
have visited the Park in bodies, either from 
schools or public institutions, in charge of teach- 
ers or officers, and are not to be confused with 
the uncountable thousands of young people that 
form a great portion of the daily attendance 
throughout the year. It has become generally 
recognized by the citizens of New York that the 
Zoological Park is a safe place in which children 
may spend their time. It may be innocently 
spent, and profitably, as well. E. R.S. 


RED CROSS DAY CAMP, VANDERBILT CLINIC, AT THE LION HOUSE. 


SA \ 


' 


Aquarium Number 


PREPARED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIS 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


Number 42 


1910 


November, 


ADAPTIVE 


COLOR CHANGES 


AMONG FISHES.* 


By Dr. F. B. Sumner, 


Director or THE U.S. Fisuertes Lasoratrory, Woops Hote, Mass. 


Illustrated from photographs by Dr. Sumner. 


N the Thirteenth Annual Report of the New 
York Zoological Society, Dr. Charles H. 
Townsend has described and figured some of 
the color changes undergone by fishes of a num- 
ber of species in the New York Aquarium. 
Now, such changes as form the subject matter of 
that article, although of great interest in them- 
selves, probably have no adaptive significance in 
the majority of cases. They are nervous re- 
*The general results of these investigations were 
presented before the American Fisheries Society, New 
York, September 28, 1910. A fuller and more tech- 
nical account will be published shortly. The studies 


were made, for the most part, at the Naples Zoolog- 
ical Station. 


flexes, called forth by some disturbance of the 
fish, and may be of no more utility to the animal 
than are blushing and various other manifesta- 
tions of emotional excitement in ourselves. 

The present writer has devoted considerable 
study to the color changes of certain species of 
flounders, with especial reference to the influence 
of the bottom on which they lie. The 
striking results were obtained from a member of 


most 


the turbot group, Rhomboidichthys podas, oc- 
curring in the Bay of Naples. It was found 
that this fish not only adapted itself to the gen- 
eral color tone of the background, but to the 
texture and pattern as well. Thus most speci- 
mens not only assumed a very dark shade upon 


PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SAME FISH ON DIFFERENT BOTTOMS. 


700 ZOOLOGICAL 


Fic. 3. 
FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 


a black bottom and a very pale shade upon a 
white bottom, but exhibited one pattern 
upon sand (Fig. 1), another upon fine gravel 
(Fig. 2), and yet another upon a bottom of small 
stones. A number of entirely artificial bottoms, 
such as variously painted strips of glass, were 


color 


also employed in these experiments, sometimes 
with rather surprising results. For example, 
the skin patterns were found to vary both with 
the relative amounts of black and white in the 
background, and with the degree of subdivision 
of the areas of the latter. Comparison of Fig- 
ures 3 and 4 will illustrate this point. 

Now this capacity of the fish to adapt itself 
to different backgrounds, although at times very 
striking, was restricted within certain definite 
limits. In brilliantly colored back- 
grounds seemed to be beyond the fish’s power of 
imitation. The animal ap- 
peared to be limited almost @&§ 


general, 


wholly to the black, white, ame 

: : a 
gray and brown of its cus-  ,@ 
tomary habitat. Then, too, m 
the creature was found to ar 
possess permanent spots and se, 
markings, due to the special 8,8 
grouping of the pigment se 
cells in its skin.* These 


*The color changes of fishes 
are due to the movement of the 
pigment granules within the 
chromatophores, or color cells, 
under the influence of stimuli 
transmitted through nerves. The 
chromatophores themselves 
probably do not change either 
in shape or position. 


SOCIETY 


ARE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF A SINGLE FISH, THOUGH A 
DIFFERENT SPECIMEN FROM THAT SHOWN IN FIGURES 1 AND 2. 


ns 
SaSatatats 


BULLETIN. 


proved to be fixed morpho- 


i logical structures, however 
much they might vary at 
different times in their rela- 
tive intensity. Even when 
the fish was adapted to a 

ads perfectly uniform back- 


ground, the outlines of these 
spots were for the most part 
dimly visible, and when they 
reappeared they always had 
the same form and oceupied 
the same position. Under 
such circumstances, we could 
not reasonably expect that 
squares, cross-bands, circles, 
etc., should be copied in any 
true sense by the fishes, and 
as a matter of fact they were 
not. 

This power of adaptation was best shown 
upon such backgrounds as formed a part of the 
natural habitat of the species. It was not, 
however, restricted to such cases, but the pig- 
ment was at times disposed in ways which, it is 
safe to say, were quite foreign to the previous 
experience of the race. For example, the near- 
ly white and perhaps also the darkest condition 
attained by the fish, likewise the vividly con- 
trasted black-and-white condition, without in- 
termediate shades (Figures 3 and 5) which was 
assumed by certain specimens upon some of the 
artificial backgrounds. Thus, the notion that 
the fish is limited to a few stereotyped responses, 
representing the most familiar types of habitat, 
must be rejected at once. 

The individuals used differed greatly in their 
powers of adaptation, nor- 


and some seemingly 


Seca een 
Pes } a Sara oe Be ene 
ee wader 3 Sone on 
ig = 


8 8 
Fic. 4. 


SAME FISH AS IN FIG. 3, ON A DIFFERENT BOTTOM. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ee0ee i: a 


ces COU COC CP 


Fic. 5. 


SAME FISH AS FIGURES 3 AND 4, ON A DIFFERENT BOTTOM. 


mal specimens possessed this power in a very 
limited degree. Again, the same fish acquired 
with practice (if we may use the expression) the 
power of changing more rapidly than at first. 
The time necessary for a radical change of 
shade or of pattern ranged from a few seconds 
to several days. 

Experiments with fishes which had been de- 
prived of their sight showed clearly that it was 
through the eyes that the stimuli were received 
which were necessary for the adjustment of the 
animal to its background. This, however, had 
already been clearly proved by earlier students 
of color changes. 

A word in regard to the utility of this power 
of copying the background in the life of the 
organism. It is difficult to doubt either that 
this faculty has some use, or that it has in some 
way been developed because of its use. The 
end attained seems to be concealment and noth- 
ing else. Whether the object of this concealment 
is primarily offensive or defensive cannot, how- 
ever, be stated without a greater familiarity with 
the eels s mode of life. It is not unlikely that 
both ends are attained, for we know, on the 
other hand, that founders devour smaller fishes, 
and on the one hand, that they themselves be- 
come the prey of sharks and other large species. 


TRANSPORTING LIVE ANIMALS 
THE AID OF OXYGEN. 


Photographs by Oehlrichs & Co. made at the N. Y. Aquarium. 


WITH 


VERY interesting experiment in the trans- 
portation of aquarium specimens has re- 
cently been made by Mr. Emil Gundelach 
of Gehlberg, Germany, with the assistance of 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 701] 
the New York Aquarium. 
Arrangements were made 
through the forwarding 
house of Oehlrichs & Co. of 
this city for the shipment of 
living specimens from the 
Aquarium to Mr. Gunde- 
lach’s home in Germany, in 
the following manner: 
Sixteen three-liter glass 
jars were filled with water 
and the specimens intro- 
duced. The then 
inverted under water, as in 
a pneumatic trough, and 
oxygen gas introduced to re- 


jars were 


place the water until the 
jars were about one-third 
full of the oxygen. The 
jars were then tightly 


corked and covered with 
parchment to prevent any of the gas. 
They were packed in crates and shipped at once 
on the North German Lloyd steamship Kaiser 
Wilhelm der Grosse on the morning of Septem- 
ber 13. 


escape 


The list of specimens used by the 
in this experiment was as follows: 


Aquarium 


Common sunfish, 
fresh water; 


(Eupomotis gibbosus), in 
variegated minnow, 


cunner, 


(Cyprinodon 


variegatus ) ; (Tautogolabrus adsper- 


sus); beau gregory, (Hupomacentrus leucostic- 
tus); star corals, (Astrangia danae) ; 


lucie ) ; 


sea anem- 
(Molgula 
manhattensis) ; common shrimps, (Crangon vul- 
garis ) ; 


ones, (Sagartia tunicates, 


horseshoe crabs, (Limulus polyphemus), 


a couple of dozen of young just hatched, and 
one so large that it could not straighten out in 


the jar; fiddler crabs, (Uca pugnaz), several 
specimens in wet sand with an atmosphere of 
oxygen. 

This widely varied selection was purposely 
made by me to test the possibilities of the ex- 
periment. 

Gundelach’s letter of 
acknowledging the receipt of the 
shows what met with. 
“The collection arrived at Gehlberg on the even- 
September 22. Notwithstanding the 
(over nine days) the 
home in safety. The 
and the cunner got chilled because the tempera- 
and both of these fishes died 
but all the other specimens live 
best of condition. It is very im- 


An extract from Mr. 
September 26, 
specimens, success was 
ing of 
length of time specimens 
reached my beau gregory 
ture was too low. 
the next day, 
and are in the 


702 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


was probably weakened by con- 
finement for so long a time in its 
very narrow quarters, and possi- 
bly the oxygen supply ran a lit- 
tle short. Of course the jour- 
ney was made entirely without 
food. 

Mr. Gundelach had _ previous- 
ly made successful experiments 
in shipping for the shorter dis- 
tances in Europe, but nothing 
paralleling the present experi- 
ment has thus far been under- 
taken. The particular adyvan- 
tage in this method is that speci- 
mens can be sent apparently any 
distance without any care what- 
ever during transit. and so do- 
ing away entirely with the ex- 
pense of an attendant or any 
special machinery for aerating 
the water. : lin (OL 


AQUARIUM EXHIBITS. 


HE collection of living ani- 

mals is at present the most 

complete in the history of the 
Aquarium, and without doubt 
portant that the experiment has succeeded, and presents the greatest display of living fishes 
you can now exchange any specimens with any ever brought together in any aquarium. 
European institution in this 
way.” 


INTRODUCING OXYGEN FROM THE STEEL BOTTLE INTO THE GLASS JAR. 


In order to learn what losses, 
if any, might be laid to tempera- 
ture, Mr. Albers, second officer 
of the ship, kindly consented to 
make daily records of the tem- 
perature of the room in which 
the crates were placed through- 
out the voyage. His report in- 
dicates a adual decrease from 
73° to 66° Fahrenheit, and Mr. 
Gundelach informs me in his let- 


ter that it was as low as 63° in 
Germany at the time the speci- 
mens arrived there. The beau 
gregory, being a tropical fish, 
evidently did succumb to the 
cold, but the cunner is a north- 
ern form and the same explana- 
tion will not apply. The speci- 
men was probably too large for 
the jar and the supply of oxy- 
gen. It was the largest fish 
sent and was selected to test the 
size limit. It did not, however, 
suffocate during shipment, but it 


SHIPPING CRATES, WITH JARS. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


SHIPPING JAR WITH SPECIMEN. 
The upper third of the jar contains pure oxygen 


The freshwater fishes are exceptionally well 
represented. A splendid series of the black 
basses showing the growth by years, from the 
fingerling stage to the fourth year, is the gift of 

State Fish 
through the kindness of Commissioner W. E. 


the Pennsylvania Commission 
Meehan, who also contributed a good collection 
of yearling yellow perch. All of these were 
reared in the state hatcheries of Pennsylvania. 
An unusual display of albino lake trout was pre- 
sented by the New York Forest, Fish and Game 
Commission, through Dr. T. H. Bean, State 
Fish Culturist, and formerly director of the 
The South Side Sportsman’s Club 
has contributed a fine lot of highly colored brook 
and rainbow trout. The freshwater series has 
been still further augmented by exchange with 
the Detroit Aquarium and by local collections. 


Aquarium. 


BULLETIN. 703 


The local saltwater fishes have been increased 
by our own collectors. Particular mention may 
be made of the file-fish, (Alutera 
schoepfi), as an unusually large number of these 
fishes 


Some of the specimens were nearly pure orange, 


orange 


weird was taken during the summer. 
whereas in the ordinary coloration the upper 
half of the body is heavily mottled with brown. 
Forty more of the peculiar and interesting little 
were obtained by purchase from 
Atlantic City, N. J., to add to those already on 


hand, making eighty-five on exhibit. 


sea-horses 


These un- 
tish-like little creatures form such an attraction 
for visitors that two tanks are kept stocked with 
them in different parts of the building. 
of our 


Some 


present specimens have lived in the 
Aquarium more than two years. 
The fishes 


greatly increased by several shipments during 


exhibit of Bermuda has been 
the past summer so that they now form a most 
attractive display. 

Among the dmphibia a rather unusual feature 
is a tank of small frogs, sixteen months old from 
the egg or four months from the tadpole, which 
were reared in the Conneaut Lake Hatchery as 
a part of an experiment in frog culture, and 
presented to the Aquarium by Commissioner 
Meehan of Pennsylvania. Judging by the ap- 
pearance of these specimens the experiment bids 
fair to be eminently successful. 

The three specimens of the nearly extinct 
West Indian seal, Monachus tropicalis (Gray), 
which were received at the Aquarium June 14, 
The 


two younger ones have nearly doubled in size 


1909, appear to be in the best of condition. 


since they came. All three shed their coats 
during the summer and were quite ragged look- 
ing for a time, but are now as sleek as usual. 
They are fed twice a day on herring and cod, 


the smaller fishes being fed whole. 


The large striped bass, Roccus lineatus 
(Bloch), of which fifty-five specimens were 


placed in the Aquarium May 14, 1894, are still 
These fishes 


were approximately two years old when they 


represented by seven specimens. 


were placed in the pool, and they are thus more 
than eighteen years old. Although they have 
been well fed all the time, they have not attained 
nearly so large a size as they are known to 
reach in the open sea, probably due to confine- 
ment in limited quarters. The largest that have 
died measured thirty-five inches and weighed 


704 ZOOLOGICAL 


Two have died 
during the past summer, but the others seem to 
be in good condition. 


seyenteen and one-half pounds. 


A census of the inhabitants of the Aquarium, 
made a short time since, showed the following 
numbers: 


Species Specimens 


BiSHeSiaeees aes ee oa ee 108 2344 

PACA aioe Sees eee eee 11 107 

1 efey 0 Kets ee eee eee eee ores Ae 19 160 

Mrinal See se eee cee eee 2 4 

Imverteébrates; 2.-.--.:---..--2--2. 24 815 

4 oy si ee a 2 ca ee ante 9 164 8430 
RAC O: 


CICHLID FISH AT THE AQUARIUM. 


N the fresh water rivers and lakes of Central 
and South America the members of the family 
Cichlidae take the place of our sunfishes and 
basses. The species, which are very numerous, 
closely related 


Our specimen 


are mostly referable to the 
genera Cichlosoma and Heros. 
proves to be Cichlosoma hedricki, (Meek), de- 
scribed by Dr. S. E. Meek in 1904 in his Fresh- 
water Fishes of Mexico. 

No species of this family have ever reached 
the New York Aquarium until the present sum- 
mer when (about the last of June) six small 
specimens arrived. These were purchased from 
a boy who brought them all the way from Vera 


The 


largest of the specimens at the time of arrival 


Cruz, Mexico, in a two quart tin bucket. 


was about two and one-half inches long. Thev 
were placed at once in one of our balanced 
aquaria where they have been ever since. When 


the specimens arrived their colors apparently 
were not fully developed, but they have grown 
rapidly in captivity and the colors have become 
brilliant, especially in the males. 

Fresh water fishes are not so well known as 
marine fishes for their ability to change their 
This this 
phenomenon to quite a marked degree. The 
chromatophores or color cells not only have a 


colors. species, however, exhibits 


remarkable range of contraction and expansion 
of the color granules for a fresh water fish, but 
they are under such control of the nervous sys- 
tem that they operate instantaneously. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


The ordinary background coloration of oliva- 
ceous varies from dark olive to very pale olive, 
and this is often covered, especially on the 
head, with yellow, more or less bright. There 
are about eight vertical dark bands on the body 
besides four others across the top of the head 
and nape, and a dark lateral band extends back- 
ward from the opercle. There is also a dark spot 
at the base of the caudal fin. All of these dark 
markings vary exceedingly. Sometimes they 
are very prominent and again almost wanting. 
Frequently a prominent black spot appears sur- 
rounded by a lighter area on the middle of the 
side. The lateral band usually extends back to 
this spot but it may extend to the base of the 
tail or it may fade out until almost invisible. A 
brilliant blue color appears on the opercle, about 
the mouth and on the ventral fins, and this may 
disappear entirely. The vertical fins and the 
upper part of the body are beautifully flecked 
at times with an irridescent metallic blue and 
this may also vanish completely. 

There must, then, be at least four kinds of the 
chromatophores containing the yellow, green, 
blue and dark pigments, and these are all sepa- 
rately under the control of the nervous system, 
since the color changes may involve any one 
color only, or two or all at the same time. 

The majority of these color changes can hard- 
ly be explained by assuming that they are adap- 
tive to the surroundings. It is observed, how- 
ever, that the fishes become almost uniformly 
pale olivaceous, and suppress all bright and 
striking colors and marks when frightened. 
This change probably renders them less con- 
spicuous against the bottom and among vegeta- 
tion in their natural environment and adds to 
their chances for escaping when pursued by their 
enemies. In the absence of positive evidence, 
however, it is useless to speculate. 

A few of the cichlid fishes are herbivorous 
and have chisel-like teeth for the purpose of 
biting off vegetation, but the majority are car- 
nivorous and have pointed teeth. Our species 
belongs to the latter class, and will eat crushed 
clam and meal worms with avidity. 

They are among the hardiest fishes in the 
Aquarium, as far as crowding is concerned at 
least, for they have thriven and grown well in a 
small balanced aquarium. Though they were 
taken at a venture they have proved to be among 
the most interesting small fishes of our collec- 


tion. lity (Ch XO}. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THE WRECKFISH OR STONEBASS. 
Photographed at the American Museum of Natural History. 


WRECKFISH OR STONEBASS. 
Polyprion americanus. 

It is a rare occurrence for a European species 
of fish to wander across the Atlantic Ocean and 
be captured in American waters, though a few 
such cases are on record. Considerable interest 
therefore is attached to the fact that specimens 
of the wreckfish have on two oceasions appeared 
on this side of the Atlantic. The first of these 
was captured many years ago by the United 
States Fish Commission in the Gulf Stream off 
the Grand Banks. <A second specimen has re- 
cently been taken (August 21, 1910) eight miles 
off Asbury Park, N. J. This fish was first seen 
swimming at the surface and Captain Harry 
Maddox of the yacht Carib cast for it. It took 
the hook readily and was hauled on board. It 
weighed thirteen about ten 
Like the one formerly taken by 


ounces and was 
inches long. 
the Fish Commission it was a young specimen, 
as adults reach a length of four or five feet. 
The young fish, which are strikingly colored 
with bright yellow, mottled with black, live in 
shallow water about rocks or floating timbers. 
Adults live at some depth. What should cause 
a fish to wander so far from its native habitat is 
of course problematical, but it seems reasonable 
to suppose in the case of this fish, whose habits 
lead it to swim beneath floating timber, that it 
has gradually worked its way across the Atlan- 
tic in company with drifting wreckage. Cer- 
tain tropical fishes, find their way more or less 
regularly to the southern New England coast 


amongst the Gulf weed, (Sargassum  bacci- 
ferum), carried by the Gulf Stream. Easterly 


winds drive the floating bunches of weed upon 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 705 


our shores and the fishes are 
thus brought far out of their 
natural range, only to suc- 
cumb to the rigors of winter 
and perish. By whatever 

little 
wreckfish reached our shores, 


devious course the 


its presence here is interest- 
ing, for it is the first record 
of its capture near the shores 
of the United States. 

The specimen was sent to 
the Aquarium for identifica- 
tion and later to the Amer- 
ican Museum of Natural 
History for preservation. 


lids (C3 (0) 


THE SAILFISH. 
Dotiophorus nigricans. 

HE sailfish is a relative of the swordfish, 
which it resembles in having the upper jaw 
elongated into a sword. This weapon is not 
so long as that of the swordfish, but is said to 
be used in the manner. ‘The sailfish is 
much more slender than the swordfish, and it 
takes its common name as well as that of the 
genus from the fact that the dorsal fin is ex- 
tremely high and large. The fin is not used to 
assist in locomotion as a sail at the surface of 
the water—an error often repeated in unscien- 
tific papers. The species is rare in the middle 
Atlantic but has been recorded at Woods Hole, 
Mass., and Newport, R. I. 
men has been recorded from New Jersey, one 
measuring two feet in length, taken at Sea Isle 
City in 1906. Recently a specimen nearly 
seven feet long was received at the Aquarium, 
the gift of Mr. Garrett Hennessey of Long 
Branch, N. J., who took it in a pound net. 

As the specimen was dead when it arrived, it 
was presented to the American Museum of 
Natural History for preservation. The sailfish 
inhabits the warmer waters of tropical and sub- 
tropical seas. Unlike its relative the swordfish 
it is said to take the hook readily and to afford 
the angler plenty of excitement, often spiced 
with considerable danger. ats (Ch OF 


same 


Only a single speci- 


OBITUARY. 

Mr. L. B. Spencer, for nearly sixteen years 
aquarist at the New York Aquarium, died at his 
home on April 16, 1910, at the advanced age of 
73 years. Mr. Spencer’s connection with the 
Aquarium began on May 1, 1894, and during 
this long term of service he made many friends 
among the visitors. 


706 ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


—— 
ELWIN R. SANBORN, EDITOR. 


Departments: 
MAMMAL BIRD 
W. T. Hornapay, Sc. D. C,. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
AQUARIUM REPTILE 


C. H. TOWNSEND, Sc. D. RayMonpD L, DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1910, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Number 42 NOVEMBER, 1910 


es 


Officers of the Society. 


President : 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
MAapDISsON GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILES, 
LEvI P. MoRTON, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STURGIS. 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers - 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, Percy R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND Sc.D., BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers: 

Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York -  - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Class of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
William C. Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L, Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir deRham, John S. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, | William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuel Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, W. Austin Wadsworth. 
James W. Barney, Frank K. Sturgis, Emerson MeMillin, 
Wn. PiersonHamilton, George J. Gould, Anthony R. Kuser 
Robert S. Brewster Ogden Mills 


Officers of the Zoolagical Park ; 
W. T. Hornabay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MITCHELL = - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - : Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - = - Curator of Birds. 
W. REID Biair, D.V.S. = - Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W. MERKEL - - : - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN - - - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MiItcHELL - - - Office Assistant. 


Officers of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 


RAYMOND C. OsSBURN, Ph.D. = = Assistant Director. 
W. I. DENYSE = = = In Charge of Collections. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER 


Glass nf 1913. 


ENLARGEMENT OF THE AQUARIUM. 


In the spring of 1910 the Executive Commit- 
tee ordered a revision of the Aquarium plans, 
and Mr. J. Stewart Barney has prepared the ac- 
companying preliminary sketch showing the 
general plan of the Aquarium on the ground, 
first and third floors, with the administration 
offices, lecture hall and library. The proposed 
revision reduces the amount of additional space 
required to be taken from Battery Park, and at 
the same time practically preserves the present 
Aquarium building in its entirety. 

The new building will approximately treble 
the present amount of exhibition space and will 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


be adequate to meet the requirements of the 
enormous crowds which visit the Aquarium. It 
will also afford space for the administrative and 
scientific work which has been forced upon the 
Aquarium as a public museum, and which is now 
carried on under a great strain owing to the 
inadequate facilities. 

The plans shown here are provisional and 
have not yet been passed on by the Committee. 
They will be thoroughly studied and Dr. Town- 
send will be asked to inspect all the existing 
aquariums abroad. The plans will then be put 
in final shape and brought before the Board 
of Estimate and Apportionment. It is needless 
to say that when finished an aquarium con- 
structed along these lines will far outrank any 
existing institutions of its kind. M. G. 


AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 


The Fortieth Anniversary Meeting of the 
American Fisheries Society was held at the New 
York Aquarium on September 27 and 29. On 
the intermediate day, September 28, the Society 
met at the American Museum of Natural His- 
tory. Nearly one hundred members were in at- 
tendance, coming from as far west as Colorado 
and Minnesota. Canada was represented by 
several members, and one was registered from 
Honolulu. 

Among the better known visiting members 
were Dr. Theodore N. Gill, the eminent ichthy- 
ologist of the Smithsonian Institution; Prof. S. 
A. Forbes, Director of the Illinois State Labora- 
tory of Natural History; Dr. B. W. Evermann, 
Chief of the Division of Scientifie Inquiry of 
the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries; Prof. Wm. 
Alanson Bryan, College of Hawaii, Honolulu; 
Hon. Kelly Evans, Commissioner of Game and 
Fisheries, Ontario, Canada; Hon. W. E. Mee- 
han, Commissioner of Fisheries of Pennsyl- 
vania; Hon. John W. Titcomb, Commissioner of 
Fisheries of Vermont; Dr. Geo. W. Field, Com- 
missioner of Fisheries and Game of Massachu- 
setts; Dr. T. H. Bean, State Fish Culturist of 
New York, and Hon. Jas. Nevin, Superinten- 
dent of the Wisconsin Fish Commission. 

After the meeting was called to order by the 
president, Hon. Seymour Bower, Superinten- 
dent of the Michigan Fish Commission, the So- 
ciety was welcomed. to the Aquarium by the 
Director, Dr. Chas. H. Townsend, who then 
presented an address on The Conservation of 
our Rivers and Lakes. 

The number of papers presented was so large 
that, notwithstanding several were read by title, 
three full days were required to cover the pro- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


gram. The contributions covered nearly all 
phases of fisheries work. Some of the most 
important subjects treated were: the prevention 
of water pollution, conservation of fisheries, 
methods in practical fish, frog and lobster cul- 
ture, the enforcement of fisheries regulations, 
the Alaska seal fisheries, the biology of fishes, 
diseases of fishes, etc. 

The work of this body is thus not only very 
broad, but it is extremely important in affording 
a clearing house for the ideas of the men who 
are engaged in studying the manifold questions 
connected with the biology, cultivation and con- 
servation of our valuable aquatic animals. 

The society had its origin forty years ago in 
the American Fish Cultural Society, which held 
its first meeting December 20, 1870, in New 
York City. It thus arose at the time when the 
U. S. Fish Commission (now the U. S. Bureau 
of Fisheries) was being organized by Prof. 
Spencer F. Baird. The intense enthusiasm for 
the study of fisheries problems with which Pro- 
fessor Baird fired all those with whom he came 
in contact, was as largely responsible for the 
organization of the society as it was for that of 
the government work. Concerned in the forma- 
tion of the society also were Wm. Clift, Robt. 
B. Roosevelt and Eugene G. Blackford, all early 
presidents of the society and men deeply inter- 
ested in the practical development of our fish- 
eries. 

The work of the society, in its earlier years, 
was largely confined to methods in fish culture, 
but it has extended so as to embrace all problems 
connected with fish and fisheries of whatever 
character. With this growth in the work of 
the organization the name was changed to the 
present one some years ago. 

The membership of the society, which now 
numbers more than five hundred, includes the 
names of nearly all the officials of the Bureau 
of Fisheries and of the various state fish com- 
missions, as well as those of biologists, anglers 
and practical fishermen. 

It was fitting to hold this anniversary meet- 
ing in New York City where the society first 
met and organized. The New York Zoological 
Society provided a luncheon for the members on 
Tuesday, and on Wednesday the American 
Museum entertained the society at luncheon in 
the Darwin room. The arrangements for the 
meeting were in the hands of a special anniver- 
sary committee, of which Director Chas. H. 
Townsend and Assistant Director Raymond C. 
Osburn of the New York Aquarium were mem- 
bers, and the same committee will have charge 
of publishing the proceedings of this meeting. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 707 


Hon. W. E. Meehan, State Fish Commissioner 
of Pennsylvania, was elected president for the 
coming year, and St. Louis, Mo., was selected 
as the next meeting place. Re Gs O} 


STREAM PROTECTION IN EUROPE. 


A dramatic example of the results of protec- 
tion of streams from pollution, even in large 
towns, came under the notice of the writer dur- 
ing the past summer. The Oos is a small river 
which runs for a considerable proportion of its 
course through the town of Baden Baden in the 
Black Forest of Germany. The district around 
it has been known and _ settled since Roman 
times, although the river heads back into a for- 
est coyered mountain. In Baden Baden the 
banks are not only made of dressed stone, but 
for a half mile or more the bottom has actually 
been paved with stones. A series of small eas- 
cades, equipped with fish ways, vary the course 
of the river, but in appearance it is a stream of 
no special attraction except for the clearness of 
its water. 

At the head waters there has been for some 
ten or fifteen years past a small fish hatchery, 
and trout, including some American species, are 
annually liberated in the stream. As a result 
the river, in spite of the fact that there appears 
to be little food for fish, actually swarms with 
trout, chiefly the European brown trout, run- 
ning three or four to the pound. These fish are 
in plain sight under the main bridge of the 
town of Baden Baden over which foot passen- 
gers and vehicles are continually passing. Any 
day during the past summer there could be seen 
half a dozen brown trout, measuring a foot in 
length, and two or three large rainbow trout 
which certainly must have weighed fully four to 
six pounds apiece. These fish were objects of 
great curiosity to passers-by, and seemed to be 
entirely without fear. No one disturbed them 
and they rose voraciously to any food or at- 
tractive object thrown into the stream. In their 
confidence in the good will of humanity the fish 
resembled the squirrels in Central Park. So 
far as could be learned fishing licenses could be 
had for a small sum, but no one eared to fish 
publicly in the stone paved stream in the center 
of the town. In the upper stretches of the river 
the fishing was said to be exceptionally good. 

It is probable that under existing conditions 
in America, where our enforcement of the law is 
verv slack, no such protection in a thickly set- 
tled town could be extended to fish. The en- 
terprising small boy would unquestionably get 
these confiding fish out of the river on the first 


708 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


i) Th 7 
== 1cx, 
= Ll \ 


om == 
athe regen ae a oft = 


GROUND AND SECOND FLOOR PLANS OCF PROPOSED ENLARGED AQUARIUM. 
From drawings by the architect, J. Stewart Barney. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


dark night; but the fact that fish like trout could 
live in a stream under these conditions shows 
what could be easily done by a little stocking 
and protection in many American streams and 
rivers. First of all the streams themselves would 


have to be protected from pollution, not merely 
from sewage in the cities, but from chemical 
districts. 


waste and sawdust in the country 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


709 


Whether or not we can ultimately afford to set 
aside large tracts of land for the protection of 
game animals outside of forest reserves, may 
possibly be questioned, but there can be no dis- 
cussion whatever of the wisdom of protecting 
our streams so that the planting of fish fry will 
not be rendered futile by filth and carelessness. 
M. G. 


“PERSPI CTIVE - SKETCH: OF -EXTERIOR-TREATMENT- 


PRELIMINARY SKETCH 


FRONT ELEVATION OF THE PROPOSED ENLARGED AQUARIUM. 
Preliminary sketch by the architect, J. Stewart Barney. 


AN AMBIDEXTROUS FIDDLER CRAB. 


HE males of the fiddler crabs of the genus 

Uca (Gelasimus) have one chela or pincher 

very greatly enlarged and elongated. The 
other claw is small, and in the female both are 
small. The large claw, which may be either the 
right or left one, is used by the male in fighting 
and is carried always well advanced before the 
body. The species are only semi-aquatie and 
burrow in sand or mud near the water, often in 
very numerous colonies. In spite of their war- 
like appearance they consider “discretion the 
better part of valor” in the presence of larger 
enemies, and the vibration caused by a person’s 
footsteps is sufficient to send them scampering 
for their burrows. When they are numerous 
they make a very noticeable rustling sound as 
they race toward their places of concealment. 
As they retreat sidewise into their burrows the 
last thing visible is the large claw held threaten- 
ingly up to warn the supposed pursuer of what 
he may expect if he approaches too closely. 
When the crab emerges again—all the danger 


presumably past—the big claw is the first part 
to become visible, in readiness for any lurking 
foe. There are three species of the fiddlers in 
our region. One of these, Uca pugnaa, is 
abundant in its proper habitat, and numerous 
specimens are on exhibition at the Aquarium, 
apparently quite at home in a glass box of damp 
sand. 

The purpose of this article is, however, not 
so much to eall attention to the habits of the 
species as to record a very unusual specimen of 
Uca pugillator (Latreille) taken by Mr. John J. 
Ridgway at Rockaway Point, Long Island. 

Instead of the usual one large and one small 
claw, this specimen is abnormal in possessing 
two large claws of equal size and normal shape. 
As far as can be observed no other abnormalities 
are presented. 

The behavior of this specimen was in all re- 
spects similar to that of the normal unsymmet- 
rical ones, among which it was found living. 

It sidled into a hole with the usual celerity, 
but not rapidly enough to escape the quick eye 
of Mr. Ridgway, who noticed the unusual sym- 


710 


NORMAL 
Photo by Mr. Chapman Grant. 


metry and accordingly dug the crab out and 
brought it to the Aquarium in search of infor- 


its (65 (0% 


mation. 


A MARINE GOLDFISH. 
Apegon sellicauda 
LITTLE tropical salt water fish having 
the true goldfish color was received at the 
Aquarium the last week in July, the gift 
of Dr. A. G. Mayer, Director of the Carnegie 
Laboratory for Marine Biology. 

The golden color pales to silvery below, as it 
does in the real goldfishes. There is a rounded 
black spot on either side below the second dorsal 
fin, as a saddle-shaped blotch on the 
upper part of the caudal peduncle which sug- 
The spe- 
cies is a rare one and was not described until 
1890. 
was an unusually large one, about three inches in 


well as 
gested the specific name sellicauda. 
The specimen received at the Aquarium 


length and was taken at the Tortugas Islands, 
Florida. Although it had lived in confinement 
at the Carnegie Laboratory for several weeks 
before shipment, the transportation in a small 
jar was evidently more than it could stand and 
it lived 


only a few days 


after reaching the Aquar- 
ium. 
It should be noted that 


this species is not related to 
the fresh water goldfishes, 
but belongs to the family of 
fishes (Cheilodip- 
closely related to 
the perch family. R-C.O. 


eardinal 
teridae ) 


NEWS ITEMS. 
Nature Fakes: 
The pictures on the opposite 


Aquatic 


page are not published with 
The lob- 


ster does .not naturally as- 


intent to deceive. 


sume the guise in which he 
is here shown, and the spider 


crab dot s not weave a web. Photo by R. C. Osburn 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


MALE AND FEMALE OF UCA PUGNOX AND ABNORMAL MALE OF UCA PUGILLATOR. 


Changes at the Aquarium: Director H. C. 
Bumpus, of the American Museum of Natural 
History, is on leave of absence from June 15 to 
December 15. During this time Director 
Charles H. Townsend, of the New York Aquar- 
ium is Acting Director of the Museum and Pro- 
fessor Raymond C. Osburn of Columbia Uni- 
versity has been made Assistant Director of the 
Aquarium for the same period. Mr. Chapman 
Grant, B. A., (Williams College, 1910) has 
been added to the Aquarium staff in the ca- 
pacity of Scientific Assistant. 


Night Begin- 
ning with September 22 the Aquarium has been 


Opening at the Aquarium: 
open to the public every day continuously from 
9 a. M. till 10 P. M. 
tendance at night indicates that a certain por- 


The very considerable at- 


tion of the public appreciates the opportunity to 
visit this institution in the evening. 


In order to properly light 
the Aquarium for opening at night, additional 
electric lights have been installed on the floor 
columns and extra gas lights on the gallery. 
These furnish sufficient light to properly illum- 


Aquarium Lights: 


THE MARINE GOLDFISH. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


THE SPIDER-CRAB AT HOME. 


inate the various exhibits and labels, making 
the lighting as effective as in the daytime. A 
cluster of lights has also been placed at the 
entrance and an electric sign indicates that the 
building is open to the public. 

Mr. L. L. Mow- 
bray, curator in charge of the Bermuda Aquar- 
ium, informs us that the Octopi in the Bermuda 
Aquarium have bred during the past summer. 


Breeding of the Octopus: 


The female after laying the eggs, which are 
in clusters somewhat similar to those of the com- 
mon squid, remained above them io protect them 
until they hatched. 
was attacked so savagely that it was necessary 
him the tank. Mr. Mowbray 
has promised us a full account of the breeding 
habits for a later number of the BULLETIN. 


Even the male Octopus 


to remove from 


Local Tuna Fishing: It may be of interest 
to our readers to learn that the great or leaping 
tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) is being 
taken in considerable numbers in this vicinity. 
An account in Forest and Stream, October 15, 
1910, states that they are taken frequently by 
the Swedish fishermen at Barnegat, N. J., on 
hand lines, while fishing for bonita, ete. Speci- 
mens weighing all the way from twenty to one 
hundred and fifty pounds have been taken in 
this way. 

In the same number of Forest and Stream is 
published a photograph of two tunas, one weigh- 
ing twenty-five and the other fifty-two pounds, 
taken with rod and reel on September 30, by 
Mr. T. E. Townsend of the Asbury Park Fish- 
ing Club. More recently Mr. Townsend has 
taken another specimen weighing twenty-six and 
one-half pounds, which was sent to the Aquar- 
ium to make certain of the identification. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. qt 


The tuna both in the Atlantic and 
Pacific, but the only place where it is regularly 
fished for by anglers is at Santa Catalina, Cali- 
fornia, where the Club has 
been organized. 


occurs 


well-known ‘Tuna 

If the tuna is proved to occur with any regu- 
larity on the New Jersey coast it will certainly 
attract a great many sportsmen in search of this 
king of angler’s fishes. lit, (Gy Oh 

YOUNG THREAD-FISH. 

N the Burietin for March, 1910, there was 

published a brief reference to the thread-fish. 

Alectis ciliaris (Bloch), together with a pho- 
tograph of an adult specimen. The species de- 
rives both its common and scientific names from 
the long, lash-like filaments which are present 
in the young, but which gradually disappear 
with These structures are merely soft 
filamentous appendages which grow from the 
tips of the first five or six rays of the dorsal and 
anal fins. They may be connected for a short 
distance by membrane or they may be entirely 
free from each other. 

In the Butietin note referred to, it 
stated that the streamers are 


age. 


was 
sometimes twice as 


A RE-ARRANGED LOBSTER 


-t 
i 
* 


= y 3 
Ei ‘./ 
'y 
it 
—_——— 
eee 


a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


YOUNG THREAD-FISH. 
From a lead-pencil drawing by Chas. R. Knight. 


long as the fish itself, but the statement was a 
very modest one. They may be as much as five 
times as long as the fish, as is shown by the ac- 
companying drawing. The specimen here fig- 
ured was taken at the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 
Station at Woods Hole, during the past summer 
and was accurately drawn by Mr. Charles R. 
Knight, well known as a zoological artist. Mr. 
Knight reports that the filaments in this speci- 
men were longer than in any other specimen ever 
taken at Woods Hole. A specimen with highly 
developed filaments was brought into the Aquar- 
ium for identification during the present 
summer. 

The thread-fish is distributed around the 
world in tropical waters and reaches a length of 
three feet. The young ones find their way 
along our shores as far as Cape Cod in the 
summer time, probably carried by the Gulf 
Stream, but the approach of cold weather kills 
them all, as they can not endure temperature 
much below 60 degrees. 


BERMUDA FISHES. 


METHODS EMPLOYED IN THEIR CAPTURE AND 


TRANSPORTATION FOR EXHIBITION. 
By L. L. Mowsray. 


Visitors to the Aquarium frequently inquire how 
our tropical fishes are collected and shipped. Mr. L. 
I. Mowbray, Curator in charge of the Bermuda 
Aquarium, has kindly furnished for the readers of 
the Burrerry the following account of the methods 
employed by him in this work. R. €. O. 


HE principal method of capturing bottom 
fish is by the fish-trap, which is placed in 
depths of from one to twelve fathoms of 
water. The trap is constructed of galvanized wire 
netting, fourteen to sixteen gauge, from one-half 
to two-inch mesh. It is about four feet six 
inches long, eighteen inches deep and three to 


four teet wide. The entrance is V-shaped, turn- 
ing down abruptly and forming a funnel. This 
is placed about nine inches from the bottom of 
the trap, or at half its depth. The reason for 
this arrangement is that the fish can swim freely 


under the entrance or funnel. 


On account of theft by poaching fishermen, 
the collecting traps are set without any buoys 
or markers of any sort, except that in the case 
of the deep water ones a submerged buoy is 
attached to float some twelve or fifteen feet un- 
der water so that the line to the trap can be 
secured. The position of each trap is taken by 
means of bearings on points on shore taken with 
the sextant. In this way it is possible to locate 
the traps with perfect accuracy, even on the 
outer reef, nine miles from the nearest land. 
The exact position of a trap or its submerged 
buoy is easily noted by means of a water-glass 
when the locality is reached by the collecting 
boat. The very clear atmosphere and water 
make these methods available at Bermuda to an 
extent that would not be possible in many other 
regions. 

The trap is baited according to the kind of 
fish to be captured. For instance,—when set- 
ting for angel-fish, (dAngelichthys), the bait 
used is mussel, lobster or any of the larger Crus- 
tacea, crushed and placed in the bottom of the 
trap. The sea-urchin is also excellent bait for 
this fish, but a great disadvantage in using the 
sea-urchin is the damage done to the eyes of 
the fish by coming in contact with the spines 
when flapping about in the trap. These same 
varieties of bait are also used for the butterfly- 
fish, (Chaetodon) and surgeon-fish, (Hepatus). 
The trap for these fish is placed in from one 
to four fathoms of water on the reefs. By plac- 
ing it in deeper water, six to eight fathoms, with 
the same kind of bait, and among the broken 


ZOOLOGICAL 


reefs the hog-fish (Lachnolaimus) and the 
porgy, (Calamus), are captured. The parrots, 
(Scaridae), are occasionally taken by baiting 
the trap with mussel, but vegetable bait, such as 
cactus with the spines removed, banana, and cer- 


tain algae, is far preferable. The Serranidae 


and Lutianidae are captured most successfully 
with white-bait, (dtherina and Stolephorus 


spp-), mashed and mixed with sand and rolled 
into large balls. The traps for these fishes 
must be placed around the edge of the reefs, 
in from three to eight fathoms of water. 
face fishes, such as bonito and amber-fish are 
usually caught with a hand line. In fishing for 
these species a chum of ground whitebait, is 
made and scattered over the side of the boat. 
A short, stout hand-line only three or four feet 
long is used and the fish are landed at once 
without playing and placed in the live-well of 
the boat. Squid is the principal and by far the 
best bait. The seine is used for most of the 
other Carangidae. 

The collecting boat is fitted with a live-well, 
and as the traps are hauled the fish are placed 
in this well and taken to the live cars which are 
six to eight feet long, four feet wide and four 
feet deep. The frame of these cars is construct- 
ed of wood and is covered with wire netting. 
The fish are then separated according to species, 
and placed in their respective cars. The Ser- 
ranidae are kept together except when large, 
and in this case they are placed in a stronger 
and larger car where there are no small fish of 
any description whatever. This family is fed 
about three times a week on small fish, princi- 
pally pilehards. 

The angels, which are not at all angelic in 
their dispositions, are by far the most difficult 
to keep in good condition in captivity, as they 
are continually fighting. The result is that 
great numbers of them are blinded by the pre- 
opercular spines of their opponents. ‘Their food, 
in captivity, consists of crushed mussels and sea 
urchins. 

The surgeon-fish, (Hepatus) is also a fighter, 
especially in the breeding season, and it is a 
common occurrence to find fish of this genus 
with ten or a dozen wounds about the body, in- 
flicted by the caudal spine carried by the mem- 
bers of this genus. Their food consists of 
crushed mussels, polyzoa and algae. Stones 
having these attached are gathered and placed 
in the cars. 

The parrots must be very earefully watched, 
as there appears to be always one ruler among 


Sur- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 713 


them who, while they try to feed, will dart at 
and strike the others, and will frequently ram so 
hard with the heavy jaws that the fish struck 
will not recover. Their food consists of bi- 
valves and algae attached to stones. ‘The stones 
usually selected contain the burrowing mollusc, 
(Pholas, ete.) and are covered with the salt 
water mussel, (Mytilus), and (drea). It is nec- 
essary that the stones be placed in the cars as 
the parrot must have something hard to crush 
with its pharyngeal teeth. ‘lhe species of 
Morays, (Wuraenidae) are separated, and they 
must be fed regularly, otherwise they become 
so ferocious that they attack one another. They 
are fed on small fish of any species. 

The Ostracidae, the cow and cuckold fishes, 
are separated from all other fish, and are never 
left in the same well as they throw off a slimy, 
poisonous substance that is fatal to all other 
fish. One or two left in the well over night 
will kill the whole catch. 
of soft parts of mussels. 

Two days before the fish are separated and 
the stock selected for shipment, they are fed 
very lavishly, then they are assorted and placed 
in one large car with compartments. This car 
will hold comfortably five to six hundred fish of 
the size usually shipped. The fish are not fed 
again before shipment nor en route, making a 
total of four or five days without food. The 
reason for this is that they do not properly di- 
gest their food during transportation, and any- 
thing taken is regurgitated in a short time un- 
changed. 

The large car is taken to the ship, where the 
fish are hoisted on board in buckets and placed 
in tanks constructed for the purpose, provided 
by the New York Aquarium. The ship’s pumps 
for the supply of sea-water are started about 
four or five hours previous to placing the fish in 
the tanks, in order to thoroughly cleanse the 
pump and piping of any deposits or corroded 
matter that might be injurious to the specimens. 
The water is forced freely through the tanks 
until the northern edge of the Gulf Stream is 
reached. The temperature from Bermuda to 
the Gulf Stream from early June until Septem- 
ber, ranges from 76° to 86° Fahrenheit. When 
the Gulf Stream is reached the air pump and its 
connections are overhauled and placed in readi- 
ness for use. In crossing early in June, the 
Gulf Stream will range from 76° to 78°, but 
at its western border the temperature of the 
water will drop from 10° to 20° within five 
minutes. At the slightest sign of a rapid fall, 
the water is shut off and the air applied instead 


Their food consists 


714 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ON THE COLLECTING BOAT. 
Preparations for breakfast under way. 


Photos by L. L. 


for aerating the water, in order to prevent any 
considerable decrease in temperature. 
Angel-fish and parrots will be very inactive 
at a temperature of 65° and at 60° 
will die. 
The Serranidae and most of the bottom fish 
will stand a temperature of 58°, 


Fahrenheit 


although at 

this temperature they are not at all active. 
Butterfly-fish, squirrel-fish and Spanish hog- 

fish will stand only about 62° as a lower limit. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SETTING THE TRAPS AT THE EDGE OF THE REEF. 
Noting its position by means of a water-glass. 
Mowbray. 


The morays can endure a temperature a little 
below 60°. The trigger-fish, (Ballistes) can 
go safely to as low a temperature as 44°. 

Later in the season, that is, after the middle 
of July, the water is carried gradually farther 
north as far as to Scotland Lightship off Sandy 
Hook. but never north of this point except in 
case of the air pump being disabled. 

The eatch of a season will run from seventy- 
five to one hundred species. 


THE LEAPING BLACK BASS. 


The two pictures of the small-mouthed black bass show a fish nineteen inches long, weighing three and one-quarter pounds, on the 
line. The fish was caught and photographed at Lake Cecebe, Ontario, by Mr. Fred H. Smythe, 
of the American Museum of Natural History. 


Gwe ais 


\3qnt 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 43 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


January, 1911 


THE CAPTURE OF “SILVER KING.*% 
By Pau J. Rarney. 


O many of my friends have asked me how 

the large polar bears were eaptured that I 

brought back from my recent hunting expe- 
dition in the arctic regions and presented to the 
New York Zoological Society, I am tempted to 
gratify a desire that is perfectly natural. 

On Saturday, July 30, at three o’clock in the 
morning, in one of the small bays of Ellesmere- 
land, about the 77th parallel, we sighted a large 
bear on the ice, a mile or two ahead. He stood 
on the yery edge of an enormous pan of ice 
which. extended some two miles back to the shore. 
The lofty mountains of the mainland, furrowed 
with enormous glaciers, made a beautiful back- 
ground, and the cold midnight sun, together 
with the arctic calm, completed a picture that 
any man would remember to his dying day. 


The bear stood with his long neck thrust well 
forward, trying to get our scent. Probably he 
never had seen man before. We headed almost 
straight for him, and when the ship hit the ice 
a hundred yards to his left, he took to the water 
like a duck. 

One of the most remarkable things about a 
polar bear is his cleverness in diving from a 
pan-ice. The most difficult dive for an expert 
swimmer to make is from something almost at 
a level with the water. The bear makes a more 
beautiful dive than I have ever seen made by a 
human swimmer, and when he glides into the 
water, he leaves hardly a ripple behind him. 
They cannot stay under water very long, how- 
ever, as we found when pursuing them with the 
launches. 


HE STOOD ON THE EDGE OF AN ENORMOUS ICE PAN. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


716 


HIS STRUGGLES WERE TERRIFIC. 


We quickly decided to take that bear alive, 
and after cutting him off from the ice we lowered 
our launch and started in pursuit. Although 
these bears are able to stay in the water for 
hours, they are not very fast swimmers; and we 
very easily overtook our quarry. When we ran 
close up to him, he turned to fight; and then we 
threw a rope lasso over his head, took a turn on 
a cleat and started to tow him to the ship. 
His struggles were something terrific, and in a 
moment he had thrown the rope off his neck and 
was free. Recoiling our rope, we threw it and 
caught him again, and again he fought his way 
out of the noose to freedom. This was repeat- 
ed many times. He rarely stayed in the rope 
for more than three or four minutes at a time, 
as the noose would slip over his small head very 
easily, when we would be compelled to go back 
and start all over again. 

Finally, however, the rope 
held, and we succeeded in get- 
ting the bear to the ship, when 
our men swung out the large 
crane or derrick, operated by a 
powerful steam winch, to hoist 
him aboard. When we passed 
the rope to the hands on deck 
they were compelled to hold the 
animal very tightly to keep him 
from climbing into the launch. 
Presently it seemed to me that 
the bear was choking, and I 
ordered the rope loosened at 
once. Too late! His eyes 
were glassy, and he was stone 
dead. 

This unfortunate experience 
taught me something, however, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


in the art of catching large bears, and I de- 
cided to use different tactics the next time. 
At the same time, we discovered that the 
cages bought from an animal dealer 
in New York were too small, the 
dealer evidently thinking we intend- 
ed to catch cubs, whereas, in real- 
ity, we were expecting to capture 
bears weighing from 900 to 1100 
pounds. The first mistake we 
made was in getting the rope 
squarely around the neck of the 
animal, so I decided that the next 
bear we roped I would leave the 
noose slack until we had gotten his 
forelegs through it, when we could hoist 
him on board and lower him into the hold 
without any danger of choking him. 

On Thursday, August 4, we sighted a large 
bear, that the Eskimos took to be a female, but 
which proved to be the large male bear now in 
the Zoological Park, swimming among the small 
broken pans. We lowered the launch and 
started after him. We had considerable difh- 
culty in getting close to him, as he would gain 
on us very rapidly whenever he crossed over 
a pan which we were compelled to go around. 
Finally, however, we succeeded in cutting him 
off by running between him and the pan for 
which he was making. Just then a very laugh- 
able thing happened. Captain Bartlett, who 
was steering the launch, was sitting on one side, 
at the wheel. When the bear saw that he was 
cut off from the pan, he dove, and we thought 
he would come up at the other side of the boat. 
This, however, was not in his mind, and he came 
up directly alongside, and smashed the boat a 
terrible blow just about a foot under Captain 


HE THREW THE ROPE OFF AND WAS FREE. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Bartlett. Bartlett gave one wild jump across 
the boat, not even taking time to change his sit- 
ting position, and landed very neatly on the seat 
of the other side. 

The bear seemed to have an idea of getting 
into the launch, and we had to punch him away 
with the boat-hook. Finally we succeeded in 
roping him, and this time I took good care to 
leave the rope slack until he had put his fore- 
legs through it, when I took a turn with our end 
of the rope around a cleat just as the bear was 
busy climbing out on the ice. In the excitement, 
we had neglected to reverse the engine, and when 
he went out on the ice he very nearly took the 
launch with him. To have a 900 or 1000- 
pound bear fastened to your launch and drag- 
ging you out on the ice, under a full head of 
steam, is not a very pleasant position to be in. 
At this time the 
bear could very eas- 
ily have gotten into 
the launch! 

Finally, however, 
we succeeded in 
slacking away the 
rope, got the engine 
going astern, and 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 717 
the end of the boat-hook. By dropping the 
noose over his head and carefully allowing it to 
stay slack until he had gotten one or both legs 
through, we at last succeeded in getting him 
fast once more, and started to the ship, but not, 
however, before he had made one or two un- 
successful attempts to climb into the launch. 
The placing of the noose over his head with the 
boat-hook had its disadvantages, and was rather 
dangerous, because we were compelled to go 
very close to the bear. 

We towed him to the ship, swung out the 
crane, fastened the hook onto the rope and, in 
the twinkling of an eye, Mr. Green, the mate, 
had hoisted him high into the air and swung 
him over the ship’s deck. This caused a wild 
stampede among the Eskimos, who were per- 
fectly familiar with the strength and power of 
a full-grown male 
polar bear. Willing 
hands were at the 
swinging tackle of 
the derrick, how- 
ever, and in another 
moment we had the 
roaring, raging 
monster over the 


gradually started to hatch of number 
drag the animal in- one hold. As soon 
to the water. It was FINALLY THE ROPE HELD. as he had been gent- 
a wonderful sight ly lowered down, 


to see this enormous brute with a strong rope 
just behind his fore-shoulders. He would rear 
on his hind legs, bite at the rope and jump up 
and down; but the good, old Standard Motor in 
the launch did not go back on us, and we stead- 
ily and surely dragged him towards the edge. 
Finally, seeing t!, t the inevitable was coming, 
with a vicious grow! he plunged into the water 
and started for the launch. 

We did not have much difficulty in keeping 
him out, except when we were turning the launch 
around and getting it going ahead toward the 
ship, half a mile distant. The way he churned 
the water, and twisted and surged was really 
thrilling, but he had left the ice-pans forever. 

We signalled the ship to move into open water, 
as we needed plenty of sea room in which to 
handle our bear, having had all the experience 
we wanted in the broken ice. 

After we had gotten some 200 or 300 yards 
away from the pan-ice, the big brute succeeded 
in getting out of the rope, and I was compelled 
to rope him again. This time he would not 
keep his head high enough out of the water to 
enable me to get the rope over him, so we were 
compelled to run up close, and hang the noose on 


all hands made a wild rush for the hatch to have 
a look at our pet. 

We found him surprisingly cool, merely sit- 
ting on his haunches, growling, and making the 
champing noise peculiay to bears when angry. 
The rope was still around him, but no weight 
being on it the noose was quite loose, and as 
soon as he moved around it fell off. 

The next day, to my surprise, our captive ate 
small pieces of bread and meat that were thrown 
down to him. Then the question arose, how shall 
we get him into the cage? We needed some of the 
coal under the bear, to keep the ship trimmed. It 
was a very serious situation, as the fireman did 
not show any willingness to go down for the coal. 
At once we set to work to knock our small cages 
to pieces, and build a larger one, some ten ft. long 
and six ft. broad and high. We used the iron bars 
for the door, and the sheet iron for the bottom. 

After starving our bear for four or five days, 
we placed a fine, juicy piece of walrus meat and 
a tub of fresh water inside the cage, and lowered 
it down to the bear. He started directly in, but 
the sailor who was working the trap-door let it 
drop too soon, and the bear held it up with his 
back while he backed out. 


718 ZOOLOGICAT, 

This episode seemed to make the bear very 
angry, for he jumped upon the top of the cage, 
and found that he could just put his head and 
forepaws over the edge of the hatch and onto 
the deck! 

Again there was a wild stampede of Eskimos, 
sailors and dogs; for it looked as if he surely 
would be up on the deck in an instant. In the 
Michael, the left the 


wheel, and for a moment everything was in a 


excitement, wheelman, 
state bordering on panic. 

At this point one of the sailors did a very 
He ran up and struck the bear 
heavily over the head with a deck mop, where- 


brave thing. 


upon, after giving a savage growl, the animal 
went back into the hold. It was fortunate that 
for had he overboard in the 
heavy sea that was running, it would have been 
impossible to have stopped and picked him up, 
and we would have been compelled to shoot him. 


he did so, gone 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


Immediately we hoisted the cage out, and 
waited another 24 hours, when it was again 
lowered with a good supply of walrus meat and 
fresh water, as before. This was quite enough 
for “Silver King” (as we had named him) and 
in he went. Without taking time to untie the 
rope that held the trap-door, we cut it; the door 
fell into place, and our bear was in his eage. 
Again the steam winch was brought into play, 
and we soon had both cage and bear hoisted on 
deck. 

As the crowd of Eskimos and sailors collected 
around in front of the cage, the bear made ter- 
rible lunges at them; and every time he lunged 
at the bars it was impossible for the Eskimos 
to stand still. They simply had to break and run. 

Everything went well until we struck warm 
weather, and started washing him off with the 
deck hose every morning. Although he had 
quieted down, this morning ablution business 
did not suit him at all, and then it was that he 


THE BEAR SEEMED TO HAVE AN IDEA OF GETTING INTO THE LAUNCH. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


HE WOULD BITE AT THE ROPE. 


made up his mind to get out. The construction 
of the cage was much too light, and on a dozen 
different oceasions he very nearly succeeded in 
escaping. It was terrifying to see him grab 
hold of the smooth side of the cage with his 
teeth and tear out splinters a foot long. This 
we finally overcame by nailing a board over each 
hole, with large spikes through it; but “Silver 
King” was very clever about biting around those 
spikes, and never, to my knowledge, did he 
scratch himself. 

One night during a terrible storm the cage 
broke loose, and, as the water was running free 
of the decks, it looked as if he was surely going 
overboard. The alarm was sounded, and the en- 
tire crew turned out to help secure the cage. 
After heaving ‘he ship to and slowing her down 
a bit, they succeeded in getting on the well- 
deck, and making the cage fast. Another time, 
while we were at supper, a sailor put his head 
in at the door and with a respectful salute said, 
“Sir, the bear is out!” Someone said, very sen- 
sibly, “Please close the door!” 

It seemed rather dangerous to go down on the 
well-deck, as it was a very dark night. How- 
ever, we got some lanterns, and hurrying down 
to the cage we found that the bear really had 
his head and shoulders out. With the aid of a 
stout boat-hook, we succeeded, however, in driv- 
ing him back in, and soon had the hole boarded 
up. After this we always kept a sailor watching 
the bear, day and night; and I believe we must 
have driven several thousand nails into the sides 
of that cage. After our arrival at City Island 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 719 


I always kept my big 
case of an emergency. 

After Dr. Hornaday and his men unloaded the 
bear at City Island, an amusing incident hap- 
pened. The police captain of the precinct 
through which they were going to take the bear, 
got very much worried for fear he would get 
out, especially after I explained to him that the 
32 calibre revolvers his officers were carrying 
would only serve to get him well stirred up. He 
asked me if I would loan him a real gun, which 
I was very willing to do; and after he had 
called in one of his officers, I gave him a long 
discourse on how to load and fire a 401 Win- 
chester. A half-hour afterwards, seeing the 
officer parading up and down the dock with the 
401, much to the admiration of several hundred 
men and boys, I decided to see if he still remem- 
bered his instructions. I said to him: “Supposing 
the bear got out, and you wanted to shoot him, 
how would you go about it?” Pointing to the 
safety catch on the side, he said: “I would push 
the jigger over, and pull the trigger.” As I had 
purposely not placed any cartridges in the bar- 
rel, he could not have done any great execution. 

I ask indulgence of my readers for this some- 
what lengthy article on catching my bear. I 
am not an author, and probably never will be 
one, so I hope they will look upon my article 
with the greatest indulgence. 


401 Winchester handy in 


WE SWUNG HIM OVER THE SHIP’S SIDE. 


720 ZOOLOGICAL 


ing ornate qualities, few are so hardy in 

captivity, or thrive with such meagre care, 
as that formed by the cranes. It is true that 
the ornamental value of these birds is not, as 
yet, fully recognized in America, although they 
are kept extensively on European estates; still, 
large numbers of cranes are brought to this 
country annually, and there is no doubt that 
their popularity is steadily increasing. 

Captive cranes are, perhaps, of greatest inter- 
est when enjoying their liberty on an extensive 
range; but the aviculturist who is truly inter- 
ested in them will wish to confine his specimens 
where they can be kept under 
closer observation. For this pur- 
pose, a plot of two or three acres 
of ground should be selected, and 
enclosed by a fence which need not 
exceed five feet in height. The 
Crane Paddock in the Zoological 
Park is so nearly an ideal home 
for most of the members of the 
Society's excellent collection, that 
a description of it may be of in- 
terest. 

The paddock is about 150 feet 
square, and is surrounded by an 
ornamental fence, averaging four 
feet in height. While most of the 
inmates are pinioned, they can leap 
this fence easily when alarmed, 
although they never attempt to do 
so under ordinary circumstances. The enclos- 
ure is well carpeted with grass, which is kept 
closely cropped during the summer months. A 
number of large shade trees is included within 
its limits, besides several clumps of shrubs, 
which afford seclusion to any birds which desire 
it. One of the most valuable features, however, 
is a little stream that traverses the entire length 
of the paddock. The birds derive an infinite 
amount of pleasure from wading and probing 
about in the little pools, and the effect produced 
is certainly most pleasing to onlookers. A small 
shed is provided for use during severe weather, 
although it is seldom entered. The Manchurian, 
whooping, white-necked, sarus and _ sandhill 


A MONG the many groups of birds possess- 


LITTLE BROWN CRANE. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


The CRANE COLLECTION 


of the ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


By Lre S. Cranvau, Acting Curator of Birds. 


cranes are confined here, while the others are 
divided between the Wild Fowl Enclosure and 
the Ostrich House. 

Few birds require so little attention as the 
cranes. Their chief food is grain, but occa- 
sional mice, frogs, fish or chopped meat are al- 
ways appreciated and become a necessity dur- 
ing cold weather. Many of the species are per- 
fectly hardy, provided healthy specimens are 
secured. If acquired in the spring and given 
an opportunity for becoming acclimated, they 
will live in the open through the winter, happily 
and well, requiring only that they receive their 
food and water regularly. Some _ protection 
from wind should be provided, of 
course; and it is well to place 
within the enclosure a small shed, 
although it is safe to say that the 
birds will use it rarely, unless 
driven in. 

A surprising assiduity in the 
search tor worms and tender roots 
is a failing which may become 
serious, and result, especially after 
rain, in the uprooting of patches 
of turf. Generally this can be 
checked effectively either by con- 
fining the birds for a short time 
following showers, or by covering 
their favorite feeding grounds 
with small branches. 

The greatest difficulty in the 
maintenance of a large collection 
of cranes is found in the erratic disposition of 
the birds. A number may live together for 
months in perfect harmony; but just as the col- 
lector begins to congratulate himself on their 
good behaviour, one may be found with an eye 
missing, or with its skull pierced! It really is 
not safe to associate the larger and smaller spe- 
cies in a permanent group, unless the enclosure 
be very large, or the number of birds very small. 
Great care must be taken in introducing strange 
birds to a flock already well settled. The new- 
comers are certain to be subjected to a more or 
less harrowing inspection by the original in- 
mates, who consider them as nothing more than 
intruders. The strangers will be persistently 


ZOOLOGICAL, 


driven from pillar 
to post for some 
days, and will be 
fortunate indeed if 
they escape with- 
out some injury. 
The safest way to 
establish a crane 
family is to place 
all of the intended 
members in the en- 
closure at the same 
time; then none 
can use the pres- 
tige of previous 
occupancy as an 
excuse for tyran- 
WHOOPING CRANE. ny. Brought to- 
gether in this 
abrupt manner, the birds will soon learn to tol- 
erate each other. 
* * * * * 
The Order GruirorMes in- 
cludes, besides the true cranes, six 
groups of remarkable birds, such 
as the sun-bittern, the kagu and 
the seriema, which have been as- 
signed to this order in lieu of a 
better place. Their structures are 
confusing, and their relationships 
obscure. The birds with which 
we are to deal here are divided in- 
to nineteen species, which form 
the Sub-order Grues, and are cos- 
mopolitan, with the exception that 
none are found in South America. 
Asia is particularly fortunate in 
being the home of seven species. 
Some of these birds are fairly 
easy to obtain alive; but most of them are far 
from common in captivity, and a few are seen 
rarely, if ever. 


At present, nine species, all of which possess 
characters of interest, are included in the Zoo- 
logical Park collection. Several of these are 
members of the genus Grus, which includes the 
three species of North American cranes. 

The Sandhill Crane, (G. meaicana), still is 
fairly common on the plains of western North 
America, where there is little cover to shelter 
skulking enemies. This is the most numerous 
of our cranes and therefore the best known. It 
is rather small, as compared with most of its 
relatives, its length being about forty-six inches; 
its color is a uniform slaty gray, with the bare 
skin of the crown reddish. In captivity this 
crane becomes delightfully tame, and is very 


SOCIETY 


ASIATIC WHITE CRANE. 


BULLETIN. 721 


hardy and long-lived. This species nested in the 
Zoological Park in 1904 and 1905, but. the eggs 
proved infertile on both occasions. 

The Little Brown Crane, (G. canadensis), is a 
very close relative of the sandhill, and is distin- 
guished by its smaller size, and shorter tarsus. 
It breeds through Arctic America and Siberia, 
migrating to the western United States and 
Mexico for the winter. The inaccessibility of 
its habitat explains its long confusion with the 
sandhill, and also accounts for its scarcity in 
captivity. The species is not represented in the 
collection at present. 

The third and rarest of the American Grues 
is the beautiful whooping crane, (G. americana). 
It is pure white in general color, but the pri- 
maries are black and the bare portions of the 
head are reddish, bordered posteriorly by a 
patch of blackish feathers. The secondaries 
are curved downward and arch gracefully over 
the tail. No doubt, the great 
scarcity of this bird is due, in 
part, to reckless shooting, but it 
seems probable that the invasion 
of settlers into its breeding 
grounds in the great middle ter- 
ritories of Canada, and the in- 
creasing cultivation along its mi- 
gration route through the Mis- 
sissippi Valley, are hastening the 
inevitable extermination of this 
finest American birds. The nu- 
merical condition of a species in 
the wild state generally bears an 
exact ratio to the frequency with 
which it is met in confinement; it 
soe is probable that the number of 
whoopers in captivity could be 
counted on the fingers of one 
hand. It is unfortunate that this splendid 
crane cannot be in- 
duced to follow the 
example of the 
wood duck, which is 
willing to save it- 
self from extermi- 
nation by breeding 
freely in captivity. 
Most of the wood 
ducks seen in Amer- 


ican collections are 
birds bred in Eu- 
rope! But cranes 


of most species are 
bred only on rare 
occasions and then 
with great difficul- 


Continued on page 724 


PARADISE CRANE. 


722 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELWIN R. SANBORN, EpiToR. 
Bepartments : 


MAMMAL 

W. T. Hornapay, Sc. D. 
AQUARIUM 

C. H. TOWNSEND, Se. D. 


BIRD 

C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
REPTILE 

RAYMOND L, DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 


eee 


Numpber 43 JANUARY, 1911 


i _ 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 


MApIsoN GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Levi P. Morton, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
Frank K. STURGIS. 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers : 
Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director, WILLIAM T. HoRNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND Sc.D., BATTERY Park. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Board of Managers: 

Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York - - 
The President of the Department of Parks, 


Glass of 1911. Glass of 1912. 
Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, 
William C. Church, Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, 

Lispenard Stewart, John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, 

H. Casimir de Kham, JohnS. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, 

Hugh D. Auchincloss, Madison Grant, George C. Clark, 
Charles F. Dieterich, | William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, 
James J. Hill, Samuei Thorne, Cc. Ledyard Blair, 
George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Frederick G. Bourne, 
Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, W. Austin Wadsworth, 
James W. Barney, Frank K. Sturgis, Emerson MeMillin, 
Wm. PiersonHamilton, George J. Gould, Anthony R. Kuser 
Robert S. Brewster Ogden Mills 


Officers of the Zoological Park : 
W. T. Hornapbay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MiTcHELL = - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RaymonD L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - = - Curator of Birds. i 
W. REID Biair, D.V.S. - - Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W. MERKEL - - - - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN” - - = Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL = - - - Office Assistant. 


Officers of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director. 
RAYMOND C. OsSBURN, Ph.D. - - = Assistant Director. — 
W.I. DENYSE - = = - - = - In Charge of Collections. 


ss 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 
Hon. CHARLES B, STOVER 


Glass of 1913. 


ARTHUR ERWIN BROWN. 


On October 19, 1910, there passed away, in 
the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, Arthur 
Erwin Brown, Se. D., zoologist, and pioneer of 
zoological-garden building in America. The first 
great vivarium to be developed in America was 
the Gardens of the Philadelphia Zoological So- 
ciety, in Fairmount Park. From the birth of 
that institution in 1876 until 1897, Dr. Brown 
was its executive head, with the title of Superin- 
tendent, and as such he blazed the trail for every 
American zoological-garden builder who has 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


wrought since that time. His connection with 
the Gardens continued until his death. 

Quite independently of Dr. Brown’s admir- 
able scientific and administrative work in con- 
nection with the Philadelphia Academy of 
Sciences and the Wistar Institute, his work in his 
original field entitles him to lasting distinction. 
During the past twenty-five years scores of 
Americans who have been called upon to develop 
“zoos, or zoological gardens and parks of 
larger dimensions, have gone to the Philadelphia 
Gardens, and sought Dr. Brown’s genial, patient 
and helpful counsel; and it is safe to say that no 
man ever sought his advice or help in vain. He 
was recognized as a qualified expert on zoolog- 
ical garden matters, and one of the first impor- 
tant acts of the New York Zoological Society 
was to secure from him an inspection and report 
upon the relative merits of Van Cortlandt, Pel- 
ham Bay and Crotona Parks as possible sites 
for New York’s proposed vivarium. Had he in- 
spected South Bronx Park, it is reasonably cer- 
tain that he would have recommended its selec- 
tion. 

All Americans who are interested in zoological 
parks and gardens have benefitted by the life 
and work of Dr. Brown, and suffer a distinct 
loss by his death. He was a pioneer in what 
has become an important field of scientific en- 
deavor, and as such he is entitled to a perma- 
nent memorial in enduring bronze or marble. 
We have already suggested to Philadelphians 
that a suitable memorial be erected, and have 
offered a subscription toward its cost. 


Wile ene 


OSBORN’S “AGE OF MAMMALS.” 


About once every ten years there appears from 
the press a work on animai life that looms up 
like an obelisk rising from a plain. Professor 
Henry Fairfield Osborn’s “Age of Mammals’”’ is 
a monument of scientific research, far-reaching 
knowledge and logical conclusions on a subject 
as wide as the world, and millions of years old. 

It is the privilege of but few men to occupy a 
position high enough and broad enough to afford 
a comprehensive view of the mammalian fauna 
of the world, past and present. Thanks to years 
of careful preparation, successful exploration 
and diligent research, the author of the volume 
now before us was peculiarly fitted for the task 
which the finished work represents. “The Age 
of Mammals” is sufficient in itself to justify the 
existence of the Department of Vertebrate 
Paleontology in the American Museum, the rich- 
est of its kind, anywhere, so far as we are aware. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Not only are Professor Osborn’s own extensive 
discoveries and researches here treated in extenso 
—and for the first time in a single volume—but 
a host of related facts and discoveries of recent 
date that have been drifting through space are 
here brought together in one well-rounded treat- 
ise. In clear language, and with a wealth of 
admirable illustrations, maps, charts and dia- 
grams, the story of the later evolution of the 
world and its mammalian inhabitants is unrolled 
before the reader like a vast panorama. The 
mammals of long ago are linked up with those 
of the present, until truly “the past rises before 
us like a dream.” 

Of living animals, we are accustomed to deal 
with the migrations of species, from range to 
range and from state to state; but here the 
author deals with the migrations of faunas, and 
not only from continent to continent, but from 
hemisphere to hemisphere. Perhaps the most 
interesting item under this head is that treating 
of the migration of the fauna of Africa into 
Asia, Europe and America, which Professor Os- 
born predicted several years before the discovery 
of its evidences actually occurred. 

In any other than a lengthy notice, it is impos- 
sible to offer even an outline sketch of this zoo- 
logical masterpiece. All those who are inter- 
ested in the general dissemination of zoological 
facts will find satisfaction in the knowledge that 
the author’s treatment of his subject is so clear 
and direct that the language of science, as he em- 
ploys it, is quite within the comprehension of 
even the laymen who feel a real interest in the 
mammalian life of the world. To those who 
herein take up for the first time the mammals of 
the past, a glossary would have been a welcome 
addition to the volume; but that can easily be 
added hereafter. 

It is no exaggeration to say that this work is 
in a class by itself, and beyond compare; and all 
zoologists, and promoters of zoological knowl- 
edge, are to be congratulated upon its appear- 
ance at this time. 

THE AGE OF MAMMALS in Europe, Asia and 


North America. By Henry Fairfield Osborn, LL.D. 
Hon.D.Sc., President of the New York Zoological So- 


ciety. New York. The Macmillan Company. § vo. 
pp- 635; with 220 illustrations and maps. $4.50 net. 
Weta: 


THE BIRDS OF PARADISE. 

On October 12, 1910, three Greater Birds of 
Paradise, (Paradisea apoda), reached New York 
by the S. S. Minnetonka, consigned to the Zoo- 
logical Park. All of the birds are in good con- 
dition, and consist of one adult male, with the 


BULLETIN. 723 
beautiful flank plumes about one-quarter grown, 
one male in nearly adult plumage, but minus the 
plumes, and a young bird which may prove to 
be a female. The two older birds are most pug- 
nacious, so that it was found necessary to place 
the trio in three separate but adjoining cages, 
on the north side of the main hall in the Large 
Bird-House. Although very nervous at first, the 
birds have now grown accustomed to their new 
quarters, and no longer object to the scrutiny 
of the crowds which come to gaze at them. 

These are the first Birds of Paradise we have 
obtained alive. They were purchased for $500 
from Mr. A. E. Pratt, of London, who brought 
them from their home in the Aru Islands, about 
90 miles off the New Guinea coast. 

This is the species most frequently seen on the 
hats of women, and the traffic in dry skins 
formed the chief occupation of the Aru natives 
for years. As the full-plumaged males only were 
killed, the species held its own fairly well. Of 
late years, however, the demand having increased 
inordinately, less discrimination has been shown 
in killing the birds, so that their numbers have 
become greatly diminished. Unless absolute 
protection is soon attorded to all of the Birds of 
Paradise and their congeners, this wonderful 
group must soon become reduced to extinction. 

The method followed by the native hunters is 
quite interesting. The birds have a habit of re- 
sorting to a “dancing tree,’ where the males 
pose in various grotesque positions, calculated to 
display to the best advantage the remarkable 
beauties of their plumage, apparently for the 
admiration of the females. The hunter builds 
a shelter of leaves in the tree, and there con- 
ceals himself at dawn. As the birds come to 
the tree, they are shot with blunt-headed arrows 
and fall to the ground in a stunned condition, 
where they are dispatched by a second native. 
This method has the two-fold advantage of se- 
curing the birds with plumage uninjured and 
without alarming the other members of the flock. 

Each native tribe has its own trees, which it 
defends fiercely against poaching neighbors. It 
is a curious fact that dancing-trees that have 
yielded many skins for several successive years, 
are sometimes deserted suddenly, and for no ap- 
parent reason, although the birds may return 
later on. LESNAR ee 


ANNUAL MEETING. 

The Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the So- 
ciety will be held in the Grand Ball Room of the 
Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, on Tuesday evening, 
January 10, 1911, at 8.30 P. M. An interest- 
ing entertainment has been provided. 


724 


ty, so there seems little to hope 
for from this source. The Zoo- 
logical Society is fortunate 
enough to possess a very fine 
whooper and it is hoped that he 
will be blessed with the usual 
longevity of his race. 

The Manchurian Crane, (G. 
japonensis), is one of the most 
strikingly handsome of all the 
group. It is very uncommon 
in captivity, and now for the 
first time is represented in the 
collection. Its general color is 
white, as in the whooper, but in 
this case the arched and pointed 
secondaries are black and the 
primaries white. A slaty-black 
band extends down each side of 
the neck, the two joining on the 
nape. The bird measures about 
fifty inches from tip to tip when 
fully extended. It ranges from 
eastern Siberia to Corea and 
Japan; in the last-named island 
it was formerly held sacred and 
was allowed to be hawked by the 
nobles only. The cranes depict- 
ed on Japanese screens are usu- 
ally of this species. 

Next in systematic order comes 
the Asiatic White Crane, (Sarco- 
geranus leucogeranus). Itis con- 
siderably smaller than the fore- 
going, and is found from south- 
eastern Europe to China and Japan. It is white, 
the primaries black, and the head bare and red- 
dish in color. The immature birds of this spe- 
cies, as well as those of the whooper, have the 
white plumage infused with cinnamon-buff, giv- 
ing them a remarkable appearance. This is one 
of those species more easily obtained alive, and 
is brought to this country in some numbers. It 
is quite hardy and easily tamable. The speci- 
men in the Zoological Park, however, has a tem- 
per so irascible that he cannot be approached 
with impunity and is no longer allowed the free- 
dom of the large paddock. 

Of the larger cranes, the Sarus, (Antigone 
antigone), an Indian species, is most commonly 
seen in collections. It is the tallest of the 
Order, sometimes attaining a length of sixty 
inches. Its color is a handsome French gray, 
the over-hanging secondaries closely approach- 
ing white; the head and the upper part of the 
neck are bare and reddish, the gray feathers of 
the lower neck being bordered above by a band 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


SANDHILL CRANE. 


BULLETIN. 


of white. The sarus is a most 
vigorous bird and inclined to be 
dangerous when associated with 
smaller and weaker species; its 
height, strength and an uncer- 
tain temper make it a companion 
to be feared. 

One of the rarities of the col- 
lection is the White - Necked 


Crane, (Pseudogeranus leucau- 
chen). This is a medium-sized 


bird, of a beautiful shade of 
gray, with the throat and the 
posterior portions of the head 
and neck white, the gray of the 
shoulders commencing at a sharp 


line. The anterior part of the 
crown is bare and reddish. The 
long and falcate secondaries, 


which are very light in color, are 
curved less abruptly and hence 
more gracefully than in some 
other species. It is found in east- 
ern Siberia, Corea and Japan 
and is very seldom imported 
alive. In captivity it is quiet 
and docile, showing a most pleas- 
ing absence of the pugnacity so 
frequent among its congeners. 

A crane of unusual and hand- 
some appearance is the Stanley 
or Paradise, (Tetrapteryx para- 
disea). Itis a bird of fair size, 
ranging throughout the south- 
ern portions of Africa, where 
it is fairly common. In color it is a uni- 
form slate, becoming practically white on the 
head, the feathers of which are so lengthened as 
to give it a strangely swollen effect. The 
drooping secondaries reach the height of their 
development and beauty in this species. The 
Paradise is a very desirable bird for the avicul- 
turist, for both its docility and beauty; it is im- 
ported very infrequently. 

In captivity, the crane most frequently seen is 
the dainty Demoiselle, (Anthropoides virgo). It 
is the smallest of the family, as well as the most 
widely distributed, since it breeds in southern 
Europe and central Asia and spends the winters 
in southern Asia and northern Africa. Its gen- 
eral color is the conventional gray, set off by the 
elongated black feathers of the breast, those 
over the eyes being drawn out into lateral tufts 
of silky white. The demoiselle is brought to the 
United States each year in scores, for the de- 
mand for it is great. Its small size reduces its 
capacity for mischief, even if its usually even 


ZOOLOGICAL 


NESTING CRANE IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
temper should allow it to fall from grace; its 
engaging ways excite the admiration of all who 
have opportunity to observe them. This crane 
is quite willing to breed in confinement, and has 
done so in this country on at least two occasions. 
The Crowned Crane, (Balearica pavonina), of 
western Africa, differs from all the others in the 
possession of an occipital patch of straw-like 
plumes, from which it derives its name. It is a 
handsome bird, the blackish slate of its body 
plumage being contrasted by white wing-coverts 
and chestnut secondaries. The sides of the head 
are bare and colored white above and pink be- 
low; there are two small, pinkish wattles on the 
throat. 


This crane is uncommon in America, 


very few having been imported. It is long- 
lived and attractive, and not so determined a 
root digger as most others; but its temper, 
among the Socicty’s specimens, at least, is de- 
cidedly choleric. 
All of the cranes 
nest on the ground, 
usually in marshes 
or on open plains, 
forming their nests 
of grass and rushes. 


The eggs are gen- 
erally whitish or 
buff in color, 


double-spotted with 
yellow or brown 
blotches, and com- 
monly two in num- 
ber. 

Young cranes 
are most precocious, 


CROWNED CRANE. 


being able to run 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 125 


about quite freely soon after 


hatching. For a short time be- 
fore the youngsters commence 


to forage for themselves, their 
food consists mainly of insects 
brought to them by the old birds. 
The parent birds are very devot- 
ed to their offspring, caring for 
them with great solicitude and 
guarding them valiantly against 
intruders. If attempt to 
breed cranes in captivity is to 
be made, a large, grassy run 
should be provided for the ex- 
clusive use of the family, as anx- 
iety for the welfare and safety 
of the chicks is apt to make the 
parents over zealous in the treat- 
ment of the others in the same corral. 

An adult crane is a formidable antagonist, not 
to be despised even by a man. Frequently some 
members of the collection are so savage that they 
must be isolated and the keeper must then con- 
tinually guard himself against attack. The 
crane stretches his long neck to the uttermost 
and without hesitation makes frantic thrusts with 
his powerful beak, so swift and certain that the 
eye can scarcely follow the movement. 

An interesting characteristic of cranes is their 
habit of indulging at frequent intervals in gro- 
tesque dances, which may be performed by an 
individual, or by a group in graceful unison. 
The leader starts off leaping and bowing, with 
broad wings widely expanded; now seizing a 
leaf or bit of stick, now tossing it aside in capric- 
ious disdain. The spirit of the dance is in- 
fectious, and instantly the enclosure is a turmoil 
of leaping, bobbing birds, each striving to outdo 
the others in ex- 
travagance of ges- 
ture and motion. 

Most of the spe- 
cies are provided 
with lusty voices, 
which they delight 
to use with great 
freedom. However, 
the tones, which 
are clear and trum- 
pet-like, are far 
from disagreeable, 
and detract nothing 
from the perform- 
er’s eligibility to a 
favored place in the 
list of captives. 


an 


DEMOISELLE CRANE. 


126 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


CONCOURSE LOOKING NORTH. 


The NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 
in the 
ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 


Photographically Illustrated by Elwin R. Sanborn 


Wri VIEws or THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR. 


ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, FROM THE CONCOURSE. 


INd@ NOILVULSINIWGY “TIVH AONVU.LNA 


Q 


z 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


PARSE RIG SSS 


BULLETIN. 


I 
-~ 


728 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


FIRE-PLACE—EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ROOM. 


i 
is 


ned 


eg 


MEN’S READING ROOM. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 729 


=i 
= 


LYDEKKER 


» ALDUTCHER 


tine 
- 4 


OFFICE OF THE DIKECTOR. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


GENERAL RECEPTION ROOM. 


Sy 


Aquarium Number 
PREPARED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLE’TIN 


Number 44 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


March, 1911 


THE FUR-SEAL. 


Illustrated with fash-light photographs, made in the N. Y. Aquarium. 


EVER perhaps in the history of natural 
science, conservation or international poli- 
tics, has any one species of animal attract- 
ed such persistent attention as has the Alaska 
Fur-Seal. The gradual but rapid diminution in 
the numbers of this extremely valuable fur-bear- 
ing animal is a matter for the greatest regret. 
The United States Government has full con- 
trol of the breeding grounds, and for many 
years only supernumerary males have been killed 
under government supervision for their fur. It 
has been found impossible thus far, however, to 
put a stop to the slaughter of the females on 
the high seas. The females, already pregnant, 
leave their suckling young on shore in the rook- 


eries and go long distances to sea in search of 
food. They are then killed by the pelagic seal- 
ers lying in wait for them, and the adult female 
and a developing embryo are destroyed and the 
young on shore left to starve. 

Only international agreement can prevent this 
wasteful process, and the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries, which has recently been given 
charge of the seal herds, is doing everything 
possible to prevent any waste on the breeding 
grounds. The 13,000 young male seals, taken 


by the government during the past season, were 
selected from the supernumerary males driven 
out of the breeding grounds by the successful 
males. 


The fact that the United States Govern- 


YOUNG FUR-SEAL: MALE. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


BALANCING AT THE SURFACE. 

ment received an average of $38.34 for the raw 
furs of the 1910 catch will serve to indicate what 
a valuable asset is constituted by the seal herds. 
The herds are so diminished in size that only a 
small fraction of the original numbers remains. 

Among the 
interesting fea- 
tures of the nat- 
ural history of 
the fur-seal may 
be mentioned, 
their extremely 
and 
polygamous 
habits; the ex- 
treme sexual dif- 
ference in size 
(the males at- 
taining a weight 
of 400 to 500 
pounds and the 
females 80 pounds); the fierce struggles of the 
males to secure a well-filled harem; the driving 
out of the unsuccessful males; and the long jour- 
neys of the females for food. But the most in- 
teresting and wonderful feature of their biology 
is that of their long migration at sea for a 
period of some seven or eight months, and the 
unerring homing instinct that brings them back, 
after a journey of several thousand miles, to the 
obscure islets in the Behring Sea where the 
rookeries are located. The return trip is not 
even made over the same route as the outgoing 
journey. On leaving the breeding grounds at 
the approach of winter, the seals pursue a south- 
erly course until the latitude of California is 
reached; then they turn rather abruptly east- 
ward until off the California coast where they 
turn northward and work their way back along 
the Canadian and Alaskan shores until they ar- 
rive at the Pribilof Islands in the Behring Sea. 


gregareous 


THE HIND FLIPPERS SPREAD IN PRESERVING THE EQUILIBRIUM. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


The adult males reach the breeding grounds 
early in May, the young males next, and the 
females, heavy with young, appear just before 
the young are born in the latter part of June 
and the first half of July. The young females 
do not arrive until the last of July or August. 
The female bears her first pup at the age of 
three years and only one young is produced each 
season. 

An interesting, because extremely mixed, ter- 
minology has come into use about the islands 
frequented by the seals. The adult male is 
known as a bull and he wears a wig of longer 
hair on the back of his neck; young males are 
known as bachelors; the female is a cow and her 
offspring a pup, and the society or aggregation 
is a herd and the breeding grounds are rooker- 
ies. ‘The bull collects as many cows as he can 
secure (from 1 to 100) for his harem, while the 
unattached males flock together on the hauling 
grounds. Even the term seal is scarcely appli- 
: cable, as these 
animals are but 
distantly relat- 
ed to the true 
seals, and sea 
bear would be 
much more _fit- 
ting. 

This particu- 
lar species (Cal- 
lorhinus alas- 
canus) occurs 
on the Pribilof 
Islands. The 
Russian herd 
on the Com- 
mander Islands belongs to a slightly different 
species (C. ursinus), while a third species, now 
nearly extinct, is the C. curilensis of Robben and 


SRST RE 


THEY SPEND MUCH OF THEIR TIME GROOMING THEM- 
SELVES. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


SERAFEHING THE NECK WITH A FRONT FLIPPER. 


the Kurile Islands. The south- 
ern fur-seals belong to a dif- 
ferent genus, Arctocephalus. 
The most northerly represen- 
tative of this genus is 4. 
townsendi from the Guada- 
lupe and other small islands 
of Lower California. Other 
species are dA. philippi of the 
Galapagos Islands, 4. austra- 
lis of Lobos Islands at the 
mouth of La Plata River and 
A. delalandi of South Africa. 
In the autumn of 1909 a 
pair of young pups was 
brought by the United States 
Bureau of Fisheries to the 
small aquarium in Washing- 
ton where they have thrived. 
As a result of the suecess in 
rearing this pair, six more 
were brought from St. Paul 
Island the past November and 
distributed as follows: one 
pair to Golden Gate Park, one 
pair to the Washington Zoo- 
logical Park and the third pair 
to the New York Aquarium. 
The pair presented to the Aquarium arrived 
on November 23, and being the first fur-seals 
ever exhibited in New York City, they have 
naturally attracted much attention. At the time 
of their arrival they could not have been more 
than five months old and their combined weight 
was forty-three pounds; the male being about 
three pounds heavier than the female. They 
were placed in one of the large floor pools where 
the female proceeded at once to make herself at 
home, swimming actively about and taking food 
at the first opportunity. The little male did not 
appear to be in such good condition, as he swam 
but little and took no food for a couple of days. In 


THEY ARE 


WITHOUT 
ATTENDANT AND WILL EAT FROM 
HIS HAND. 


BULLETIN. 733 
a few days, however, he seemed to entirely recov- 
er and was as active and fed as well as his mate. 

For the first week or so both seals spent most 
of their waking hours scratching themselves, 
often rolling over and over in the water during 
this performance, much to the amusement of the 
spectators. During the first few days the male 
slept much of the time, floating at the surface 
with just the tip of his nose out of the water, 
and many were the solicitous inquiries as to what 
was the matter with him. Some of our kind- 
hearted visitors even went to the extent of hunt- 
ing up attendants to inform them that one of 
the seals was very ill. 

Although fresh water is en- 
tirely unknown to the seals in 
nature, except for the rain 
which falls on them at their 
breeding grounds, they do not 
seem to require salt water, but 
have been given a salt water 
bath once a week. 

They have been fed twice 
a day on pieces of fish, cut in- 
to strips; cod and herring be- 


ing used for the purpose. 
They are entirely without 


fear of the attendant and will 
come upon the platform and 
eat from his hand, though 
they seem to prefer to take 
the food in the water. Inci- 
dentally, I may mention that 
the attendant prefers to feed 
them in the latter way, as 
they are treacherous animals 
and bite without any warning. 
One experience of the ability 
of their needle-like teeth to 
pierce flesh and rend cloth- 
ing was sufficient to convince 
their guardian that young fur- 
seals do not make comfortable 


FEAR OF THE 


FRIGHTENED BY THE FLASH-LIGHT. 


734 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


LENS CABINET FOR VIEWING SMALL AQUATIC ANIMALS. 


pets at close range. At the end of a month each 
of the seals had gained three pounds. 

The male died very suddenly on the night of 
January 22. A post mortem examination made 
at the American Museum of Natural History, 
where the skin is to be mounted, revealed kidney 
cause of death. His weight, 
thirty-one pounds, taken at this time, showed 
that he had gained about seven pounds in the 
two months of his life at the Aquarium. 

The female, weighed at the end of the sec- 
ond month, showed an increase in weight of six 
pounds in the same period. At the present time 
she is apparently in the best of health, consum- 
ing her three pounds of fish at a meal in a man- 
ner to prove that she possesses a good appetite. 
Practically the whole day is spent in swimming 
and it is a delight to the eye to wateh the active 
and graceful movements displayed as she swims 
about the tank or leaps upon the platform only 
to take another plunge. Her swimming move- 
ments are by far the most graceful of any ani- 
mal we have ever had on exhibition. The front 
flippers are used almost entirely in swimming. 
The stroke begins nearly at right angles with 
the body and the flippers are carried back along 
the sides and over the belly until they almost 
meet. The hind limbs serve for steering and in 
preserving the balance. Swimming on the back 
is the usual method, but this position is re- 
versed when coming to the surface to breathe. 
When resting at the surface the back is upper- 
most and the hind flippers are spread out to pre- 
serve the equilibrium, but when sleeping in the 
water the hind flippers are more or less doubled 
forward and the seal reposes on its side with the 
tip of the nose out of water. late (Cr, (Os 


disease as the 


EXCEL TONS Or 
SMALL ANIMALS. 


HE average individ- 

ual possesses a deep 

and very natural in- 
terest, not to say curios- 
ity, in animals of unus- 
ual size, either very 
large or very small. The 
Zoological Park affords 
the means of satisfying 
this curiosity in regard 
to the larger animals in 
the living state, while 
certain of the larger 
forms of living fishes may be seen in the Aquar- 
ium. The American Museum of Natural His- 
tory and the Brooklyn Museum supply the de- 
sired information in regard to the larger forms 
by means of preserved material. The museums 
also have attempted to satisfy the desire for 
knowledge of the smaller animals by the con- 
struction of enlarged models. 

It is but rarely, however, that the average 
person is able to obtain a view of these smaller 
animals alive, through a microscope or even a 
lens. For this reason the Aquarium has in- 
stalled a number of lens exhibits of small ani- 
mals. For a couple of years a single exhibit of 
mosquito larvae behind a large reading glass 
has been in operation and this attracted so much 
attention that the idea of exhibiting various 
forms of the smaller invertebrates in the same 
manner suggested itself. Accordingly, first 
one, and later four more exhibits were ar- 


ZOOLOGICAL, 


SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE LENS CABINET. 


ranged. The plans for this exhibition cabinet, 
which are entirely our own, may be of interest 
and the details are given herewith. A four- 
compartment case was constructed, each com- 
partment measuring two feet broad by two feet 
high by one and one-half feet in depth (front 
to back). In the front of each is a sliding door 
in which is set a window for the transparent 
explanatory sign. This door can be lifted to 
permit the attendant to arrange the specimens 
in the exhibit. The lens set in the lower sta- 
tionary part of the front, is a five-inch reading 
glass with a magnification of about two to three 
diameters. 

A small aquarium jar is placed within the 
compartment in such a position that the animals 
in it will be in proper focus. The jar which 
we have found best suited for our purpose is a 
straight sided, all-glass aquarium about twelve 
by twelve by four inches. If the aquarium is 
too small it will not hold sufficient water to keep 
the inmates alive and in good condition for very 
long, while too large a jar will allow free-moy- 
ing animals to get out of focus readily. 

On the back wall of the compartment is placed 
an electric light with a reflector. This throws 
the light upon the specimens and at the same 
time illuminates the transparent information 
card above. The inside of the compartment is 
painted white to reflect as much light as possi- 
ble. Each compartment is lighted separately 
so that if one is temporarily empty the lens and 
sign are not illuminated. 

The compartments are open above and in the 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 735 


bottom behind the aquarium jars is a coarse wire 
sereen which permits a free circulation of air 
behind the jars to prevent them from becoming 
too highly heated by the lights. 

The transparent label is placed high enough 
above the lens so that while one person is view- 
ing the specimen those behind can read the ac- 
count of it. The whole cabinet is mounted on 
legs and set against the wall and so takes up 
but little space. A shelf a foot wide projects 
forward below the lenses, serving to prevent 
people from pressing against the glass. 

In this way we have been able to exhibit the 
following in the short time since the cabinet 
was completed. 

Mosquito larvae and adults; hydroids—Pen- 
naria and T'ubularia; sea anemones—Sagartia, 
ete.; Star Coral, Astrangia; Shrimp, Crangon 
vulgaris; small jellyfishes, and comb jellies; 
Bryozoa,—Bugla and Amathia; Horseshoe crab, 
young; small crustacea,—Gammarus, ete. 


Re CO: 


THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. 
HE literature of mythology is full of refer- 
ences to aquatic monsters, usually part hu- 
man and part fish, and practically all primi- 
tive peoples have believed or still believe in some 
of these marine creatures of the imagination. 
They have often been worshipped as deities but 
more often feared as demons or as omens of 


THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. 


736 ZOOLOGICAL 


AS HE MIGHT LOOK IN CIVILIZED DRESS. 
Photo by R. Sutcliffe. 


storm or plague. Perhaps the earliest known 
was the fish-headed god Oannes, or Hea, of the 
ancient Chaldeans, but the Greeks and Romans 
and various other peoples on down through the 
Middle Ages believed in tritons, nereids, mer- 
maids, sea-satyrs, ete. Even the early natural 
history of Aldrovanus, Gesner and others was 
not free from such suppositious animals which 
were figured in some of these works. 

Africa, the land of so many mysteries, has 
yielded up the original of another fabulous mon- 
ster. Anyone familiar with the Arabian Nights 
will easily recognize from our illustrations “The 
Old Man of the Sea.” It might also be the 
original of the “Sea Bishop” of Gesner, Sluper 
and others, but from the fact that this aquatic 
member of the clergy was “seen off the coast of 
Poland” and there is no mention of a South 
African marine diocese. 

At any rate the fish head here shown is very 


interesting. The photographs were made at the 
Aquarium from the dried head which was 


brought from Capetown, South Africa, by the 
owner, Mr. Robert A. Hunt. Except for the 
evident additions made by the photographer, the 
specimen was not manipulated in any way. The 
ragged outline at the back of the head shows 
where it was severed from the body. The lines 
on the lower part of the face are natural and 
are the outlines of the maxillary and other bones 


of the jaws. The proboscis has shrunk some- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


what in drying. In life the resemblance to the 
human face was even more striking. 

We are indebted to Mr. Hunt for the data 
and for the pleasure of examining the dried 
head, and some original snap shots taken just 
after the head was severed from the body. 

Literature is not at hand for the identifica- 
tion of the species, but it appears to belong to 
the family Sparidae, and if this is the case it 
would be related to our sheepshead. 

The conical front teeth are shown in the cut. 
The lateral teeth are very strong and molar-like, 
evidently for the purpose of crushing shells and, 
like the famous king of the Cannibal Islands, 
“he has two rows in his lower jaw.” R.C. O. 

GREEN MORAY. 
LARGE green moray died on December 
30, after living in the Aquarium seven years 
and six months. When brought from Ber- 
muda by Director Townsend, June 30, 1903, this 


specimen measured four feet in length. At the 
time of its death it was six feet long. Mr. De 


Nyse informs me that during the last two years 
of its captivity it would take no food voluntarily. 
It was thus necessary to force food down its 
throat. The food thus administered would be 
retained for a while until partially digested, 
when the remnants would be regurgitated, but 
no meal was ever disposed of fully or permanent- 


ly for more than two years. RACsO} 
AQUARIUM NOTES. 
Fish-Hatchery.—During 1910, the United 


States Bureau of Fisheries presented us with the 
following spawn for our model hatchery: white- 
fish 1,500,000; Atlantic salmon 5,000; white 
perch 1,500,000; shad 800,000. Our collector 
took 750,000 yellow perch and the Tuxedo Club 
of New York presented us with 7,000 steelhead 
trout spawn. These eggs were successfully 
hatched, with the exception of the white perch 
eggs which arrived in poor condition, in our 
troughs and hatchery jars, making an interest- 
ing and instructive exhibit from the first of the 
year till the middle of June. The fry are re- 
turned to the Government authorities to be lib- 
erated in various waters or are disposed of to 
clubs, ete. 

The disposition of the fry was as follows: 
quinnat salmon fry to the number of 3,000, were 
liberated in Lake Roliff, Jenson Kill, New York, 
on April 21, from the hatching of the previous 
year and sixty-five silver salmon were given to 
Mr. Mabie in exchange; on April 27, 20,000 yel- 
low perch were liberated in the 77th Street lake 


ZOOLOGICAL 


in Central Park; the white fish were all sent to 
lakes in Dutchess County, New York, when very 
small; on May 1, we sent 220,000 yellow perch 
to the Bronx Park waters and shortly after 
50,000 to Prospect Park, Brooklyn; the shad 
were liberated in the Hudson at Rhinecliffe, 
with practically no loss; on June 1, we sent 
4,000 Atlantic salmon, 5,000 rainbow trout and 
4,000 steelhead trout to Millwood, New York. 

The difference between the numbers of eggs 
received and fry liberated is accounted for, part- 
ly by loss in the hatcheries; by the exhibits of 
fry kept at the Aquarium to be reared, and from 
the fact that we use much of the fry of the com- 
moner fish for fish-food. 

West Indian Seals:—We have lost two of the 
three rare West Indian seals that were added to 
the collections June 14, 1909. The largest 
specimen died December 27, 1910, from pneu- 
monia, and a second one died on January 16, 
1911, from the same malady, together with a 
complication of intestinal parasites. The third 
specimen is still living. 

Leatherback Turtle:—Another large leather- 
back turtle was presented and placed in one of 
the large floor pools to swim blindly at the sides 
until exhausted. Unfortunately we are the re- 
cipients of one or more of these noble animals 
each year and always try them in the hope that 
they may be induced to take food and content 
themselves with a life of confinement, but they 
invariably find their way to a museum within a 
few days. 

Sea-Water:—Three loads of sea water were 
purchased to replenish the loss during the year 
from our stored supply. This water is transport- 
ed from outside of Sandy Hook in a tank steamer 
in order to avoid the polluted harbor water. 
Evaporation has concentrated our closed circu- 
lation water to a density of .0243, whereas the 
ordinary sea water along our coast is about .022 
and that of the dense tropical water around the 
Bermudas is .028. 

Child Welfare Exhibit:—The Aquarium dis- 
played pictures, statistical charts and three bal- 
anced aquaria near the exhibits of the other 
museums of the City at the “New York Child 
Welfare Exhibit” in the 71st Regiment Armory, 
from January 18 to February 12. This served 
to stimulate interest in stocking balanced jars 
in the public schools, as is attested by the in- 
creased demand for live specimens and_ sea- 
water. 

Battery Park:—The Aquarium looks out on 
Battery Park at a continually diminishing sup- 
ply of trees. These are dying rapidly and no 
apparent effort is being made to replenish with 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 737 
young trees. We fear that a few years more 
will leave us with a shadeless Park. 

Dynamite Explosion:—The explosion of dy- 
namite in Jersey City on the first day of Feb- 
ruary, which did so much damage and broke 
windows in the lower end of the City, played 
some pranks at the Aquarium. The skylights 
on the side toward the explosion were lifted, 
when the air pressure was suddenly removed 
after the first wave of compression had passed, 
and dropped again a few inches from their true 
positions, shattering twenty-three of the panes. 
Many of the fragments fell upon the skylights 
in the attic, breaking sixteen of the panes which 
fell to the main floor together with the glass 
that broke them. Thirteen windows were also 
broken in various parts of the building. The de- 
tonation was heavy, and the simultaneous falling 
of the glass might well have frightened the visit- 
ors, but no great alarm was shown and quiet was 
quickly restored after the first scramble to avoid 
the falling glass, which luckily did no damage. 
Strange to say, none of the heavy aquarium 
fronts was broken, as occurred during the firing 
of the heavy guns on the battle ships in the 
Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909. Another 
strange thing was, that the gas, wherever burn- 
ing, was extinguished throughout the building. 

Publications:—The publications have been 
moved from the main entrance, where their sale 
tended to cause a congestion, to the main floor 
and placed in charge of the telephone operator. 
Several displays of the publications have been 
arranged. 

Telephones:—A switchboard with extensions 
to the various departments and offices has been 
installed. This necessitated cutting through 
the wall and installing a new door between the 
main floor and the lower office for the conven- 
ience of the operator and those who wish to use 
the telephone. The wires will enter the build- 
ing through a conduit via the fireboat dock, 
thus dispensing with all overhead wires. 

O fice: —A partition has been erected in the 
old laboratory to give the Assistant Director a 
separate office from that of the Clerk. A row 
of eleven spacious lockers has been built for 
storage room and the offices freshened with a 
coat of paint. 

Salt-Water Pumps :—A by-pass has been in- 
stalled in the engine-room for the harbor water 
system. This makes it possible to bring a re- 
serve pump into use in case of a breakdown of 
the regular pump. ‘Two pumps are working all 
the time, one on harbor and one on storage water 
and the emergency pump can now be connected 
with either system. CAG: 


738 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELWIN R. SANBORN, EDITOR. 


Bepartments : 
MAMMAL BIRD 
W. T. Hornapay, Sc. D. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
AQUARIUM LEE S, CRANDALL. 


C. H. TOWNSEND, Sc. D. 
RAYMOND C. OsBURN, Ph. D. 


REPTILE 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 


eee 


Numper 44 MARCH, 1911 


LEE EEEEEEEEEEESEESS SEEN 


Officers of the Society. 
President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
Mapison GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Levi P. MorToN, Wm. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
Frank K. STURGIS. 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers - 


Secretary, MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 

Treasurer, PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., BATTERY PARK, 


Board of Managers: 
Ex-Officio 

The Mayor of the City of New York - 
The President of the Department of Parks, Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER 


Glass of 1912. Glass of 1913. Glass nf 1914. 
Levi P. Morton, F. Augustus Schermerhorn, Henry F. Osborn, 
Andrew Carnegie, Percy R. Pyne, William C. Church, 
John L. Cadwalader, George B. Grinnell, Lispenard Stewart, 
John S. Barnes, Jacob H. Schiff, H. Casimir de Rham, 
Madison Grant, George C. Clark, Hugh D. Auchincloss, 
William White Niles, Cleveland H. Dodge, Charles F. Dieterich, 
Samuei Thorne, C. Ledyard Blair, James J. Hill, 

Henry A. C. Taylor, Frederick G. Bourne, George F. Baker, 

Hugh J. Chisholm, W. Austin Wadsworth, Grant B. Schley, 

Frank K. Sturgis, Emerson MeMillin, Wm. Pierson Hamilton, 
George J. Gould, Anthony R. Kuser Robert S. Brewster 
Ogden Mills Edward S. Harkness 


@fficers of the Zoological Park - 

W. T. Hornapbay, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer. 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - = Curator of Birds. 
LEE S. CRANDALL - - = 
W. REID Brair, D.V.S. - - 
H. W. MERKEL - - - - 
ELWIN R. SANBORN = = - 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - 
W.1. MircHELL - = ee 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR 


Acting Curator of Birds 
Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
Chief Forester and Constructor. 
Editor and Photographer. 

Civil Engineer. 

Office Assistant. 


@fficers of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RayMonD C. OSBURN, Ph.D. = ss Assistant Director. 
CHAPMAN GRANT - - = = - = Scientific Assistant 
W.I. DENYSE - - = = > = In Charge of Collections. 


SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 


The Seventeenth Annual Meeting—in the 
Grand Ball Room of the Waldorf-Astoria on the 
evening of January 10, 1911, was the most suc- 
cessful one that the Society has held since its 
inauguration. Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn pre- 
sided and announced the names of the subscribers 
to the Endowment Fund—a list of whom is 
printed in this issue. Mr. Madison Grant report- 
ed as Chairman of the Executive Committee. The 
members of the Society were invited to avail 
themselves of the new Administration Building, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


and its advantages were clearly presented to 
prospective ones. Mr. Grant spoke at consid- 
erable length upon the proposed new Aquarium, 
plans for which the Society is energetically 
working upon. The business of the evening 
was concluded by the presentation of a new 
game protection resolution, which was enthusias- 
tically received and unanimously passed by the 
Society. Mr. Roy Andrews showed a series of 
whaling pictures, with an interesting description 
of modern methods of hunting this large mam- 
mal. Mr. C. J. (Buftalo) Jones illustrated with an 
extensive set of moving pictures, his method of 
lassoing wild animals in Africa; and a fine series 
of films of bird life on the islands off the Scot- 
tish Coast, completed an interesting entertain- 
ment. The Ball Room, which comfortably seats 
about 1,200 persons, was almost entirely filled. 
After refreshments were served the meeting ad- 
journed. Ep. 


GAME PROTECTION RESOLUTION 
Passed by the New York Zoological Society at 
the Annual Meeting, January 10, 1911. 


The following action on game protection was taken 
at the Annual Meeting of the New York Zoological 
Society, Tuesday, January 10, 1911. Over 1,000 mem- 
bers and guests were present, and the action was 
taken with unanimity and enthusiasm. 

Wuenreas, it has been generally asserted in the pub- 
lic press that certain commercial interests in the City 
of New York will endeavor, at the coming session of 
the legislature of the State, to repeal Section 98, 
Chapter 24 of the Laws of the State of New York, 
restricting the sale of the plumage of wild birds, and 
Section 241, Chapter 24 relating to the possession and 
sale of game birds during the close season, and 

Wuereas, the market hunters of Long Island have 
declared publicly their intention of securing the re- 
peal of Section 170, Chapter 24 of the Laws of the 
State of New York, prohibiting the spring shooting 
of wild fowl, and 

Whereas, the laws as they now stand are barely 
sufficient for the protection of our wild birds, 

Now, Trererore, Be Ir Resorven, that the New 
York Zoological Society does hereby condemn any at- 
tempt to modify the existing statutes in the afore- 
said manner, and be it 

Furruer Resorvep, that the officers of the Zoolog- 
ical Society be instructed to take such steps as may, 
in their judgment, be most effective to provide for 
the maintenance of the existing provisions of law for 
the protection of the birds of this State. 


Wuenreas, the widely diversified statutes of the vari- 
ous states of the Union relative to the protection of 
wild fowl are entirely inadequate for the preservation 
of game birds, and 

Wuerras, many species of birds in their annual 
migrations traverse the entire length of the United 
States, and pass through many distinct jurisdictions 
wherein the laws vary greatly, with the result that the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


birds are unduly persecuted, and are drifting rapidly 
towards the verge of extinction, 

Now, Tuererore, Be Iv Resorvep, that the New 
York Zoological Society urge Congress to provide by 
federal statutes, for the protection of these birds, 
and be it 


Furrner Resorvep, that if this course should be 
found impracticable, that the New York Zoological 
Society urge the various states in the Union, particu- 
larly along the main routes of migratory birds, to 
unite in uniform laws for the conservation of the 
wild fowl of America. 


MEMBERS NEWLY ELECTED 
to Fes. 16, 1911. 
FOUNDER. 
Rainey, Paul J. 
PATRON. 
Whitney, Harry 
LIFE MEMBERS. 
Chapin, Charles Merrill 

Chapin, Chester W. 
Edgar, Newbold 
Mitchell, Hon. Mason 
Whitney, Miss Dorothy 


ANNUAL MEMBERS. 
Ams, Charles M. Kelly, H. R. 
Barlow, Peter T. Kip, W. Ruloft 
Beekman, Dr. Fenwick Kolb, Frederick 
Benson, R. Lawrence Kolb, Jr., George C. 
Benson, Robert Lee, Tennant 


SOCIETY 


Bonbright, Howard 
Bradley, Allen B. A. 
Brenner, August F. 
Brown, Stephen B. 
Case, Henry P. 
Colburn, Albert E. 
Colt, Harris D. 
Cook, Mrs. Frederick 


Cooper, H. S. Fenimore 
Demarest, William Curtis 


Dixon, Theodore P. 
Eames, John C. 
Fielding, George T. 
Fowler, Harold 
Gallatin, Albert 


Gillespie, Robert MeM. 


Hage, John D. 

Hall, Arthur H. 
Hollister, William H. 
Hansmann, Carl A. 
Hayes, Mrs. R. T. 
Henning, H. 

Hoyt, John Sherman 
Hurlbut, Frank M. 
Jesup, Richard M. 
Keitel, Gunther 


Lockwood, Emerson 
Ludeke, A. 

Lyon, Emory L. 
Martin, Jr., Bradley 
Martin, Howard T. 
Masten. Arthur H. 
Mayer, John 
Moller, Henry 
Mosle, A. Henry 
McGuire, Joseph H. 
Neumoegen, M. L. 
North, George B. 
Ordway, Samuel H. 
Page, William H. 
Palmer, Dr. T.S. 
Peck, Leicester O. 
Perry, William A. 
Platt, Charles H. 
Polk, William M. 
Porter, Horace 
Putnam, J. Bishop 
Rasmus, W. 
Rasmus, W. T. 
Richards, Eben 
Riggs, George C. 
Roberts, G. Theodore 


BULLETIN. 739 


Rogers, Hubert E. 
Scott, Donald 
Smillie, James C. 
Smith, Roland W. 
Sprague, Mrs. Frank 


Tomby, Borgfeldt 

Van Ingen, Mrs. E. H. 
Williams, William 
Woerishoffer, Mrs, Anna 
Zinsser, Jr., August 


ENDOWMENT FUND SUBSCRIBERS. 
January 1, 1911. 
Samueluthorne eee eee ee $25,000.00 
Jacob H. Schiff 25,000.00 


(CeOnee INS, JOU CEP 2 cacsn cerca eee 25,000.00 
Cleveland H. Dodge 25,000.00 
J. Pierpont Morgan _._... ee 20,000.00 
Est. Phoebe Anna Thorne... 10,000.00 
OpdenteViill syieeten se ee eee 10,000.00 
evi eae NI ortorieeses ences eens ee 10,000.00 
er yao om bavi c aesre tee eterno eee ee 10,000.00 
Hdwardesseblanknesse sess ees 5,000.00 
/ANIAG DAG N i (CEMTEL GUE one reap enero 5,000.00 
IMTS Rina iva lor Gy 0 tase eee en 5,000.00 
PACHESTI ET) Geman ete eee esti ea ene 5,000.00 
SOMME VPs LEELA acon cost cee cee eecencoreooee 5,000.00 
Tr: 2110 xa) Kg Len OS eee 5,000.00 
John Ia Cadwalader. 5,000.00 
George: Cx Clarke etre ee ee 5,000.00 
Georcem i eerkins sere eee ee 5,000.00 
Roberti Sw Brewster. eee 5,000.00 
Henry A. C. Taylor 5,000.00 
John D. Archbold —..... 5,000.00 
Frederick G. Bourne 5,000.00 
Charlesp he Dieterichise. ee 5,000.00 
GCeongs do COM Gl oa crecse ssseneeseeecemeseceer? 5,000.00 
leatpyed io (CUMS) bc oe ereo cone necneeee 5,000.00 
IME 1G 18S UM oO eens 5,000.00 
Wis penance sue wares nena 2,500.00 
Miss Serena Rhinelander_................ 2,500.00 
Grins 13, (NOME ceccencceetcoccesscecencreeeeae 2,500.00 
F. Augustus Schermerhorn................ 1,000.00 
Walters ted ames) ne eee 1,000.00 
Miss Helen Miller Gould.................. 1,000.00 

Miscellaneous, including General 
Risin es ss seeeee hae eet Se. od Benda Dae | 1,262.80 
$256,762.80 

January 23, 1911. 

PS aPe AG: GOD IES ea ae ea oe tae a ee ee 10,000.00 
TNoell Mere Ws WOM reece Gem $266,762.80 


Bequest due from the Estate of Mrs. Helen 
C. Inslee and conditioned upon two lives, $5,000. 


740 


ZOOLOGICAL, 


TUBULIPORA ATLANTICA AND OVIC 
From a drawing by Mr. H. J. S 


BRYOZOA OR MOSS-ANIMALS. 


HE Bryozoa or named 

from the fact that certain of them grow in 

moss-like clusters, are common members of 
our marine fauna and yet they are known to but 
very few persons. They are known also as 
Polyzoa from the fact that they are colonial in 
habit. The individuals are minute, rarely as 
large as the head of a pin and usually much 
smaller, yet their power of asexual reproduction 
by budding is so highly developed that they 
often form considerable masses. 

In habit of growth they are extremely varied. 
Perhaps the commonest method is that of en- 
crusting stones, shells, sea~weed, etc., with a 


I 
annon. 


moss-animals, so 


layer formed of many zooe- 
cia or individual animals. 
They usually remain closely 
attached to each other so as 
to form a continuous crust, 
the walls of which are com- 
monly impregnated with 
lime, giving great strength 
and rigidity. Occasionally. 
however, the walls 
merely horny or even gela- 
tinous, and in a few 
the walls covered 
earthy matter which renders 
them inconspicuous against 
In the case 
of many of these encrusting 


may be 


cases 


are with 


the sea bottom. 


species one layer may form 
upon the top of another, the 
lower one dying and leaving 


SOCIETY 


-L, ENLARGED. 


BULLETIN. 


only its lime skeleton, and 
this process may go on un- 
til a mass is 
formed, consisting of many 
dead layers anda superficial 
living one. Such masses may 
be merely flat layers or they 
may form nodules by com- 
pletely enclosing shells or 
pebbles, or less commonly, 
they may rise free from the 
encrusting base in frill-like, 
tree-like or cup-like forms, 
not infrequently of great 
beauty and symmetry. 

In another common meth- 
od of growth the colony is 


considerable 


erect from the beginning. 
In such species the first in- 
Ka dividual of the colony 


(known as the “‘ancestrula’”’) 
attaches itself and the sub- 
developed from it in such a 
manner as to form a branching, tree-like colony 
often very complex. Usually these forms are 
flexible, either by means of definite joints situ- 
ated at certain intervals (nodes), or else the 
whole colony is uniformly flexible by reason of 
the pliability of the walls of the zooecia or 
their looseness of articulation. 

While all the Bryozoa reproduce asexually by 
budding, they also produce eggs which develop 
into free-swimming ciliated larvae. These are 
so different from the adult individuals that they 
were not at first connected with the Bryozoa, 
but were described separately. The best known 
of these larval forms is the larva of Membrani- 


sequent ones are 


SMITTIA NITIDA, AN ENCRUSTING SPECIES. 


Natural size. Photo by R. C. Osburn. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


BUGULA TURRITA, A PLUMOSE SPECIES. 


Natural size. Photo by R. C. Osburn. 


pora pilosa, described and known as Cyphon- 
autes. 


By means of this free-swimming larva the 
distribution of the species is obtained as in other 
sessile animals. The fresh-water Bryozoa, of 
which there are only a few species, of wide 
distribution, have asexual winter buds or gem- 
mules, known technically as statoblasts, in addi- 
tion to the sexual reproduction, but the marine 
forms do not develop statoblasts. A certain 
amount of distribution in the case of the marine 
species is also brought about by means of drift- 
ing seaweed and timbers, and species may oc- 
casionally be transferred over long distances on 
the bottoms of vessels. How many species thus 
transported can maintain themselves in their 
new surroundings is of course problematical, but 
probably not many of them survive when carried 
far out of their normal temperature. For ex- 
ample, the beautiful species, Membranipora 
tehuelcha, which encrusts the sargassum or 
gulf weed with a delicate white lace-work, is 
annually carried into the waters of southern 
New England, but has never been able to estab- 
lish itself on our coast. 


When the free-swimming larva reaches a cer- 
tain stage in its development it must become at- 
tached. If it happens to settle on mud or 
shifting sand it is lost, but if it is fortunate 
enough to come in contact with a pebble or 
shell, seaweed or submerged wood, or the hard 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 741 


structure of some other ani- 
mal, it attaches itself and 
becomes permanently locat- 
ed. It then undergoes a re- 
markable transformation or 
metamorphosis, in which all 
the organs of the larva de- 
generate and those of the 
adult develop. The ances- 
trula formed by this meta- 
morphosis is more simple in 
structure than the later in- 
dividuals of the colony, that 
is, it is not so highly spee- 
ialized. It is generally pre- 
sumed to represent an earlier 
stage in the evolution of 
the zooecium and is. there- 
fore of interest in tracing 
phylogeny. 

The structure of the indi- 
vidual is fairly simple, but, 
considering its minute size 
it is rather complicated. 
There is a lophophore or 
peristome, either circular or horseshoe-shaped, 
surmounted by a crown of tentacles. These are 
covered with cilia, by the motion of which, the 
food, consisting of unicellular organisms, is di- 
rected to the mouth in the center of the lopho- 
phore. The intestine is a simple U-shaped tube, 
differentiated into a gullet (in some cases pro- 
vided with a crushing organ or gizzard), a 
stomach and an intestine. The vent usually 
opens outside of the ring of tentacles (group 
Ectoprocta), but in one small group (Endo- 
procta), it opens inside of the tentacle ring. The 
whole lophophore with tentacles, mouth and 
anus, may be extended through the aperture of 
the test or body wall, or it may be withdrawn 
for protection. The nervous system consists of 
a single ganglion situated between the mouth 
and anus, but in spite of the apparent simplicity 
of the apparatus the animals are highly irritable 
and very rapid in their movements. 

Surrounding the intestinal tract is a spacious 
coelom or body cavity, and outside of this is the 
body wall. The thin living tissue of the body 
wall is protected by a chitinous or horny layer 
which is usually further strengthened by a de- 
posit of lime salts, forming often a remarkably 
strong, thick shell when fully calcified. This 
test is usually pitted, cancellated or ribbed in 
a manner peculiar to the species, and in some 
forms is perforated by one or more special 
pores. In some families a membranous area 
oceupies more or less of the front wall of the 


742 ZOOLOGICAL 
test or cell, but usually the whole of the test is 
calcified, with the exception of the aperture 
through which the tentacles are extruded. In 
the largest group (Chilostomes), the aperture is 
guarded by a membranous, hinged operculum 
which is shut down like a trap door when the 
animal is retracted. In another group (Ctenos- 
tomes), a circle of bristles guards the aperture. 

For the protection of the colony, a majority 
of the Chilostomes have developed peculiar or- 
gans known as avicularia and vibracula. These 
structures are really highly modified individuals 
which have undergone great changes, both func- 
tionally and structurally, and have lost by degen- 
eration all the internal organs except the muscles 
of the operculum, which are greatly hypertro- 
phied. In the case of the avicularium the oper- 
culum has become modified into a beak-like or- 
gan, and in the vibraculum the process is carried 
still farther so that the beak becomes a long 
lash-like organ. ‘These organs are kept in 
motion snapping or lashing back and forth to 
prevent other forms from taking up their abode 
on the surface of the colony. There is good 
evidence to show the evolution of the avicular- 
ium from the ordinary individual. The struct- 
ure obtained its name from the fact that in 
certain genera (Bugula, Bicellaria) it is shaped 
like the head of a bird and mounted on a neck- 
like stalk. This is a highly modified condition, 
however, and the simplest type is found sessile 
between other cells of the colony and scarcely 
distinguishable from them except in the size of 
the beak. Spines and protuberances are also 
of frequent occurrence in the Bryozoa and aid 
in protection. 

The presence of sexual reproduction has al- 
ready been mentioned. The eggs are developed 
in the spacious body cavity and in some forms 
are retained there until ready to be liberated as 
free-swimming larvae. In other cases a special 
brood-sac or ovicell is formed to harbor the em- 
bryos until ready to be released. There are two 
quite distinct types of ovicell, according to their 
manner of formation. In the group of Cyclos- 
tomes one or more individuals of the colony be- 
come especially modified to serve as a brood- 
chamber for the colony. In the Chilostomes, on 
the other hand, a special organ may be formed 
by each fertile individual. The eggs migrate into 
this pouch and undergo their later development 
there. The ovicells are very characteristic of 
the different species, and when present they 
offer one of the best means of identification. 
The development of brood-chambers serving the 
same physiological purpose but of different 
origin affords a splendid example of the power 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


of functional adaptation in 
parallel evolution. 

The number of species of these interesting 
animals to be found in the immediate vicinity of 
New York City has not been determined. More 
than eighty species have been taken by the 
writer within a short distance of Woods Hole, 
Mass. Probably the number about New York 
City is considerably less than this, as most of 
the species require purer sea water than our 
harbor affords. Several species have been suc- 
cessfully kept in the Aquarium and some of 
these have attracted considerable attention when 
exhibited enlarged a few diameters in the lens- 
exhibit aquaria. RCO} 


bringing about 


THE FRESHWATER EEL. 


HE breeding habits of the eel, until very re- 

cent years, have always been a mystery to 

the naturalist as well as the angler. The 
ancients believed that eels were generated spon- 
taneously from the mud, while among fishermen 
the notion is still prevalent, in some places, that 
eels are the males of catfish. Such superstitions 
as the above arose naturally in the attempt to 
explain the absence of eels with spawn in streams 
or ponds where the species may abound—and 
of course mud and catfish are abundant every- 
where; and although naturalists have known 
that the eels must breed normally like other 
fishes, yet how, when and where? 

The first step toward clearing up these ques- 
tions was made by Dr. Theodore Gill’s sugges- 
tion nearly fifty years ago (1864), that the 
ribbon-like, pelagic fish known as the Leptoce- 
phalus is the larva of the Conger eel. This was 
later proved to be true (1885), when Delage 
succeeded in rearing the Conger eel through its 
metamorphosis from the Leptocephalus. 

The metamorphosis of the common European 
eel, (Anguilla vulgaris), was discovered in 1897, 
by two Italian zoologists, who proved that the 
larva known as Leptocephalus brevirostris de- 
velops into the elver or young eel of this species. 
This study was made in the Straits of Messina 
at the point where Charybdis, the fabulous 
daughter of Poseidon, was supposed by the an- 
cients to draw ships to their destruction in the 
depths of a whirlpool. In the currents at this 
point many abyssal animals are brought to the 
surface, and among these were obtained the 
leptocephali of the European eel. 

Extensive studies carried on in recent years 
by Dr. Joh. Schmidt for the Danish government 
have brought to light the following remarkable 
facts: (1), the fresh water eel must return to the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


METAMORPHOSIS OF THE COMMON EEL. 


ocean to breed; (2), the sexual organs cannot 
mature their products until the eels have re- 
turned to the depths of the ocean; (3), the pres- 
ence of salt water is not alone sufficient, but cer- 
tain conditions of depth and temperature are 
necessary, viz., an approximate depth of 1,000 
meters and a temperature at that depth of not 
than 7° Centigrade; (4), after hatching 
the young gradually rise toward the surface as 
leptocephali, having a greatly compressed, rib- 
bon-like form, completely colorless except for 


less 


the iris of the eye, and having the languid move- 
ments characteristic of such pelagic animals; 
(5), like many other pelagic animals they are 
negatively heliotropic, and descend to about 100 
meters during the day, only rising to the surface 
at night; (6), after reaching a length of about 
three inches, the metamorphosis, which lasts a 
year or more, begins and the leptocephalus is 
gradually transformed into the young elver or 
typical eel-like form, and (7), at the close of 
their metamorphosis the young eels gradually 
make their way shoreward and in the course of 
time ascend the streams into fresh water. 

Thus far the eggs of the eel have not been 
taken nor have the young, up to the time when 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 743 
they assume their pelagic form of 
lepltocephali, observed; but 
from the fact that young leptoce- 
phali have been repeatedly dredged 
from a depth of 1,000 
more, it is safe to assume that the 
spawning and early development 
take place at this great depth. Such 
being the case, it is easy to account 
for the absence of sexually matured 
eels in fresh or shallow waters. It 
is not so easy, however, to explain 
certain other events in the life his- 
tory. and particularly the remark- 
able metamorphosis of the eels, in- 


been 


meters or 


volving as it does, the migration to 
the surface of the Such a 
migration must be very gradual to 


ocean. 


permit of adaptation to changes in 
pressure, for animals brought sud- 
denly from such a depth are killed 
reaching the surface. The 
migration of the adult eel to its 
breeding grounds must also be slow- 


before 


ly accomplished for similar reasons, 
and the time thus consumed is sufh- 
cient for the development of the sex- 
ual products. Dr. discoy- 
through with 
marked fish, that the rate of migra- 
tion is about fifteen kilometers (ap- 
promixately eight miles) a day. 

The distances that of the 
travel in order to reach the breeding grounds are 
Not only must they descend from 
the streams and Jakes to the ocean, but in order 
to reach a sufficient depth they must in nearly 
all cases make long journeys at sea. Thus, the 
fresh waters of northern 
Europe find their nearest breeding grounds in 
the Atlantic, south-west of the Faroe Islands; 
while those inhabiting the waters of the Mis- 
sissippi system must migrate out of the Gulf of 
Mexico to the eastward and northward of the 
Bermudas, before the proper temperature of not 
Centigrade at the 1000 meter line 
is reached. Not the least remarkable feature of 
this life history is the fact, for such it seems to 
be, that a species capable of withstanding such 
changes of temperature and pressure and which 
is distributed from the tropics to the Arctic circle 
should be so inadaptive in its breeding habits. 

The life history of the American eel, (An- 
guilla chrysypa), has not been so thoroughly 
investigated as that of its European relative, but 
the facts so far as known accord well with those 
determined by Schmidt for the European spe- 


Peterson 


ered experiments 


many eels must 


enormous. 


eels living in the 


less than 7 


744 


FULLY DEVELOPED EEL. 


cies. The two species are so similar in nearly 
every respect that they would naturally be sup- 


posed to have the same breeding habits. 

The distribution of the eel on both sides of 
the Atlantic has been carefully studied by Dr. 
Schmidt. 
side of the Atlantic, and these are apparently 
kept apart by the greater depths of the middle 
Atlantic. Not only are the inland waters of both 


Only one species is known on each 


continents penetrated by the eels, but they are 
also found in the fresh water streams of the 
islands, such as the Bermudas and 
Azores, from the tropics northward to Iceland, 


oceanic 


even in islands where no other fresh-water fishes 
exist. 
Cape southward to the coast of Morocco in Af- 
rica and throughout the tributaries of the Baltic 
and Mediterranean Seas. It is not found in the 
Black Sea nor its tributary streams. Our Amer- 
ican species is distributed from Labrador and 


The European species occurs from North 


the southern end of Greenland to Guiana, but is 
rare along the southern coast of the Caribbean 
Sea. 


It will be noticed that the eel reverses the 
breeding migration of the salmon, shad and other 
well-known fishes that breed in fresh and shal- 
low waters, while their young return to the ocean 
for their growth period. Their peculiar habits 
make it impossible to propagate them by artifi- 
cial methods or to establish them in other re- 
gions of the world where the special conditions 
of the breeding grounds do not exist. The 
young eels can be readily transported and will 
grow well in fresh water anywhere, but attempts 
to establish the American eel on the Pacific coast, 
have met with no results beyond the growth of 
the individuals transported, and the same has 
been true of the attempt to plant the European 
eel in the Danube and other tributaries of the 


Black Sea. Re GxO: 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


SKATES AND 
FLOUNDERS. 
A STUDY IN ADAPTATION. 


WO groups of our 
TV tcea fishes that are 

very highly adapted 
to life on the sea bottom 
are the flounders and the 
skates. While these 
groups are about as wide- 
ly separated in their re- 
lationships- as fishes can 
be, they have both been able to solve very suc- 
cessfully the problem of adaptation to similar 
conditions. However, they have been compelled 
to do this in very different ways, for the skates 
are relatives of the sharks and have undergone 
a process of evolution in which the rounded body 
of the shark has assumed a greatly depressed or 
flattened form, while the flounder is a bony fish 
with a body greatly compressed from side to 
side. Its ancestors swam after the ordinary 
manner of fishes, but in order to adapt them- 
selves to the bottom were compelled to lie on one 
side. Any similarities of form or habit between 
the flounders and skates must therefore be mere- 
ly cases of resemblances produced in the attempt 
to suit themselves to the same conditions of life. 
The changes that have come about in these fishes 
during this process of adaptation are worthy of 
our consideration. 

The skates or rays (sub-order Batoidei or 
Rajida), are a modified offshoot of the sharks, 
(Elasmobranchii), that have assumed a life on 
the sea floor instead of swimming in its upper 
Their food, for the 


most part, consists of those animals which are 


waters like their relatives. 


either sessile or move but slowly, and in most 
cases their teeth are adapted to crushing the 
shells of molluscs and other animals with ex- 
ternal skeletons. 

When we examine a skate we find a thin dise- 
like body with a broad head, very broad lateral 
fins, and a long, slender tail, which in some cases 
is so narrow and long that it forms a whip-like 
member. Viewed from the under side the head 
shows a number of peculiarities. As the food 
is obtained on the bottom the mouth is on the 
underside of the head so that the food may be 
obtained without changing the position of the 
body more than is necessary to bring the mouth 


over the food. The nostrils also are placed well 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


COMMON SKATE. 
Under side. 


under the head, a position quite unusual in fishes. 
The gill openings, which in the sharks are later- 
ally situated, are here placed in two divergent 
rows on the ventral side. 

The upper side also shows some unusual fea- 
tures. The eyes are on top of the head, but 
they occupy about the same position relative to 
the brain case that they do in the sharks. They 
are, however, rotated in the sockets so that they 
look upwards instead of sidewise. The spiracles, 
which are vestigial gill slits and are either small 
or wanting in most sharks, are large in the 
skates and are situated on the top of the head 
behind the eyes. They have the unusual func- 
tion of admitting the water to the gills, an act 
ordinarily performed by the mouth. 
supplied with valves which open 
rhythmically. 


They are 
and close 
Professor Rand has shown that 
a strong current may be ejected through the 
spiracles, apparently for the purpose of cleans- 
ing the gills. 

Our common skates lay large eggs encased in 
horny shells, but many species are viviparous. 
The embryo is at first elongate like that of the 
shark, and the gill openings are on the side of 
the head, but as development proceeds the body 
becomes flattened and the gill openings move into 
a ventral position. This of course repeats what 
has happened in the evolution of the group. 


745 


Even in the adults there are various degrees of 
adaptation, and some species, e. g., the saw-fish, 
show very plainly the relationship to the sharks. 

The flounders or flat-fishes (Pleuronectidae) 
are among the most highly specialized of the 
bony fishes. As already indicated they once 
swam in a vertical position like other fishes, but 
on assuming a bottom habitat they became adapt- 
ed to lying on one side and to swimming in this 
position. It is easy to understand how this may 
have come about, for many fishes which swim in 
the ordinary position often rest on one side on 
the bottom. A visit to the Aquarium will dem- 
onstrate this fact to anyone who can catch the 
trigger-fishes, the tautog and certain other spe- 
cies in a siesta. 

We have positive evidence of three different 
categories that this change in the position of the 
body has really taken place. In the first place, 
the newly hatched young of the flounder swim 
in the position normal to other fishes and turn 
on the side only when they begin to live on the 
bottom: second, their nearest living relatives, the 
Zeidae, still swim in the usual fashion, and, 
third, their probable fossil ancestors (Amphis- 
tiidae), were symmetrical fishes which certainly 
had not become adapted to living on the bottom 
and swimming on the side. 

Some of the species habitually turn on the 
right side and others on the left, while in still 
others either the right or left may become the 
lower side. 

Now let us consider the changes which this 
process of adaptation to bottom life has brought 
about: the body has been but little modified, but 
the side upon which the fish habitually lies is 
more flat than the upper side, enabling it to fit 
more closely to the bottom. The lower side is 
colorless, as the pigment has been lost, while the 
upper side is well provided with pigment for 
protective coloration. It is interesting to note 
that this pigment is usually symmetrically dis- 
tributed over this side just as though it repre- 
sented right and left sides.* 

The most important structural asymmetry is 
found in the head region, for, while the gills 
are symmetrically placed on the upper and lower 
sides and the mouth opens in the normal fashion, 
the eyes are both situated on the upper side. 

“The reader is referred to the article by Dr. F. B. 
Sumner in the November, 1910, number of the Bu- 
LETIN. 


746 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


COMMON SKATE. 
Upper side. 


In the young fishes, before they descend to the 
bottom, the eyes are symmetrically placed, one 
on either side of the head. If they were to re- 
main in this position, one of the eyes would be 
directed downward against the bottom and would 
be entirely useless. During the metamorphosis, 
however, the eye of the lower side shifts its po- 
sition till it appears on the other side of the 


head. 


ways, according to the species. 


This is brought about in two different 
In those species 
in which the dorsal fin does not extend forward 
on top of the head, the eye shifts around the top 
of the head till it comes into the final position, 
but in those species which have the dorsal fin ex- 
tended upon the head, the eye actually migrates 
through the tissues of the head between the fin 
and the frontal bone to get into its functional 
position. This is one of the most remarkable 
phenomena in the life history of any fish, but 
its adaptive significance is unquestionable. 

In swimming slowly the dorsal and anal fins, 
which are developed to such an extent that they 
nearly surround the body, move in a wave-like 
motion similar to that of the lateral paired fins 
of the skate. 


whole body is undulated as in other fishes, but 


In more rapid swimming the 


because of the position of the body the undula- 
tions are vertical instead of horizontal. 
Many of the flounders have the peculiar habit 


of burying themselves in the sand with the prom- 


inent eyes protruding above the surface. In 
size, they range from small species a few inches 
in length to the huge halibuts which attain a 
length of eight feet and a weight of 500 pounds. 
The eggs of this group are small and float at 
the surface, and it has been estimated that the 


halibut produces 3,500,000 eggs at one time. 


Ry G20: 


AQUARIUM NOTES. 


Contributions:—During the past year the 
New York Zoological Society has acquired by 
purchase for exhibition at the Aquarium, 414 
specimens of tropical life from the Bermudas, in 
five shipments, and 192 local fishes from the 
steamer Angler. The Zoological Society has 
received in gifts for use at the Aquarium, one 
pair of Alaska fur-seal pups and 3,820,000 
trout and salmon spawn from the United States 
Bureau of Fisheries, besides 397 specimens from 
In addition to this 
we have exchanged for ninety-seven and bought 


seventy-six private donors. 
twelve specimens. Eleven seining trips were 
made to the various parks of the City with the 
result that 3,303 specimens for exhibition and 
food were obtained. Our official collector, Mr. 
John J. DeNyse, collected 505 fish, 4,185 in- 
vertebrates and 750,000 spawn for exhibits, be- 
material for scientific work. We 


sides much 


have had twelve contributors to the library. 


wn ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 45 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


May, 1911 


THE SPECTACLED BEAR. 


HERE are two American bear species that 

are known to science only by their skins, 

and which never have been taken alive. 
They are the glacier bear, (Ursus emmonsi), 
and the inland white bear, (U. kermodei), the 
former of Alaska, the latter of British Colum- 
bia. 

In the Old World, the parti-colored bear of 
Thibet, (2luropus), is equally unknown in cap- 
tivity. 

On at least three or four occasions, the Spec- 
tacled Bear, (Ursus ornatus), of the Andes has 
been exhibited in zoological gardens, for brief 
periods. During the past fifteen years, which 


have embraced many tours of the zoological gar- 
dens of Europe by American zoologists, we have 
seen but one specimen, which was in the Amster- 
dam Garden, in 1903. We have not heard of a 
specimen having been exhibited in North Amer- 
ica prior to the arrival of the one now here. 
During the past eleven years our efforts to 
secure a spectacled bear have been persistent 
and continuous. Every person bound for South 
America, and offering to procure for us any 
animal found in that continent, has been im- 
portuned to procure an Ursus ornatus. After 
years of waiting, and many disappointments, 
Mr. Edgar Beecher Bronson, author of “In 


MALE SPECTACLED BEAR. 


748 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


HE IS JET BLACK, OF RATHER SLENDER BUILD, WITH LONG, THIN FEET. 


Closed Territory,” finally procured for us in 
Quito, Ecuador, a fine specimen of the species 
It Don 


Segundo Espinoza de los Monteros, Governor of 


so long desired. was obtained from 
the Panoptico, at Quito, and is now about two 
old. The long and difficult matter of 
transportation from Quito to New York, was 
accomplished through the active co-operation and 
personal attention of Consul Dietrich, of Guaya- 
quil, Consul Snyder, of Panama, and the of- 


vears 


ficers of the Panama Steamship Company, both 
afloat and arrived at the 
Park on January 9, in perfect condition. 


ashore. Frederico 
Frederico, Ursus ornatus, is a jet black bear 
of build 


with a long, rangy body, 


rather slender 


very long feet, smal] 
ears, placed far apart, 


semi - circular claws of 
large size for a small 
bear, and on his face 


and throat the strange 
white markings from 
which the species takes 
Instead o f 
the usual complete circle 
of white 


each 


its name. 


surrounding 
the 
broken over the eye, and 
the cheek 


white band 


eye, circle is 


on a broad, 
extends 
downward to the throat 
where it meets a cross 


; ON HIS FACE AND THROAT 
bar of white. 


From this 


MARKINGS FROM WHICH THE SPECIES TAKES ITS NAME. 


half-collar, two bars of white extend down the 
throat to the breast, closely parallel. _ Frederico’s 


32 


height at the shoulder is about inches, and 


his weight must be about 160 pounds. Having 
several more years of growth ahead of him, he 
should attain to double his present weight. 

Regarding the life history of Ursus ornatus, 
very little is known, beyond the fact that it in- 
habits the Andes of Ecuador and Peru. Its 
dentition is said to resemble in certain features 
that of the sloth bear of India; but we do not 
vouch for it. 

We exhibit beside Ursus ornatus an interesting 
sub-species, Ursus ornatus thomasi, from the 
Andes of southern Colombia, in which the 
facial markings all are 
wanting, and there is no 
white feature save a 
light gray patch under 
the lower jaw. This 
specimen is of about the 
same age as Freder- 

but is much 
ler. Frederico very 
tame, and indulges in 
several amusing tricks, 
one of which consists m 
jumping repeatedly, 
like a bucking horse. 

At present these two 
bears are shown in the 
Small-Mammal House, 
but they will shortly be 
removed to one of the 
large bear dens, and 
quartered together. 


Weel srr 


ico, smal- 


is 


ARE THE STRANGE WHITE 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 749 


WATER BIRDS ON THE WILD-FOWL POND. 


THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AS 
REFUGE. 


HE most important means for preserving 


A BIRD 


avian life, after active protective legisla- 
the 


where birds may live and nest unmolested, and 


tion, is establishment of reservations 
benefit by the opportunity for numerical recup- 
eration. There are now many of these refuges, 
established by governments, societies and indi- 
viduals, and the good accomplished through them 
is very great. 

The readiness with which birds accept prof- 
Al- 


most any tract in which conditions are at all 


fered protection and food is a saving trait. 


favorable, and in which birds are able to find 
protection, shelter and a reasonable abundance 


of food, is appreciated and frequented by the 


wild flocks. 


of large cities, for many an exhausted waif 


Especially is this true in the case 


drops into the welcome green of a park and 
avails itself of the chance for reviving its jaded 
strength. 

As a city park, the Zoological Park is not an 
unusually large area, although it contains 261 
acres. It is the fortunate combination of open 
fields, dense woods, running brooks and_shel- 
tered lakes that makes it an ideal bird refuge. 
Within its limits, during the summer, about forty 
species of resident birds nest and rear their 
young in peace and quietude. But it is during 
the bleak days of winter, when the strangers 
from the north come to seek shelter, that its 
value is most apparent. Chickadees, nuthatches, 


woodpeckers and creepers feed upon the suet 


MALLARD DUCKS, WILD-FOWL POND. 


750 ZOOLOGICAL 


AMERICAN WIDGEON, OR BALDPATES: FEMALE. 


placed in numerous convenient positions about 
the Park. 


and fox sparrows search the undergrowth for 


Juneos with white-throated song 
such seeds as may have escaped their vigilant 
eyes on previous rounds. 


Red - polls, 


and siskins frequent the 


goldfinches 


bireches and sweet gums, 
or even join the sparrows 
in their ground-hunting. 
It is an unusual winter 
hermit 


when a few 


thrushes, robins and 
even catbirds, do not 
spend the season with 
us. This year a large 
flock of purple grackles 
has remained to s wel! 
the ranks of the greedy 
starlings. 

Fortunately, these species are no longer in 
imminent danger of extermination by the hand 
of man. Their only human enemy is the merci- 
less Italian, who believes that every wild crea- 
Gun 
licenses and game wardens are the best means 


ture, however small, is his rightful prey. 


for inhibiting this sort of slaughter, and each 
year fewer cases are brought to light. In this 
warfare for the protection of the wild birds in 
the northern end of New York City, the Zoo- 
logical Society has taken a very active part, and 
many a fine has resulted therefrom. 

It is the protection which the Zoological Park 
offers to the much harassed wild-fow] that is of 
the greatest interest and value. 

There is much open water in the northern sec- 
tion of New York City. The ponds, rivers and 


WILD WOOD DUCKS. the 
Three specimens are shown in the picture. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


marshes of this section would furnish splendid 
feeding grounds for migrating ducks—if it 
were not for incessant persecution by both men 
and dogs. For this reason, it is seldom, in- 
deed, that wild birds spend much time there. 
The mallard ducks so often seen flying over the 
Zoological Park are members of the large flock 
of semi-domesticated birds that inhabits the 
Wild-Fowl Pond, opposite the Pheasant Aviary. 
These birds make daily trips to neighboring 
waters, and it is not remarkable that stragglers 
from wild flocks should join them at night, on 
their return to the home lakes. 

Each year, of late, wild wood ducks have 
spent the fall and winter on the Wild-Fowl 
Pond. These exquisite birds generally arrive in 

August or September, 
and leave late in April. 
During the past two 
winters, four handsome 
little 


tested for the favor of 


drakes have con- 


the single captive duck, 
and one has remained to 
keep her company 
throughout the summer. 
As might be expect- 
ed, the most common of 
our anserine visitors are 
black ducks. The 
coming of fall always 

brings a number of these birds, but during the 
winter of 1910-1911 they have been unusually 
A flock of about twenty-five has 
divided its time between Lake Agassiz and the 


numerous. 


Wild-Fowl Pond, mingling freely with the few 


captive birds on each body of water. These 


BLACK DUCKS. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 751 


FEEDING TIME, WILD-FOWL POND. 


ducks are generally very shy, and rarely become 
so tame as most others. 

Of all our guests this year the most interest- 
ing are two female baldpates or American wid- 
geon. These birds appeared on the Wild-Fowl 
Pond in the fall of 1910, and seem sufficiently 
One 


has formed an alliance with a male of the close- 


contented to make it a permanent home. 


ly-related European widgeon, and it would not 
be surprising if she should forego the vicissi- 
tudes of the vernal northward journey. 

The tameness of the wood duck and widgeon 


is most surprising while they are on the familiar 
pond and visitors are on their accustomed side 
of the guard-rail. These wild birds compete 
for proffered morsels on more than equal terms 
with the pinioned mallards, their full wings al- 
lowing them to move with much greater rapidity 
But at the slightest 
attempt at further familiarity they promptly 
for the 
hanging bushes hide them from prying eyes. 


Iba teh Ce 


than their heavier rivals. 


scuttle diminutive island, where over- 


WORK OF THE HICKORY BARK BORER. 


The picture on the left shows the holes in the bark made by the emerging adult insects; that on the right shows the inner side 
of the bark with the characteristic vertical tunnels of the female, in which the eggs are deposited in tiny niches, and the 


lateral larval galleries made in the process of feeding. 


The insects live on the cambial layer of the tree. 


Members of the 


Society owning hickory trees should examine them carefully as the insect is difficult of detection and causes the death of 


every tree it attacks. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


MALE AFRICAN OSTRICH. 
Potographed in the Zoological Park in the winter of 1910. 


ACCLIMATIZING THE OSTRICH. 


T is an interesting fact that a number of birds 
indigenous to tropical climates are able to en- 
dure our severe winters, without apparent dis- 

comfert to themselves, and certainly with no ill 
effect on their constitutions. Several specimens of 
the Audubon caracara, (Polyborus cheriway), of 
northern South America and Mexico, have lived 
for years in the out-door cages of the Large 
Bird-House of the Zoological Park, and they 
seem to improve in health and vigor with each 
season. Practically all of the species of cocka- 
toos and parrakeets so plentiful in Australia 
are entirely indifferent to cold. An escaped 
Amazon parrot entered the Zoological Park one 
fall, and stayed until spring, feeding on what 
buds and nuts it could find, only to fall a vic- 
tim to the gun of a misguided marksman. 

It is true, also, that those birds which are able 
to live without artificial heat during cold 
weather, are much healthier and generally of 
finer plumage than others that are fully housed. 
For this, and other reasons, experiments on the 
endurance of various species in captivity always 
are of interest and value to the aviculturist. It 
seems probable that there are many species, or- 
dinarily short-lived and delicate, which would 
survive much longer if kept at a lower tempera- 
ture than is customary. 

In our climate the ostrich is not a long-lived 
creature. Many of its troubles can be traced to 
the effect of draughts, which the birds seem un- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


able to withstand. This difficulty, coupled with 
the lack of exercise incident to the close confine- 
ment of winter quarters, makes that season a 
very trying one for the bird and its keepers. 

In the fall of 1909 it was determined to learn 
what effect exposure to cold and snow would 
have on the birds. Accordingly, an unusually 
vigorous pair of young North African Ostriches, 
(Struthio camelus), was secured and placed in 
a large corral at the south end of the Ostrich 
House. 

The first indoor apartment to which the birds 
had access was enclosed solidly by a wooden 
casing, a glass front being installed for the 
benefit of visitors. This permitted leaving open 
the outside door, without causing a lowering of 
the general temperature of the house. The floor 
of the cage was strewn with peat moss, for dry- 
ness, and a very low degree of heat was derived 
from the two warm-water pipes which were in- 
cluded within the apartment. 

As fall drew on the birds gradually began to 
moult. They were remarkably healthy, and 
really. seemed to enjoy the clear, cold weather, 
often racing madly about the liberal confines of 
their paddock, and never once refusing their full 
supply of food. As the days grew colder, early 
in October it became necessary to confine the 
other inmates of the Ostrich House, and provide 
the customary warmth for them. Snow came, 
and in no small quantities. The winter of 
1909-10 was characterized by an unusual num- 
ber of blizzards and prolonged storms. This 
inclemency, however, in no way disturbed the 
serenity of the ostriches; they seemed actually 
to enjoy the sensation of rolling and kicking in 
the drifted snow. 

It was feared that while the birds might do 
well enough during the dry weather of mid- 
winter, the cold, sleety rains of late winter and 
early spring, so dangerous to many birds and 
mammals, might cause disaster. This, how- 
ever, was not the case, for no amount of drench- 
ing seemed to affect in the slightest degree the 
sturdy hardihood of the ostriches. 

It is an interesting fact that the birds were 
allowed full liberty during the most severe 
weather. As stated previously, the shelter cage 
was very slightly warmed, but the outside door 
was always open, causing the temperature to 
remain constantly at a low point. 

With the approach of warm, summer weather, 
the male began to develop the choleric temper 
for which his race is noted. The female, al- 
ways gentle and docile, was persecuted so per- 
sistently that it was found necessary to remove 
her to another corral. Thus it came about that 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 753 


by the moult of the following fall. It was not 
so with the male ostrich. At the end of his sec- 
ond winter in the open, his store of health and 
vitality. is unimpaired and the quality of his 
plumage is exceptionally fine. 

It is planned to increase the outdoor facilities 
another year, and presently to extend the scope 
of experiment to other struthious birds. LL. S. C. 


COLONIZING THE PURPLE MARTIN. 


Several houses—each containing twenty-six compartments—have 
been placed in different localities in the Park to encourage 
the martin to breed here. The colonizing of the martin has 
been successfully accomplished in Plainfield, N. J., where for 
thirty-five or forty years generations of them have bred in 
little houses erected on the main street. 


with the approach of the winter of 1910-11, the 
male alone was left in the experimental com- 
partment, the female being warmly housed, ac- 
cording to previous custom. 

In some cases, as with toucans which were 
wintered out of doors in the Zoological Gardens 
of London, it has been found that birds will 
endure the cold season with apparent ease, but These tusks are the world’s first record for length. 
succumb to the drain on their vitality occasioned Gift of Henry A. Caesar. 


PACIFIC WALRUS TUSKS. 


754 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELwin R. SANzorN, Editor. 
Bepartments : 


Mammal 
W. T. Hornapay, Sc. D. 


Aquarium Bird 
C. H. TOWNSEND. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Raymonn C. Osgurn, PH. D. Lee S. CRANDALL. 


Reptile 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Number 45 MAY, 1911 


Ofticers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 
Executive Committee - 
Mapison Grant, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Levi P. Morton, WM. PieRSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. Sturcis, 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OsBorNn, Ex-Officio. 
General Officers - 
Secretary 
Mapbison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer 
Percy R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director 
WILLIAM T. Hornapay, Sc. D., ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


JouN S. BARNES, 
Percy R, PYNE, 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York 
Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR. 


The President of the Department of Parks 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER. 


Glass of 1912. 
SAMUEL THORNE, 
Henry A.C Tay or, 
HucH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. Sturcis, 
GEorGE J. GouLp, 
OcpEN MILLs. 


Clase of 1913. 
F. AUGUSTUS SCHERMERHORN, C. LEDYARD BLAIR, 
Percy R. PYNE, FREDERICK G. BouRNE, 
GeorGE B. GRINNELL, W. AusTIN WADSWORTH, 
Jacos H. SCHIFF, EMERSON MCMILLIN, 
GEorGE C. CLARK, ANTHONY R. KusER, 
CLEVELAND H. DopceE, WarTSON B. DICKERMAN, 


Glass of 1914. 
JAMEs J. HILL, 
GeorcE F. BAKER, 
Grant B. SCHLEY, 
Wo. PiERSON HAMILTON, 
ROBERT S. BREWSTER, 
EpWArD S. HARKNESS. 


Officers of the Zoological Park : 

W. T. Hornanbay, Sc. D., Director. 
H, R. MITCHELL ~ = - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RayMonpD L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE - Curator of Birds. 
LEE S. CRANDALL - : - Assistant Curator of Birds 
W. Rep BLAIR, D.V.S. Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H.W. MERKEL - - = Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R, SANBORN : Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MitcHELL - - - Office Assistant. 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
JOHN L. CADWALADER, 
JOHN S. BARNES, 
MApisoN GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 


HENRY F. OsBorn, 
WILLIAM C. CHuRCH, 
LISPENARD STEWART, 
H. CASIMIR DE RHAM, 
HuGH D. AUCHINCLOsS, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, 


Officers of the Aquartum 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RAYMOND C. OsBURN, Ph.D. Assistant Director. 
CHAPMAN GRANT - - = - - Scientific Assistant 
W.I. DENYSE - In Charge of Collections. 


THE MUSK-OX IN ALASKA. 

During the past twenty years, the absence of 
proof that the Barren-Ground Musk-Ox, (Ovi- 
bos moschatus), has inhabited any portion of 
North America westward of the Mackenzie 
River has, perhaps unconsciously, drawn Amer- 
ican mammalogists into the belief that the Mac- 
kenzie always has formed the extreme western 
boundary of the genus, at least during the age 
of man. 

This impression was greatly strengthened by 
Dr. Allen’s paper on the White-Fronted Musk- 
Ox, (O. wardi), published in 1901, in the But- 
LETIN of the American Museum of Natural His- 
tory. Up to that date, and even down to the 
present year, so far as we are aware, no evidence 
has becn brought before the public tending to 
disprove the accepted belief. It is therefore 
with considerable interest that we have received 
from a long-time resident of Point Barrow, 
Alaska, the Beyidence of living witnesses that 
during comparatively recent years, herds of 
musk-ox were found within hunting distance of 
that settlement. 

For twenty-six years Mr. Charles D. Brower 
has lived at Point Barrow, engaged in trading 
in furs and ivory, and he has prepared and fur- 
nished for publication the statement which ap- 
pears below. Inasmuch as Mr. Brower is a 
man of unquestionable reliability, the facts set 
forth by him may fairly be accepted as estab- 
lishing a westward extension of the range of the 
Barren-Ground Musk-Ox along the Arctic main- 
land coast at least to the longitude of Point 
Barrow. Wie Ee 

STATEMENT OF CHARLES D. BROWER. 

“T have lived at or near Point Barrow, Alaska, 
for twenty-six years. When I first went there 
(1884), there was still alive an old Eskimo 
native who had killed musk-oxen with bow and 
arrow. Although I was then unable to under- 
stand the language of the natives, a few years 
later I was told the story by a man who when 
he was a small boy had gone hunting with his 
father and family, and had seen his father kill 
musk-ox in this section. 

The man’s name was Mungelo, and he was a 
native of Cape Smythe village. At the time 
McGuire wintered at Point Barrow he was two 
or three years old. (This is given to establish 
a date.) 

A few years after this times were hard at 
Point Barrow, and no seals were to be had dur- 
ing the winter. The natives were very hungry, 
many dying from starvation. Mungelo’s father 
packed his sled and went inland to the southeast 
of the village, about 9 miles, camping on the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 755 


banks of a small river called Oo-ming-muc, 
which in the Inuit language, means musk-ox. 
It is one of the tributaries of the Koog River, 
which empties into Wainwright Inlet. 


Here Mungelo’s family hunted all the spring, 
and killed many musk-oxen, and saved much 
meat, which Mungelo’s father afterward gave 
to his unfortunate friends who were starving. 


In traveling around the northern part of 
Alaska I have many times seen musk-ox skulls 
lying about on the tundra, and at times have 
taken them to my station at Cape Smythe. Only 
once was I ever fortunate enough to find a skull 
with the horns attached to it. That was in the 
summer of 1895. I was on a hunting trip about 
100 miles east from Point Barrow, on the shore 
of a large lake, called by the Eskimos Tashis- 
pun, just west of Colville. 

There I found a skull with its horns still at- 
tached, and in a fairly good state of preserva- 
tion. The under side of the big bend in the 
horns was decayed, where they had been resting 
on the ground. This skull I took home with 
me, and kept it for over two years, when I gave 
it to Mr. E. A. MclIlheny, who spent the winter 
of 1897-8 at Cape Smythe, collecting all kinds 
of natural history specimens. 


I have also at the present time a musk-ox 
skull without horns, at my home at Point Bar- 
row, Alaska. Cuarues D. Brower. 


BIRD PROTECTION. 


The following is a report of arrests made, and 
convictions secured, by our Special Game War- 
dens, John J. Rose and R. W. Bell, of the Zoo- 
logical Park force: 
October 26, 1910 


Fernando Castaldo, for 
shooting blue jays. Found guilty; released 
under suspended sentence. By R. W. Bell. 

November 10, 1910—Louis Boasi, hunting with- 
out a license. Fined $5. By R. W. Bell. 

March 29, 1911—Peter Polten, hunting without 
a license, and having in possession nine crow 
blackbirds and five gray squirrels. Fined 
$25. By John J. Rose and R. W. Bell. 

April 5, 1911—John Whalen, trapping song- 
birds. Died before trial. By John J. Rose 
and R. W. Bell. 

April 5, 1911—Charles Rohlander, trapping 
song-birds. Fined $10. By John J. Rose 
and R. W. Bell. 

April 5, 1911—Henry Whitteborn, trapping 
song-birds. Fined $10. By John J. Rose 
and R. W. Bell. 


== 
or 
or) 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SUSIE, YOUNG FEMALE CHIMPANZEE, RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM PROF. RICHARD L. GARNER. 


THE COLLECTION OF GREAT APES. 


By Raymonp L. Drrmars. 


We are now proud to exhibit to our visitors, 
at the Primate House, a particularly fine col- 
lection of great apes. This collection is made 
up of four chimpanzees and five orang-utans. 
Several of the specimens have been in the Park 
for a period of over five years, and even the re- 
cently acquired individuals now are thoroughly 
acclimatized, and seem destined to live long in 
captivity. As some of the larger apes have 
passed through the stage where the first teeth 
have been shed and the second teeth are rapidly 
appearing, our records as to the development of 
these creatures, their increase in weight, change 
of temperament with developing age, and their 
various maladies, are rapidly becoming more 
interesting. 

From first to last, ‘a number of fine apes has 
been exhibited in the Zoological Park. The 
average period of their life in captivity has been 
about four years, and the death of the ma- 
jority of them has been caused by tuberculosis. 
Among our most interesting examples of the past 
were the chimpanzees Soko and Polly, repre- 
senting respectively Anthropopithecus schwein- 
furthi, and A. calvus. The former species may 
be immediately recognized by the dark skin of 
the face, which is generously blotched with rusty 
freckles. Calvus is characterized by the pale 
skin of the face, a dark H-shaped mark on the 
forehead and the protruding brows, back of 
which the hair is quite sparse. 

Another well-known ape was Dohong, an 
orang-utan. All of the three specimens mentioned 
above lived for periods exceeding five years, and 
all succumbed to the same malady,—tubercu- 


losis. These apes were noted for their excep- 
tional vigor and activity, which undoubtedly ac- 
counted for their fairly long lives in captivity. 
Naturally, the power of resistance against the 
attacks of pathogenic organisms is far superior 
in an active animal over one that is inclined to 
be sluggish. 

Usually the indisposition preceding the death 
of an ape was short. There was a sudden lack of 
vivacity, and the animal’s demise quickly fol- 
lowed. Rajah, Brunei, Sultan and 
Zongo are among the apes that were exhibited 
for periods of from one to two years. From 
our care of this number of delicate animals we 
have derived valuable experience, and the pres- 
ent aggregation of chimpanzees and orangs is 
in prime condition. 


Sadong, 


With our present collection of apes it is our 
intention to make experiments as to their mental 
capabilities, along a number of lines and with 
several purposes in view. We find, in the first 
place, that a continuous cage life, without diver- 
sion, is wearing upon these creatures, and that 
solitude and monotony tends to develop inac- 
tivity. Secondly, our visitors display a marked 
interest in demonstrations of a wild animal’s 
mental capacity. We also realize how much is 
to be done in solving the problems of habits dis- 
played by mammals of the higher orders. For 
work along these lines a large room in the 
Primate House has been fitted with parapher- 
nalia. Here the apes are taught to do many 
things, and given opportunities to display the 
mental traits that are utilized in a series of in- 
structive performances to be presented out of 
doors, on a large platform, during the summer 
months. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


All of our apes have been 
taught to sit at a table, and 
dine in quite dignified fash- 
It takes not more than 
a week’s time to teach an 
orang or a chimpanzee how 
to properly manipulate a fork 
and to handle a cup. ‘The 
spectacle of a number of apes 
dining at a round table is in- 
structive in illustrating some- 
thing more than mere ani- 
mal training. These creatures 
are not mechanically driven 
through this performance. The 
dinner party proceeds without 
cues or orders from the keepers, and the spec- 
tator realizes that a considerable amount of 
memory and reasoning power dominates this ex- 
hibition—rather than the dumb obedience of a 
trained animal that has been driven through 
its paces for many weeks, or months. Almost 
needless to say, these exhibitions are immensely 
popular with the children. 

With the coming summer, however, we intend 
to exhibit to our visitors a far more interesting 
series of demonstrations than the dinner parties 
of last year. Three wonderful apes are now on 
exhibition in the Park. These are Baldy and 
Susie, chimpanzees, and Mimi, a large orang- 
utan. The writer believes these animals are 
among’ the most intelligent apes ever exhib- 
ited in captivity. As our experiments with 


ion. 


SOCIETY 


GREAT APES IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


The entire collection of nine specimens 
is shown in the photograph. 


BULLETIN. 


-~ 
oO 
- 


the individual specimens have 
been along widely different 
lines, the possibilities of pre- 
senting varied exhibitions are 
great. 

Baldy is an exceptional- 
ly vigorous chimpanzee, al- 
ways mentally alert, and has 
required little teaching to be- 
come a wonderful animal. 
Without human suggestion he 
learned the principle of the 
lever, and has damaged sec- 
tions of his front by prying 
the bars apart with his trapeze 
rod. He thoroughly under- 
stands the action of a lock, and can select the 
proper key for the feed-room closet, from a batch 
of a dozen or more other keys. When out of his 
cage he prefers to walk erect. He opens and 
closes doors, handles various utensils with an 
apparent knowledge of their use, and will pound 
on the sides of his cage with emphatic good-fel- 
lowship as he reecognizes—in the crowd of visit- 
ors—any member of the Zoological Park staff 
with whom he is personally acquainted. Baldy 
is now about seven years old. 

Susie was recently added to the collection. 
She was purchased from Prof. Richard L. Gar- 
ner, who obtained her in Africa while on a trip 
during which he was engaged in the study of 
the habits of the gorilla and the chimpanzee. 
Susie was captured about 130 miles inland 


758 


from Cape Lopez, West Coast of Africa, about 
1° south of the Equator. She was born about 
the second of January, 1910. Prof. Garner ob- 
tained her a month later. She was then too 
young to walk and was fed upon milk and fruit 
juices. Her education has been quite different 
from that of Baldy. From the start her owner 
sought to teach her how to distinguish geometric 
forms, such as the cube, cylinder, cone and 
sphere; also the square, circle and rhomb. He 
also demonstrated that the great apes are not 
color blind by arranging movable flaps of 
such colors as green, yellow, blue and red. 
Susie learned to lift the different flaps at the 
word, also to pick out the forms called for. 
Among her many interesting exhibitions of high 
intelligence is the ability to pick up objects to 
the number of one, two or three upon command. 
If Susie remains in good health she will be a 
very popular feature of the Park during the 
coming summer. 

Among our observations of the present col- 
lection of great apes is one that is particularly 
worthy of mention while considering the speci- 
mens that have been enumerated. Upon arrival, 
all of our specimens were mere infants, too 
young to have been taught what to fear in their 
native wilds. With these very young specimens 
the writer conducted a series of experiments to 
ascertain what symptoms of fear, if any, they 
would display at the sight of creatures that 
would undoubtedly alarm their parents. In the 
cage with the babies was placed a very formid- 
able looking (though quite inoffensive) South 
American iguana—a large lizard with a dorsal 
crest of red spines. The very young chimpan- 
zees and orangs would approach the strange 
object with caution. As the lizard moved they 
hastily retreated, but curiosity conquered and 
they would finally poke the newcomer, then 
hastily back away. A closed basket with fold- 
ing lid and containing a snake was placed in the 
cage. This always proved of marked interest. 
The young apes immediately inspected the bas- 
ket, threw back the lid, stared at the strange ap- 
parition within, but were finally curious enough 
to touch the snake, following its movements with 
interest; although a certain spirit of caution was 
evident. 

Similar experiments conducted with these 
same apes, some four years later, were particu- 
larly interesting, especially so when we consider 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


the fact that these creatures had none of the 
lessons of the wilds or the prompting of parental 
influence. The iguana sent them scurrying up 
the bars of the cage, but the snake threw them 
into a state of intense fear. The writer remem- 
bers Baldy investigating the snake basket a 
few months ago. As the unsuspecting ape 
threw back the cover, he uttered the equivalent 
to a scream of terror, sprang from the basket, 
and hurled himself up the bars, whence he 
climbed to the top of the cage, every hair on 
his body standing on end. As Baldy looked 
down at the snake, his lips were drawn back in 
a snarl of rage, utterly foreign to this good- 
tempered animal. The other large apes were 
Instinct is a word too often 
theoretically explaining the 


similarly affected. 
actions 
of really intelligent animals; but in the case of 


used in 


these captive-reared apes, the intense abhorrence 
noted appears to be an instinctive fear devel- 
oped by creatures whose parents inhabited a 
country that is generously supplied with dan- 
gerous reptiles, but who themselves never saw a 
serpent in a jungle. 


DOUBLE NORWHAL TUSKS. 


Recently acquired for the National Collection of Heads 
and Horns. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 759 


—— eee en 


CALIFORNIA ELEPHANT SEALS. 


CALIFORNIA ELEPHANT SEALS AT 


THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


By Dr. Raymonp C. Ossurn, Acting Director, 


New York Aquarium. 


A MONG tthe various marine mammals now 
verging toward extinction, one of the least 
known, both to the scientist and to the 


publie at large, is the California Elephant Seal, 


(Macrorhinus angustirostris Gill). Although 
these animals were once distributed in great 


numbers along the coast of California for nearly 
1,000 miles south from San Francisco, they be- 
came almost extinct about a half century ago. 
The large amount of oil—in extreme cases as 
much as 200 gallons—yielded by these seals, as 
well as the ease with which they could be pur- 
sued and killed, rendered their pursuit attrac- 
tive, and a considerable sealing industry was 
carried on in this region during the first half of 
the last century. 

By the year 1860, owing to the scarcity of the 


seals, the business had gradually been given up, 


but it was partially revived again between the 


years 1880 and 1884. During the winter of 
1885-4, Dr. Charles H. Townsend investigated 
the conditions and secured specimens for the 
Smithsonian Institution. As far as could be 
learned about 260 elephant seals were taken 
from 1880 to 1884. Since that time only oc- 
casional individuals have been recorded and the 


species has been supposed to be extinct. 


These facts lend the greatest interest to the 
capture of six young specimens by the expedi- 
tion from the American Museum of Natural 
History and the New York Zoological Society, 
now working off Lower California under the 
direction of Dr. Townsend. These specimens 
were crated separately and shipped by express 
from San Diego. They arrived at the New 
York Aquarium on March 13, apparently none 


the worse for their six days’ trip. 
As no information in regard to their feeding 
habits could be obtained from the scanty scien- 


tific literature dealing with these animals, they 


760 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


THE SNOUT IS JUST BEGINNING TO DEVELOP AND CAN BE PROTRUDED ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES. 


were offered a variety of food consisting of 


numerous kinds of fishes besides crustaceans 


and squids. For a few days, probably because 
of their strange environment, they took no food 
at all, but their appetites gradually returned, 
and they now require daily six or seven pounds 
of food apiece. All sorts of fish appear to be 
acceptable, but they are chiefly fed on smelts, 
tom cods, roach and pieces of cod. ‘The food is 
not bolted whole, as is the case with most seals, 
but is well crushed before being swallowed. 
After the food is secured the animal usually 
turns upon its back during the processes of 
mastication and swallowing. There are no car- 
nassial nor molariform teeth in the molar series, 
but the small, blunt-conical teeth, separated by 
rather wide diastemmata or spaces, are sufficient 


to crush the flesh of the fish and reduce it to a 


pulpy condition before it is swallowed. 


The age of these specimens is uncertain, as 
the published accounts of the breeding season 
vary greatly. Captain Seaman states (Proc. 
Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, 1869), that on 
Santa Barbara Island in June, 1853, ““we found 
several cows and their young, the latter only a 
few days old,’ but Townsend reports (Proc. 
U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, P. 93) that “the young 
that we met with in 1883-4 were dropped at 
various times from November 1 to February 1.” 
Accounts agree, however, that the young at birth 
are about four feet long, and as none of our 
specimens are over five feet in length they can 
scarcely be more than a few months old at the 
most. They show considerable discrepancy in 
size, ranging in weight, on arrival at the Aquar- 
ium, from 167 to 301 pounds. In form they are 


very stout and clumsy looking, but, notwith- 


standing this, they are extremely sinuous in 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 761 


Bcd 


IN THE AQUARIUM POOL THEIR MOVEMENTS APPEAR CLUMSY, BUT THEY ARE POWERFUL SWIMMERS. 


their movements, and the body can be bent more 
than double in any direction, owing to the great 
flexibility of the spinal column. 

The elephant seal takes its name from the 
fact that the adult male possesses an elongated 
proboscis which attains a length equal to the 
remainder of the head. This snout is somewhat 
protrusible, but when not elongated hangs in a 
The female 
In the 


pendulous fashion over the mouth. 
and young do not possess the proboscis. 
young males at the Aquarium it is just begin- 
ning to develop and can be protruded only a 
couple of inches. 

The adult male is said to emit a deep roar 


which can be heard for miles and the females 


and young males to bellow like bulls. Our 
young specimens, however, have very —high- 


pitched voices, so that their notes often ap- 
proach a whistle. 

In swimming, the fore flippers which are 
small, appear to be of little use except in bal- 


ancing. The hind flippers are used much as a 


fish uses its tail, and the hinder portion of the 


body is flexed from side to side. This move- 


ment makes their actions appear somewhat 
clumsy in the small Aquarium pool, especially 
when contrasted with the extremely graceful 
movements of the fur seals, which appear to fly 
through the water by means of the fore flippers. 
In the sea they must be powerful swimmers, for 
they are stated by both Scammon and Townsend 
to frequent only the region of the roughest 
breakers. On land they crawl with great dif- 
ficulty and our specimens never make use of the 
platform in their pool as do all our other species 
of seals. They are able to mount the platform 
but it seems to have no attractions for them and 
they sleep as well as play and eat without leav- 


ing the water. 


The elephant seals are the largest of all the 
Pinnipedia, the adult males attaining a length 
of more than twenty feet. There is a marked 
sexual difference in size, as adult females at- 


tain a length of only ten or eleven feet. 


oo ca ae ah 


= 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


a 


THEIR DARK EYES SEEM TO SHINE WITH INTELLIGENCE. 


The California species was not described un- 
(Gill, Proc. Essex Inst. V, 


Proc. Chicago Acad. Sci. I, 33), and it is so 


til 1866 13 and 
closely related to the southern elephant. seal, 
(Macrorhinus leonina, Linnaeus), that it is re- 
garded by some as merely a variety. Among 
the other Pinnipedia the elephant seal is related 
most nearly to the hooded seal (genus Cysto- 
phora). 

This is not the first time that the California 
elephant seal has been kept in captivity. Town- 
send reports that in the year 1882 six young 
specimens were taken alive to San Francisco, but 
he was not able to find out anything further con- 


cerning them. On May 20, 1883, five young of 


this species were received at the Philadelphia 
Zoological Gardens, where they lived for a 
short time, but aside from the fact that they 
came from Lower California no other data is 
available. Since that time, however, none ap- 
pears to have been captured. 

In the Aquarium the young elephant. seals 
have from the first shown no indication of fear. 
They will come to the side of the pool and take 
food from the hand of their attendant without 
any hesitation, and do not appear to be treach- 


Their 


large, dark eyes seem fairly to shine with intelli- 


erous as are the fur-seals and sea-lions. 


gence, and they remind one of overgrown pup- 
pies in their gentle behavior, round, sleek bodies 


and clumsy attempts at play. 


ms IN 


\ 


ZOOLOGIGAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 46 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


July, 1911 


SEER ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY’S 


PHEASANT EXPEDITION. 


By C. Wiriram BrEese. 


Photographs by the author. 


HIS expedition, organized for the purpose 
ak of gathering original data for the prepara- 
tion of a monograph of the pheasants, jun- 
glefowl and peafowl, and made possible by the 
Kuser, 


The most sanguine 


generous gift of Colonel Anthony R. 
has now been completed. 
expectations were exceeded in the amount of 
results attained. 
taken, 


territory covered and_ the 


Voluminous notes have been reinforced 


by a great number of photographs and sketches, 
concerning the habits and ecology of the pheas- 
ants found in the countries visited, much of the 
Although the 


collecting of living birds was a secondary ob- 


material being new to science. 


ject of the expedition, several large shipments 


back. Among these were included 
Black-Backed Goose. 


Indian 


were sent 


the Indian (Sarcidiornis 


melanononta ), House Crow, (Corvus 


HOME OF THE PEAFOWL AND CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL. 
Semi-arid region of acacias and euphorbias bordering a salt lagoon, near the coast of south Ceylon 


764 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


on December 26, 1909, and 
were joined at Port Said by 
the artist Mr. Horsfall, who 
remained with the expedi- 
tion for the ensuing six 
months. 

The first field work of the 
expedition was undertaken 
in Ceylon, where six weeks 
were spent. At Colombo we 
were most hospitably enter- 
tained by Dr. Willey, well 
known in American scientific 
circles. He aided our search 
in every way and is respon- 
sible for much of our suc- 
cess in this island. From 
Colombo we made two trips, 
one to Kandy and the cen- 


tral mountainous portion of 
OUR FIRST PEAHEN. 


River ford in southern Ceylon: elephant and sambar deer country. the island, and the second 


to the Yala Game Sanctu- 
splendens) , hybrid Junglefowl, (Gallus varius aries on the extreme southern coast. 
-+-_ G. gallus; and G. lafayette: + G. gallus), The Peafowl, (Pavo), Ceylon Junglefowl, 
Javan Junglefowl, (Gallus varius), Bornean (Gallus) and Spurfowl, (Galliperdix) were 
Fireback Pheasant, (Lophura nobilis), Bornean thoroughly studied by means of series of skins, 
Crestless Fireback, (dco- E : 
MUS pyronotus ) , Crested 
Wood Partridge, (Jtollulus 
roulroul) and Nicobar Pig- 
eon, (Caloenas nicobarica). 
Within the limits of this 
article I can present only a 
résumé of the work of the 
expedition. Before we left 
New York we decided ten- 
tatively to include in the 
monographie work, twenty- 
two genera of birds. Suc- 
cess attended our efforts to 
such an extent that we were 
able to find and study every 


one of these groups. In the 


present article I shall deal 


only with our discovery of 


these two and twenty genera. 


Mrs. Beebe and the writer 


: : HAUNT OF THE BLOOD AND IMPEYAN PHEASANTS. 
left New York for London Treeless zone of the eastern Himalayas, looking toward Kinchinjunga. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


DAK BUNGALOW ON THE NEPAL—SIKKIM FRONTIER. 
Our Tibetan women coolies preparing for the day’s 


photographs of nests, eggs and general environ- 
ment, and exhaustive notes on plumages, habits, 


general ecology and hybridization. 


Through this most inter- 
esting country we travelled 
by bullock cart, with Sin- 
ghalese servants and guides. 

In the 


region we 


semi-arid coastal 
found wild life 
extremely abundant. With- 
in ten days I noted ninety- 
five of birds, 
quarter of the 
fauna of Ceylon, while wild 
buffalo, 


and sambar 


species one 


entire avi- 
boars, elephants 


axis deer and 


wanderoo monkeys were 
present in numbers. 

Sailing northward to Cal- 
cutta we were the guests of 
Dr. Annandale, Superin- 
tendent of the Indian Mus- 
eum, and through his cour- 
tesy I was permitted to 


study thoroughly the splen- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 765 


did 


idae in the Indian Museum. 


collection of Phasian- 


A week after arrival we left 
Caleutta the 
Himalayas, outfitting at 


for eastern 
Darjeeling on the northern 
With 
thirty-two Tibetan men and 
we left this 
last outpost of civilization 
Tibetan 


north- 


border of India. 


women coolies 


and on small pon- 


ies, made our way 
ward over difficult trails and 
through the most magnifi- 
cent scenery in the world. 


With Kin- 


chinjunga in full view we 


Everest and 


pushed on higher and higher 


until we passed through 


every zone up to the very 


snows. 


march. Elevation 10,000 feet. 


Locating the pheasants 


proved to be exceedingly 


difficult, and obtaining them was still harder, es- 


pecially at the higher altitudes where the scar- 


city of oxygen made all exertion fatiguing. 


) 


PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING HIMALAYAN PHEASANT COUNTRY. 


Mid April, elevation 12,000 feet. Tibetan Mountains in the distance, 


766 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 
From the trail which bounds ae: eoeinutitiell ey where the Impeyan Pheas- 


Nepal, Sikkim and Tibet, 
we made many long side 
trips before we were suc- 
cessful. However, we per- 
severed and ultimately found 
and studied, at various alti- 
tudes, all the groups of 
eastern Himalayan pheas- 
ants. 

Beginning with the ele- 
vation of Darjeeling and on 
up to nine thousand feet we 
found the oak zone inhabit- 
ed by the Black-Backed 
Kalij (Gen 


naeus); the next two thou- 


Pheasants, 


sand feet, characterized by 
the lilac 


lofty rhododendron trees in 


yaper shrubs and 
I 


full bloom, was the home of the Satyra Trago- 
pans, (Tragopan); then from eleven to twelve 
thousand forests of 


feet came grand pines, 


he 


sti | pane ae 
EYEE SS 


AT PONGATAUNG ON THE NORTHERN 
BURMA—YUNNAN FRONTIER. 


Our Malay boy and a Kachin hunter with a 
hen pheasant. 


ax) 


ants, (Lophophorus), dwelt, 
although these sturdy birds 
were often found thousands 
of feet higher in the tree- 
less zone where the Blood 
Pheasant, (Ithagenes)— 
hardiest of all,—makes its 
home among the bare bould- 
ers and the summer snows. 

Returning to Caleutta 
about May first, we left the 
city two days later for the 
fay north-western H ima - 
layas. Here, as everywhere 
British 
through the courtesy of the 


in possessions, 
government officials we were 
enabled to outfit quickly and 
with mountain horses and 
wild native hillmen as carriers, we made our way 
the 


Here we were fortunate in ob- 


through Garhwal into Kashmir close to 


Tibetan border. 


THREE CHIEFS OF THE HEAD-HUNTING SEA-DYAKS, CENTRAL BORNEO. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


~— 
or) 
- 


BULLETIN. 


DEODARS AND SPRUCES OF GARHWAL; WESTERN HIMALAYAS. 
The heights are the home of the Cheer Pheasant; the lower forests the haunt of the Koklass. 


taining most interesting notes on the lives of 
the pheasants of this wild country. Among 
forests of magnificent deodars, spruces and firs 
we studied the Cheer, (Catreus), the Koklass, 
(Pucrasia), and the other western Himalayan 
pheasants. 

On our way back we spent a short time in the 
plains of India, although it was the hot season. 
In the parched nullas and even in the open, al- 
most barren plains, the Peafowl and Red Jun- 
glefowl were found. Everywhere in India and 


later in Burma, the abundance and _ fearless- 
ness of numerous forms of bird life was very 
striking. This is apparently due to the all- 
pervading religion of the natives which forbids 
the taking of life, thus doing away with the 
need of game laws. At the frontier and beyond 
these countries, where the most interesting forms 
of pheasants are found, such beneficial influence 
unfortunately does not extend. 

The rains having started, and Assam and 
Burma thus rendered inaccessible, we steamed 


from Calcutta seventeen hundred miles south to 


Singapore. Here we established a second cen- 
ter of operations, making a series of radiating 
trips, east to Borneo, west to the islands off 
Sumatra, south to Java and north to the Malay 
States. 

In Sarawak, 
with the head-hunting Dyaks, travelling in a 


Borneo, we lived for weeks 
seventy-foot canoe far up into the interior, al- 
most to the Dutch border, this trip proving in 
many respects one of the wildest and most in- 
The 


the country in general were disappointing, vast 


teresting of our explorations. forests of 
areas having been burned by the Dyaks in 
former years, and the second growth had never 
reached real tropical luxuriance even in the low 
lying alluvial zone. But the intensely interest- 


ing fauna—both mammalian and avian—was 
unsurpassed by that of any other eastern land 
visited by us. We had under observation close 
to our camps such mammals as Nasalis, Hylo- 
bates, Galeopithecus, Pteropus, Gymnura, Tu- 
paia, Hemigalea, Arctictis, Paradoxurus, He- 


larctos, Sus, Tragulus and Cynogale, and ob- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


HOME OF THE GREAT ARGUS AND PEACOCK PHEASANTS. 


Our house-boat on an eastern tributary of the Pahang River in the leech infested jungle of the central Malay Peninsula. 


tained photographs and specimens of many of 
them. 

Although we could at first obtain no reliable 
information regarding pheasants, success again 
able to 


abundance of data at first hand concerning the 


was with us and we were secure an 
Crested, (Lophura), and the Crestless, (Aco- 
mus), Firebacks; the wonderful Bornean Argus, 
(dreusianus), and, rarest of all, the White- 
Tailed Wattled Pheasant, (Lobiophasis). We 
found and photographed the dancing place of 
the great Argus, and of both this and the White- 


Tailed bird we obtained living and dead speci- 


mens. A second trip later on gave us still 
more data regarding both. 

In Java we traversed the entire island and 
then went to Madura and to Billiton off the 


coast of Sumatra. By steamer, raft, sampan, 
and automobile we pursued all rumors of the 
Java Peafowl and Junglefowl and found both 
Study of the artificial native hybridi- 


zation of the latter, revealed a multitude of in- 


species. 


teresting facts, 


Our next trip from Singapore took us north- 
ward to Kuala Lumpur in the Malay Penin- 
sula. We followed a trail up to the very crest 
of the main mountain range where great tree- 
ferns run riot, and from here on to Kuala Lipis, 
Then, 


with a crew of five Malays and a Chinaman we 


making numerous stops and side trips. 


started on a long cruise in a government house- 
boat down the Pahang River and up its unex- 
The 


and abundant life was of extreme interest, but 


plored tributaries. luxuriant vegetation 
the work of finding and studying the pheasants 
was laborious in the extreme. This was due to 
the density and thorniness of the undergrowth 
combined with the presence of myriads of land 
feasted 


whenever we left the boat. 


leeches, scores of which on our blood 

Haying found all the pheasant groups of this 
region, we stopped our downward journey when 
we reached a zone near the eastern coast which 
was being ravaged by cholera. Here we made 
our way through the jungle for miles, at last 


reaching the newly laid tracks of the trans- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 769 


JUNGLE INHABITED BY THE BORNEAN ARGUS AND WHITE-TAILED WATTLED PHEASANT. 


Our Dyak canoe camp on the Mujong River in central Borneo. 


peninsula railway. By hand-car and engine 
we made our way southward to the regular train 
On this 


and two other shorter trips in the Malay States, 


terminal, and thence by rail to Johore. 


we added three more genera to our photographic 


list and note books; the Peacock Pheasants, 
(Polyplectrum); the Bronzed Peacock Pheas- 
ants, (Chalcurus), and even the very rare Crest- 
ed Argus, (Iheinardius), whose dancing arena 
we discovered in the midst of the almost im- 
penetrable jungle. 

This completed our work in the equatorial 
region, and in late October, 1910, we took the 
steamer north to Rangoon. In Burma we pro- 
ceeded by stages to Myitkyina, seven hundred 


miles farther to the north, and close to the Tibe- 


tan and Yunnan borders. Here we outfitted 
with a pack-train of mules, riding horses, and 
a motley crew of seven nationalities, and 


trekked north-eastward, through a wilderness of 
mountain ranges to the eight thousand foot 
Sansi Gorge and on into Yunnanese China. 
Then followed other trips out among the Shans 


and Kachins as far as we dared go in the then 


turbulent state of the country. In spite of oc- 


casional disconcerting incidents such as_ pot 
shots with poisoned arrows and rocks rolled 
down by irresponsible natives we had our usual 
good luck in locating the pheasants and ob- 
tained some of the most interesting specimens of 
New Barred- 
Back Pheasants, (Calophasis), the Amherst and 
Golden, (Chrysolophus), the Fireback, (Diar- 


digallus), and especially the Frizzled Impeyan, 


the entire trip. to us were the 


(Chalcophasis). The nettle-like bamboos made 
tracking anything but easy work, and systematic 
beating of much of the country was impossible. 
In Burma proper, the status of the group of 
Silver Pheasants, (Gennaeus), offered many 
problems of extreme interest. 

We returned finally to Singapore where we 
repacked and shipped our many cases of speci- 
mens. On December 31, 1910, we left Singa- 
pore for the last time, en route for Shanghai. 

In Eastern China our plans were continually 
upset by unforseen events such as sudden riots, 
terrific snow and wind storms, and the preva- 


lence of the plague; and added to this were the 


770 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


DANCING GROUND OF THE BORNEAN ARGUS PHEASANT. 


Heart of the jungle in central Borneo. 


enormous distances we were compelled to cover 
and the omnipresence of the hordes of Mongo- 
jians. But by constantly re-adapting our plans 
to the new conditions we were able at last to 
reach the objects of our search; whether by 
steamer and sampan, as in the valley of the 
Yangtze; by house-boat, as in the region back 
of Foochow; or by palanquin and camel on the 
bleak deserts of Mongolia. We found many 
forms of the true Pheasants, (Phasianus), the 
Reeves, (Syrmaticus), and great was our re- 
joicing when we were able to obtain notes on 
the last group of our search, the Eared Pheas- 
ants, (Crossoptilum). We succeeded in this 
only after a long period of impatient waiting 
for a decrease in the plague. Fortune again 
fayored us and we took the chance of a dash 
through the infected districts and achieved our 
goal. 

Our last work in the field was in Japan where 
the birds were comparatively accessible and 
where their study was fraught with no element 
of danger—a welcome condition after our 
Yunnanese and Chinese experiences. The cause 
of the fearlessness of the birds here was rather 
remarkable. The Imperial Preserves are also 


the training grounds for the Japanese troops, 
so one could easily approach a crowing pheas- 
ant with the noise of one’s advance adequately 
muffled by the roar of a sham battle going on in 
the surrounding plain! 

We reached New York, completing the cir- 
cuit of the globe, on May 27, 1911. Alto- 
gether, Mrs. Beebe and myself spent seventeen 
months in this search for pheasants, visiting 
twenty countries and travelling approximately 
fifty-two thousand miles. 

Aside from the actual pheasant work of the 
trip. a considerable number of rare mammals 
were photographed and collected, and over a 
thousand species of birds were observed and 
notes made on their habits. Several hundred of 
the more interesting birds, and about four thou- 
sand insects were preserved. 

* * * * * * * * 

During our absence from the larger centers 
of civilization, tremendous advances had been 
made in air-ships and in all other phases of re- 
cent human development, but evolution in the 
field of Nature as we observed it, was only de- 
structive—a rapid retrogression often discern- 
able from month to month. We could hardly 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


-t 
-3 
— 


BULLETIN. 


a 
MMII 4 


HAUNT OF THE SILVER, ELLIOT AND OTHER PHEASANTS. 


Our Chinese house-boat on the Yung Fu River, Fo-kien Province, south-eastern China. 


repeat this trip and obtain all the species of 
birds which we were able to secure. The causes 
are numerous and I shall treat of them in detail 
in a future article. Among others may be men- 
tioned the rapid settling of surrounding coun- 
tries and islands by migrating hosts of Chinese; 
the burning of thousands of acres of jungle for 
rubber culture; the undiminished export of 
pheasants in many places for millinery pur- 
poses; the systematic trapping year in and year 
out of birds by native shepherds, and the com- 
paratively recent establishment of huge cold 
storage plants in the very heart of Asia for the 
purpose of sending thousands of pheasants to 
Europe. Within a very few years, many of the 
species of pheasants will have vanished utterly 
from the face of the earth. 


BIRD PROTECTION IN AUSTRALIA. 
From “Canary and Cage-Bird Life.” 
“With reference to our notes of May 5 on the 
feather trade, it is interesting to see that, ac- 
cording to The Standard of May 6, the Aus- 
tralian Commonwealth Minister of Customs has 


caused a proclamation to be issued prohibiting 
the exportation of the birds mentioned in a 
schedule, and the plumage, skins, and eggs (or 
eggshells) of such birds, unless it is proved that 
they are being exported for educational or 
scientific purposes. The schedule is as follows: 
Emus, Terns, and Gulls, Egrets, Herons, and 
Bitterns, Lorikeets, Cockatoos, Parrots, Dollar 
or Roller Birds, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Cuck- 
oos, Lyre Birds, Pittas, Robins, Ground 
Thrushes and Chats, Wrens, Tits, Thick-heads, 
and Shrike, Sun Birds, Bower Birds, Rifle 
Birds, Grebes, Albatrosses, Finches, Orocles, 
and Shining Starlings. A second proclamation 
places a like prohibition upon the importation 
of the plumage and skins of Kingfishers, the 
Macaws, and Parrot of the green variety, the 
Stork tribe, the Heron tribe, the Ibises and 
Spoonbills, the Todies, the Cock of the Rock, 
the Quexal or Resplendent Trogon, the Birds 
of Paradise, the Humming Birds, the Monal, 
any one of several species of Asiatic Pheasants of 
the genus Lophophorus, as the Impeyan Pheas- 
ant; any one of several species of Asiatic Pheas- 
ants of the genus Argusianus, as the Argus 
Pheasant; the Crowned Pigeon; any of the sev- 
eral species of large crested pigeons of the 
genus Goura, inhabiting New Guinea and adja- 
cent islands, the Rheas, and the Owls.” 


772 ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELwin R. SANBORN, Editor. 
Departments: 


Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HoRNADAY. RayMonD L., DITMARS. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Lee S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TOWNSEND. 
Raymonn C. Osgurn, Pu. D. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numner 46 JULY, 1911 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 
Executive Committee: 
Mapison GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Levi P. Morton, Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STurcis, 


HENRY FAIRFIELD OsBorn, Ex-Officio. 
General Officers: 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Secretary 

MAbIsoN GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer 

Percy R. Pyne, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director 


WILLIAM T. HorNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Director of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York 
Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR. 


The President of the Department of Parks 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER. 


Glass of 1912. 
SAMUEL THORNE, 
Henry A. C Tay or, 
HuGH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. STuRGis, 
GEorGE J. GOULD, 
OGDEN MILLs. 


Glass of 1913. 
F. AuGUSTUS SCHERMERHORN, FREDERICK G. BouRNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, W. AusTiIn WADSWORTH, 
GeorceE B. GRINNELL, EMERSON MCMILLIN, 
GEorGE C. CLARK, ANTHONY R. Kuser. 
CLEVELAND H. DopceE, Watson B. DicKERMAN, 
C. LEDYARD BLAIR, MorTiMER L. SCHIFF. 


Glass of 1914. 
JAMEs J. HILL, 
GeorcE F. BAKER, 
GRANT B. SCHLEY, 
Wo. Pierson HAMILTON, 
RoBERT S. BREWSTER, 
Epwarb S. HARKNESS. 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
JoHN L. CADWALADER, 
JOHN S. BARNES, 
Mapison GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 


Henry F. Ossorn, 
WILLIAM C. CHuRCH, 
LISPENARD STEWART, 
H. Casimir DE RHAM, 
HuGH D. AUCHINCLOSS, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, 


Officers of the Zoological Park : 

W. T. HornaDAy, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE = - - Curator of Birds. 
LEE S. CRANDALL - - - Assistant Curator of Birds 
W. Rev Biarr, D.V.S. Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H.W.MERKEL - - - - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN = - - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER . - Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL - - - - Office Assistant. 


@ffirers of the Aquartum 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
Raymonp C. OSBURN, Ph.D. - - Assistant Director, 
CHAPMAN GRANT - - - - - - Scientific Assistant 
W.I. DENYSE - - - - - - - In Charge of Collections. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


BAYNE-BLAUVELT BILL. 
NEW YORK PROHIBITS THE SALE OF WILD GAME. 

One of the most notable achievements of this 
session of the Legislature has been the passage 
of the Bayne-Blauvelt Bill for the prohibiting 
of the sale of wild game. This measure marks 
the most important step in the movement for the 
protection and conservation of wild life on this 
continent. Game laws are never popular, and 
it is a source of constant wonder to those who 
realize the fierce independence of the average 
American citizen, to realize how he has, more 
or less quietly, acquiesced in certain restrictive 
measures. Each step in the campaign has been 
marked by protests and sometimes by set-backs, 
but it will be a surprise to all lovers of nature 
to realize that the destruction of the wild life 
has now gone so far, that the prohibition of 
public sale has become imperative. 

In the past, the citizen was at liberty to enter 
into state forests and cut such timber as he 
liked for sale or for his own use; so up to this 
date it has been one of the privileges of the 
hunter and trapper to kill and catch as many 
birds and fur bearing animals as he could, and 
to sell them for his own individual profit. This 
could be permitted so long as the hunters were 
few and the game abundant. That time passed 
away in the middle of the last century. 

First, skin hunting for deer was prohibited; 
next, close seasons were provided; then fol- 
lowed limitation of the bag and shorter open 
seasons; then the entire prohibition of the kill- 
ing of certain kinds of game threatened with 
extinction; then came limitations on the mode 
of killing, such as hounding, water hunting, 
jacking. the use of snares and swivel guns and 
the like. All these measures, excellent as they 
were, checked the slaughter, but the game con- 
tinued to decrease. 

During the last few years it became evident 
that further restrictions were necessary if we 
were to have left in this state, enough animals 
and birds to breed any further supply whatever. 
The price of game, especially ducks and grouse, 
rose to prohibitive prices, and when the restau- 
rants in New York charged from $3.00 to $5.00 
apiece for grouse, it was evident that the end 
was close at hand. 

The Director of the Zoological Park, Dr. 
Hornaday, was one of the first to realize that 
a new principle of game protection must be in- 
augurated in this state, and with the assistance 
of a number of very energetic workers, and the 
endorsement of practically every organization 
in the state interested in the subject of the pro- 
tection of wild life, he caused to be prepared 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


and introduced the bill now known as the Bayne- 
Blauvelt Bill. This bill passed through a long 
and tedious struggle, being attacked with special 
bitterness by the game dealers. The proposed 
prohibition of the sale of game made it neces- 
sary to provide for breeding in order to supply 
game, artificially reared, to take the place of the 
wild game. This required long and frequent 
conferences with various individuals and organ- 
izations who proposed to undertake in the state 
the breeding of game. This co-operation was 
cordially welcomed and the provisions reeom- 
mended by them were incorporated in the bill. 

At the last minute, during the closing days 
of the session, the game dealers succeeded in 
having the bill amended to include provisions 
authorizing the importation of certain species 
of foreign deer and game birds. These provi- 
sions are objectionable in that they may afford 
a loophole through which the game laws of 
this and other states may be violated, as past 
experience with similar legislation has repeated- 
ly shown. It also reduces the value of the 
privilege of rearing game. It, therefore, be- 
comes the duty of those who are interested in 
breeding game for the market, to see that the 
law is strictly enforced. 

Tt will probably be necessary in the near 
future to amend the bill prohibiting the impor- 
tation of many of the foreign game birds named 
in the bill, as otherwise the competition of im- 
ported game will make it impossible to breed 
game here at a profit. 

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 
1, and in the Assembly the vote was unanimous. 
The New York Zoological Society entered ac- 
tively into the campaign. It subseribed $500 
to the expenses, and sent the Chairman of the 
Executive Committee to Albany to appear on 
behalf of the Society, along with the represen- 
tatives of other organizations, in support of the 
bill. 

The new law provides for the repeal of all 
provisions of the existing law authorizing the 
sale of native wild game, mammals and birds, 
taken either within or without the state of New 
York. The only exception relates to hares and 
rabbits, which have grown so numerous as to 
constitute a pest in certain sections. It amply 
provides for licensed game preserves, and the 
breeding therein of certain species of mammals 
and birds for the market. The species which 
may be bred in fenced preserves are White- 
tailed Deer, Elk, all species of Pheasants, Mal- 
lard and Black Ducks. A state license of $25 
is required for any game preserve the owner of 
which desires to sell his game. The animals in 


BULLETIN. 773 
such game preserves may be killed, otherwise 
than by shooting, between October 10 and Janu- 
ary 10. in the presence of a game protector or 
justice of the peace, who shall affix to each bird 
or animal a tag, which must remain in place 
until such bird or animal is consumed. Game 
reared and killed in this manner may be sold 
between October 1 and March 1. 

The bill allows the importation of the car- 
casses of European Red Deer, Roebuck and Fal- 
low Deer, and unplucked Pheasants of all spe- 
cies, Scotch Grouse, European Black Game, 
Black Plover, Red-Legged Partridge, and Egyp- 
tian Quail. These animals and birds must be 
tagged in the same manner as_ preserve-bred 
game, immediately upon their arrivals at the 
port of New York. 

The provision for the sale of European Deer 
was inserted by the sponsors of the bill, but the 
game dealers were responsible for the inclusion 
of the birds above mentioned. 

This bill, while not at all revolutionary in its 
character, nevertheless introduces, as above 
stated, an entirely new principle; and it is 
hoped that with the stoppage of the public sale 
of wild game, the existing stock may be allowed 
sufficient rest to recuperate in numbers, and ulti- 
rmaately restock many of the portions of the state 
now entirely without game. There are vast 
areas of the state where, for instance our native 
grouse and quail may spread and become as 
numerous as in early days, and it is probable 
that this bill will actually lead to the condition 
of afiairs where the number of grouse killed by 
sportsmen will be greatly increased annually. 
Experience has shown us that it is not the 
sportsman, but the dealer in wild game, that 
destroys wild life. 

If this measure proves to be insufficient to 
protect some of the species now threatened with 
extermination, the next step in the protection of 
game will be the total prohibition of killing of 
such birds or animals for at least a long period 
of time. Extreme measures are necessary un- 
less we wish our woods, meadows and the fields 
to be entirely devoid of wild life. 

Mapison Granv. 


ENDOWMENT FUND. 
Balance January 1, 
New subscriptions during 1911 


$256,762.80 


J. J. Hill $10,000.00 
Lispenard Steward 10,000.00 
Mortimer LL. Schiff .... 5,000.00 
Mrs. Morris K. Jesup. 500.00 
Mrs. A, D. Juilliard 500.00 


Wotaleronnlysal ee We one enetnacecicesoeoes 


ZOOLOGICAL 


174 


SAILORS FROM THE ALBATROSS SEINING SHARKS AT SAN BARTOLOME BAY. 
C. H. Townsend. 


Photograph by 
ZCOLOGICAL RESULTS OF THE 
ALBATROSS VOYAGE. 
By Cuartes H. Townsenp. 
(In Charge of the Expedition.) 


Y a special arrangement with the United 
B States Bureau of Fisheries, the New York 

Zoological Society enabled to co- 
operate in the recent voyage of the Fisheries 
Steamship Albatross to Lower California. 

One of the important results of the expedi- 
tion from the viewpoint of the Zoological So- 
ciety was the capture of six young elephant 
seals for the New York Aquarium. The mem- 
bers of the Society will doubtless be interested 
in hearing not only how these animals were ob- 


was 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


* a 


tained at Guadalupe Island, but in an account 
of what was accomplished elsewhere during the 
cruise. As the elephant seal was supposed to 
be extinet, its re-discovery is a matter of great 
zoological interest. In addition to the young 
animals brought back alive, four specimens of 
the large adult seals (three males and a female) 
were prepared for the American Museum of 
Natural History. 

The males—carefully measured before skin- 
ning—were each nearly sixteen feet long. More 
than fifty photographs were taken of the ani- 
mals as they were found on the island. Those 
published herewith will serve to show the great 
size, the remarkable proboscis, and how the ele- 
phant seals look in their natural surroundings. 


ELEPHANT SEAL IN FIGHTING ATTITUDE WITH PROBOSCIS DRAWN UP. 
Cc 


Photograph by 


. H. Townsend. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


WINDING A YEARLING ELEPHANT SEAL 


TRANSPORTATION TO THE SHIP. 
Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


We found the seals to be without fear of 
man, and moved among them freely for the 
purpose of taking photographs and capturing 
the yearlings brought away alive. During the 
process of skinning the large animals saved for 
museum specimens, others equally large re- 
mained undisturbed within a few feet of where 
we were at work. 

The young seals were rolled up tightly in 
separate nets like so many bales, to prevent 
their crawling out of the boats. On board ship, 
they were simply turned loose on the deck, 
where they were at liberty to wander as they 
chose. Later on they were penned up to keep 
them from obstructing the gangways. Other- 
wise they were not troublesome. 

On the beach the young animals frequently 
squealed during their play, and we all noted the 
resemblance of their calls to the scream of the 
peacock. The old males frequently got into 
fights, when the large proboscis would be drawn 
well up onto the head, exposing the large canine 
teeth with which they struck at each other’s 
necks. Their necks were all in a more or less 
damaged condition from fighting. 

Guadalupe Island lies about 
150 miles off the coast and is 
uninhabited. |The seals occupy 
a beach under the cliffs on the 
northwest side which not 
accessible from the island. The 
beach is well protected on the 
seaward side by a heavy surf 
which usually prevails there. 
During our voyage we called 
at San Cristobal Bay on the 
mainland, a locality once much 
frequented by elephant. seals, 
but saw no signs of them. 
Guadalupe appears to be the 
last stronghold of the species. 


is 


SOCIETY 


“eo 


IN A NET FOR 


MALE ELEPHANT 


BULLETIN. 


V75 

A plan for the protection of 
the 
through our Pacific coast Cus- 


remnant at Guadalupe, 
tom Houses has already been 
presented to the Secretary of 
State. 
by the 
it may be possible for the ele- 


If this plan is approved 
Mexican Government, 
phant seals to live undisturbed. 

After leaving Guadalupe Is- 
land, the Albatross made a 
number of hauls with the deep- 
sea dredge which yielded a 
good series of fishes and inver- 
tebrates from deep water. 

The next stop was at San Benito Islands 
where considerable shore collecting was done. 
The ship then went to Cedros Island and from 
there to San Bartolome Bay, where a zoological 
reconnaissance of Lower California was begun. 
Collecting parties were landed almost daily, as 
the ship moved around the Peninsula and up 
the Gulf of California. The outlying islands 
were also explored. Some of them are nesting 
grounds of great numbers of sea birds. 

Many days were devoted to deep-sea investi- 
gations, including sounding, dredging, deep-sea 
temperatures, and the use of fine tow-nets in 
studying the minute life of the surface water of 
the sea. The deepest dredge haul was from a 
depth of 1,760 fathoms (two miles). The col- 
lection of fishes and invertebrates from great 
depths were large and important and much new 
zoological material was obtained. 

A new and interesting feature of the deep-sea 
work was the making of plaster casts of deep- 
sea fishes, before the specimens could lose their 
form and color in alcoholic preservatives. It 


will now be possible for the first time to make 


Ae 


SEAL SIXTEEN FEET LONG. 
Note the long proboscis. 
Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


=5 
I 
ery 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


DEER FROM TIBURON ISLAND. 
Killed by Lt. Stanley of the Albatross. 
Photograph by H. E. Anthony. 
attractive museum exhibits of such forms of life. 

The land work included not only the collect- 
ing of mammals, birds, reptiles and plants, but 
the collecting of fishes and marine invertebrates 
along shore. 

The scientific staff consisted of eight persons, 
representing the United States Bureau of Fish- 
eries, the American Museum of Natural His- 
tory, the New York Zoological Society, the 
New York Botanical Museum and the United 
States National Museum. 


The expedition obtained 650 birds, 200 mam- 
mals, many hundreds of reptiles and a very 
large collection of plants. 

Lower California, with its islands, is a desert 
region, and a large proportion of its animals 
and plants are peculiar to it. Many of the most 
interesting of these were obtained. 

Several islands in the Gulf of California 
hitherto unvisited by naturalists, yielded new 
species. On Tiburon Island, about forty miles 
long and lying near the head of the Gulf, we 
obtained a new species of jack-rabbit and other 
new mammals of smaller size. The deer and 
coyote of Tiburon, of which specimens were se- 
cured, may also prove new to science. Impor- 


BEAM TRAWL OF THE ALBATROSS. 
A haul from a depth of two miles (1760 fathoms). 


Photograph by C. H. Townsend. 


tant finds on the islands of San Esteban and 
Ceralbo were new and large lizards as large as 
iguanas. Specimens of the black jack-rabbit 
known only from Espiritu Santo Island were 
obtained. 

As director of the expedition, my own time 
was largely devoted to a study of the fishery re- 
of Lower California. The region is 
well supplied with fish, turtle and other sea 
foods, and there is an important pearl fishery 
which has been in operation ever since the dis- 
covery of Lower California. 

The members of the scientific staff found the 
time all too short for the opportunities each day 
brought with it. All worked harmoniously, and 
all profited by the facilities provided by Com- 
mander Burrage and the naval officers under 
him. 


sources 


THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR 
“LOCUST.” 
By Raymonnp L. Drrmars. 

URING the latter part of May great 
swarms of the Seventeen-Year Cicada, im- 
properly called locust, appeared in a num- 

ber of areas adjacent to New York City. The 
legions of this vast brood simultaneously 


RETURN OF 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. LETH) 


emerged from the earth over a consider- 
able portion of the eastern United States. 


portion of the thorax. With these they 
the monotonous hum characteristic 


make 


With the nearby woods resounding with ofa locust swarm. ‘The sound “is: im no 
the continuous hum of countless thousands : way connected with the mouth parts, a 
of Cicadas, a great number of inquiries condition existing among all singing in- 


have come to us relating to the possible damage ' sects which impart their calls through various 
to vegetation that will result from these swarms.  stridulating or vibratory organs. The female 
Hence a review of the habits of this insect is of the Seventeen-Year Cicada is of particular 


appropriate at this time. significance owing to the possession of a lanceo- 
The Seventeen-Year Cicada, (Cicada septen- late ovipositor. It is with this weapon she de- 


decim), receives its name from its prolonged posits her eggs in the terminal branches of trees. 
larval stage, which covers a period of seventeen When the eggs hatch, the young drop to the 
years of subterraneous existence. At the ground and burrow. The incisions made 
expiration of this time, the larva leaves the by the ovipositor of the female Cicada re- 
ground, crawls up a tree trunk or rough sult in the death of small branches and the 
stalk of vegetation, and immediately pre- malformation of some of the larger ones. 
pares to transform into the imago, or This is the only damage from a locust 
winged stage. As it comes from the swarm. In fruit growing areas it is liable 
ground it looks much like a small crusta- to be serious. A forest visited by a swarm 
cean, without mandibles. The anterior of this species of Cicada, assumes the ap- 
legs are of powerful development and pro- pearance about three months after the in- 
vided with stout hooks. Gaining a firm sects have disappeared, as if a superficial 
purchase with these members it prepares fire had swept through it, tinging the ter- 
to shed the skin or shell. A median slit ap- ? minal branches of the larger trees and altogether 
vears on the thorax or the back and from this — killing a part of the very young, scrubby growth. 
emerges a blackish creature with bright red The present insect is in no way related to the 
eyes and translucent wings, moist and limp. true locusts, the considerable number of species 
Withdrawing the limbs from their old casing, of which belong to the order Orthoptera, includ- 
the cicada crawls up the tree trunk to rest, while ing the grasshoppers, which are immediately re- 
the wings extend and stiffen. Within a few lated to the locusts. The imagoes or perfect 
hours it is prepared for flight, but in its forms of the Orthopterous insects are vo- 
winged stage the perfect insect is permit- racious and most of them comparatively 
ted a very short respite in the sunshine long-lived. Migratory or true swarming 
and open air. Its duration of life is now locusts do not occur in eastern North 
but a few weeks—from twenty to thirty Ameirea. The plains states are, however, 
days at the most. Though a voracious menaced by these creatures the voracity of 
feeder during its subterraneous life, the which causes great damage. A swarm of 
perfect insect is apparently unable to feed migratory locusts settling over cultivated 
owing to lack of development of the mouth reas leave a region barren of everything 
parts. The males are provided with vi- _ green to mark their ravages. 

bratory organs attached to the posterior 3 It is well to understand that the Seven- 

SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA. 
No. 1, male enlarged. No. 2, male from beneath; the white marks on the abdomen show the singing organs. No. 3 female 
from beneath, showing ovipositor. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


TRANSFORMATION OF THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA. 


From left to right is shown the progressive stages of transformation from the larval stage as it leaves the ground. 


The figure 


on the extreme left shows the powerful fore-legs of the immature form. 


teen-Year Locust, or properly the Seventeen- 
Year Cicada, belongs to the Order Hemiptera, 
or suctorial insects. The species of this Order 
are not provided with mandibles, but obtain their 
nourishment by means of a stout proboscis. A 
familiar member of the order is the common lo- 
cust or harvest fly, that occurs in this region 
during the hot weather of July, August and 
early September, producing a loud buzzing 
sound as it perches high among the trees. ‘The 
harsh song of this Cicada—a large ally of the 
same genus as the one now with us—is the 
sound that is proverbially alleged to usher in 
the dog-day weather. The Hemipterous in- 
sects exist in great variety of 
forms and habits. Some suck the 
juices of fruits and others live 
upon the blood of man and ani- 
mals. A considerable number of 
the larger species inflict an ex- 
tremely painful puncture with the 
proboscis, ejecting an acid at the 
same time that causes high inflam- 
mation. The writer has always 
been cautious in handling speci- 
mens of the periodical Cicada 
owing to the apparently powerful 
beak or proboscis of this species, 
but he has failed to note an exam- 
ple make an attempt to inflict in- 
jury with the organ or at any 
time to feed. 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRESENT 

SWARM. 

A number of distinct broods of 
the Seventeen-Year Cicada have 
been charted by entomologists. A 
few of these broods overlap in dis- 
tribution, with the results that in 
some states, particularly Pennsyl- 
vania, swarms of the insects ap- 


LARVAL SHELLS 
BOUGH. 


pear at periods of four or five years apart. New 
York and the immediate vicinity possesses a 
single brood, which appears above ground regu- 
larly every seventeen years. In the records of 
the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Division of Entomology, the various broods are 
known by chart numbers. The present visita- 
tion is charted as the 1911 recurrence of Brood 
Il. The swarms of this breed occur in a num- 
ber of counties in the easterly portion of New 
York as far north as Lake Champlain, on Long 
Island and Staten Island, throughout the state 
of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Mary- 
land, Virginia and North Carolina. In New 
Jersey where the Cicadas are ap- 
pearing in enormous numbers, this 
insect has been regularly recorded 
every seventeen years since 1775. 
The Mississippi Valley is now 
swarming with another important 
brood of the periodical Cicada, 
known as Brood III. Its distri- 
bution is more extensive than the 
easterly brood, and moreover, this 
southerly swarm is particularly 
interesting owing to its being a 
thirteen-year race. A number of 
these are charted on the records 
of the government entomologists. 
OBSERVATIONS NEAR NEW YORK 
CITY. 


The swarms of the present 
brood of the Seventeen-Year Ci- 
cada appeared throughout the va- 
rious areas in which they were 
anticipated in perfect fulfillment 
of the predictions of entomolo- 


gists. The writer has made a 
number of observations of the 
1911 swarms and assisted Mr. 


ON AN APPLE rons ze : 
William Beutenmiller, the Curator 


ZOOLOGICAL 


FULLY DEVELOPED INSECTS ASCENDING A TREE. 


of Entomology in the American Museum of Nat- 
ural History, in noting the appearance of these 
periodical insects in 1894. During the latter 
period, the weather remained quite uniformly 
warm and favored the existence of the insects. 
They were particularly numerous along the 
Palisades of the Hudson River on the New Jer- 
sey side and by the middle of June the females 
were busily engaged in depositing their eggs. 
Of the flora of this region the shrub oak suf- 
fered the most. A superficial examination of 
these showed the boughs and trunk to be slit 
and punctured in longitudinal furrows. Some 
of these injuries extended a distance of five or 
six inches. By the latter part of the summer 
a considerable portion of the shrub oaks had 
died, while those that survived contained many 
dead branches. Dead branches were numerous 
on some of the larger trees. The effect of the 
forest was much the same as if a superficial fire 
had swept through it. During the latter part 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


ABANDONED LARVAL SHELLS AT THE BASE OF A TREE. 


of June and a short time prior to the disappear- 
ance of the insects the males continued active, 
but appeared to be attacked by a fungus. The 
exterior of the body appeared whitish and the 
body itself a mere shell filled with a dull white, 
fungoid powder. A snap of the finger would 
send the fragile body flying into dust, although 
the thorax possessed enough vitality and fluid 
to actually enable the insect to escape in flight. 
The early days of July marked the disappear- 
ance of the perfectly developed insects. 

Despite a cold and tardy spring the 1911 
visitation came promptly on time. By the first 
week of June the greater number of the larvae 
were out of the ground. 
vation was made in the northern portion of the 
Borough of the Bronx. ‘The Cicadas appeared 
in great numbers in this section of New York 
City. although they appeared to be restricted to 
There are vast stretches of open 
ground in the region mentioned, but these have 


An interesting obser- 


wooded areas. 


WHERE THE LARVAL FORMS EMERGED FROM 
Borings in soft ground. 


THE GROUND. 
Borings in a hard path. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


MOUNTED SPECIMENS. 

Prepared for the schools. 

Such 
changes in the character of the soil appear to 
be fatal to the larvae. A illustration 
was a narrow strip of woodland along the East 
Chester Road. 
combed with burrows and it was impossible to 
take a step without trampling the larval shells 
under foot. 
proved or drained area, extending considerably 


been affected by grading and drainage. 


marked 


Here the ground was _ honey- 


North of this was a partially im- 


over a mile and without traces of the insects. 
Up to the 4th of June, there were no indica- 
They ap- 
pear to be extremely sensitive to low tempera- 
ture and a cold evening so benumbs them that 
myriads fall to the ground and lie helplessly on 
their 


tions of the Cicadas depositing eggs. 


backs. They will not endure close con- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SEVENTEEN-YEAR “LOCUST.” 
Cicada septendecim. 


This insect is not a true lotust. The locusts 
belong to the order of grasshoppers and their al- 
lies, which are voracious feeders. Actual swarnis 
of locusts are very destructive to vegetation, but 
these do not occur in the eastern United States. 
The damage from a swarm of the seventeen-year 
“locust” is superficial. 

The present species lives in the ground for seven- 
teen years. In the winged state it lives about 
five weeks. The eggs are embedded in branches 
of trees. From the point of injury the branch 


usually dies. This is the only damage done. ‘The 


insect in a winged state does not feed. 


DESCRIPTIVE LABEL. 
Back of tablet opposite. 


finement and several batches of over five hun- 
dred each lived less than forty-eight hours. 

The days of the Sth, 6th and 7th of June, 
were marked by a steady northeast wind, with 
intermittant rain and a low temperature. Ob- 
servations on June 8, a day of bright sunshine 
and rising temperature showed that the swarms 
had not been permanently affected. 

The entire day of June 10 was spent in in- 
vestigating the swarms along the Palisades of 
the Hudson. The particularly 
abundant in the vicinity of Fort Lee and Coytes- 


insects were 
ville, New Jersey. 
isted 
hum from the trees was actually trying to the 
On this day the first 


Near these towns they ex- 
in enormous numbers and the continuous 


nerves of the observers. 


TWIGS IN WHICH THE FEMALE CICADA HAS DEPOSITED EGGS. 


The powerful ovipositor penetrates the twig to a depth of at least a quarter of an inch, raising the small spurs of wood 


along the sides of the twig as shown in the photograph. 
by the slightest breeze. 


Sometimes the punctures are so deep that the twig is twisted off 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


indications of oviposition was noted. Several 
apple orchards visited were so teeming with the 
insects that marked damage must result. Here 
the larval forms had burrowed their way 
through hard-trodden paths, which were riddled 
with holes. The shed shells were attached to 
the trees in clusters and masses. Several fe- 
males were noted depositing eggs in branches 
bearing fruit. Careful measurement showed 
the ovipositor to have penetrated the branch to 
a depth of a quarter of an inch. The peculiar 
action of the ovipositor reduces the point of 
oviposition to a veritable pulp, depriving small 
branches from that point to the extremity of any 
possible nourishment. By sectioning branches 
we found that from two to five eggs were de- 
posited at each point of actual puncture. By 
the 12th of June, the work of depositing the 
eggs had become general. 

It is not difficult for the novice to distinguish 
the male and female insects. Both have the 
bright red eyes and there is little or no differ- 
ence in the body color or form, but an examina- 
tion of the under-surface will at once enable the 
observer to determine the sexes. The male is 
provided at the rear of the thorax—that portion 
bearing the limbs—with two nearly circular 
flaps, which look like large scales. These flaps 
cover the singing membranes. There is no in- 
dication of them on the female. The latter sex 
is characterized by a shining, lanceolate appen- 
dage at the rear of the abdomen. This is the 
ovipositor. It is incorrectly alleged that the 
male insects live but a few hours after leaving 
the ground. 

As an important, though quite temporary fea- 
ture of the Society’s insect collection, the writer 
has prepared an exhibit of the living insects, 
daily collecting a number of specimens for the 
purpose. A life-history group is also exhibited, 
while to further the knowledge of the Cicada 
among the school children a large number of 
elass-covered mounts containing the locusts 
have been placed on sale at about the cost of 
making them. ‘These mounts are in the shape 
of tablets containing insects that have been 
dried on setting boards. On the back of the 
tablets is a description. 


WANTED. 


One Copy of Zoological Society 
Bulletin No. 1. 


BULLETIN. 


781 


NEW MEMBERS. 
February 16—May 24, 1911. 


LIFE MEMBERS, 


Capt. Guy B. Burrage, 

Charles Deering, 

Richard M. Hoe, 

Mrs. Richard M. Hoe, 
ANNUAL 

L. H. Amy, 

George Powell Benjamin, 

Alden S. Blodget, 

Miss Ella F. Bolton, 

Stephen N. Bond, 

Miss Edith G. Bowdoin, 

Starling W. Childs, 

F. Douglas Cochrane, 

Mrs. Jefferson Coddington, 

Jonathan H. Crane, 

Mrs. Jonathan H. Crane, 

Charles A. Dana, 

H. F. DePuy, 

George G. DeWitt, 

George H. Diehl, Jr., 

Joseph Dowd, 

Mrs. John P. Dunean, 

J.M. Ellsworth, 

Wm. Gordon Fellows, 

Mrs. Anderson Fowler, 

Aaron VY. Frost, 

Mrs. F. Norton Goddard, 

Mrs. W.C. Gulliver, 

Herbert Drake Halsey, 

Mrs. Albert H. Harris, 

Bernhard F. Hermann, 

Mrs. Christian A. Herter, 

W. Truslow Hyde, 

Mrs. A. F. Hyde, 

Dr. Robert J. Kahn, 

Dr. Ludwig Kast, 

Mrs. Hamilton Fish Kean, 


Mrs. Morris K. Jesup, 
Mrs. A. D. Juilliard, 
Grenville Kane, 

A. M. Post Mitchell. 
MEMBERS. 

Cyrus S. King, 

Wm. N. Kremer, 

Mrs. Thomas Wm. Lamont, 
Mrs. James F. D. Lanier, 
James M. Lehmaier, 
Frank J. Logan, 

Mrs. Pierre Mali, 
James H. Masterson, 
R. H. Milstead, 
Carleton Montgomery, 
Charles C. Mook, 

Mrs. M. L. Neumoegen, 
John H. Northrop, 
John T. Pratt, 

Fred. Sauter, Jr. 

Dr. A. F. Schauffler, 
Mrs. A. F. Schauffler, 
Mrs. James R. Sheffield, 
Edward W. Sheldon, 
J.J. Slocum, 

Robert K. Smith, 

Rev. C. R. Stetson, 
Carl Stoeckel, 

Miss Annie Stone, 
Benjamin Strong, Jr., 
Archibald G. Thacher, 
George D. Tilley, 
Arthur Turnbull, 

Mrs. Patrick A. Valentine, 
W. E. Warner, 

Hermann Wunderlich. 


LAST LIVING PASSENGER PIGEON. 


ELDOM has anything attracted any more 
attention to the Cincinnati Zoological Gar- 
den than the female Passenger Pigeon that 

is claimed to be the last representative of this 


species. 


This bird is now about nineteen years 


old, and was born in the Garden in a flock of 


Pigeons 
Michigan. 


originally 


The flock 


received from 


northern 
was kept in an open 


cage about twelve feet square, and consisted 


originally of ten birds. One-half dozen or more 
birds were hatched from this flock, and it was 
gradually depleted until in 1910 there were but 
two birds left. In that year the older of the 
two birds died, at an age of twenty-six years, 
leaving the female which is still alive. 


782 ZOOLOGICAL 


This bird is still active, and for company it 
had until recently a male mourning dove. How- 
ever, the male mourning dove has been placed 
in an adjoining cage, because, in spite of the 
fact that a very good painting of the bird was 
placed on the cage, some people had trouble in 
distinguishing the Passenger Pigeon from the 
mourning dove. When the flock was originally 
received the birds were not considered much of 
a rarity, and no more especial care was taken 
of them than of other birds. However, as the 
flock decreased in numbers, and the birds be- 
came scarcer, greater attention was paid to 
them, and special attention was paid to their 
feeding. As a result, we have had good suc- 
cess with them, and I really believe that if we 
could secure some younger birds our experience 
would enable us to raise young, and increase the 
flock from a small beginning. 


The last remaining bird has been promised 
to the Smithsonian Institution; and, while it is 
hoped that it will be a long time yet before this 
bird dies, it is hoped that when the end does 
come it will be in good plumage and condition 
for mounting. Such was not the case with the 
old male that died about a year ago. He was 
moulting at the time and in poor condition, so 
that it was impossible to secure anything like 
a good result in the mounting of it. 

S. A. STepHan, 
Gen. Mgr. Cincinnati Zoological Garden 


PASSENGER PIGEON. 
Now living in the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


WHITE RHINOCEROS HEAD. 


OUR WHITE RHINOCEROS HEAD. 


HE National Collection of Heads and Horns 
has received from Col. Theodore Roosevelt, 
as a gift, a mounted head of a White or 

Square-Mouthed Rhinoceros, (Rhinoceros simus 
cottoni). The specimen was shot by the donor 
in the Lado District, west bank of the Nile, on 
January 28, 1910, and was mounted by James 
L. Clark, of New: York. The head is very 
large, the horn is the second best of the series 
collected by Col. Roosevelt, and the mounting of 
the head is exceedingly perfect and life-like. 
In fact, it is believed to be beyond the reach of 
adverse criticism, and as a whole the gift is re- 
garded as a grand prize. 

The most remarkable feature of the head is 
its enormous length, forward of the ears, in pro- 
portion to its depth, in which this species of 
rhinoceros is quite unique. Its length from the 
crease immediately behind the ear to the end of 
the nose is thirty-six and one-half inches; the 
length of the front horn is twenty-five inches, 
and of the rear horn seven and one-eighth inches. 
The base of the front horn has a circumference 
of twenty-one inches, and that of the rear is 
seventeen inches. 

The fact that the National Museum now con- 
tains the finest existing collection of specimens 
of the White Rhinoceros should be a source of 
pride to the Society. Web Vc 


aan 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULEETIN 


Number 47 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


September, 1911 


NOTES ON THE SMALL 


EVERAL noteworthy additions have recent- 

ly been made to the collection of small 

mammals. Among the most important is 
a pair of Wombats. A Panda is for the first 
time exhibited in the Park, two species of the 
small East Indian cats have been added, the col- 
lection of wild canines has been strengthened, 
and the series of rodents has been materially in- 
creased. We are also able to report the accli- 
matization of a colony of Mink. 

The possibility of exhibiting representative 
species of a considerable number of zoological 
orders renders the Small-Mammal House of par- 
ticular value to students, and has prompted us 
to strengthen the educational value of this series 
by means of key labels. We have been anxious 
to show representative forms of the most im- 
portant zoological groups of small mammals. 


MAMMAL COLLECTION. 


Our latest and rarest acquisition is a fine 
specimen of the Panda, (delurus fulgens), from 
The 
zoological position of this strange creature has 
long been a puzzle to systematists, some rank- 
ing it near the bears, and others next to the 
raccoons. At present it seems to stand undis- 
turbed near the latter. In size and form it sug- 
gests the American marten. 


the southeastern Himalayas, via Calcutta. 


Although this strange animal is frequently 
seen in the larger zoological gardens of India, 
and has bred in the Caleutta Gardens, 
none seem to find their way to America in the 
dealers’ shipments. For our specimen we are 
wholly indebted to Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, 
of London, 


been 


Secretary of the Zoological Society 
who purchased it for us in London. 


THE PANDA 


784 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Recently we were able to secure, for the first 
time, two fine, large male and female examples 
of the Australian Wombat, (Phascolomys mitch- 
elli). These animals are of marked interest in 
adding a type of development among the Marsu- 
pials that hitherto had been lacking in the col- 
lection. 

In bodily bulk the Wombat almost equals the 
peceary. In structure and habits it resembles 
the larger rodents, and in general appearance it 
looks like a much exaggerated woodchuck. Like 
the woodchuck, it lives in burrows in rocky 
ground, feeds mostly upon roots, and in devour- 
ing such food the rodent-like structure of the 
incisor teeth is revealed. Our specimens are ap- 
parently good-natured and lazy, but as yet have 
not had time to become fully accustomed to their 
new quarters. 

Another important marsupial in the Small- 
Mammal House is the Tasmanian Devil. The 
accompanying illustrations shows the stout build 
of this animal, and also its rather forbidding 
appearance. It is of carnivorous habit, and its 
sinitser name is derived from its rather savage 
temper and its black pelage. While this animal 
is alleged to be nocturnal, our specimen is active 
during the greater part of the day. It prefers, 
however, to eat at night, and if its food is thrown 
into the cage during the afternoon, it lays un- 
touched until after dark. In keeping with the 
feeding habits of this and other nocturnal mam- 
mals, its food is not placed in its cage until the 
keepers are ready to leave for the night. With 
this custom in force, the night-prowling animals 
find their food quite fresh at the time they feel 
inclined to consume it. 


SURICATE. 


With the animals mentioned, a series of Opos- 
sums in the Small-Mammal House and several 
large Kangaroos in the Small-Deer House, the 
Order Marsupialia is fairly represented. Three 
species of Opossums are exhibited, namely: the 
Virginia, Mexican and the Murine. One of our 
Virginia Opossums is busy in rearing a litter 
of twelve young. 

The Order Carnivora is elaborately repre- 
sented in the Small-Mammal House. Among re- 
cent additions are an Indian Marbled Cat (Felis 
marmoratus), and a Malayan Jungle Cat, (F. 
planiceps). The latter species is characterized 
by a flattened head and much elongated canine 


teeth, the latter feature resembling the dentition 
{ of the Clouded Leopard, which is exhibited in a 
BLACK-BACKED JACKAL. nearby cage. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 785 


We have many specimens representing the 
Dog Family, (Canidae), and it is our intention 
to exhibit them in a continuous series, as soon 
as possible. Owing to their various sizes and 
requirements, they are now scattered through a 
dozen cages, both in and out of the Small-Mam- 
mal House. Our examples have come from 
many parts of the world. Among the latest ar- 
rivals are two species of the Raccoon Dog, 
(Nyctereutes), coming respectively from Siberia 
and Japan. The Indian Jackal, Black-Backed 
Jackal, Australian Dingo, Central American 
Wild Dog, Striped-Tailed Dog and the Argen- 
tine Wild Dog all are represented in and about 
the Small-Mammal House. 

We are not yet fully supplied with the smaller 
species of flesh-eating mammals. Our collection 
of viverrines is too large, and that of the muste- 
lines is too small. We find the North American 
members of the Marten Family rather short- 
lived and “difficult.” Among these creatures, 
the Mink is one of the most difficult to exhibit in 
captivity in small quarters. With a large num- 
ber of species, it is not possible to give each one 
a great amount of space in which to live. The 
Mink is an exceptionally delicate animal as a 
captive, and our previous experiences with indi- 
vidual specimens in smal] quarters have not been 
satisfactory. The present Mink colony is com- 
posed of six active and healthy individuals, oc- 
cupying a large amount of space. They have 
been on exhibition for about one year, during 
which period only one Mink has been lost. With 
the installation of this lot in more ample quar- 
ters, we determined to try also radical departures 
in their food. We had previously fed our Mink 
upon small scraps of lean raw beef, varying this 
about every three days with chicken heads or 
small birds. It was resolved to feed this family 
upon nothing but small creatures of the kinds 
they would be likely to find during their natural 
prowlings. As the majority of the Mink we had 
previously lost had died of gastro-enterie troub- 
les, it seemed as though this had been brought 
about through feeding meat of too coarse mus- 
cular fibre. This seemed likely to be the case 
with the flesh of animals that were much larger 
than those normally preyed upon. The sched- 
ule prepared for the feeding of these Mink con- 
sisted of mice, sparrows, very young chickens, 
frogs and small fresh-water fish. Upon this 
diet, with one day each week to fast, these Mink 
have remained in the best possible condition. 
We are trying a similar diet with the smaller and 
mere delicate species of cats, and thus far with 
good results. 


TASMANIAN DEVIL. 


ALBINO RACCOON. 


MINK. 


786 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


JARARACA. 


NOTEWORTHY REPTILES IN THE COL- 
LECTION. 
A FTER waiting some years we are again 


able to exhibit a large and fine example 

of the Fer-de-Lance. This deadly snake 
inhabits southern Mexico, Central America, a 
great part of tropical South America and a few 
islands of the Lesser Antilles. It receives its 
name from the triangular or lanceolate outline 
of the head. Our specimen is about five and a 
half feet long, and its color is grayish-green, 
with dark, yellow-edged transverse blotches. 

This snake is technically known as Lachesis 
lanceolatus. It is fairly common over the greater 
portion of its habitat, but we have always ex- 
perienced difficulty in obtaining specimens, ow- 
ing to the great fear inspired by this and a 
number of closely related species of snakes. 

It is of interest to note that a representative 
of another species of Lachesis is on exhibition. 
This is the Jararaca—often called by the In- 
dians the Yarara. It is technically known as 
L. neuweidii, and inhabits Brazil, Paraguay and 
Argentina. Differing from the Fer-de-Lance, it 
is quite vividly marked. The color pattern con- 
sists of alternating brown triangles, pointing up 
from the sides. The ground color is yellowish. 
The reptile possesses the characteristic triangu- 
lar head of the genus, and is quick and vicious. 
When irritated it vibrates the tail until that or- 
gan is visually blurred by the rapid motion. 
The bite of this snake is alleged to be generally 
fatal. A South American surgeon, Dr. Vital 
Brazil, is now making specific anti-toxic serums 
for the bites of the various species of deadly 
snakes of his country. 

At this time our series of poisonous serpents 


HORNED RATTLESNAKE, 


is particularly large and representative. An- 
other arrival is the formidable Russell’s Viper, 
(Vipera russelli), an Indian and Malayan rep- 
tile that is also well known by its native name 
of Tie Polonga. This beautiful, chocolate- 
brown creature, with bold black rosettes, was 
the theme of one of Conan Doyle’s best detec- 
tive stores, “The Speckled Band.” The Russell 
Viper is a thick-bodied, alert and vicious ser- 
pent which, in combination with the Krait and 
the Cobra, has substantially increased the human 
death rate of India. Sharing the cage of our 
specimen is a snappy and dangerous little ori- 
ental reptile known as the Carpet Viper. In a 
nearby cage is a colony of Nose-Horned Vipers, 
from southern Europe. 

While enumerating recent arrivals among the 
venomous serpents, some of our rattlesnakes de- 
serve mention. Of these there is a splendid 
series on exhibition. Seven species are repre- 
sented, and two of these are probably for the 
first time exhibited in captivity. The latter are 
the Green Rattlesnake, (Crotalus lepidus), and 
the White Rattlesnake, (C. mitchelli). The 
White Rattlesnake was captured during the in- 
vestigations of Director Townsend, of the 
Aquarium, while in Lower California. Few ex- 
amples of this reptile are preserved in the 
museums. It is a desert species, with a singu- 
larly broad, swollen head. Dr. 'Townsend’s 
specimen differs from most of the examples pre- 
viously known, in being decidedly pinkish. 

It was through Dr. Townsend’s work among 
the little known islands of Lower California that 
the reptile collection was enriched with a num- 
ber of curious desert lizards. The majority of 
these are of a kind known popularly as Chuck- 
awallas,—genus Sauromalus. 'Two species were 


ZOOLOGICAL 


RUSSELL’S VIPER. 


captured. The representatives of one of these 
are curiously blotched, like a piebald horse. 

It is difficult to induce captive examples of the 
desert lizards to feed, and the specimens de- 
scribed were not exceptions. After trying many 
things we found that the piebald specimens 
would at first take nothing but brightly-colored 
flowers. We now induce them to occasionally 
vary this diet with tender leaves of lettuce. A 
number of Rock Iguanas, with rings of sharp, 
spiny shields around the tail, were among Dr. 
Townsend's specimens. 

The most spectacular addition to the series 
of lizards is a great Kabara Goya, or Ceylonese 
Monitor, fully seven feet long. This powerful 
creature represents the largest existing species 
of lizard. Our intention was to exhibit it in 
the open yards, but its prolonged journey from 
the East had developed a Cannibalistic appetite, 
and within an hour he had engulfed an iguana 
and two small tortoises. This serious offense 
was soon followed by a wandering inclination. 
A keeper who had been detailed to watch the 
newcomer discovered, as we had feared, that the 
big lizard was able to rear high enough to swing 
out over the curved guard attached to the fence. 
We interrupted the Kabara Goya as he stretched 
out on the path for a sun bath, and despite the 
vigorous slashing of his powerful tail, he was 
soon transferred to an inside cage. lite Wve, IDE 


NOSE-HORNED VIPER. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 787 


CARE OF THE WALRUS. 


HERE is no animal in the Park that de- 

mands so much time for its grooming and 

feeding as the young Atlantic Walrus. In- 
asmuch, however, as “Flip” appears to be in the 
pink of condition, we feel well repaid for our 
labor. From his weight of 146 pounds, when 
he arrived here on September 17, 1910, he has 
increased to 225 pounds, and from his daily con- 
sumption of nine pounds of clams when he first 
came, his allowance has grown to twenty-eight 
pounds per day. His tusks are rapidly develop- 
ing, and will be visible within about a month's 
time. 

Flip’s food consists entirely of clams and fish, 
and from the latter the bones must be removed. 
The walrus is fed three times daily, being given 
three meals of clams per day for two days, then 
two meals of fish and one of clams per day, for 
two successive days, when the plain-clam diet 
again begins. Soft clams and codfish are the 
only kinds of food that are acceptable. It takes 
some time to prepare twenty-eight pounds of 
clams, or the varied diet of clams and fish de- 
scribed. Each clam is examined in order to 
eliminate a possibility of ptomaine poisoning, 
and the fish is gone over in a minute inspection, 
to remove all traces of bones. It takes over 
two hours each day to prepare this animal's food, 
and to this must be added the daily scrubbing of 
the rocks surrounding his pool, and the regula- 
tion of the salt water in the same. 

The salt water supplied the walrus is an inno- 
vation here. Last summer the animal was so 
troubled with blood-sucking flies that his skin 
became afflicted with which for a time 
resisted all attempts to heal them. With the 
present summer we decided to try the effect of 
salt water, believing this would harden the epi- 
dermis somewhat, and render it less sensitive to 
the attacks of insects. A regular supply of 
Turk’s Island evaporated sea salt was ordered, 
and by means of a salinometer the water in the 


sores, 


tank was rendered of the same density as ocean 
water. We immediately detected a difference in 
the animal’s swimming habits, and within two 
months he had undergone a transformation. <A 
thick coat of bristly pale-yellow hair now covers 
his previously almost-naked skin, quite changing 
his color. He now appears quite immune to the 
attacks of flies, and is really in the pink of con- 
dition. With the ocean baths, and the prepara- 
tion of his generous meals, the care of the walrus 
is more costly than that required by our largest 


elephant. 1, Jee 1D). 


ZOOLOGICAL 


|THE INSECT COLLECTION === 


ee a ee 


HECH 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


2 UC CE = 


A PORTION OF THE INSECT COLLECTION. 


THE INSECT COLLECTION. 
URING the summer of 1910 the exhibition 
of a series of insects was regarded as an 
experiment. Our visitors manifested so 
much interest in the collection that it was decid- 
ed to make it a permanent feature. During the 
winter a large number of cocoons were placed on 
exhibition in the Reptile House, and from these, 
visitors had an opportunity to observe both the 
local and the larger tropical moths emerging 
daily. The entire insect collection is now on ex- 
hibition in the pavilion between the Small-Mam- 
mal House and the Ostrich House, and it fills a 
series of forty-four cages and twelve tanks. 

At present the most important feature of the 
insect collection is the series of cocoons. It con- 
tains specimens from Japan, eastern China. 
India, Mexico and the United States generally. 
A certain number of moths emerging from these 
cocoons are placed in breeding boxes. There is 
little difficulty in hatching the eggs, and a later 
feature of this display will be a series of the 
larvae, or caterpillars, of these species. A gen- 
erous number of the caterpillars are already 


feeding, and a fine brood of the commercial silk- 
worm has spun the last of its cocoons. A panel 
of these is on exhibition over a descriptive label. 
The cocoons mentioned are of particularly lus- 
trous and rich yellow silk. 

The finest moths emerging from our collection 
of cocoons are being mounted, dried, and placed 
in tablets of cotton, over which is fitted a glass 
cover. On the back of each mount is a label 
giving the name and habitat of the specimen. 
These attractive mounts have proven popular as 
Park souvenirs, but really serve a double pur- 
pose. They are of value from an educational 
point of view, because they may be handled by 
children without injury. We are able to sell 
these mounts at very reasonable prices, and 
they are offered in the Bureau of Information 
at the Lion House. From present indications 
it appears that the sale of these specimens will 
cover the cost of the insect collection, including 
specimens, cages and collecting paraphernalia. 
Among the insects that have been exhibited, 
mounted and sold are the huge Indian Atlas 
Moth, (Attacus edwardsea), the Indian Luna 
Moth, (Actias selene), the Japanese Silk Moths, 


SERIES OF INSECT CAGES. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 789 


RED-WINGED LOCUSTS. 


(Antherea yama-maia and A. mylitta), the Mex- 
ican Silk Moth, (Attacus orizaba), and the 
North American silk-spinning moths such as the 
Cecropia, Polyphemus, Cynthia, Promethea and 
Luna. 

Owing to the success of the series of “singing” 
insects exhibited during the summer of 1910, 
this feature is again being brought together. 
The well-known fondness of the Japanese for 
singing insects suggests a new feature of inter- 
est for school children here. It is among the 
Orthoptera—the order of insects embracing the 
erickets and the locusts-—that we find the pre- 
dominating number of species of insects that 
sing. A cricket cage is prepared without trorble, 
easily maintained, and it is a decided novelty. 
Our cages provided for this purpose are fourteen 
inches long, eight inches wide and eight inches 
high. The front and sides are of glass, while 
the back is covered with a panel of {-inch screen. 
A sereen frame covers the top. Half an inch 
of fine river sand is placed in the bottom. Sev- 
eral flat stones and pieces of bark are laid down, 
supported by pebbles, to serve as hiding places. 


eae Se se 
COCOONS OF AFRICAN LUNA MOTH. 
(Actias mimose.) 


HERCULES BEETLE. 


A meadow over which flat stones are scat- 
tered is a favorable place to collect crickets. 
They may be found by turning over the stones, 
and should be placed in a pasteboard box. It 
is the male cricket that sings, and the “song” is 
produced by rapidly rubbing specially developed 
portions of the wings. The males may be dis- 
tinguished by the wrinkled black wings that 
cover the greater part of the body. The female 
has smooth, straight wings, while the body is 
provided with an elongate appendage that looks 
like a sting, but which is actually harmless, and 
is employed in depositing the eggs. Four pairs 
of crickets are enough to stock a cage. They 
may be fed slices of banana, melon, berries, let- 
tuce or an occasional piece of raw beef. The 
uneaten food must be removed daily. When the 
fresh food is provided, the cage should be 
sprinkled, as these insects require water, al- 
though a little at a time is quite sufficient. A 
cage of crickets brings the music of the fields 
to the city home. lite JE5 1D); 


ay ue a er ‘a ai 


COCOONS OF JAPANESE SILK-SPINNING MOTH. 
(Antherea mylitta.) 


790 ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ELwiIn R. SANBORN, Editor. 


Departments : 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. Hornapbay. RAYMOND L. DitMars. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Lee S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TOWNSEND. 
Raymonp C. Ossurn, PH. D. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numper 47 SEPTEMBER, 1911 


Officers of the Society. 
President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 
Executive Committee: 
Mapison GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WuiteE NILEs, 
Levi P. Morton, Wo. PierRSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STuRGIS, 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OsBorn, Ex-Officio. 
General Officers : 


JouN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Secretary 

MabIsoN GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer 

Percy R. Pyne, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director 


WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Director of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York 
Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR. 


The President of the Department of Parks 
Hon. CHARLES B, STOVER. 


Glass of 1912. 
SAMUEL THORNE, 
Henry A.C Tay_or, 
HuGH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. STuRGIS, 
GeorGE J. GouLpb, 
OcpEN MILLS. 


Glass of 1913. 
F. AUGUSTUS SCHERMERHORN, FREDERICK G. BOURNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, W. AusTIN WADSWORTH, 
GeorGE B. GRINNELL, Emerson MCMILLIN. 
GEorGE C. CLARK, ANTHONY R. Kuser. 
CLEVELAND H. Dobce, WaTSON B. DICKERMAN, 
C. LEDYARD BLAIR, MorTiMER L, SCHIFF. 


Glass of 1914. 
JAMES J. HILL, 
GeorGE F. BAKER, 
GRANT B. SCHLEY, 
Wm. Pierson HAMILTON, 
ROBERT S. BREWSTER, 
Epwarp S. HARKNESS. 


levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
JOHN L. CADWALADER, 
JOHN S. BARNES, 
Mapison GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 


Henry F. Osporn, 
WILLIAM C. CHURCH, 
LISPENARD STEWART, 
H. CASIMIR DE RHAM, 
HuGH D. AUCHINCLOSS, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, 


@fticers of the Zoological Park : 

W. T. HornaDAY, Sc. D., Director. 
H. R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE Curator of Birds. 
LEE S. CRANDALL - Assistant Curator of Birds 
W. REID Biair, D.V.S. Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W. MERKEL - = - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER Civil Engineer. 
W. I. MITCHELL Office Assistant. 


@Ofticers of the Aquartum 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RAYMOND C. OSBURN, Ph.D. - Assistant Director. 
CHAPMAN GRANT - - - : - Scientific Assistant 
W. I. DENYSE In Charge of Collections. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


WANTED: A CLEAN NEW YORK. 


VERYWHERE in the streets and public 

parks of this city the lawless and disor- 

derly ten per-cent. of the Public continues 
to strew waste paper and rubbish of many 
kinds. On Mondays, when the average com- 
muter returning from the north looks out of the 
car window and sees green grass and woods 
bestrewn with the rags of Sunday newspapers 
and the residuum of a thousand lunch boxes, he 
knows that he has crossed the city line, and is 
once more in dear old New York. 

Seven days in the week,—save for brief local 
intervals, while the street-cleaners’ backs are 
actually in sight,—our littered streets are an eye- 
sore and a disgrace. Newspaper rags and 
waste paper prevail, nearly everywhere. 

The tax-payers and the decent people of New 
York pay enough for street cleaning and police 
service to secure the cleanest city in America; 
but in comparison with Washington or Boston, 
we are filled with envy and regret. 

Commissioner Stover is absolutely right in 
stopping the sale of dirt-making unshelled pea- 
nuts in Central Park; and every good citizen 
should uphold him in it. But how many have 
done In a city reeking with over-dense 
humanity, the unshelled peanut is a nuisance 
and a public pest. New York is a progressive 
city, but it has much to learn from Boston of 
excellent salted peanuts in paste-board boxes. 

In the matter of rubbish-throwing in public 
places, New York contains the worst human ele- 
ment of any city in America. There is a law- 
less, defiant ten per-cent. that regards “liberty” 
and “‘license’’ as synonomous. Nothing but the 
mailed fist is adequate to curb them. 


so? 


In the Zoological Park, we have striven 
against the lawless throwing of rubbish on our 
walks and lawns. We have made great gains, 
but the irrepressible conflict continues unabated. 
It is not a pleasant task, but we have resolved 
to have a clean park, or perish en masse in the 
fight to secure it. The expressions of approval 
that come to us prove that even in New York a 
clean park is appreciated. 

And what of New York City as a whole, as to 
its streets, its horrible vacant lots, and some of 
its parks? 

The many open expressions of dissatisfaction, 
and even of exasperation, that now are being 
heard and read, portend something. They 
mean that the time is ripe for a complete revo- 
lution in behalf of a Clean New York! The 
people who are dissatisfied with rubbish in pub- 
lic places, should seek action now; and the city 


ZOOLOGICAL 


government should set in motion this machinery 
for the production of the desired result: 

The City should provide at least 5,000 refuse 
baskets and cans. 

The Mayor should 
desist from throwing 
in public places. 

The Police Department should post notices 
printed in four languages—English, Yiddish, 
Italian and German—in about 5,000 places be- 
tween the Battery and Mount Vernon, sternly 
forbidding the throwing of any waste paper, 
refuse or rubbish of any kind on any street, 
sidewalk, park or vacant lot, under penalty of 
arrest and punishment. 

The Police Commissioner should order every 
policeman to become active, and remain so, in 
the vigorous enforcement of that order. 

Every adult offender should be snatched 
the streets, and hustled into court. 

Every police magistrate should punish every 
offender, and let no man off with a mere repri- 
mand. 

The abominable spitting habit was complete- 
ly broken up in this city in less than three 
months! The rubbish-throwing habit could be 
broken up quite as effectually and as quickly, 
provided the mailed fist will come to the front. 

The time to begin a drastic reform in behalf 


of a Clean New York is NOW. Wee Ee 


DPECIAL NOTICE. 


It is severely forbidden to throw waste paper or any rubbish upon 
the ground in this Park, POUT IT IN THE BASKETS! 
Mesasad ti rule will be punished. 


call upon all citizens to 
waste paper and rubbish 


Those who 


om 
L"PONIP DEEN 


WN PEND ETT TK FORTIN VFIDO Mw 


) oe PR oy Bay pewter pe ty 


7B EPMTEEI. WT Sp yi OY 


AVVISO SPECIALE. 


E severamente proibito di gettare carta straccia od altro simile sul 
Viali di questo Paroo, METTETEIA NEI CESTINI! Coloro che violaranno 
quest ‘avviso saranno puniti a norma di legge 


BESONDERE ANZEIGE. 


Bs ist strengstens verboten Papier oder irgend anderen Unrath auf 


den Boden zu werfen. ES MUSZ IN DIE BEHALTER GETHAN WERDEN. 
Ubertreter dieser Vorschrift werden bestraft. 


OUR WARNING NOTICE. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 791 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES. 


“Silver King,” the Polar Bear.—At last the great 
polar bear captured a year ago by Mr. Paul Rainey, 
is becoming reconciled to captivity. He has ceased 
to complain about it, his temper has noticeably im- 
OS his appetite always has been very good, and 
his pel age is now immaculate. In fact, so tar as ap- 
pearances go, he is probably as large and handsome 
a polar bear as can be found in captivity. 

A few persons have hastily conciuded that because 
Silver King is a polar bear he is necessarily “sut- 
fering” in his present confinement. Mentatly, he 
would of course be better satisfied with the freedom 
ot the ice floes of Kane Basin; but that we can not 
provide. He has more cage-room than he utilizes tor 
exercise, a sleeping den, and a swimming pool of 
ample proportions tor his comfort. Even it his cage 
were five times as large as it now is, it is doubttul 
whether he would utilize more than one corner of it; 
for ot all our bears, the polar exercises the least. 


* * * 


A Strange Fatality—We were unfortunate in los- 
ing one ot the female examples of the Congo sita- 
tunga, which beautitul species of antelope 1s quar- 
tered in the Smali-Deer tiouse. Hearing a disturb- 
ance, the keeper found the animal lying dead in the 
corral, with its neck broken. ‘the occurrence was at 
the time inexplicable, owing to the absence of any- 
thing tending to alarm the animals. 

The next day, we were amazed to observe a near 
repetition of the tragedy. A male sitatunga was seen 
to bound into his corral, strike the fence with great 
violence close to the spot where the female fell, re- 
bound from the wire, but escape with nothing more 
than superficial lacerations. ‘lhe only cause assign- 
able for such strange actions without apparent dis- 
turbance, was the presence of stinging insects. In- 
vestigation disclosed the correctness ot this surmise. 
A nest of hornets was found under the eaves of the 
building, directly over the door leading into the cor- 
ral, and forthwith it was destroyed. It is possible 
that the bright colors of the sitatungas had attracted 
and excited the insects. 


* * * 


arrived 
Was a 


New Malay Tapir—A newcomer at the 
Elephant House on August 4. This female 
Malay tapir purchased from Captain Percy Watson, 
ot the steamship “Muncaster Castle” from Chinese 
ports and Singapore. With the tapir we received 
number of interesting birds, and some small mam- 
mals. From the disposition of the tapir as studied 
while the animal was in its crate, it seemed possible 
to put a rope about the neck of this alleged tame 
creature, and lead it to the Elephant House. We de- 
cided otherwise, however, and later on were thankful 
that the newcomer had occupied her crate until the 
moment of her liberation in the yard. Once liberated 
she completely lost her head, and plunged frantically 
in all directions, wildly pawed at the soft earth in 
the corners of the corral, and finally made an un- 
suceessftul attempt to climb the fence. The shrill, 
whistling calls of our old tapirs had no quieting effect 
upon her nerves. It was hours before this attack of 
hysteria subsided; but now she is as docile as a 
rabbit. 


-! 
=) 
ris) 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


THE WORLD-RECORD WHITE-TAILED DEER HEAD. 


HILE we are not unduly zealous regarding 
\W antlers of deer, elk, moose and caribou that 
widely depart from the standard horn archi- 
tecture of their respective species, it is yet 
well worth while for the National Collection of Heads 
and Horns to contain a sufficient number of extra-fine 
examples to illustrate the kinds of antlers that are 
popularly known as “freaks.” Naturally, the varia- 
tions in freak antlers are very many, and in our view 
it is only the finest examples, or the strangest forms, 
that are worth considering. 
Last year the State of Maine yielded the remark- 
able White-Tailed Deer head shown above. It came 


to us as the gift of Mr. Henry A. Caesar, of the 

Zoological Society, and was mounted and furnished 

by the S. L. Crosby Company, of Bangor, Maine. 
The antlers of Mr. Caesar’s gift are very long, very 


massive and wide, and fortunately retain all the 
characteristic horn architecture of the Northern 
White-Tailed Deer. The measurements are as fol- 


lows:—Length of beam, 29; circumference, 6; widest 
(outside) spread, 2734; points, 18 + 24, 

These measurements, taken all in all, seem to make 
this splendid head No. 1 in the world’s list of the 
greatest heads of this species. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


HE PHEASANT AVIARY. 


THE SONNEBERG AVIARIES. 
By Lee S. Cranpatu, 


Assistant Curator of Birds. 


VICULTURE has never been a popular 
pursuit in America; and just why not, is 
rather difficult to say. It is not lack of 

interest in captive living birds, for thousands of 
canaries and large numbers of more interesting 
species, are imported annually by the two or 
three dealers who monopolize the greater part of 
the trade. Unfortunately, very many of the 
persons who purchase these songsters possess 
only the rudiments of knowledge of their proper 
care. Their avian interests are generally con- 
fined to the one or two individuals which chance 
has brought into their hands, and rarely lead 
them to engage more extensively in bird-keep- 
ing. 

There is another factor, however, which un- 
doubtedly has had much influence in bringing 
about this As wild birds near at 
hand are the ones most apt to be caged by begin- 
ners, the passage of certain bird-protection laws 
has had the unfortunate effect of reducing to a 
minimum the possibility that the first impulse 
toward this fascinating study might be received 


condition. 


from the keeping of native birds in captivity. 
As a result, American aviculture is confined to 
the public zoological parks and gardens, and the 
collections of a very few private individuals, 
whose numbers, happily, are now rapidly in- 
creasing. 

Among the larger of the private establish- 
ments is that of Mrs. Frederick Ferris Thomp- 
son, at Canandaigua, New York, which may well 


be regarded as a model for its kind. ‘‘Sonne- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 793 


THE PARROT HOUSE. 


berg’ is an estate of very considerable extent, 
about fifty-two acres being walled in to form 
the home grounds. These have been developed 
very successfully, along unusually artistic lines. 
The aviaries are open to the public on every 
Saturday afternoon from two until five o'clock, 
and the entire park is likewise open on the sec- 
ond and fourth Fridays of July, August and 
September. Thousands of people from Canan- 
daigua and neighboring towns take advantage 
of this hospitality, and enjoy the grounds on 
those days. 

The aviaries occupy an area of about one acre. 
They had their inception in one of less preten- 
tious dimensions which Mrs. Thompson saw in 
California. The first of the buildings, known 
as “The Aviary,’ was built in 1902, and the 
Pheasant Aviary, which completes the construc- 
tion originally planned, was completed in 1909. 
The houses include the large Aviary, the Jay 
House, the Parrot House, the hospital adjoining, 
and the Pheasant Aviary. On July 21, 1911, 
the collection consisted of 891 birds representing 
246 species. 

The Aviary contains an indoor space of fifty 
by twenty-seven feet, with an attached flying 
cage thirty feet high by fifty feet in diameter. 
Exclusive of this, there are offices, an observa- 
tion room and a small museum as yet undevel- 
oped. The house is built of wood and cement, 
the roof, one end and the side toward the flight 
cage being entirely of glass, which is protected 
by one-half-inch diamond-mesh wire. | Numerous 
roof ventilators and the openings for flight al- 
low the free circulation of air that is necessary 
to offset the heating effect of the large expanse 


of glass. 


794 ZOOLOGICAL 

In winter, warmth is provided by hot-water 
pipes, which encircle the room at a height of 
about six feet. These are protected by eighteen- 
inch shelves, which, being covered with sand, 
form convenient resting places for the birds. 
The cement floor is carpeted with sand and has 
in its center a fountain, the pool of which meas- 
ures four feet by five. Nest boxes are attached 
to the walls in convenient positions, and in one 
of these a single pair of black-cheeked love-birds 
has reared nine young. 

The attached Flying Cage is dome-shaped, 
the lower portion being covered with one-half 
inch bar-mesh wire with the transversals four 
inches apart, the upper part with one-half-inch 
diamond-mesh wire. Water is supplied in a pool 
twelve feet by five, the depth gradually increas- 
ing to sixteen inches. No living trees are in- 
cluded; but hemp, millet and canary plants form 
a dense mass which it has been necessary to clear 
in spaces. It has been found best to clip the 
tips of the hemp before the seeds mature, as 
these might have an injurious effect if eaten too 
freely by the birds. 

In this miniature jungle, bob-white and 
plumed quail were nesting, and as the place was 
disturbed as little as possible, it may be that 
other nests were hidden in the dense tangle. 
Small, thick-topped dead trees are placed at 
frequent intervals; and one of these contained 
sixteen completed nests of various species of 
weavers. It may be added, however, that fer- 
tile eggs are rarely laid by these over-zealous 
builders. ; 

This Aviary and Flying Cage contained no 
less than 600 birds, of very diverse species. 
Breeding results have been quite remarkable, 
when the size of the community is considered, 
for the following young have been reared to 
maturity; California quail, bar-shouldered dove, 
(Geopelia humeralis), scaly dove, wood duck, 
cockateel, black-faced love-bird, undulated grass 
parrakeet, yellow grass parrakeet, saffron finch, 
gray Java sparrow, white Java sparrow, cut- 
throat finch and zebra finch. 

Among the large number of birds kept in this 
installation, it is highly regrettable that so few 
are of native species. A few specimens of the 
more common finches, a cowbird and some 
mourning doves complete the list of those on 
hand at the time of the writer’s visit. The cause is 
not traceable to a dearth of available species in 
the wild state, but to the fact that American avi- 
culturists who are privileged to keep indigenous 
birds are compelled to depend upon their own 
resources for securing specimens. ‘Too stringent 
protection laws do not favor the development of 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


expert bird-catchers, without whose aid the for- 
mation or maintenance of a large collection of 
native birds is a practical impossibility. 

The exotics confined in the Aviary, however, 
included a number of unusual species. The 
rarest was undoubtedly the Indian spur-winged 
plover, (Hoplopterus spinosus). This bird, 
while common enough throughout the Indian 
Peninsula, is decidedly uncommon in captivity 
and the single specimen at Sonneberg is prob- 
ably unique in America. The series of whydahs 
was uncommonly good, including _ pin-tail, 
(Vidua serena), paradise, (Steganura paradi- 
sea), red-collared, (Coliostruthus ardens), giant, 
(Diatropura progne), yellow-backed, (Penthe- 
triopsis macrura) and red-shouldered, (Urobra- 
chya azillaris). The gray-headed and Cape 
sparrows, (Passer diffusus and P. arcuatus), 
were the best of the Fringillidae, while the 
triangular-spotted and bare-eyed pigeons, (Co- 
lumba guinea and C. gymnopthalma), were in 
faultless condition and plumage. It may be 
noted in passing that while pigeons offered by 
dealers as Columba guinea are almost invariably 
the dark-rumped species, C. phaeonota, the birds 
in this collection were undoubtedly the first- 
named. 

The next building is the Jay House. It is 
thirty-five by ten feet, with a height of about 
eight feet in front, sloping to six feet at the 
rear. It is built entirely of wood and has no 
adjoining flight cages. The fronts of the four 
compartments are so arranged as to permit their 
being covered with fine-mesh wire netting during 
the summer, and by glass for the winter, so that 
the inmates can always be seen from the walk 
which leads past the house. Here were kept 
choughs, (Graculus graculus), sulphur-breasted 
toueans, greater hill mynahs, lanceolated jays, 
(Laletes lanceolatus), red-billed blue magpies, 


THE PHEASANT AVIARY. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


(Urocissa occipitalis), and a very fine long- 
tailed glossy starling, (Lamprocolius caudatus ), 
besides several less important species. As this 
building is unheated, the less hardy birds are 
caged elsewhere during the winter. 

The Parrot House is an L-shaped building, 
and the only one which is open to the public. 
It is built of wood and concrete, in the same style 
as the others. ‘lhe six-foot public space occu- 
pies one side of each arm of the L, the first of 
which is fourteen feet wide and twenty feet in 
length. It is divided into three cages eight 
feet by ten, and a fourth eight feet by sixteen, 
all being fronted with bar-mesh wire, of varying 
The first three are devoted to macaws 
and parrots, several uncommon species being 
represented. Most noticeable were the greater 
Vasa parrot, (Coracopsis vaza), Maximilian 
parrot, (Pionus maaimiliani), Jardine parrot, 
(Poeocephalus gulielmi), and a good Senegal 
parrot, (P. senegalus). The large cage, sepa- 


size. 


rated from the preceding by a four-inch space,. 


contains a very good collection of the smaller 
finches and waxbills and other of the more deli- 
cate birds. Most of the common species of the 
former were represented, besides specimens of 
the Bicheno finch, (Stictoptera  bichenovii), 
chestnut-breasted manakin, (Munia  castanei- 
thorax), and Javan manakin, (M. ferruginosa). 
Of the fruit-eating birds, the most striking were 
the yellow-bellied bulbuls, (Pycnonotus auri- 
gaster), and the golden-fronted green bulbul, 
(Chloropsis aurifrons). 

In the angle of the L and also separated by 
a four-inch space, is the cockatoo cage. This 
contains all of the species commonly seen, about 
ten in number. 

The last cage contains the parrakeets, the 
pride of Sonneberg. This is really a remark- 
able collection, and without question one of the 
very best in this country, some thirty species be- 
ing represented. They live together in the one 


large cage, preserving an unusual harmony 
among themselves. In this group the rarest 


bird was doubtless the black-headed parrakeet, 
(Conurus nenday). This is not uncommon in 
European collections but is seldom seen on this 
side. Others noticed were a very fine Barnard, 
(Barnardius barnardi), a white-eared, (Pyrr- 
hura leucotis), several red-rumps, ( Psephotus 
haematonotus), and a pair of blue-bonnets, (P. 
vanthorrhous ). 

At the far end of the Parrot House, separated 
from the birds by a solid partition, is a well- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 795 
equipped hospital room, a very necessary fea- 
ture of all extensive collections, but too seldom 
provided. The floor is of concrete, so that it 
can be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. 
Around the walls are placed cages conveniently 
small, and light is obtained from windows at 
the front. 

The Pheasant Aviary completes the chain of 
installations. The house is of wood, with cement 
floors and is 100 feet long by sixteen wide. 
The eight cages into which it is divided open into 
the same number of yards, forty feet deep, well 
shaded by fine old apple trees and planted with 
grass and shrubbery. The frame-work is 
formed of iron piping, over which one-half-inch 
square-mesh wire has been stretched, no provi- 
sion having been made to prevent fighting be- 
Most 
of the common species have been or are kept, 


tween cock pheasants in adjacent runs. 


but less attention has been given to this group 
than to some others. 

The birds have the general supervision of Mr. 
A. P. Wilbur, superintendent of the estate, but 
are under the direct care of Mr. E. A. Watts 
and four assistants. All of the members of the 
collection seemed very fit and healthy, and are 
living evidence of the care and solicitude with 
which their every want has been satisfied. 


The Heated Term and the Animals.—During the 
severely hot ten days of July, we watched the condi- 
tion of our animals with close attention. As a matter 
of fact, during that period nearly every living crea- 
ture east of the Rocky Mountains,—man, beast and 
bird,—suffered discomfort; and many people died 
from heat distresses. Although we were very anxious 
about our animals, the death rate was sensibly in- 
creased by the heat only to the extent of three or 
four small crocodilians that actually died in and 
around their outdoor pool from the heat! 

A Bactrian camel fell dead during the middle 
period of a particularly hot afternoon, and we as- 
cribed that fatality to the heat. An autopsy hap- 
pened to be impossible. As usual in hot spells, the 
cage floors in the animal buildings, and the floors of 
the bear dens, were wet down several times each day. 
The herds of musk-ox and mountain goat endured the 
weather quite as well as any of the other large ani- 
mals, and without any sickness or fatality. 

On the whole, the animals seemed to be quite as 
comfortable as the visitors, and there was no notice- 
able increase in the death rate. The Siberian tigers 
bathed frequently, and so did all the bears except the 
polars. Owing to the water famine, the luxury of 
running water was forbidden, but for the serious needs 
of our charges, we had water enough. The steam 
pump that we purchased and installed at the begin- 
ning of the water famine enabled us to pump from 
the Bronx River an adequate supply of water for the 
Italian Garden, and all the plantings and lawns of 
the Concourse, 


ZOOLOGICAL 


196 


SOUTH AMERICAN BIRD-KILLING SPIDER. 


POISONOUS SPECIES 


from our visitors, we note a uniform inter- 
est in all wild creatures that are particular- 
Among the reptiles and the in- 


ee the trend of many questions coming 


ly dangerous. 
sects special attention is always directed toward 
the poisonous species. Hence it was our aim in 
establishing the insect collection to display a 
good series of those species that are able to in- 
flict bites or stings that are highly painful or 
dangerous toman. It should be explained, how- 
ever, that a great number of the really poisonous 
members of this collection, such as the centi- 
pedes, scorpions and spiders, are not true in- 
sects, but, according to technical view, belong 
to distinct classes immediately adjacent to the 
Class of Insects. The centipedes are regarded 
as near allies of the insects. The scorpions and 
spiders are embraced in another order, follow- 
ing. In general structure and chitinous cover- 
ing, as well as their modes of life, these crea- 
tures appeal so strongly to the characteristics of 
insects that it seems quite proper to include them 
within a collection of the former. 

The most dangerous specimens in our collec- 
tion are the centipedes. The most spectacular 
cage in the series is one containing an enormous 


example of a South American species, Scolopen- 


SOCIETY 


IN THE 


BULLETIN. 


TEXAS BIRD-KILLING SPIDER. 


INSECT COLLECTION. 


gigantea. This ugly creature, which is 
fully as wicked as it looks, is eleven inches long, 
and with the legs spread, it is about two and a 
half inches wide. It was captured by Mr. R. 
R. Mole, near the city of Port-of-Spain, on the 
island of Trinidad; and it is to Mr. Mole that 
we are indebted for many interesting tropical 
This centi- 


dra 


specimens now on exhibition here. 
pede is fed, every five days, on a freshly-killed, 
half-grown mouse, which, with the exception of 
the skull, is entirely devoured. 

The bite of a creature like this would be high- 
ly dangerous to man. In structure the fangs 
of the centipede are much like those of snakes. 
Venom is ejected from their tips, and with speci- 
mens half the size of ours it is possible for the 
unaided eye to detect the outlet for virus on these 
formidable weapons. Attached to a dead speci- 
men of this species, which was sent to New York 
by the surgeon of one of the vessels of the U. S. 
navy is a note which explains that a sailor was 
bitten by this centipede, and despite every med- 
ical attention was, for several hours, in great 
danger. 

Scorpions are an interesting feature in a col- 
lection of insects, but are difficult to exhibit in a 
satisfactory manner. They are very retiring in 
habit, and, in fact, light is so distasteful to them 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 197 


NEST OF SOUTH AMERICAN SPIDER. 
The spider’s outlines are visible through the silk tube. 


that unless provided with means of hiding, they 
will not feed. Our examples are generally 
secreting themselves under the flat stones of their 
cage. When disturbed they move about in live- 
ly fashion, holding the sting-tipped tail well ele- 
vated. Unlike the centipede, the 
sprayed about the wound. 


venom is 
The curved sting has 
no orifice at its tip, and is intended to be used 
only as a lacerating organ. The virus is sprayed 
from pores at its base. Though exceedingly 
poisonous, the sting of the larger New World 
scorpions cannot be rated as actually dangerous 
to man. Our specimens come from Cuba. They 
are about two and a half inches long, and of a 
dull reddish hue. Their food consists of soft- 
bodied insect larvae. 

Through unusual vigor displayed by our col- 
lectors, we are rather too elaborately supplied 
with huge spiders of the genus Mygale, com- 
monly known, though not quite appropriately, 
as the Bird-Killing Spiders. 
on exhibition. 


Three species are 
Altogether there are twenty-two 
specimens, which were collected in Dutch 
Guiana, Trinidad and Texas. Owing to their 
quarrelsome dispositions and cannibalistic appe- 
tites, it is impossible to keep more than a pair 
in a cage. In caging these examples we found 
the sexes evenly divided, and our big spiders 


GIANT CENTIPEDE. 
An eleven-inch specimen, from Trinidad. 


occupy a series of eleven cages. Despite the 
cage space thus consumed, there is here an in- 
teresting study of the tube-building skill of a 
number of the specimens, particularly those 
from South America. In a wild state these big 
spiders live in holes in decaying trees, or in 
burrows in soft ground, lining their homes with 
a sheet of gleaming silk. To provide them with 
anything approaching wild conditions would 
mean that the spider would immediately retire 
from view. In their bare cages these specimens 
construct a silk tunnel in one corner, from the 
top to the bottom of the cage. The wall of this 
shelter is exquisitely white, and so tough it is 
diffcult to tear it with one’s fingers. 

Our big spiders are alert, but not particularly 
vicious. They show marked individuality as re- 
gards their temper. Some of them pay little 
attention to the operation of cleaning their cage, 
while a few are ugly enough to jump at a keep- 
er’s hand. Their powerful fangs are provided 
with an orifice at the tip for the ejection of 
venom,.-—alike in structure to the virus-conduct- 
ing weapons of the centipede, and of serpents. 
Small mammals quickly succumb to the bites of 
these spiders, but we find their preference is for 
insect prey. Their bites are alleged to be highly 


ig 1a 1D 


dangerous to man. 


798 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


& NOTES ON THE FISHERIES OF KEY 
WEST. 


By CusarpmMan Grant. 


HE Aquarium has recently placed on exhi- 
bition a large number of tropical fishes ob- 
tained by the writer at Key West, Florida. 

This is a new collecting ground for the Aquar- 
ium and the following notes may be of interest 
to readers of the BuLieTin. 

The fish market of Key West is a revelation 
to the northerner, for instead of buying fish 
from a counter or off a block of ice one goes 
to the market dock and selects the fish alive 
from a fish car, a large slat box floating in the 


% water, or from the well of a smack. Every fish- 
-< 3 : . ~ . 

i ing boat is fitted with a large central well ex- 
A LOAD OF SPONGES. tending to the bottom of the boat and riddled 


with auger holes to permit a free circulation of 
the water. The fish are placed in the well as 
soon as they are caught so that they reach the 
market alive and in good condition. This is a 
necessary proceeding in the tropics where fish 
decompose so rapidly after death. 

A majority of the fishermen prefer to pay 
market fees to the owner or lessee of the dock 
and retail their own fish, others sell all their 
catch to the market owner. The housewife or 
maid, or more frequently the head of the house 
comes to the dock and after a general conyersa- 
tion and exchange of gossip says to the negro 
fisherman, “Any grunts” !—almost a staple—or 
he may ask for grouper or yellowtail. The fish- 
erman takes his dipnet and scoops the desired 
fish from the well, and if an agreement is ar- 
2 : rived at in regard to the price the fish are hit 

FISH FANCIERS. on the head with a club, cleaned, scaled and tied 
Belican) tame) by Js\own initiative. together on a piece of palm fiber and handed to 
the purchaser. The variety to choose from is 
large and is still more diversified by crawfish and 
stonecrabs or jewfish steak. These fish are by 
no means as cheap as one would expect. <A 
crawfish brings about ten or fifteen cents and 
the crabs thirty-five cents a dozen with fish cor- 
respondingly high. 

The killing of fish at the market is an inter- 
esting proceeding. Fish larger than grunts, 
porkfish or vellowtails are not killed with the 
“bruiser,” but after being scooped to the dock 
are pierced to the brain by one blow from a 
poker-shaped iron bar, and as one watches a 
strongly marked grouper or brilliant hogfish or 
a dark turbot, it fades to an ashy gray in about 
seven seconds after being killed. The startled 
observer glances again at a live fish to see if it 
is ; PL AS ~~ really is the beautiful creature he took it to be. 
A FISH MUST TRAVEL DOWN TO ENTER A “POT.” The color of the dead fish returns again almost 


= 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


completely in about three minutes or less. A 
jewfish, from sixty to three hundred pounds or 
more, is killed with a hatchet and the scales are 
removed in blankets by being cut along near the 
skin and as the blanket rolls off before the knife 
of an expert the immaculate white skin of the 
fish comes to view. Several other fish, such as 
the turbot, grouper and hogfish are skinned in 
the same way, but most varieties are truly 
scaled. 

A fishing trip with one of the fishermen is 
very interesting. He goes out in a motor boat, 
over the shallows, and the smooth coral bottom 
is plainly visible with here and there a patch of 
eel grass and worthless sponges growing firmly 
attached, for the cyclone of two years ago swept 
away all the “roller” sponges, and the sponges 
of commerce have been thinned out by the fish- 
ermen. Sea stars and plumes diversify the sea 
floor till he anchors off some key where he knows 
of certain shoals. He sets his pot and com- 
mences fishing with lines, but the treat for a 
novice lies not in the fishing but in looking 
through a water glass, a glass bottomed bucket, 
at the wonders of the shoals. The shoals are 
made up of huge round living coral heads which 
stand clustered together with smaller ones in- 
terspersed like soap bubbles, and in the inter- 
stices lie “sea eggs,” the long-spined sea urchins 
which keep their barbed spines slowly circling 
about in warning to any trespassers. Between 
the coral heads from place to place there is a 
“white hole,’ with a white coral sand bottom, 
and possibly you will see what you call out as a 
“nice little grouper,” but when the fisherman 
takes the glass and proclaims it a sixty-pound 
jewfish you look again and can hardly realize 
that there is such a difference in depth between 
the white hole and the heads. On taking the 
“grains,” or spear, and making a futile jab you 
realize that to a novice the differences in depth 
are as deceiving as a moonlight perspective. 
The real wonders are the fish, for you see 
through the glass-bottomed bucket almost as 
clearly as through the air, and the brilliant par- 
rot-fish, blue tangs, blue heads, Spanish hogfish, 
cockeyed pilots and schools of grunts and snap- 
pers pass in constant review before your de- 
lighted eyes and many strange and beautiful 
fish surprise you if you are not acquainted with 
the fauna and know what to expect. Possibly 
a squall will come up with its usual acecompani- 
ment of a water spout and causes you to look 
disquietly toward the roofs of Key West just 
showing on the horizon; but a squall is more of a 
shower than anything else, and the forming of 
the water spout absorbs your attention. 


BUYING “GRUNTS.” 


ry 


LARGE JEWFISH, IN “FISH-CAR”’ BESIDE A SMACK 


A BIG JEWFISH, KILLED WITH A 


HATCHET. 


99 


800 


Some of the fishermen who have larger boats 
go out for a week and return with a load of 
groupers. If one has no motor and is becalmed 
there will not be enough circulation in the over- 
crowded well and many of the fish will die un- 
less bailing is resorted to for aerating the water. 
Often a boat with a motor will tow in its be- 
calmed brother and thus save many dollars worth 
of fish, or the fisherman may resort to sculling 
his heavy boat. It is a strange thing that row- 
ing, which is so much more effective, is here 
seldom practiced,—it is a matter of custom like 
paddling among the Indians. Most of the fish- 
ermen take fish pots along with them to set 
while line fishing. The pot is made of wire 
woven into a heart-shaped box with the entrance 
at the depression, and the bait,—crawfish with 
the legs and feelers removed as “they would 
frighten the fish,” is fastened at the apex. The 
fish must enter the funnel-like entrance down- 
wards to secure the bait and he seldom looks up 
to find his way out, but noses around the wings 
or tries to force his way through the sides. If the 
fisherman knows where a jew-fish lives he will 
endeavor to get a “jack” or a “runner” for bait, 
and watching the big bass through his water 
glass he lets down the tempting live bait and 
knows just when to pull. 

The favorite bait among fishermen is crawfish, 
which they procure by “‘striking’’—spearing 
them as they hide during the day under rocks 
in a few feet of water, or they are taken at night 
with a “bully,’ a long handled net, to which 
they are attracted with a light. Another bait 
much used is “sardines,” the fry of several fish, 
principally herring. To catch these two men 
get overboard in the shallow water around the 
market and with a seine made of potato sack- 
ing, round up quarts of the little fellows. The 
Cubans, or others who intend to fish for sport, 
eatch this bait by letting down a piece of mos- 
quito netting stretched on a hoop the while they 
masticate a sweet potato and spit the resultant 
lure over the net, and when a number of the 
little fish come to feed the net is slowly drawn 
up and the fry secured. Others prefer to catch 
their bait with tiny hooks on a thread, but these 
enthusiasts are mostly boys. Five cents pur- 
chases about a quart of this bait when it is to 
be had. 

Turtle steak to eat or make soup from is the 
best treat for the northerner, or very good 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


clams. turtle eggs, or conchs can be _ had. 
Conchs retail for five cents and the meat can be 
removed only by mutilating the beautiful shell 
by chopping off the apical whorls and twisting 
out the animal, or the most expert chop a narrow 
incision near the apex, and, by severing the 
upper part of the body of the conch, the animal 
is easily removed. It is then cleaned and pounded 
The turtle 


eggs are as good as hens eggs and sell at about 


and generally served raw in salad. 


the same price. The “yaller aigs,”’ clusters of 
yelks taken from turtles, sell for thirty cents a 
pound, or when salted they bring more, as they 
have dried somewhat but have lost none of their 
food value for cake making. Green turtle up 
to thirty pounds or more is called “chicken,” and 


sells for ten cents a pound. Larger turtles sell 


for less, and those weighing two hundred pounds 
or over are sold by the head. The meat of the 
valuable shell-producing hawksbill turtle is more 
highly esteemed than that of the green. The 
products of the ruddy skinned loggerhead turtle 
are inferior, and those of the trunk or leather- 
back are inedible. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES. 


Bathing Tigers.—The two Siberian tigers exhibit a 
trait very unusual in cat animals, and that is a habit 
of going into water. The male of this really mag- 
nificent pair of great cats will not only stalk into the 
pool in their cage, but lie down in the water, drop 
his meat to the bottom of the tank, then “duck” for it. 
These animals are far less spectacular in their sum- 
mer coats than during the winter, when they are coy- 
ered with hair so long and fluffy it seems like a good 
imitation of wool. They give promise of attaining 
huge proportions. This northerly phase of the tiger 
attains the greatest size to be found among the big 


cat animals. 
* * * 


Breeding Black-Tailed Deer.—We are particular- 
ly proud of the success of Keeper Quinn in rearing 
the Columbian black-tailed deer twins. Born at a 
time of the year when captive individuals of this 
delicate species are much enervated, we were none 
too sanguine of bringing the mother and her babies 
past the crisis. The young are now old enough to 
nibble over a pan of specially prepared food, and 
the mother is rapidly gaining strength. There was a 
time when we despaired of keeping the black-tailed 
deer, and the mule deer, but a thorough study of 
their diet has brought success. We now have several 
vigorous specimens, and have bred both species. The 
antlers of our largest mule-deer buck are unusually 
large and fine, and attract much attention. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


The New Anacondas.—TYhe reptile collection has 
been enriched by the birth of forty-eight anacondas, 
and all of them are vigorous, and appear destined 
to survive. The mother is a prize specimen, nine- 
teen feet long and of greater diameter than our 
largest pythons. She arrived here about four months 
ago, from the island of Trinidad. The young ana- 
condas are thirty-eight inches long, take to water like 
ducklings and will soon be ready to begin feeding 
upon mice. Young anacondas always fast for a 
period of about ten days after birth, during which 
time the mother pays little or no attention to them. 

* * * 

Rare African Moths—During the past few days 
visitors have been fortunate in observing specimens 
of a rare and beautiful moth emerging from their 
silvery, egg-shaped cocoons. These were examples of 
the African luna moth, (dActias mimosae). They are 
of a beautiful pale green color, with dashes of lilac 
and soft brown, and the wings terminate in long, 
flowing “tails.” An observer remarked that these 
insects exhibited the outlines of a monoplane. 

* * * 

New Iguanas.—Kight exceptionally large South 
American iguanas have been purchased and installed 
in the lizard yards. They are the largest examples 
of this species ever exhibited in the Park. Two of 
them are each considerably over five feet in length. 
Their majestic poses, and eccentric decorations of 
spines and tubercles, bring to mind the outlines of 
certain prehistoric reptiles. The new specimens are 
feeding upon lettuce and bananas. In their native 
country they are alleged to be very palatable as 
food, and are sold in large numbers in the markets. 
The flesh is described as looking and tasting much 
like that of chicken. 

* * = 

The Woolly Monkey—We are often asked why the 
specimen of Humboldt’s woolly monkey is quartered 
outside of the Reptile House. It should be ex- 
planed that this animal is very delicate, and requires 
individual care. He has been in our possession 
about eight months, and is in fine condition. During 
the early hours, when the keepers are engaged in the 
work of cleaning the floors, this monkey is allowed 
to roam at will. It is much interested in the snakes, 
and climbs to the wooden ledges outside the cages 
where it has much to say about its likes and dislikes, 
—through the glass. Without any discernable rea- 
son, this monkey has contracted an intense dislike 
of the walrus; and occasionally it wanders out to the 
pen of that animal, where it starts a series of such 
intense screams that it soon attracts a crowd of ob- 
servers,—who ask many questions. 

A Prairie Scene in New York.—During the hot and 
dry days of the past two months, the surface of the 
buffalo range has suffered from too little rain and 
too much heat. The short grass has turned brown, 
and the buffaloes have established a series of dust 
wallows. To look out over this rolling plain in its 
present condition is to immediately recall the prairie 
country of the great West. Clouds of dust rise 
from the wallowing of the largest bulls, and all of 
these animals seem really to enjoy the dry and 
parched condition of their “stamping-ground.” 

BSR ss 

Condition of the Musk-Ox Herd—Without an ex- 
ception, the members of our musk-ox herd passed 
through the recent hot spell in fine condition. A 
large shed has been erected in the yard containing 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 801 


the main herd, thus affording ample shade. The five 
specimens received last year are rapidly growing, 
and soon it will be necessary to give them more room. 
Even in it’s summer coat, the two-year-old female 
example from Melville Island is much admired. 
From a distance, the long outer hair of these ani- 
mals looks heavy, and far too generous for the pres- 
ent weather. Close inspection, however, shows that 
the fine, woolly under coat has been shed, and with- 
out it the long rain-coat of outside hair is so loose 
and open that in hot weather it is not unduly warm. 


The Spectacled Bear.—TYhe large and varied col- 
lection in the Small-Mammal House is in thriving 
condition, and passed through the recent hot spell 
without a single mortality. “Frederico,” the specta- 
cled bear, has been removed from that building to a 
temporary special cage at the north end of the Bear 
Dens, where he will remain until the new bear dens 
are completed. 

* * * 

The Ape Hwhibition—Steadily increasing crowds 
daily watch the feeding of the chimpanzees and orang- 
utans. It is indeed a rare sight,—the assembling at 
table of nine of the great apes. “Baldy” is perhaps 
the favorite, owing to his clown-like capers; but the 
serious acts performed by “Susie” have won much 
praise. “Little Dick,” the small chimpanzee who 
jumps with such alacrity into the doll’s carriage to 
be wheeled by “Susie” about the arena, has been sev- 
eral times in the hospital, owing to extreme impatience 
at meal times. He has a habit of pounding on the 
rear door of his cage as the feeding hour approaches. 
If the keepers fail to notice this signal of his readi- 
ness to be placed at the table, “Dick” thumps the 
door with his head, and spins about in such a frenzy 
of rage that his cage-mates fly before him. In one 
of these impetuous exhibitions “Dick” broke his leg. 
A plaster jacket was applied, and with this the chim- 
panzee,—to our great alarm,—used to pound vigor- 
ously on the floor to attract attention! A boy was 
assigned to watch and control the patient, and Dick’s 
eccentric and very rough usage of his injured limb 
played havoc with the nerves of the nurse. The 
plaster jacket was finally removed, and the chimpan- 
zee discharged as cured. About ten days later 
“Dick” was again in trouble, presumably from pound- 
ing with his feet against a metal door. This time a 
femur was dislocated. “Dick” is once more out of 
the hospital, but his impatience is far from being 
cured, 


Colonizing the Fox Squirrel—Two species of squir- 
rels are now at liberty in the Park. Fraternizing 
with the grays are twelve fox squirrels. The latter 
may be immediately recognized by their darker-gray 
coats and their distinctly yellowish underparts. They 
are also somewhat larger than the gray squirrels. 
The fox squirrels came from southwestern Pennsyl- 
vania, and by way of introduction to the Park were 
kept about two months in a large cage outside the. 
Small-Mammal House, before they were set free. 
When first liberated they frequented the vicinity of 
their cage, and were daily fed by the keepers. Hay-— 
ing noted the friendly relations between our visitors: 
and the gray squirrels, the members of the larger 
species have evidently made up their minds to make 
themselves at home. They have scattered over the- 
southern portion of the Park, and thus far have ap- 
peared to be quite friendly with the members of our- 
large colony of gray squirrels, 


802 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


AN EXPERIMENT 


N the Antelope House,—their 


quarters for several years past,—our zebras 


temporary 


have not bred freely, nor have any of the 
colts lived to maturity. Being desirous of 
breeding zebras, this result was far from satis- 
factory. 

In course of time, our first pair of Grant 
zebras, (Equus burchelli granti), passed away; 
and with the purchase of a new pair, we decid- 
ed to carry out the experiment we had for some 


time desired to make with a zebra species. 

Owing to the nature of the Antelope House, 
all the inmates of that building are in winter 
housed in an artificially warmed atmosphere. 
The temperature is kept as low as the exigen- 
cies of two very valuable giraffes will permit; 
but for all that, the air lacks the crisp and in- 
vigorating quality of outdoors. 

Two years ago, a new and physically perfect 
pair of Grant zebras was installed in the large 
Fallow Deer Range, near the southeastern cor- 
ner of the Zoological Park, with the freedom 
of an shelter the 
zebras were given a roomy shed of two rooms, 


eight-acre meadow. For 


IN ACCLIMATIZATION. 


one of which serves as a sort of vestibule to an 
inner room having no outside door. The sky- 
lights and windows are ample, and in cold 
weather the temperature of the inner room is 
favorably affected by the sunlight, and by the 
bodies of the zebras themselves. In the sever- 
est weather of winter, the animals are confined 
in their inner room, and two doors are shut 
against the cold; but there is no artificial heat 
in the shed. 

On July 17 the pair of zebras gave signs of 
having become acclimatized. A fine, vigorous 
colt was born, which when only two weeks old 
was seen to become peevish, and vigorously kick 
its own father, with both hind feet. 

Our Zebra 


when it is finished, the experiment described 


House is well started; but even 


above will be continued without interruption. 
In fact, we are looking forward to the time 
when a real herd of Grant zebras will be the 
first sight to greet incoming visitors as they 
climb the steps from the West Farms Entrance. 


Wie DE 


IS A71\ 


Aquarium Number 
PREPARED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AQUARIUM. 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


> 


Number 48 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


November, 1911 


THE 


F all the weird creatures that make their 

home at the bottom of the sea, perhaps 

none is more extraordinary than the spider 
crab. The spine-covered body, the extremely 
long appendages, the movements, slow to the 
limit of deliberation, and, above all, the habit 
of decorating its body and sometimes its limbs 
as well with all sorts of odds and ends of mate- 
rial for the purpose of concealment, render it 
as interesting an object for study as could well 
be found. 

They range in size from tiny forms to the 
giant Japanese deep sea crab with a spread of 
legs reaching as much as twelve feet—by far the 
largest of the crustaceans. Spider erabs occur 


SPIDER CRAB. 


all over the world in both cold and warm seas 
and from the shore line to great depths. Natu- 
rally, with such a wide distribution there are 
many genera and species, and several of these 
are found in our own region. 

The commonest species of our coast are the 
well known large brown ones, constituting the 
two species of the genus Libinia (L. emarginata 
and L. dubia), probably not distinguished as 
separate by the ordinary observer though there 
is a difference in the number of spines on the 
carapace. These crabs are unable to swim except 
in the larval stage, and in walking they raise 
themselves upon their awkward-looking legs 
after the manner of gigantic daddy long-legs and 


Mf 


2 


he 
ye af 


= 
k~J «, 


‘é <= 


804 ZOOLOGICAL 
amble slowly along in a most awkward fashion. 
If they are ever in a hurry they never give any 
indication of it by accelerated movements. They 
are even too slow to fight except with each other, 
and they appear to be always good friends 
among themselves. 

Our Libinias attain a size of about eighteen 
inches across the extended legs, with a body a 
little Jarger than one’s fist. The eggs, which 
are carried as in the lobster attached to the 
swimmerets beneath the abdomen, are not as 
large as the head of a pin, and adult size is ap- 
parently not reached for several years and after 
undergoing numerous moults. In the moulting 
process the old shell ruptures around the rear 
margin of the carapace and the soft-shelled oc- 
cupant backs out of the split thus formed. Ina 
few hours it has absorbed an enormous amount 
of water and has swelled until it is much larger 
than it was before. In this condition it begins 
the secretion of a new shell, within which it con- 
tinues to grow until all the spaces have been 
filled, when it must moult again if it is to grow 
further. This moulting process at first goes on 
quite rapidly, occurring every few weeks in the 
very young, but this gradually slows down to 
perhaps only once a year as the adult condition 
is reached. 

The decorating instinct, which has for its pur- 
pose the protection of the crab by rendering it 
inconspicuous in its surroundings, is highly de- 
veloped in the spider crabs. This instinct 
gradually wears away in Libinia as it ap- 
proaches maturity, probably because the animal 
reaches a size in which the strongly calcified, 
spiny shell is sufficient protection. Numerous 
investigators have studied this question in vari- 
ous sorts of spider crabs, but perhaps the most 
thorough studies have been those of Dr. R. 
Minkiewicz on species of Maja occurring on the 
coast of France. 

The method of attaching the decorative mate- 
rial to the small recurved or hooked processes 
on the carapace and legs is described by Dr. 
Minkiewicz as follows: “Having found an alga, 
the crab seizes it with its long slender claws, 
puts it first into its mouth, and while holding it 
with its maxillipeds, begins to tear it to pieces 
with its two claws. When a piece has been cut 
off, the crab pushes it with one of its claws be- 
tween its maxillipeds and whirls it around sey- 
eral times. After having rumpled it, it takes it 
again with one of its claws, extends the claw 
forward as far as possible, and, after making a 
rotary motion bends it around over its back and 
proceeds to affix the alga upon a group of dorsal 
hooks, moving the claw slightly back and forth 
until the alga hooks on.” 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Instead of algae various other things may be 
used. The writer has observed spider crabs 
with hydroids, bryozoa, sponges, ascidians, etc., 
and if living organisms are not available they 
will make use of anything within reach that can 
be utilized—in the aquarium they will use pieces 
of paper, cloth, string, ete. These may be at- 
tached to the limbs as well as upon the cara- 
pace, until the crab may be entirely obscured 
beneath the mass. 

Dr. Minkiewicz finds that Maja rigidly se- 
lects in relation to the environment. “If the 
walls (of the aquarium in use in the experiment) 
are white they will be covered with white only; 
they will take neither green nor yellow nor 
black; if the walls are green, they will be 
clothed only in green.” Furthermore, when 
these crabs are clothed in one color they 
habitually seek concealment in an environment 
of the same color. An experiment to prove this 
was made by preparing an aquarium the two 
ends of which were of different colors. “The 
crabs are invariably seen to make their way to- 
ward the half of the aquarium corresponding in 
color to their covering. Thus, for example, in 
the aquarium red-green, the red crabs go to the 
red end, the green crabs toward the green one.” 

It is interesting to note that the instinct is 
not connected with sight except so far as the 
selection of colors is concerned. This was easi- 
ly proved by blinding the crabs by cutting the 
optic nerves. After this operation “they dis- 
guise themselves at once and in quite a normal 
manner without, however, any reference to the 
color of the surroundings.’ Even after the re- 
moval of the brain the instinct persists, and, “‘if 
the crab happens to touch with its claws a piece 
of paper or alga, it is often seen to disguise it- 
self, executing the whole series of movements 
without omitting any, and in the same order as 
when in the normal condition.” 

This instinct for decoration parallels in a very 
interesting manner the color protection observed 
in certain fishes (see, for example, the interest- 
ing experiments described by Dr. F. B. Sum- 
mer in the Burietin for November, 1910, 
though the means as well as the mechanism in- 
volved are totally different. 

The spider crabs are scavengers and are not 
used for food, though they may be used as bait. 
They are frequently taken in lobster-pots where 
they make themselves a nuisance to the lobster 
fishermen by devouring the bait. The writer 
recalls seeing more than a hundred Libinias 
taken from two lobster-pots set overnight in 
Buzzards Bay by Mr. Vinal Edwards, the vet- 
eran collector of the Woods Hole Fisheries 
Station. R. C. Ossurn. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


=e = 
SEINING KENSICO LAKE. 
Photograph by L. M. Petry. 


THE LOCUST LOBSTER. 


EERHAPS the most interesting member of 
the crustacea to be shown at the Aquar- 
ium is the Locust Lobster (Scyllarides 

aequinoctialis), also known as Spanish Lob- 
ster, Sea Roach and Mother Lobster. This pe- 
culiar form occurs in Bermuda and Florida and 
throughout the West Indies. It reaches a large 
size, the female sometimes attaining a length of 
three feet. The meat is edible and is said to be 
superior even to that of the common lobster. 

Like the spiny lobster it has no large pincers 
and so is unable to defend itself, relying on its 
hard shell and secretive habits for protection. 
It is taken in traps and is also speared in its 
lurking places about the reefs. 


KENSICO LAKE BASS. 
A‘ of the lakes of the Croton water sys- 


tem contain fish in considerable numbers 
and of various species, and are the resort 
of numerous anglers. 

When Kensico Lake, near 
Valhalla, New York, was 
drained in September the 
enthusiastic anglers of the 
surrounding country pur - 
posed to transfer the fish to 
nearby lakes, and, by pri- 
vate subscription, purchased 
a seine. Owing to inexperi- 
ence in hauling nets and in 
handling live fish the venture 
was not very successful, and 
the same amount of money 
invested in fry would no 
doubt have brought more 
satisfactory results. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 805 
The Aquarium had made 
arrangements with the game 
warden to secure some of 
the fish for exhibition pur- 
poses, but was able to ob- 
tain only a few yellow perch 
and black bass. The largest 
bass taken measured nine- 
teen inches in length and 
was estimated by the sports- 
men present to weigh about 
seven pounds, while the 
hewspaper reporters raised 
this a couple of pounds more, 
thus making a very respec- 
table fish for a small-mouth 
bass. Subsequent proceed- 
ings, however, proved that 
this fish had unusual capacity for shrinkage for 
it died that night and when weighed tipped the 
beam at four and one one-quarter pounds! 

A hook was found imbedded in the upper jaw 
of this fish as was also the ease with another 
large bass which we were unable to procure. C. G. 


NEW BERMUDA EXHIBITS. 


MONG the collections brought from Ber- 

muda during the past summer are three 

species of strikingly colored small fishes 
which have not previously been seen at the 
Aquarium. Two of these belong in the genus 
Tridio in the family of Wrasse-fishes (Labridae) 
and are thus related to our local Tautog and 
Cunner. They are so different from these fishes 
in appearance and habits, however, that the 
casual observer would perceive no ground for 
relationship. There are now on exhibition in 
the same tank specimens of the Doncella or 
pudding-wife (Iridio radiatus), the Slippery 


806 


FP IC oe 
PORTO RICO HAWKSBILL. 


Dick (Iridio bivittatus) with the closely related 
and gorgeously colored Blue-Head (Chlorich- 
thys bifasciatus), all of which have been exhib- 
ited in former years, as well as the Kelpfish 
(Iridio meyeri) and Rosefish (Iridio garnoti) 
which are here for the first time. 

All of these fishes have the peculiar and inter- 
esting habit of secreting themselves at night 
either in crannies in the rock-work or by bury- 
ing themselves in the loose gravel in the bottom 
of the tank, so that the tank which is rendered 
lively all day by their active forms and striking 
colors becomes at nightfall apparently entirely 
deserted. When frightened or disturbed during 
the day they secrete themselves in the same man- 
ner. Mr. Mowbray, who collected them, in- 
forms us that this is their custom in their natural 
habitat where they bury themselves in the loose 
coral sand. In adaptation to this habit the 
body is lanceolate in form, the head pointed and 
the fins low. It is also interesting to note that 
this secreting habit is regulated by such a con- 
stitutional periodicity that it is not affected by 
throwing on artificial light, as they rarely ap- 
pear after nightfall even when the tank is il- 
luminated by strong electric light. 

The other new Bermuda fish, known locally 
in the Bermudas as the Butter Hamlet, is a 
Vaca (Hypoplectrus puella), belonging to the 
family Serranidae or Sea-basses. It is prob- 
ably only a color variety of H. unicolor, which 
is known to possess an enormous range of color 
variation. Jets (Cy. O} 


KEY WEST RECORD TURTLES. 


HE Aquarium has long had a standing or- 
der with a Key West dealer to procure the 
first really large green turtle that should 

come to market, but it was not until July of 
this year when the writer was in Key West col- 
lecting tropical fishes for the Aquarium that the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


} 
| 


BULLETIN. 


desired specimen came. Two negro fishermen 
found a pair mating in the water and struck 
both with spears, but the male which was the 
smaller of the two made his escape by breaking 
away. The female was captured however, and 
being too large to spansail, her flippers were 
securely tied together and she was brought to 
port resting on her back. In spansailing a tur- 
tle a small hole is punched through the gristle 
near the end of the flippers which are then tied, 
a fore to a hind of the same side or diagonally. 
This is by far the most merciful way to carry 
turtles and indeed the only practical one, for if 
the flippers are left free they will be frayed by 
the turtle slapping everything within reach in 
its efforts to turn over and it will also injure 
nearby turtles. When carried right side up a 
large turtle will soon smother to death as its 
whole weight presses on the flexible plastron 
and breathing becomes impossible. The only 
objection to carrying a turtle on its back is that 
in a large specimen the eyes protrude somewhat, 
but if kept moist they remain uninjured when 
the turtle is righted. A bandage around the 
head answers the same purpose. 

This specimen attracted much attention the 
first day while it lay on the dock over the tur- 
tle crawl of the unique turtle-soup cannery at 
Key West. It was agreed that this was the 
largest green turtle that had been taken for 
eighteen or twenty years and that although some 
of the turtles of the olden time had been some- 
what longer none had ever been seen that was 
so thick through. 


GIANT GREEN TURTLE. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


A telegram was sent the Aquarium for in- 
structions to buy, but the answer came after it 
had been sold to two young men who were go- 
ing to embark in the show business, so they 
hired a tent on the main street near the amuse- 
ment grounds and exhibited it during the Fourth 
of July—the turtle was captured on the first. 
Unfortunately Key West had seen about all it 
wanted of the turtle for nothing, so the show 
business was forgotten and the turtle purchased 
for the Aquarium. It was carefully doctored 
—all its wounds were disinfected and covered 
with collodion, its eyes washed with boracic acid 
solution, and it was laced into a rope net padded 
with sacks of sponge clippings to keep it moist 
in its upright position. Its weight smothered it 
however, as all the old turtlers had predicted, 
when it had been but twenty-four hours in this 
position on the way to New York. 

It is a pity that its exact weight will remain 
unknown since it had to be cleaned and salted 
aboard the Comal in order to preserve it for the 
American Museum of Natural History. It is 
safe to say that it weighed not less than seven 
hundred pounds, however. Its upper shell 
measured four feet five inches and that of the 
largest green turtle in the Aquarium measures 
only three feet ten inches. It is being used as 
a model from which plaster casts are being 
made at the Museum, one of which will soon be 
on exhibition at the Aquarium. 

A turtle crawl is not a hauling-out place as 
might be expected, but a stockade of palm 
trunks in about five feet of water—the word 
comes from the Spanish corral, an enclosure. 
The green turtles are kept separate from the 
dangerous loggerheads. When a green turtle is 
wanted, a man gets into the crawl, which is gen- 
erally the whole space under a dock and places 
a noose around each fore flipper and then two 
men on the dock draw the turtle up through a 
manhole. It is then weighed and the weight 
and consignee’s name written on the plastron 
with indelible pencil. It is then pinioned fore 
and aft and is ready for shipment. Handling 
a loggerhead is a different process for no one 
will enter the crawl, so the turtles are drawn 
to the surface with boat hooks and noosed by 
the fore flippers and they are then hauled onto 
the dock from their open crawl. They are not 
passive like the greens but bite at the boat hooks 
with their formidable jaws. They are weighed 
and pinioned diagonally and their inferior meat 
is then for sale. A loggerhead is identifiable 
at a distance by the warm glow of its reddish 
skin whereas a green turtle looks pale or white. 

All the marine turtles lay their eggs in the 
sand of the beach to the number of about a hun- 


BULLETIN. 807 
dred and twenty-five and the hunters find the 
nests and dig out the eggs, or else find the tur- 
tle at the nest and turn her if she is not too 
large, otherwise they dig a trench beside her and 
tilt her into it, or if this fails and she starts for 
the water the hunter grasps her by the head and 
thrusting his fingers into her eyes, guides her 
any place he chooses—to where he can reach a 
rope if possible and with this fastened to a flip- 
per a small bush is sufficient to tether a green. 
A loggerhead (so named on account of its large 
head) cannot be handled this way for its jaws 
are strong enough to crush a heavy conch shell 
to get at the snail and it does not hesitate to 
use them in self defense. The vegetarian diet 
of the green is a good index of its inoffensive- 
ness. Once in a while a green or hawksbill tur- 
tle is caught on hook and line and is landed 
without much difficulty. Lately schooners have 
been fitted out to take turtles at sea, where they 
are pegged with a spear or taken in a bully, a 
long handled net. These catches yield a ma- 
jority of males because the years of turning the 
female turtles which crawl onto the beach to 
lay their eggs has put them greatly in the minor- 
ity. The male turtles are easily distinguishable 
by their long tails. 

The same week that the large green turtle 
was taken saw the capture of an exceptionally 
large hawksbill turtle (Chelonia imbricata) by 
a sponge fisher. This picturesque young conch, 
as the natives are called, came to Key West with 
his well smack loaded with live conchs for the 
holiday market and the hawksbill, which he 
caught on hook and line, swimming in the well 
above the shells. The tortoise shell on this tur- 
tle would be worth about thirty dollars at five 
dollars a pound in the open market and the meat 
which is very highly prized would bring about 
fifteen dollars, and if she bore eggs about double 
that amount, but the theory of the turtlers is 
that a turtle bearing eggs will not eat, so the 
probability was that this female did not have 
eggs since she took bait and that therefore she 
would live in the Aquarium. This perhaps is 
the largest specimen of Atlantic hawksbill ever 
measured and weighed of which we have any 
record, as she was thirty-eight and a half by 
thirty-four and a half inches measured over the 
curves and weighed one hundred and eighty- 
eight pounds. Last April we received what up 
to June was the largest hawksbill ever seen at 
the Aquarium, a specimen weighing one hundred 
and twenty-four pounds and measuring thirty- 
three and a half by thirty-one inches over the 
curves. She was taken on the beach at Porto 
Rico and loaned to the Aquarium by Mr. Par- 
ker. Both of these turtles refused food and in- 


808 


deed we have lost 
four for this rea- 
son within the last 
year. These speci- 
mens are larger 
than the Pacific 
hawksbills (Che- 
lonia squamata) 
recently brought 
from La paz, Low- 
er California, by 
Dr. C. H. Town- 
send for the Amer- 
ican Museum of 
Natural History, 
which measured 
along the top shell 
thirty-four inches 
and thirty-one 
inches respective- 
ly. Small hawks- 
bills do very well 
in the Aquarium. 
We are very much 
indebted to Mr. 
Mallory of the 
Mallory Steamship Company for cooperation in 
transporting our turtles and tropical fishes from 
Key West, Florida. Without his help we would 
have been unable to transport fishes so far and 
the Aquarium would be without many fishes 
heretofore not exhibited. . CHapMaN Granv. 


DOUBLE TAILED 
HORSESHOE CRAB. 


ELEPHANT SEALS. 


HE six young Elephant Seals (Macrorhinus 
augustirostris) received at the Aquarium 
from Guadalupe Island off Lower Califor- 

nia, on March 13, are still on exhibition and are 
apparently in excellent condition. Since the 
death of the Alaska fur seals, they have been 
separated to give them more room and now oc- 
cupy two of the large floor pools, For some 
time after these animals were received they did 
not eat readily and took only a small amount of 
food, although every effort was made to tempt 
their appetites. In the course of a little time, 
however, they all found appetites commensur- 
ate with their size and at present they consume 
about twelve to fifteen pounds of food each per 
day. They are fed on cod and herring with an 
occasional change to haddock and weakfish. 
Some of them have learned by their own initia- 
tive to squirt mouthfuls of water for a short dis- 
tance and to juggle the wooden ball floating in 
the pool. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Two of these seals have been presented to the 
United States Bureau of Fisheries to which the 
New York Zoological Society is indebted in 
many ways for specimens and other aid in keep- 
ing up the Aquarium exhibits. 

The Bureau of Fisheries will place these 
specimens in the National Zoological Park at 
Washington and they will be sent on as soon as 
suitable quarters can be provided for them. 
This will permit us to place the remaining four 
seals in one pool without detriment to their 
health. te (CoO) 


AN UNUSUAL HORSESHOE CRAB. 
A BNORMALITIES in the appendages of 


crabs are not uncommon and a number of 

cases of partial division of the caudal 
spine of the Horseshoe or King Crab (Limulus 
polyphemus) have been noted. The accom- 
panying picture illustrates the most complete 
as well as the most symmetrical case of this 
abnormality of which we have any knowledge. 
The specimen from which the photograph was 
taken was a full grown one received at the 
Aquarium in July from an unknown donor in 
Port Jefferson, Long Island. It lived for sey- 
eral weeks in one of our exhibition tanks and 
attracted much attention among visitors. 

R. C. Ospurn. 


GOITRE IN FISHES. 


T has been a common experience in fish hatch- 
eries devoted to the culture of trout and other 
salmonoid fishes that many of the fishes 

hatched and reared in captivity develop tumors 
in the throat region. These have been common- 
ly referred to as goitres or as cancers. Scare 
headlines have appeared in some of the news- 
papers suggesting that cancer may be acquired 
in the human through the medium of a fish diet. 
Of course there is nothing whatever in such a 
suggestion even though cancers occasionally oc- 
cur in fishes. 

The tissues of the thyroid gland, which are 
affected in goitre, have also been occasionally 
found to contain cancerous growths. As so lit- 
tle is known concerning the cause and develop- 
men of cancer the pathologists have welcomed 
the opportunity to study the abundant material 
supplied by the numerous cases of fish goitre in 
the hatcheries devoted to the salmonoid fishes. 

While as yet nothing has appeared to throw 
any light on the cancer question the investiga- 
tions carried out on these thyroid tumors have 
proved of great interest in other ways. Doctors 
Marine and Lenhart of the medical department 


ZOOLOGICAL 


of the Western Reserve University of Cleve- 

land, Ohio, have been working in connection 

with the Pennsylvania Commission of Fsheries 
and have thus far published two bulletins (Nos. 

7 and 8, Dept. of Fisheries, Harrisburg, Pa.) 

setting forth the following results: 

The swellings or tumors of the throat region 
of the trout are due to hypertrophy of the thy- 
roid glands and are thus true goitres similar to 
those of the human. That they are of the same 
nature is shown both by their histological struc- 
ture and by the fact that they yield to exactly 
the same treatment, viz., the iodine method. 

They show no indication of a direct connec- 
tion with cancer, and, while carcinoma or can- 
cerous tissue may occur in these goitreous try- 
roids, such a condition is no more common than 
in human goitre. 

There is no evidence that this goitre is either 
infectious or contagious. Even experiments in 
transplanting the diseased thyroid tissues to 
healthy fishes gave only negative results. 

Fish goitre is quantitatively related in sever- 
ity to the general hygienic conditions, food, 
water supply and crowding of the hatchery. 

The ultimate cause of the goitre is unknown 
but in all probability it is due to disproportion 
or lack of certain elements necessary for nutri- 
tion. 

The food supplied to young carnivorous 
fishes in hatcheries consist ordinarily of finely 
ground liver, heart and lung tissues from cattle, 
hogs and sheep. This diet evidently may in- 
fluence the health of the fish in at least four 
ways, as follows: 

a. It is a highly unnatural food, 

b. It is frequently fed in excessive amounts, 

c. It contains an excess of certain elements and 
a deficiency of others necessary for nor- 
mal nutrition, 

d. By bacterial decomposition. 

These researches have thus shown us that the 
throat tumors of the trouts and salmons are 
merely goitres and that they are not directly 
connected with cancers. Furthermore they 
have suggested the means of preventing the 
disease by controlling the food and improving 
the sanitation of the hatcheries. Certain of the 
suggestions of Doctors Marine and Lenhart are 
already being tried out in the Pennsylvania 
State Fish Hatcheries. This is another excel- 
lent example of the way in which results ob- 
tained by investigation and experiment in the 
field of pure science may be put to practical use. 

R. C. Ospurn. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 809 


AQUARIUM CENSUS. 


RECENT census of the fishes in the Aquar- 
ium shows that there are now on exhibi- 
tion one hundred and twenty-six species. 

Titres hiswwettere tis he sss see ann enn 38 species. 

Local marine fishes -.........:.---------- 29 species. 

Tropical fishes from Bermuda 

anduKeym Wiest saree e 59 species. 

As soon as colder weather arrives the list of 
local salt water fishes will be increased by about 
a dozen species that do not live in this vicinity 
in summer but which are regular winter resi- 
dents. Our collection of fresh water fishes is 
not as large as it has been at times. 

The fresh water turtles at present number 
fifteen species, besides which we have the green, 
hawksbill and loggerhead turtles as representa- 
tives of the marine species. The sea turtles are 
fed regularly on cod-fish cut into pieces and in 
addition they are given once a week a bushel of 
eel-grass and sea lettuce which they devour with 
avidity. One of the green turtles has been in 
the Aquarium over fourteen years. 

Of invertebrates there are on exhibition about 
thirty-five species, about half of which are 
crustaceans. Repeated attempts have been made 
during the summer to bring the octopus alive to 
the Aquarium but all efforts have resulted in 
failure. 


MORE FLORIDA FISHES FOR THE 
AQUARIUM. 


HROUGH the courtesy of Mr. Clifford 
Mallory of the Mallory Steamship Com- 
pany, the Aquarium has lately had the 
privilege of special facilities in the shipment of 
fishes from Key West, Florida. Two large col- 
lections have been received since July on the 
Steamer Comal, both of them containing trop- 
ical species new to the exhibits at the Aquarium. 

There are serious difficulties in the way of 
transporting live fishes by sea, which can only 
be surmounted by the co-operation of the officers 
of the steamship companies and of the vessels. 
The assistance of Mr. Mallory and the officers 
of the Comal has meant good fortune for the 
Aquarium. 

The exhibits of tropical fishes are now finer 
than at any time in the history of the institu- 
tion. The collection received on October 17 is 
the gift of Mr. Danforth Ferguson of Halesite, 
Suffolk Co., Long Island, N. Y., who also as- 
sisted in obtaining the specimens at Key West. 
The Zoological Society is much indebted to Mr. 
Ferguson for his friendly interest in the Aquar- 
ium. Both expeditions were in charge of Mr. 
Chapman Grant of the Aquarium staff. C. H. T. 


810 ZOOLOGICAL 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


a 
ELwin R. SANBORN, Editor. 


Bepartments : 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HORNADAY. RayMonpb L, DiTMars. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. H. TOWNSEND. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Raymonp C. Ossurn, PH. D. LEE S. CRANDALL. 
SS ee EE 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1911, by the New York Zoological Society. 
— 


Numeer 48 NOVEMBER, 1911 


Officers of the Society. 


President - 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
Mapison GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Lev! P. Morton, Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K. STuRGIS, 


HENRY FAIRFIELD Osgorn, Ex-Officio. 
General Officers: 


Secretary 
Mapison GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 


Treasurer 
Percy R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director 
WILLIAM T. HoRNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


JOHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Board of Managers - 
Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York 
Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR. 
The President of the Department of Parks 
Hon. CHARLES B. STOVER. 


Glass of 1912. 
SAMUEL THORNE, 
Henry A.C TAYLor, 
HuGH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. STuRGIS, 
GeorcE J. GouLp, 
OcpEN MILLs. 


Glass of 1913. 
F. AUGUSTUS SCHERMERHORN, FREDERICK G. BOURNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, W. AusTIN WADSWORTH, 
GEorGE B. GRINNELL, EmersON MCMILLIN, 
GeorGE C. CLARK, ANTHONY R. KuseER, 
CLEVELAND H. DonceE, Watson B. DICKERMAN, 
C. LEDYARD BLAIR, MortTIMER L. SCHIFF. 


Glass of 1914. 
JAmes J. HILL, 
GeorcE F. BAKER, 
GRANT B. SCHLEY, 
Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
RoBERT S. BREWSTER, 
Epwarp S. HARKNESS. 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
Joun L. CADWALADER, 
JoHN S. BARNES, 
MapIsON GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 


Henry F. OsBorn, 
WILLIAM C. CHURCH, 
LisPENARD STEWART, 
H. Casimir DE RHAM, 
HucH D. AUCHINCLOSS, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, 


Officers of the Zoological Park : 


W. T. HornaDAyY, Sc. D., Director. 
H.R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RaymonD L. DITMARS - - Curator of Reptiles. 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE = - - Curator of Birds. 
LEE 8S. CRANDALL - - - Assistant Curator of Birds 
W. Rerp Buair, D.V.S. = - Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H.W. MERKEL - - - - Chief Forester and Constructor, 
ELWIN R, SANBORN = - - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - Civil Engineer. 


@Officers of the Aquartum 


CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RAYMOND C. OSBURN, Ph.D. - - Assistant Director. 


CHAPMAN GRANT - = = = - = Assistant 
W.I. DENYSE - - - - - - In Charge of Collections. 
ROBERT SUTCLIFFE : - - - Clerk 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


HOW FISHES BREATHE. 


Respiration is, of course, necessary to every or- 
ganism, plant or animal, that is to say, oxygen is 
required for the combustion of the food materials 
and by this process the organism releases the 
energy necessary to the activities of protoplasm. 
Animals vary widely in the amount of oxygen 
required to maintain life. Since the constant 
high temperature of the warm blooded animals 
requires a great amount of combustion, the birds 
and mammals consume more oxygen than cold 
blooded forms. The reptiles and amphibians of 
the temperate regions of the world hibernate dur- 
ing the winter and during this season of inactiv- 
ity respiration is greatly lowered. Many species 
of fishes also hibernate during the colder months, 
some forms burying themselves in the mud. 

Air breathing animals find a ready supply of 
oxygen in the air from which they absorb it 
into the blood through the lungs, or as in the 
amphibians, partly by means of the thin, moist 
skin. Animals living in the water have an 
equally constant, but much less abundant sup- 
ply of oxygen to draw upon, since water will 
absorb only a small proportion of this gas. 
Numerous groups of air breathing animals are, 
of course, able to live in the water by coming to 
the surface occasionally to breathe. 

Many of the lower groups of invertebrates 
present a sufficiently large proportion of body 
surface to the water so that no special organs 
for the absorption of oxygen are necessary, e. g. 
protozoa, hydroids, jellyfishes, corals and most 
worms. Others, such as the tube-dwelling 
worms and the molluscus and crustaceans which 
are encased in hard coverings, have evolved spe- 
cial expansions of the body, the gills, for res- 
piratory purposes. In some cases these gills 
are freely exposed to the water but in most crus- 
taceans and molluses the water is caused to flow 
through special chambers containing the gills. 

The vertebrates have evolved a gill mechanism 
which is so characteristic of the group that it is 
found not only in the lowest orders, acorn 
worms, ascidians and amphioxus, but also in the 
embryonic stages of reptiles, birds and mammals 
where they are never functional as breathing 
organs. This apparatus consists of a series of 
slits or apertures through the body wall leading 
from the pharynx to the outside. In respira- 
tion the water is taken into the mouth and forced 
out through these slits, coming into close relation 
with the blood in the walls of the gills. In the 
acorn worms and amphioxus the gill slits are 
very numerous, but as efficiency becomes greater 
the number is reduced. In the lampreys the 
number varies from seven to fourteen. In the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


true fishes the highest number is seven, found 
only in the lowest sharks, while the characteris- 
tic number is five. 

The gill of the fish consists of a cartilaginous 
or bony support, the gill arch, on the outer side 
of which are arranged the numerous, delicate, 
thin-walled gill filaments. It is in these fila- 
ments that the absorption of the oxygen from 
the water into the blood takes place. The blood 
flows directly from the heart to the gills by the 
afferent arteries, one to each gill, and thence 
passes into very fine vessels in the filaments 
which have such delicate walls that the blood is 
brought close to the surface. As the filaments 
are very numerous a large surface is exposed to 
the water. After passing through the filaments 
the blood is taken up by the efferent vessels and 
thence to the systemic circulation. 

In order to cause the water to flow over the 
gills certain accessory organs are necessarily in- 
volved. These are the mouth, oral valve, 
pharynx, and the gill slits. To prevent food 
matter from passing out through the gill slits 
these openings are guarded by the gill-rakers, 
projections from the inner surface of the gill 
arch. For the protection of the delicate gills 
externally the opercular apparatus or gill-flap 
has been evolved. This ordinarily consists of 
a series of flat bony plates hinged in such a 
manner as to allow the water to flow out readily 
after passing over the gills but closing at once 
to prevent any injury from the outside. In the 
sharks there is no such arrangement, each gill 
slit opening separately to the outside. In the 
morays the bony plates are reduced and the cov- 
ering consists mostly of skin. 

The sequence of the breathing movements is 
as follows: The fish takes in a mouthful of 
water, closes the mouth or the oral valve, and 
forces the water backward by muscular action 
into the pharynx where it passes through the 
gill slits (the gullet being closed) and over the 
gill filaments. -The water, exhausted of its 
oxygen, then passes from the gill chamber to the 
outside by pushing aside the opercular flap. 
These breathing movements follow each other 
rhythmically, the rhythm varying according to 
conditions. Fishes which do not have the oral 
valve-—a fold of skin within the mouth—well 
developed must needs close the mouth with each 
respiration, and this is why certain fishes, when 
caught on a hook in such a manner as to pre- 
vent the mouth being closed, can be drowned. 

A few fishes have developed special structures 
which permit them to breath while out of the 
water. Thus the climbing perch (Anabas 
scandens) of India has a special modification of 
the gills and gill chamber for air breathing. 


BULLETIN. 811 


The lung-fishes have a very vascular air bladder. 
which is homologous with the lungs of air- 
breathing vertebrates, and are thus able to 
breathe air. They inhabit marshes in the trop- 
ical regions of Australia, Africa and South 
America, where at certain seasons of the year 
the water dries up. They are in a dormant 
condition during this season, however, and only 
become active with the advent of the rainy sea- 
son, when the normal gill respiration is resumed 
to furnish them with more oxygen than can be 
obtained by the imperfect swim-bladder lung. 
R. C. Osspurn. 


OCEANIC BONITA AND LITTLE TUNNY. 


Two specimens of the Mackerel family recent- 
ly brought to the Aquarium for identification de- 
serve mention for the sake of recording their 
oceurrence in this vicinity. These represent the 
two species of the genus Gymnosarda which are 
found the world around in warmer seas. 

For one of the species Gymnosarda pelamys, 
the Oceanic Bonita, there is no local record avail- 
able and it is not listed in the New Jersey Re- 
ports. Bean, in his Fishes of New York, men- 
tions it as a “rare visitor in our waters.” The 
other species is the Little Tunny, sometimes mis- 
called Albacore (Gymnosarda alleterata). This 
fish is listed in both the New York and New 
Jersey reports but no records are given for its 
actual occurrence in either state. 

For the pleasure of examining these speci- 
mens we are indebted to Mr. Archibald B. 
Gwathmey of New York City, who took them 
with rod and reel five miles off Manasquan, New 
Jersey, September 10, 1911. Mr. Gwathmey 
states that they occurred in large schools. 


APPEAL FOR NEW MEMBERS. 


The Executive Committee will welcome the 
suggestion of new members, and a blank is en- 
closed for this purpose. 

The Society is obliged to rely on the dues of 
members as its chief source of income for the 
general purposes of the Society, not only for the 
collections at the Park and the Aquarium, but 
for the establishment of the new library, and 
above all, for the game protective work of the 
Society. 

The Executive Committee wishes to render 
substantial aid, during the coming year, to the 
general cause of the conservation of the wild 
life of the country, and is at present without 
funds for this purpose. On a membership 
strong in character and in numbers depends not 
only the influence of the Society, but in a large 
measure its financial strength. 


812 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


BROAD NOSED CROCODILE. 


AQUARIUM NOTES. 


Striped Bass.—There still remain at the 
Aquarium two specimens of Striped Bass (Roc- 
cus lineatus) which were brought in for exhibi- 
tion May 14, 1894. 
old when taken, these specimens, if they live un- 


As they were two years 


til next spring, will be twenty years old. 


Wandering Trunk Fish—The capture of a 
trunk fish, presumably (Lactophrys trigonnus) 
in great South Bay, Long Island, in August, 
1911, is reported by Miss Eleanor D. Wood, of 
Islip, Long Island. This tropical species occa- 
sionally strays as far north in summer as South- 


ern Massachusetts. (Orga eet Bs 


Night Opening at the Aquarium.—Beginning 
with May 30, the Aquarium was kept open to 
the public until ten o’clock at night through the 
summer months until September 30. The aver- 
age nightly attendance after the usual closing 
hour was 1,395 and the largest attendance on 
any one night was that of June 4, when 6,934 


persons viewed the exhibits. 


Transplanting Turtles—In the summer of 
1909 I liberated three pairs of Blanding’s Tur- 
tle (Emys blandingi) and three pairs of the 
Map Turtle (Malacoclemmys geographica) in 
southern Orange County, New York. As some 
of these turtles or their progeny may eventual- 
ly fall into the hands of naturalists, it is desir- 
able that a record be made of their introduction. 
All of the specimens were placed at Little Long 


Pond, near Southfields and all were collected in 
Erie County, Ohio. (Galak At 


Local Tuna Fishing.—In the Buxzietin for 
November, 1910, mention was made of the fact 
that the Great Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) had 
been captured a number of times with rod and 
We are pleased 
to note that this was no sporadic occurrence of 


reel at Barnegat, New Jersey. 


this king of game fishes as a number of cap- 
tures have been made again this season. ‘Two 
of these, as reported by Mr. Hartie I. Phillips 
in Forest and Stream for October 7, were taken 
from the beach while casting for channel bass. 


Cobia or Crab-eater—A small specimen of 
this fish 
inches long, was taken on a hook by Mr. B. F. 
Garrison of New York City in Goose Creek, Ja- 
maica Bay, Long Island, on August 27, 1911, 
The species reaches 


(Rachycentron canadus), about six 


while fishing for kingfish. 
a length of five feet and ranges in warm seas 
around the world. As Jordan and Evermann 
remark the species was “named for Canada 
where it does not occur.” It is rare in this lo- 
cality though it has been taken as far north as 
Massachusetts Bay, and there is no previous 


local record of a small specimen. R. C. O. 


Additional Key West Specimens.—Mr. Dan- 
forth B. Ferguson’s generous gift of Key West 
fishes to the Aquarium has been noted else- 
In this collection there are five species 
These 


are: the Scamp (Mycteroperca phenaz) one of 


where. 
of fishes not previously exhibited here. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


the Groupers; the Snook or Robalo (Centro- 
pomis undecimalis); the Southern Puffer 
(Sphaeroides spengleri) or swell-fish, and Scor- 
pion and Toad Fishes. New additions of in- 
vertebrates in the same collections are four spe- 
cies of Conchs, green hermit crab, spider crab, 
starfish, blunt-spined sea-urchin and a basket- 
star. 


The California Sea Lion—The sea lion which 
has spent four years in the Aquarium began 
during the past summer to show unmistakable 
signs of the enlargement or crest on the top of 
the head, so characteristic of old males of this 
species. Allen (North American Pinnipeds) 
says in regard to this matter, “the sagittal crest, 
in very old males, forms a remarkably high, 
thin, bony plate, unparalleled in its great de- 
velopment in any other genus of the family 


| 


(Otariidae) ... . and, contrary to what usu- 
ally obtains in the other genera of this family, 
is considerably developed in very old females.” 
According to the best information obtainable 
this sea lion is now between six and seven years 
of age, as at the time of his arrival at the Aquar- 
ium in October, 1907, he was said to be past 
two years old. From this we may judge that 
the sea lion attains full maturity at about the 
same age as the fur seal which is known to reach 
sufficient size to fight for and maintain a harem 
at seven years. CaO: 


The Redfish—A most interesting little fish, 
exhibited for the first time at the Aquarium, is 
a young specimen of Pseudopriacanthus altus 
received August 17, 1911, through the kindness 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 813 
of Professor Charles B. Davenport, Director of 
the Carnegie Laboratory at Cold Spring Har- 
bor, Long Island. The Short Big-eye, as this 
fish is also called, is a resident of deeper waters 
of the West Indies, but the young occasionally 
drift northward in the Gulf Stream. A num- 
ber of specimens have been taken about Woods 
Hole, Massachusetts, and one is recorded from 
as far north as Marblehead, Massachusetts. 
One specimen is known from New Jersey at At- 
lantic City, and as far as known the present 
record is the first for the State of New York. 
The entire body of the fish is brilliantly red, 
and the fins, except the pectoral, are tipped with 
black. The large eye is exceptionally beautiful 
and glows like molten gold. The little fellow, 
which is about two inches long, was placed in a 
tank with the sea horses where he feeds vora- 
ciously on the small crustacea which also con- 
stitute the diet of the sea horses. 18%, (C (0); 


KEY WEST FISHES AT THE AQUARIUM. 


HILE it is a well known fact that locali- 
ties similarly situated as to latitude and 
environment are likely in general to have 

similar faunas, it is equally true that such locali- 
ties if separated by a considerable distance may 
present interesting differences in the minor de- 
tails of their faunas. Thus a species which is 
common in one locality may often be represented 
in a similar locality by another species of the 
same genus or even by some other genus which 
parallels it in appearance by reason of similar 
habits of life. 

In past years all of our tropical fishes have 
been obtained from Bermuda, but this past sum- 
mer Mr. Chapman Grant of the Aquarium staff 
made a special trip to Key West to supplement 


BLACK MARGATE. 


our exhibits by a collection from that region. 
Mr. Grant succeeded in obtaining and bringing 
back alive on July 11 thirty-seven species of 
fishes and six species of large crustaceans and 
molluseus, besides the largs hawksbill turtle de- 
scribed elsewhere in this Butietin. In all 
there were one hundred and eighty-four speci- 
mens belonging to forty-four species, nine of 
which had not previously been exhibited at the 
Aquarium, besides a number of others hereto- 
fore rare in our collections. 

The six species of fishes not heretofore exhib- 
ited at the Aquarium are the Black Angelfish, 
French or Black Margate, Porkfish, Ocean Tur- 
bot or Triggerfish, Horse-eye Jack and Rock 
Hind. 

Black Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus). 
This fish, known also as the Chirivita or Por- 
tugais, is as beautiful a creature as ever wore 
the modest colors of pearl, 
gray and black. Each scale 
is dark with an edging of 
pearl and there are no 
bright colors, except a touch 
of yellow on the pectoral 
and the tips of the ventral 
fins. ‘The young are cross- 
banded with white but these 
bands soon disappear. It is 
a common species in tropical 
seas of America and reaches 
a length of one and one-half 
to two feet. The most 
northerly record of the spe- 
cies is that of a specimen, 
figured by Jordan and Ever- 
mann, taken at Barnegat, 
New Jersey. This speci- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


men was so far out of its 
usual range that it was 
probably a wanderer from 
the Gulf Stream. Eleven 
specimens were brought to 
the Aquarium where they 
are doing well and where 
they make a_ striking ex- 
hibit. 

Pompon: Black or French 
Margate (Anisotremus suri- 
namensis). This member of 
the Grunt family (Haemu- 
lidae) is represented for the 
first time at the Aquarium 
by two handsome specimens. 
Like the preceding species 
the coloration is limited to 
black and light gray, with 
the black at the base of each scale, but the black 
is especially heavy on the anterior half of the 
body, back of the head, where it forms a broad 
girdle. The pigment of this girdle is under 
the control of the nervous system so that at one 
time the black may appear very intense and the 
next moment may almost entirely disappear. 
The Pompon grows to a length of two to three 
feet. It is the most widely distributed and 
largest species of the genus and is found from 
Florida to Brazil and also on the Pacific coast, 
if the ichthyologists are correct in their belief 
that the Lower California species is identical 
with this. 

The Porkfish or Catalineta (Anisotremus 
virginicus) is closely related to the preceding 
species, but its coloration is so gaudy and 
striking that if color were an important char- 
acter they could have but little relationship. 


GRASS PORGY. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


RUNNER. 


The ground color of the Porkfish is bright 
golden. Across this a broad bar of a jet black 
extends diagonally from the nape across the eye, 
and another encircles the body vertically behind 
the gills. Behind this the color pattern changes 
abruptly and narrow dark bars run horizontally 
to the tail. All the fins are deep yellow. The 
species ranges from Brazil to Florida. 

In naming the species Linnaeus was mistaken 
as to the natural range of the porkfish, for it 
does not extend as far north as Virginia. It is 
included in the list of the New Jersey fishes on 
the authority of Dr. Abbott who found a speci- 
men in the Trenton fish market said to have 
come from Barnegat, but there are no positive 
records of the occurrence north of Florida. Of 
course almost any of the West Indian fishes may 
be swept northward in the Gulf Stream and Dr. 
Abbotts record is not beyond the range of pos- 
sibilities. The Porkfish is the commonest of the 
genus in the West Indies, 
and reaches a weight of two 
pounds. The twenty-three 
specimens brought to the 
Aquarium from Key West 
make a striking and beauti- 
ful display. 

Lutianidae or Snappers. 
This family is richly repre- 
sented in the West Indian 
region by seven genera and 
twenty species. Among 
these are the well known 
Red and Gray Snappers 
which frequently reach the 
northern fish markets. While 
none of this family is resi- 
dent or regularly migrant 
north of Florida, a number 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 815 


of the species have been 
noted as stragglers, having 
probably been carried out of 
their regular range in the 
warm waters of the Gulf 
Stream. Thus, at Woods 
Hole, Massachusetts, five 
species of the genus Neo- 
maenis have been taken. 
Among the fishes received 
from Key West the past 


summer were two of this 
genus which deserve men- 
tion. One of these, the Mut- 


tonfish (Neomaenis analis), 
known also as Pargo or 
Pargo criollo, has never be- 
fore exhibited at the 
Aquarium. This fish, which is the most impor- 
tant food fish of the Havana market is found 
normally from Brazil to Florida and has been 
taken as far north as Woods Hole, Massachus- 
etts, but has not been recorded for New York 
or New Jersey waters. It is a large species 
reaching a weight of twenty-five pounds. It is 
not so striking in its coloration as some others 
of the genus, but is a very handsome fish with 
its dark olive green background and irregular 
bluish stripes. The fins are mostly brick red, 
while the iris is fiery red giving the eyes a fero- 
cious, gamy look. There are at present five of 
these at the Aquarium. 

The other species, Neomaenis apodus, the 
Schoolmaster, has been rarely represented in our 
collections. Its range is about the same as that 


been 


of the preceding species and it has also been 
taken at Woods Hole, but not in this immediate 
region. 


The Schoolmaster is one of the most 


MUTTONFISH. 


816 


COMMON GRUNT. 


highly colored of the Snappers, reddish brown 
above and orange on the sides, crossbarred, with 
greenish white. Walbaum described and named 
the species from a drawing by Catesby, who ne- 
glected to include the pectoral fins in his figure, 
and applied the specific name apodus, meaning, 
“without limbs”! Twelve specimens of this 
beautiful and interesting fish were brought from 
Key West. 

Besides the above mentioned species there are 
on exhibition at the Aquarium the Gray Snap- 
per (Neomaenis griseus), the Red Snapper (N. 
aya) and the Lane or Red-tail snapper (N. 
synagris ). 

The Sea Basses, Family Serranidae. This 
family, which includes the White, Striped and 
Sea basses, Hinds, Coneys, Rockfishes, Wreck- 
fishes, Jewfishes, Groupers (from “garrupa” the 
Portuguese name for some of these fishes), Soap- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


the time resting on the bot- 
tom. For this reason they 
adapt themselves to life in 
the Aquarium tank as though 
it were a natural habitat, 
and even the largest speci- 
mens live well though some 
of them are so large as to 
appear almost ridiculously 
disproportionate to their 
narrow quarters. At pres- 
ent sixteen species are rep- 
resented in the collection of 
the Aquarium. 

The Rock Hind (Epine- 
philus adscencionis) is on 
exhibition for the first time. 
This is a small species reach- 
ing a length of only eighteen 
inches, and is one of the most beautiful members 
of the group. The general color is olivaceous 
gray with irregular small white blotches, with 
blackish spots on the back, and with numerous 
round orange-brown spots over the whole body. 
As in other members of the family the Rock 
Hind possesses considerable capacity for color 
changes. It is a common species from Florida 
Keys to Brazil and has been recorded also at 
St. Helena Island and at the Cape of Good 
Hope. Nine specimens were brought to the 
Aquarium from Key West. 

Spotted Jewfish (Promicrops guttatus). For 
some unaccountable reason a number of the 
larger species of “groupers” occurring in warm 
waters are popularly known as Jewfishes. The 
American forms are the Black Jewfish (Gar- 
rupa nigrita) of the West Indian region and the 
California Jewfish (Stereolepis gigas) of the 


fishes and others, is one of the largest and most WJ west Coast and the Spotted Jewfish which oc- 


important groups. The four 
hundred or more species of 
this family range mostly in 
tropical seas, but locally we 
have the White Perch, Striped 
Bass and Sea Bass, besides 
the fresh water White Bass, 
and a number of more or 
less rare stragglers from 
warmer waters such as the 
Wreckfish, the Snowy and 
Red Groupers, Coachman 
and Soapfish. For the most 
part these fishes live near 
shore in comparatively shal- 
low many cases 
about the coral reefs. Such 
fishes are inclined to be lazy 
in habit and spend much of 


waters, in 


PORKFISH. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


RED-MOUTHED GRUNT: TOM TATE. 


curs in both Atlantic and Pacific waters. These 
three are the giants among the sea basses and 
are among the largest bony fishes known, 


reaching a weight of five hundred to six hun- 
dred pounds. Two specimens of the Spotted 
Jewfish are now among the Aquarium exhibits. 
This species is able to execute some of the color 
changes characteristic of the group but not in 
such a striking manner as the Nassau Grouper 
and Red Grouper. 

The fishes belonging in the family Carang- 
idea, including the Pompanos, Leather Jacks, 
Amberfishes, Cavallas, Runners and Moonfishes, 
are characteristically denizens of the open seas, 
and nearly all have a wide distribution in trop- 
ical and sub-tropical waters, some of them rang- 
ing in summer into the temperate seas. Since 
they are active, strong swimmers they are usual- 
ly not well adapted to a life of confinement in 
the Aquarium. A number of species have, how- 
ever, been kept with a meas- 
ure of success. Among these 
we are able at present to ex- 
hibit two species of Run- 
ners, the Common Jack 
(Caranz hippos) of both 
Atlantic and Pacific oceans 
and the Horse-eye Jack 
(Caranx latus) of the trop- 
ical waters of the Atlantic. 
The latter has not previous- 
ly been seen in our collec- 
tions, but two specimens 
were recently brought from 
Key West. They are re- 
markably trim looking fishes, 
showing in every line of the 
body their adaptation to life 
at the surface of the high seas 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 817 
A Turbot or ocean Trig- 
ger fish, new to our collec- 
tions, was also brought in 
with the Key West fishes. 
The genus is Canthidermis, 
but the characters on which 
the identification of the spe- 
cies rests are not evident 
without handling the speci- 
men, so it has not been posi- 
tively determined. 

Other interesting fishes 
brought from Key West and 
which have previously been 
received also from Bermuda 
are the Jolt-head Porgy 
(Calamus bajonado), Grass 
Porgy (Calamus arctifrons), 
Common Grunt (Haemulon 
plumiert), Tom Tate or Red-mouthed Grunt 
(Bathystoma rimator), Spanish Hogfish (Harpe 
rufa) and Butterfiy fish (Chaetodon ocellatus). 
R. C. Ospurn. 


NOTES ON FUR SEAL IN CAPTIVITY. 


The second and last of the pair of fur seal 
pups received on November 23, 1910, as the gift 
of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, died 
on August 6, 1911. It will be recalled that the 
male pup died of acute nephritis in January. 
After his death the little female occupied one 
of the large floor pools at the Aquarium by her- 
self. She was extremely active and swam near- 
ly all of the time, day and night, to the wonder 
and delight of the visitors. 

Although she took but little food for several 
days before death and was evidently in distress, 


JOLT-HEAD PORGY. 


818 


BUTTERFLY FISH. 


the autopsy revealed nothing that could have 
been the cause. Her favorite diet consisted of 
herring and cod cut into convenient size for 
swallowing. ‘These strips were always bolted 
whole without any pretense of chewing, a habit 
entirely in accord with the dentition of the spe- 
cies as the teeth are purely raptorial in adapta- 
tion and are fitted only for holding and killing 
the slippery prey. 

Some idea of the voracity of a seal may be 
gained from the fact that this pup consumed or- 
dinarily six to six and one-half pounds of fish 
per day, nearly or quite one-fourth of her 
weight. 

In spite of this amount of food she did not 
grow very rapidly nor lay on fat, seeming to 
consume it all in the energy 
of her swimming move- 
ments. 

The following table will 
show the rate of increase in 
weight during the eight and 
a half months that this seal 
lived in the Aquarium: 


December 23_..... 23 pounds. 
Nenana: eh. oe. 26 pounds. 
February 23...... 254 pounds. 
March Q9 .......... 26 pounds. 
265 pounds. 

] 24 pounds. 
ditties 27. 27 pounds. 
Niulllyiei 25 eee eee 28 pounds. 
ANE (GIGNAI - Sees 25 pounds. 
The last decline is prob- 


ably due to the fact that but 
little food was taken for 
several days before death. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


The following measurements 
were taken after death: 
Tip of nose to tip of tail 


2 feet 10 inches. Tail 2 
inches. Girth 1 foot 10 
inches. Length of front flip- 


per 12 inches. Breadth of 
front flipper 3$ inches. 
Length of hind flipper 12 
inches. Breadth of hind 
flipper 5 inches. 

That it is not impossible 
to keep these seals in con- 
finement in this latitude is 
shown by the fact that a 
pair has lived for nearly two 
years in the aquarium of the 
Bureau of Fisheries at 
Washington and the male 
and female reached a weight 
in July of fifty-six and 
forty-one pounds respectively. 

We are glad to be able to state that the Com- 
missioner of Fisheries, Mr. George M. Bowers, 
has promised us another pair of the pups as soon 


as they can be secured from the breeding 
grounds on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. R. C. O. 


A LARGE JEWFISH. 


RECENT addition to the Aquarium ex- 
hibits worthy of special notice is a large 
Spotted Jewfish (Bromicrops guttatus) 

weighing about 250 pounds, the gift of Mr. 
Danforth B. Ferguson. This is much the larg- 
est of the Groupers ever seen at the Aquarium, 
and the largest bony fish on exhibition. 


ne yy 


wy 
i 


BLACK ANGEL. 


eae 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 49 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


January, 1912 


MR. MACKAY’S GREAT 


National Collections of Heads and Horns 


have steadily maintained the hope that some 


Ps three long years, the promoters of the 


good genius would present to that collection the 
commandingly fine heads of wapiti and Amer- 
ican bison of which it sorely stood in need. 
The Society has just received from Mr. Clar- 
ence H. Mackay a truly royal gift, consisting of 
12 mounted heads of bull moose, from the 


Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. 


GIFT 


OF MOUNTED HEADS. 
10 mounted heads of bull elk, from Wyom- 
ing, and : 
4 mounted heads of bull American bison. 

26 in all. 

This wonderful collection was brought together 
by Mr. Mackay in 1902, and in the winter of 
the following year the moose heads were exhib- 
ited at the establishment of C. G. 
Sons. Many New York sportsmen went there 


Gunthers 


to see them, and to admire. 


HEADS OF ALASKA MOOSE IN THE MACKAY COLLECTION. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


820 


Each 


prize! 


one of these heads is a 
They 


great care and judgment when the 


were selected with 


Kenai moose country was wide open, 
and 
chased by those who had the price. 


moose heads could be pur- 
We fancy that the world never has 
seen another such a gathering of 
heads as the 


enormous moose 


Mackay collection. Here are the 
spread measurements of a few: 76 
in., 742, 744, 693, 674, 662 and 
644 inches. 

Besides the splendid spread and 
massiveness of these antlers, they 


show many variations of form, and 


tendencies toward freakiness, which 
are not only interesting but of de- 
cided zoological value. No two of them are quite heads. Each one has been selected and included 


alike. 


attenuated and bifureated form of antlers, and 


At one end of the series is the extremely for some specific reason that the good judge of 
will 


long, and others are very massive, with less 


antlers readily divine. Some are very 


at the other the broad, circling shovel, so cup- 


shaped in the middle that a palmation would length. Altogether, they make a commanding 
readily hold a quart of water. Verily, these heads _ series. 


were taken in the days when Giant Moose, (Al- 
ces gigas), on the Kenai were plentiful and big. 


The ten wapiti heads are almost, though not 


Up to the time of the receipt of Mr. Mackay’s 


gift, we had been without a single head of a bull 


bison from the plains. Now we have four, 


quite, equal in rank and variation to the moose two for each series. They are large, modern 
in mounting, and perfect in every 
way. 

Truly, it is cause for congratu- 
that this 
now almost impossible to duplicate 


Mr. 


been placed 


lation great collection, 


at any price, has, through 


Mackay’s generosity 
where it will be permanently pre- 
served, and seen and studied by 
thousands of interested persons. 
We 1h, 1a. 
At the forty-first annual meeting 
of the American Fisheries Society, 
held in St. Louis in September, Dr. 
Charles H. Townsend, Director of 


the New York Aquarium, was elect- 


ed Vice-President of the Society. 


FOUR AMERICAN BISON HEADS. 
Mackay Collection. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


821 


THE ENTIRE MACKAY COLLECTION OF ELK, BISON AND MOOSE HEADS. 


THE REAL HEIGHT OF JUMBO. 


NASMUCH as Jumbo, the great African ele- 
phant brought to America by Mr. P. T. 
Barnum in 1882, was probably the tallest 

elephant that ever lived in America, his standing 
height has been a question of more than passing 
interest. When Jumbo was shown in Washing- 
ton, D. C., in 1883, the writer secured from 
Mr. Barnum a card of permission to measure 
Jumbo, “provided Mr. Bailey consents,’ When 


that card was presented to Mr. Bailey, his in- 
dignation was as colossal as the great pachy- 
“Measure Jumbo? In-deed!” 

So far as we know, Jumbo went to his death, 
in front of a locomotive, with his exact height 
unknown. Professor Ward’s men measured him 
dead, and declared his height to be eleven feet 
four inches; and for twenty years the matter 
rested there. 

Recently Mr. Robert Gilfort, of Orange, N. J., 


derm. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


LARGEST MOOSE HEAD: SPREAD 76 INCHES. 
Mackay Collection. 


has given me Jumbo’s exact standing height. 
In the year 1883 Mr. Gilfort was a performer 
in the Barnum Show, in which there was also a 
“pole-jumper”” named Elder. The chief stage 
property of the jumper was the long, straight 
pole with which he did his leaping. 

While the show was at Madison Square Gar- 
den, New York, Mr. Gilfort and his colleagues 
decided that they would ascertain the actual 
height of Jumbo. In the course of his free 
exercises between acts, the pole-jumper casually 
leaped to the side of Jumbo, and carelessly stood 
his pole up close beside the animal. Mr. Gil- 
fort, being quite ready, carefully noted the 
point on the pole that corresponded with Jum- 
bo’s highest point at the shoulders; and when 
measured it proved to be ten feet nine inches. 


Vivo tbe. 18tc 


ARTIFICIAL SNAKE DENS. 


N an effort to enliven the interior of the Rep- 
tile House, we are making a trial of the 
modeling and painting of panoramic back- 
grounds in several of the serpent cages. With 


this experiment we have several ideas in view. 
The cold and blank walls of the cage are thrown 
into perspective, a certain amount of atmosphere 
of the wilds is created, and it is possible to con- 
vey a hint of the character of ground frequented 
by species of importance. 

Thus far our experiments have been limited 
to the cages for the northern or timber rat- 
tlesnakes and the copperhead snakes, which 
species are the only two poisonous reptiles in- 
habiting the northeastern portion of the United 
States. The scenes represent the country along 
the highlands of the Hudson River, where both 
of these species of reptiles are to be found in 
generous numbers. 

A ledge of rock affords the rattlesnakes a 
chance to exercise, and leading into this ledge 
are various crevices which terminate with a 
typical den. This is a compartment two feet 
long by one and one-half feet wide and about 
a foot high. It contains a bed of dry leaves, 
and affords the snakes a chance to hide. The 
copperheads are provided in like manner. 
While at first we were in doubt as to the possi- 
bility of the greater number of both species of 


ZOOLOGICAL 


snakes spending most of their time in their hid- 
ing quarters, we are gratified to find that there is 
always a fair number of them in view. Theo- 
retically, it seems proper to give these timid 
creatures an opportunity to seek secluded quar- 
ters when they so desire, especially after feed- 
ing. We imagine that with these cage arrange- 
ments, our poisonous snakes will do better, and 
not evince the stubborn inclination to fast which 
is so common among venomous reptiles. 

As this article goes to press, we are much dis- 
turbed to note that an epidemic has appeared 
among our rattlesnakes. Dr. Blair has diag- 
nosed the trouble as being caused by a worm- 
like parasite which attacks the various internal 
organs. At present, adequate treatment seems 
to be impossible, and it may be that we are 
destined to lose all the members of our rattle- 
snake colony, with the result of having to wait 
until the coming spring to obtain a fresh supply. 

We are particularly fortunate in possessing 
a spectacular series of copperhead snakes. 
These are obtained by a specialist on this spe- 
cies, who resides in Connecticut. He points 
with pride to the existence of a copperhead den 
on his farm, and explains that he fully pro- 
tects the reptiles, with the result that a liberal 
number always may be obtained. From him we 
have received about thirty particularly large 
copperheads; and this lively family now occu- 
pies our latest panoramic cage. 

It seems highly desirable that our visitors 
should be enabled to examine our two local spe- 
cies of poisonous reptiles amid surroundings 
that at least attempt to represent their natural 
haunts. The first impression of the copper- 
head is the color similarity of this reptile to 
fallen leaves. Difficult to distinguish, and ordi- 
narily a silent creature, it is especially feared in 
On the other 
hand, when the rattlesnake is stretched upon 


the regions where it is common. 


rocks, owing to its velvety scales and surface, 
and the pitchy black of the males, or the strik- 
ing sulphur hues of the females, it stands out 
in bold relief, and is readily seen. In addition 
to the vivid hues, the charcteristic rattle aids in 
rendering this dangerous serpent very promi- 
nent whenever it is disturbed. 

It is our intention to continue the series of 
snake cages. When we consider 
backgrounds for the Indo-Malayan, African 
and South American species, we realize that the 
decorative possibilities are many and_pictur- 


esque. R. L. D. 


panoramic 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


ye 


SLEEPING PEACOCKS. 
Buried under snow during night storm. 


NOTES. 


Storm-bound Peafowl.—The hereditary habit 
of the peacocks of roosting for the night in trees 
sometimes forces upon them considerable discom- 
fort. After selecting a roosting place the birds 
return to it each night; apparently the same 
ones without ever deserting the site. Usually two 
in the same tree. After the recent heavy snow 
storm, Dr. Blair directed my attention to two 
male peafowl that had selected a big oak tree 
near his office window as a perching place. The 
snow had fallen during the night to a depth of 
about ten inches forming a wall on each side of 
the sleeping birds, which completely arched over 
their backs. As the heat of their bodies melted 
the snow, the water had gradually saturated their 
lighter feathers and formed a tiny coronet of ice 
on their heads. As we watched them they stood 
erect as if to learn just what the prospect of 
moving might be. The effort probably con- 
vinced them that to get to the ground meant to 
tumble and not fly, for they promptly settled 
down again. While they waited for the sun to 
dry them out, the picture was made. 

Laughing Hyena.—A sound very startling to 
visitors comes from a cage in the Small-Mam- 
mal House, enclosing a vigorous specimen of the 
laughing or spotted hyena, the gift of Mr. Paut 
J. Rainey. The weird and sharp calls of the 
hyena, immediately prior to feeding times, are 
positively startling, and echo throughout the 
building. 


824 


FEED PAIL STRUCK BY CHARGING DEER. 
The arrow marks spot penetrated by one tine. 


Savage Deer.—There are few animals that 
fight with courage and abandon of a deer. And 
when thoroughly aroused there are no limits to 
the expression of their rage. These outbursts 
occur in the most unexpected manner and then 
even the smallest ones become formidable antag- 
onists. Sometimes these attacks are made upon the 
keepers and although long experience has taught 
them to know the psychological moment to evade 
a rush, it is not always possible to reach a place 
of refuge. An experience of Keeper Quinn 
with a Columbia black-tail buck, illustrates the 
energy that a small animal can exert to do dam- 
age. Quinn entered the corral—as he had been 
doing regularly, carrying a large galvanized 
iron pail filled with crushed oats. Without the 
slightest warning the little buck made a furious 
charge at the keeper. Fortunately the pail was 
carried in such a position as to act as a shield 
and received the full thrust of the deer’s antlers. 
One of the brow tines passed entirely through 
the metal and the impact of the blow completely 
flattened the side of the pail. These pails are 
made of heavy sheet iron and are reinforced top 
and bottom. 

An Elephant’s Strength—The condition of 
the links of the chain in the accompanying cut 
would indicate that some great force had been 
exerted to twist them in this fashion. The chain 
is made of soft steel, two-inch links, quarter- 
inch material, and capable of bearing a weight 
of 3,000 pounds. It is used for shackling the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


young African elephant Kartoum while the 
keeper is cleaning the stall. The elephants are 
not usually shackled except under such cireum- 
stances. But it is necessary then, because each 
elephant feels incumbent to assist, at least to 
the extent of carrying away shovels, brooms or 
any other implements lying about. When the 
chain is placed around his leg—usually one of 
the rear ones—he swings about and turns con- 
tinually. When the links of the chain can no 
longer pass, the entire chain turns. That is ex- 
actly what Kartoum did, and the photograph 
shows the links twisted completely around. 

The Spectacled Bear.—Although the spec- 
tacled bear comes from an elevation of about 
10,000 feet in the Andes, he has suffered great- 
ly from the cold. This was a surprise to us, as 
we imagined he would be very hardy. His 
sleeping den was filled to the top with bedding 
and he remained in it the greater part of the 
time. When he did venture out he shivered so 
noticeably that we found it necessary to entirely 
enclose his cage with frames filled with glass. 

South American Bears.—We are now in pos- 
session, so we are led to believe, of the only liv- 
ing captive examples of South American bears. 
One of these, the typical spectacled bear, (Ursus 
ornatus), is exhibited at the Bear Dens, and in 
the Small-Mammal House are two specimens 
representing the sub-species, majori. One of 
these possesses a light patch of hair on the fore- 
head suggesting the spectacles of the typical 
form. The other is quite black above. 


ELEPHANT SHACKLE CHAIN. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Bear Cubs.—We were recently startled to see 
our big male grizzly bear walking about with a 
newly-born cub in his mouth, which he had 
killed. Before we could enter the den to find 
out if there were additional cubs, the male ap- 
peared with another, which had also been killed. 
Our keepers then armed themselves with clubs 
and entered the sleeping den, where they found 
a third cub, which the mother bear seemed not at 
all inclined to protect. We rescued this young- 
ster and, having no other resource, placed it in 
charge of a large cat which had several kittens. 
The cai at first took kindly to the bear, but de- 
serted it, evidently irritated by its squealing, 
since a few hours later when we made an in- 
vestigation, the cat and her kittens had disap- 
peared. We afterward found her on a high 
shelf, looking down at the bear with consider- 
able annoyance. A second attempt was made 
to introduce the helpless youngster to the foster 
mother, which was locked in a large box with 
it. She then assumed the care of the cub. Be- 
side the attention of its feline guardian, it was 
fed from a bottle four times a day. It survived 
only seven days. 

Fighting Deer.—All of the male deer appear 
to be unusually vicious this winter. Some ten 
days ago two fallow deer bucks engaged in a 
duel which resulted in one being fatally wound- 
ed. Three days later an axis deer was killed; 
and almost immediately after this, our two mule 
deer bucks fought through a fence with such 
persistence that one was stabbed in the breast 
and died within a few minutes. 

Great Apes.—Like many human beings, our 
family of great apes, the chimpanzees and 
orang-utans, have been attacked with the fall 
and winter visitation of bronchitis. Each mem- 
ber of this collection has had a touch of illness, 
but at present they are again in good condition. 
Keeper Frederick Engelholm has been very 
faithful, day and night, in caring for his sick 
charges. 

Playful Goats—The interior of the Small- 
Deer House may appear to some of our visitors, 
more like a boiler shop than an enclosure for 
hoofed animals. The pandemonium which at 
times reigns within that structure is created by 
the several specimens of goats enclosed there 
for the winter. Among these are two particu- 
larly fine specimens of the Suleiman markhor, 
and an exceptionally fine Persian ibex. The 
great horns of these animals are employed in 
delivering playful but terrifie blows upon the 
iron partitions of their cages. In consequence, 
all parts of the cage worl enclosing these ani- 
mals have been reinforced with T-iron bars. 


BULLETIN 825 

First Snow.—During the recent snow storm, 
the outdoor animals hugely enjoyed the return 
of actual winter conditions. This was particu- 
larly evident with the musk-ox, which animals 
sported about in the snow, wallowing in all the 
deep places. The mountain goats also ap- 
peared to enjoy the storm, and during the time 
when the snow was drifting heavily over the 
roof of their building, they climbed to the high- 
est point and stood facing the wind. The bears 
indulged in their usual clownish gambols. Im- 
mediately after the storm ceased, the bison pre- 
sented a highly impressive spectacle. They had 
declined all use of their shelter sheds, and re- 
mained out during the night in the storm. Their 
coats were thickly matted with frozen snow, 
which seemed to magnify their generous pro- 
portions. 


A small flock of Canada geese had evidently 
spent the night in their pond, and in resting in 
the water had turned their heads away from the 
wind. Their backs and wings were thickly 
powdered with snow. The trees and shrub- 
bery of the Park recalled the conditions of a 
dream picture. Every twig and branch was 
magnified to eight or ten times its natural size 
by the snow which fell earlier in the storm, 
while the temperature was higher. Incidental- 
ly, some of our evergreens were sadly bent un- 
der a heavy mantle, and Mr. Merkel’s men 
were busy for hours removing the big snow caps 
from the more valuable shrubbery. 

New Snow Leopards.—As an illustration of 
how different is the temper of an animal 
cramped in a small cage and in constant fear of 
attack, from one in more commodious quarters, 
we quote an illustration, involving our new snow 
leopards. When these animals arrived at the 
Park in their travelling cages, they were snarl- 
ing, and making such demonstrations that we 
were led to believe they were uncommonly 
vicious. During the work of liberating them in 
the large central outside cage of the Lion House, 
we had some difficulty in keeping out of reach 
of their claws. The contrast between that be- 
havior and their present disposition is interest- 
ing. Our keepers now enter the cage of these 
animals, armed with nothing more than brooms, 
and the leopards manifest toward them no hos- 
tility whatever. 

Hardy Felines—Three species of the larger 
hardy felines will occupy outside cages of the 
Lion House during the winter. These are the 
snow leopards, the Manchurian leopard and the 
two very beautiful examples of Siberian tigers, 
which came to us last year, and are growing 


rapidly. 


826 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. ees 
Ista ART TBs SEARED HET CAPT. JOHN SANFORD BARNES, U.S. N. 
Bepartments : 
Mammal Reptile At a meeting of the Executive Committee of 
Wee eee ace PLEA: the Board of Managers of the Zoological Society 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
LEE S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TowNSEND. 
Raymonp C. Ospurn, Pu. D. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


ingle Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1912, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Numer 49 JANUARY, 1912 


Officers of the Society. 


President : 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
Mapbison GRANT, Chairman, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
Lev: P. Morton, Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
FRANK K, STuRGIs, 


HEnry FAIRFIELD OsBorN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers - 
Secretary 
MapisoN GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer 
Percy R. Pyne, 30 PINE STREET. 

Director 

WILLIAM T. HorNADAY, ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

Director of the Aquarium 
Cuar_es H. TOWNSEND, BATTERY PARK. 


JouHN S. BARNES, 
Percy R. PYNE, 


Board of Managers: 
Ex-Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York 
The PRESIDENT of the Department of Parks 


Glass of 1912. 
SAMUEL THORNE, 
Henry A.C TAyYLor, 
HuGH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. STuRGIsS, 
GeorGE J. GouLp, 
OcpEN MILLs. 


Glass nf 1913. 
F. AUGUSTUS SCHERMERHORN, FREDERICK G. BOURNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, W. AusTIN WADSWORTH, 
GEeorGE B. GRINNELL, EMERSON MCMILLIN, 
GEorGE C. CLARK, ANTHONY R. KUSER, 
CLEVELAND H. DopcE, WATSON B. DICKERMAN, 
GC. Lepyarb BLAIR, MorTIMER L, SCHIFF. 


Glass of 1914. 
JAMeEs J. HILL, 
GeorcE F. BAKER, 
GRANT B. SCHLEY, 
Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
ROBERT S. BREWSTER, 
EpWaArb S. HARKNESS. 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
JoHN L. CADWALADER, 
JoHN S. BARNES, 
Mapison GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 


Henry F. OsBorn, 
WILLIAM C, CHURCH, 
LISPENARD STEWART, 
H. CasIMIR DE RHAM, 
HucH D. AUCHINCLOss, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, 


@firers of the Zoological Park ; 


W. T. Hornapbay, Sc. D., Director. 
H.R. MITCHELL - - - - Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer 
RAYMOND L. DITMARS pc Curator of Reptiles. 
C, WILLIAM BEEBE - -  - Curator of Birds. 
LEE S. CRANDALL = - - Assistant Curator of Birds 
W. Rei Biair, D.V.S. - - Veterinarian and Pathologist. 
H. W.MERKEL - - = - Chief Forester and Constructor. 
ELWIN R. SANBORN - = - Editor and Photographer. 
G. M. BEERBOWER - - - Civil Engineer. 


@ffirers of the Aquartum 


CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RayMOND C. OSBURN, Ph.D. = = - Assistant Director. 


CHAPMAN GRANT - = = = = Assistant 
W.I. DENYSE - - - - = - - In Charge of Collections. 
ROBERT SUTCLIFFE = - = Clerk 


held on December 12, 1911, the following reso- 
lution upon the death of Captain John Sanford 
Barnes was adopted: 

The late Captain John Stanford Barnes, U. 
S. N., became one of the Managers of the New 
York Zoological Society, and a member of the 
Executive Committee in January, 1897, and 
served actively until his death. 

Captain Barnes deserves no small share of 
the credit of the successful organization of the 
Society, and in its early struggles his cheerful 
enthusiasm and confidence were a constant 
source of inspiration and help to his associates, 
especially in the negotiations with the municipal 
authorities, leading to the foundation of the 
Zoological Park. 

The Executive Committee experience in his 
death the loss of a friend, a counsellor and a 
great-hearted gentleman, slow and cautious in 
criticism, ever prompt and generous in ap- 
proval and praise. His loss to the Society and 
to the City is one that is deeply felt, and his 
colleagues desire to record their profound sense 
of personal bereavement and their appreciation 
of his tireless service in the cause of science, 
and in the work of the Zoological Society. 


WILLIAM EMERSON DAMON. 


William Emerson Damon died at his home in 
Windsor, Vermont, November 30, 1911, at the 
age of seventy-three years. Dr. Damon was a 
pioneer in aquarium studies in America, and his 
sister, Miss Elizabeth E. Damon, was probably 
one of the first persons in the United States to 
maintain a private, fresh-water balanced aquar- 
ium. Mr. Damon’s interest in aquatic life was 
first aroused when as a boy he visited the Aquar- 
ial Hall in Boston, and throughout his life this 
interest never waned. He was a member of the 
New York Zoological Society and various other 
scientific bodies in this country and England. 

Mr. Damon worked actively for the establish- 
ment of the present aquarium at Battery Park; 
his advice was sought in the selection of the orig- 
inal corps of employees, and two of the three 
members especially chosen by him are still on 
the staff. His deep interest in the New York 
Aquarium can best be judged from a remark 
made by him sometime ago “I am glad to have 


ZOOLOGICAL 


lived to see a free public aquarium in New York, 
that is so successful and so much appreciated by 
the public.” lit, (Cy O 


A BIG TRINIDAD SNAKE. 


We have received an interesting letter from 
Mr. R. R. Mole, of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 
who has obtained for us all of the bushmaster 
snakes that we have received from that island. 
We are also indebted to Mr. Mole for other im- 
portant reptiles from Trinidad and the coastal 
regions of Venezuela. From him we obtained 
our big anaconda; and relating to these huge 
water snakes, as found in the region, he now 
writes: 

“As you are interested in big anacondas, you 
may like to know that I have an immense beast 
now. Although she is not enormous in girth, 
she is very bony and gaunt, and actually meas- 
ures (I have taped her), seventeen feet! Her 
skin hangs loosely upon her, and yet in this con- 
dition she weighs 104 pounds. ‘Thin as she is, 
this snake is impressive. As it is not long from 
the time when these snakes give birth to young, 
this may account for her emaciated condition. 


“She was captured by the men who captured 
Big Annie, and when I first saw this new speci- 
men, I thought they had caught her with a 
forked stick with a spike in the fork. They 
solemnly swore that this was not so. Neverthe- 
less, she had a punctured wound about one inch 
behind the line of the eyes, and almost in the 
center of the back of the head. I got her into 
a large tank, and from later indications I was 
led to believe that she had fed upon an ant- 
eater. I found an immense claw which I sup- 
posed belonged to Yamandua_ tetradactyla. 
Further examination revealed pieces of hair 
which made me positive that she had swallowed 
a large specimen of our ant-eater. 

“A few days after this I saw the men who 
captured her, showed them the claw, and they 
agreed with me, asserting what I had never 
thought of,—that the Matapel (dog killer), our 
local name for this ant-eater, had made the 
wound in the anaconda’s head, which I now 
think quite likely. I annointed this wound with 
a healing balsam, and the snake now seems tol- 
erably well, although there is a likelihood of 
the wound breaking out again. I am going to 
try to feed this snake with rabbits, in the man- 
ner prescribed in your book on reptiles. She 
has one or two superficial wounds about the 
body, and I am sure the Matapel did not suc- 
cumb before he had made a terrific fight for 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 827 
life. They are dreadfully strong beasts, and 
their claws are powerful, long and sharp. 

“The other day a dead boa constrictor was 
brought to me. I think it was larger than 
Castro. I taped it and it measured eleven feet 
seven inches in length, and was thickly built. 
It seized a hunting dog and the dog’s owner 
was so afraid that it would kill the beast,—It 
had lapped it up, he said—that he destroyed 
the snake. It was a wonderful specimen, and I 
told him that it was worth forty of his wretched 
curs, such as are used by the peasantry in what 
they call hunting. 

“To return to anacondas, I don’t think there 
is any doubt from what I have learned lately, 
that some day I may get a very much larger 
one than Big Annie or the specimen now in my 
possession.” Jets JU, 1D). 


NEW MEMBERS. 
May 24—DercemBer 12, 1911. 


LIFE 


Edward Kk. Dunham. 
Ben-Ali H. Lounsbery, 


MEMBERS. 
Robert EK. Tod, 
Stuart C. Squire, 


CORRESPONDING MEMBER. 
Lieut. C. G. Sturtevant. 
ANNUAL MEMBERS. 

Hugo S. Adam, Jr., R. Halsey Jackson, 
F. W. Becker, Mrs. John Stewart Kennedy, 
Kenneth Fisher Bingham, Max Kuempel, 
Mrs. John Borland. Mrs. Lauterbach, 
Clifford B. Brokaw, John L. Lawrence, 
Mrs. Clifford B. Brokaw. George R. Lockwood, 
Irving Swan Brown, Guy Loomis, 
Hilary R. Chambers, Rey. Arthur Lowndes, D.D., 
Charles Martin Clark, Howard Mansfield, 
John Conyngham, George E. Marcus, 
Charles S. Cook, Charles I. McBurney, 
Wm. T. Crocker, James McCutcheon, 
Miss Ella H. Davison, Henry E. Meeker, 
Frank Eveland, J. Lawrence McKeever, 
A. L. Everett, Horace R. Moorhead, 
Colvin Farley, Hugo Newman, 
Leon P. Feustman, Leonard KE, Opdycke, 
Charles Fowler, Jr. Wainwright Parish, 
Miss Clementina Furniss, Chr. H. Parizot, 
John M. Gaines, William W. Phillips, 
Merrill W. Gallaway, Alexander G. Ruthven, 
Mrs. Robert D. Graham, B. Aymar Sands, 
Mrs. John Greenough, Mrs. F. C. W. Smith, 
E. Morgan Grinnell, Roland K. Smith, 
Thomas C. Hall, Mrs. John Sonclair, 
Frank L. Hall, Mrs. Wm. Frederick Stafford 
Harold Herrick, Mrs. Edwin Thorne, 
Charles F. Hofiman, Howard Townsend, 
Miss M. U. Hoffman, Harold Varcoe, 
A. Barton Hepburn, Mrs. John D. Wood, 
Mrs. Albert Herter, Mrs. William Woodward, Sr., 


828 


OUR SERIES OF RARE MAMMALS. 
By R. L. Dirmars. 


Curator Reptiles; Asst. Curator Mammals. 


of a zoological collection, and on the look- 

out for new and interesting specimens, there 
is a designation for certain creatures infrequent- 
ly received as “rare” exhibits. This so-called 
rarity may be brought about by two causes, 
namely, the difficulty of capture of representa- 
tives of some species, or the inability of an ani- 
mal to survive a long voyage, or endure long 
confinement under cage conditions. It is the 
so-called delicacy of many species that has ren- 
dered them so rare on public exhibition. With 
the period of construction in the Zoological Park 
now almost completed, we find more time to 
study the ways and wants of the delicate species. 

During the past five years, we have been en- 
deayoring to maintain a number of species of 
small mammals not often found on exhibition. 
In this short resumé a few of our results are 
cited. The points relating to the cage, tem- 
perature and food of nearly allied animals are 
the primary factors to consider. 

Of course a proper amount of light is an es- 
sential. With some species the right amount 
of light means but little of it; while others crave 
the sun, and without it are as sluggish as many 
reptiles. Exercise is absolutely essential, and 
with some species it is impossible to produce this 
without nervous stimulation. 


oa those interested in the maintenance 


While the question of temperature is impor- 
tant, it is of interest to note that even the trop- 
ical species do better in moderate heat than in 
an overheated temperature. None of our ex- 
perimental animals are coddled within stuffy, 
poorly-ventilated cages, as has been a common 
practice with such creatures. We know that 
pure air is one of the requisites. Feeding is the 
next most important factor; and it is not only 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


the question of the character of the food, but 
how to present it to the animal, that must be 
considered. Many animals are ravenous in appe- 
tite, and the common result among such is gas- 
tritis. This comes not entirely from the type 
of food used, but partly from permitting the 
animal to gorge itself, with the consequence of 
being unable to assimilate the entire contents of 
the stomach. On the other hand, some speci- 
mens will starve, unless coaxed and teased to 
eat,—a process that may necessarily require 
repetition a half-dozen times the day, with a 
variety of the foods that are most tempting. 

From past experiences, and _ consultation 
among our colleagues, we have divided those 
types of mammals that are extremely short- 
lived in captivity, into several groups. One of 
these includes species that succumb to gastro- 
enteric troubles, others that are sluggish, and 
another group of excessively nervous types. 

The members of the two latter groups are 
poor feeders. Often they die from malnutri- 
tion, when the internal organs show few traces 
of actual disease. With a keeper of sympa- 
thetic interest in charge of a miscellaneous col- 
lection of delicate mammals, it is a question of 
constant experimenting until the needs and 
ways of the dumb charges are elicited, one after 
another. At times the requisite points of suc- 
cessful treatment is discovered by accident. 
This was illustrated to the writer in the case 
of the Egyptian jerboa, a remarkable, kanga- 
roo-like rat. 

While in London he purchased two lots of 
these interesting creatures, one of which was in- 
tended for exhibition in the Zoological Park, the 
other to be employed as exhibits in the writer’s 
lectures among the public schools. The former 
lot was placed in the Reptile House, and provid- 
ed with the standard sleeping house. The writer 
noted that all the specimens would pack into 
their nests during the day, and when examined 


RED HOWLER MONKEY. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


HUMBOLDT’S WOOLLY MONKEY. 


appeared to sweat to a certain extent. As it 
was necessary to carry his personal specimens 
about during the cold winter nights, this ten- 
dency appeared dangerous, so the sleeping box 
of the specimens in question was experimentally 
removed, and the animals were given a handful 
of loose hay. This they soon cut into countless 
fragments, gathered in a mound, while they 
nested quite exposed within a slight concavity 
in the center. The temperature of the room in 
which they were kept ordinarily dropped to 50° 
F. during the night. Moreover, the rodents 
were frequently taken out at night, in a small 
box within a satchel. In such cases they were 
provided with cotton waste, but were often ex- 
posed to very low temperatures. 

During the first six months of their captivity, 
the writer was inclined to believe that he had 
been particularly fortunate in maintaining this 
lot without a single loss. At the same time, 
fifty per cent. of the Park specimens had died, 
though receiving every attention. The writer’s 
specimens were frequently handled, and being 
without means of hiding had developed semi- 
diurnal habits. With the coming spring, and 
the loss of the remainder of the jerboas in the 
Reptile House, the writer decided that it was 
not mere luck that resulted in the good condi- 
tion of his four examples against the loss of 
ten that had been nested, with every precaution. 
The decision was to experiment with several 
groups of jerboas without provision for hiding. 
About twenty examples, representing two spe- 
cies, were obtained, and the cages provided sim- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 829 
ply with a shallow layer of cut hay. The re- 
sult was interesting and satisfactory. About 


seventeen of the original twenty specimens are 
yet in thriving condition——nearly two years after 
beginning the test. 

The result was of considerable value, as it 
demonstrated similar possibilities with other 
species of secretive rodents. We have thus 
profited in two ways. Our rodent collection is 
not merely a series of empty cages with mys- 
terious sleeping boxes, the contents of which 
would be indicated by label only, but the ani- 
mals are in view. They are surprisingly ac- 
tive, considering the nocturnal habits of the 
greater number of them, while an elaborate 
series of species, some alleged to be very deli- 
cate, is in fine condition. 

In this way we solved the problem of exhibit- 
ing and maintaining a representative collection 
of the smallest rodents. A number of the spe- 
cies are quite uncommon, as regards the usual 
run of zoological exhibits. We are now ex- 
perimenting on the care of those species of very 
small monkeys and lemuroids that seldom are 
seen in captivity, owing to their extreme phy- 
sical delicacy. We rate the marmosets, lemur- 
oids, the pottos and the Malayan species of 
loris, as creatures of similar feeding habits to 
the small nocturnal species of reptiles. While 
specimens of these species may be induced to 
take food during the day, it is during daylight 
that they are usually inactive, and food par- 
taken at such times is not assimilated with the 


FLYING FOX: FRUIT BAT. 


830 


same results as when consumed by a creature 
that is alert and moving. 

With these nocturnal primates, as well as 
with all our monkeys, it is our rule never to 
“gorge” them, but rather to serve their food in 
several meals. By offering a very moderate 
amount of food, at a regular hour during the 
morning, we have taught our nocturnal animals 
to expect this routine, and they are in conse- 
quence awake and ready for it. In the room in 
which they are kept is an exercising shelf, fully 
forty feet long, from which there is no possi- 
bility of escape. On this, after eating, these 
creatures which usually evince sluggish habits 
in captivity, are placed. They are fed again at 
night. From our studies of their likes and dis- 
likes we have found them to be largely carniv- 
orous. On a diet consisting largely of young 
rats and birds, we have had uniform good luck 
with them, and have noted no specimens afflicted 
with cage paralysis. 

Experiments are now being conducted with 
two monkeys rarely seen in captivity. These 
are a Humboldt’s woolly monkey and a red 
howler. These species are notoriously deli- 
cate, their average life as captives being about 
three months. After keeping them in a verita- 
ble sun room, giving them constant exercise, 
keeping them hungry by feeding a little at a 
time, every few hours during the day, we have 
the satisfaction of herewith publishing their 
photographs and explaining that the woolly 
monkey has been in our possession about eigh- 
teen months, and the red howler has about 
doubled the limit usually given such specimens 
to survive. The latter are markedly carnivor- 
ous, and we feed them largely upon boiled meat, 
beaten eggs and sterilized milk. 

As examples of other delicate and rare mam- 
mals on exhibition in the Park, it is of interest 
to mention the continued thriving condition of 
the panda, which is fed only at night, and the 
greater kudu, exhibited in the Antelope House. 
The latter often is regarded as “impossible” for 
zoological gardens. The kudu has suffered 
once from gastric troubles, until a certain 
amount of grain, apparently too small for a 
mammal of its size, was found to be properly 
assimilated. On this measured amount, it has 
been daily fed, for over two years, and the prime 
condition of this rare and beautiful creature 
shows the result of the keeper’s sympathetic at- 
tention. 

In closing this summary it is appropriate to 
mention the two huge Hoffman sloths that have 
lived in the Primate House during the record 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


time, for these sluggish creatures, of over four 
years. 


PYGMY ELEPHANTS OF AFRICA. 
By R. L. Garner.* 


N offering this small contribution to science, I 
| do not pose as an authority on elephants; on 

the contrary I claim to know very little about 
them from actual experience. The sole motive 
that I have in selecting this subject is simply to 
transmit to others who are interested in them 
some data gained from native hunters and white 
traders in the French Congo, where I have spent 
many years and most of the time in the locality 
where this little-known race or species of the 
dwarf elephant abound. 

As a rule all native stories about large ani- 
mals are more or less distorted; but at the same 
time they usually contain some element of truth 
which is worthy of being sought out. To find 
the ultimate facts, the most feasible plan is to 
compare the different versions of a current re- 
port and give most credence to those details 
which most nearly coincide in all of them. The 
process of searching out the fundamental facts 
of native stories is something like the arithme- 
tical process of finding the greatest common di- 
visor of a series of numbers. By such a method, 
I long since arrived at the conclusion that two 
distinct types of elephant inhabit the basin of 
Lake Fernan Vaz, and the banks of some of that 
lake’s tributaries. It is now more than five 
years since I reported this fact to Dr. Wm. T. 
Hornaday, director of the Zoological Park. 

The first reports that I heard of the existence 
of two species of elephants were rather vague, 
and in some points conflicting; but all concurred 
in giving a distinctly different name to each of 
the two types described, and in assigning the 
smaller one to certain localities. 

In the Nkami country, where both types are 
well known, and as I think very accurately de- 
scribed, the ordinary elephant is universally 
known as njagu while the smaller one is called 
mesalla. All the native hunters concur in most 
points in their description of the differences 
between the two races, and this description is 
confirmed by several white traders that I have 
met in that country. 

The common type of elephant is distributed 
over nearly all parts of the French Congo, while 
the pygmy type is found only in one small lo- 
cality, in the Fernan Vaz district, and that is on 
the north and east sides of Lake Ntyonga, and 
between it and Lake Nenga. They are prob- 


*All rights to text are reserved by the author. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


AFRICAN SUDAN ELEPHANTS: KARTOUM AND SULTANA. 
Male at four years of age, was six feet, three inches andweighed 2,300 pounds. 


ably found in some other parts of the French 
Congo, and I have heard of two other sections 
in which they are said to exist. The district 
described is about one degree thirty minutes 
south latitude and about seven degrees east lon- 
gitude. The intersection of those lines would 
be near the centre of the district in which I have 
heard of the mesalla as being most abundant. 

The ordinary type of African elephant is so well 
known to science, and so frequently seen in cap- 
tivity, that no description of it is here needed, 
except such details as are involved in the com- 
parison with mesalla, the pygmy. The larger 
type grows to a height of about nine and one- 
half to ten feet and evidently attains a weight 
of five or six tons. The tusks of the larger males 
sometimes reach seven feet in length, about four- 
sevenths of which are exposed. The mesalla 
elephant is said never to reach a height of seven 
feet, and many of the natives say that it never 
becomes taller than man. So far, there have 
been in Africa no means of weighing any of 
them accurately; but the natives generally agree 
that they never become heavier than a medium- 
sized hippopotamus; which would mean between 
two and two and a half tons. 


The tusks of the mesalla are very small, and 
rarely exceed twelve or fifteen inches in length 
of the exposed part. In fact, I have often 
heard it asserted that their tusks never reach a 
foot in length; but this statement is probably 
erroneous. 

Another point in which the two types greatly 
differ is in the size and shape of the ears. The 
ear of a njagu, or large elephant, covers the 
whole side of the neck; and the lower edge of it 
extends below the line of the lower jaw, as seen 
in the cut given herewith. The extremity of it 
laps about half way over the shoulder. 

The photograph here given is of a young ele- 
phant in the Zoological Park, commonly called 
the Sudan elephant. At three years of age the 
male measured five feet, two and one-quarter 
inches high and weighed 1,460 pounds. When 
four years old he was six feet three inches high, 
and weighed 2,300 pounds. It can thus be seen 
that in about one year it gained nearly a foot in 
height and nearly 1,000 pounds in weight. 

The next photograph represents the type 
specimen referred to above, which is supposed to 
be the pygmy mesalla, at eleven years of age. 
It can readily be seen that the ears are of an 


832 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


PYGMY AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Elephas pumilio). 


Congo type of mesalla at eleven years of age. 


entirely different type. They are very much 
smaller in size, have a reverse curve in the lower 
edge and a rounded point resembling a lobule. 
The lower point of this is far above the line 
of the neck, and the ear is but little more than 
half the area of that of the Sudan type. The 
relative sizes and weights of the two animals are 
still more striking. The pygmy mesalla at six 
years of age measured only three feet eight 
inches in height and weighed 600 pounds, while 
at eleven years of age he stands only five feet 
high and weighs only 1,650 pounds, from which 
it may be seen that in five years he gained only 
one foot four inches in height and a little more 
than 1,000 pounds in weight. 

In June, 1905, Carl Hagenbeck offered to the 
New York Zoological Society a small and evi- 
dently young African elephant which was in- 
stantly recognized as representing a species 
never before seen in captivity, so far as records 
were available. The price asked, $2,500, was 
about twice the amount that would have been 
sufficient for an elephant of that size represent- 
ing any of the known species. The specimen 


Height five feet and weight 1,650 pounds. 


from the French Congo was immediately pur- 
chased; but before it left Hamburg it was seen 
by Prof. Noakes, and by him it was described 
as a new species, and christened Elephas pu- 
milio. 

While the specimen here represented con- 
forms in many ways to the description of 
mesalla, it is barely possible that it may not be 
the true mesalla of the Fernan Vaz basin; but 
at any rate, the differences between him and 
other African elephants are so great as to put 
him in a group by himself. If not a true 
mesalla, which is suggested by the size of his 
tusks, he is probably an intermediate type be- 
tween the njuga and mesalla. 

Another very important characteristic that 
distinguishes the mesalla from all other ele- 
phants and which has been frequently described 
to me and emphasized, is the malicious nature 
of this elephant in a wild state. It is currently 
reported in the district that I have pointed out 
that very few native hunters, or white hunters 
either, as to that, however well armed they may 
be, have the temerity to hunt the mesalla, or to 


ZOOLOGICAL 


ered 7 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


LT 


MALE INDIAN ELEPHANT, GUNDA, AT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE, NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 


Height eight feet nine inches and weight 7,800 pounds, nearly four tons. 


This specimen in five years, increased two feet three 


inches in height and increased nearly two tons in weight. 


molest it when found, for the reason that it is 
alleged that they will charge the hunter with 
little or no provocation, and not only will the 
leader charge, but the whole herd will jointly 
make the attack. Mr. Frank Williamson, an 
English trader who has lived for more than 
thirty years in that territory and has been a 
daring hunter, tells me that the mesalla is the 
only animal that he avoids on all occasions. 

Another striking peculiarity of this elephant 
is that it is more diurnal in habit than the larger 
type, and much more given to grazing on the 
open plains, where they are frequently seen in 
broad daylight, and in larger herds than are 
usual with the others. 

Another habit worthy of remark is that of 
their playing and gamboling with one another. I 
have several times been assured that they period- 
ically chase each other about in a playful man- 
ner, scuffle, and slap each other with their 
trunks as kittens do with their paws. 

Another thing that is alleged of these animals 
is a gait entirely different from that of any other 
elephant either Indian or African, one of which 
trots, and the other paces, while it is averred 
that the mesalla lopes or gallops when he runs. 
I offer this information as it has been given to 


me, and without vouching for its accuracy. One 
observant white man, who has been a success- 
ful hunter and the only one that I know of who 
claims to have killed a mesalla, has assured me, 
however, that the gait of the mesalla is peculiar 
in the fact that when running he gallops with 
his front feet and trots with his hind ones. In 
other words, it was stated that the mesalla lifts 
its two front feet at the same time, while it al- 
ternates with its hind ones. 

I forego any further details of anatomical 
differences and leave them to be set forth by 
others later on. The information here offered 
concerning the habits and general appearance 
of the animal, I give for what they are worth, 
but in the belief that they are entirely new to 
science. While I do not vouch for the accur- 
acy of all of them, I believe they are substan- 
tially true. ee 

Aquarium.—During the winter months the 
Aquarium will be open to the public between the 
hours of 10 A. M. and 4 P. M. 

Annual Meeting——The Eighteenth Annual 
Meeting of the New York Zoological Society 
will be held in the Grand Ball Room of the 
Waldorf-Astoria, January 9, 1912. An inter- 
esting program has been arranged. 


834 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


CAROLINA PARRAKEET. 


THE CAROLINA PARRAKEET. 


By Lee S. Cranpatt. 
Assistant Curator of Birds. 


MONG the great zodgeographical regions 
A of the world, the nearctic, which includes 

the greater part of North America, seems 
to have suffered most severely from the modern 
extermination of wild forms of life. Hardly a 
single large game animal is holding its own in 
numbers, while many of the game birds are in 
an even worse plight. The Labrador duck and 
the passenger pigeon have gone; the heath-hen 
and the whooping crane have been reduced to 
pitiful remnants of what once were widely dis- 
tributed species. The former is now confined 
entirely to the island preserve on Martha’s Vine- 
yard, and the cycles of the lives of these few 
individuals are guarded and watched as careful- 
ly as possible by wardens and scientific investi- 
gators. The cranes are scattered to the four 
winds, protected only by their powerful wings 
and keen instinct for self-preservation. These 
birds have been persecuted unceasingly by reck- 
less sportsmen who did not realize the wrong 
they were doing until the harm was done. 
Other species, also, which are not included in 
the category of game birds, are fast disappear- 
ing, and one of these forms the subject of the 
present article. 


The Carolina Parrakeet, (Conuropsis carolin- 
ensis), was formerly a bird of fair abundance 
throughout the eastern and central United 
States. Great flocks roamed the country from 
Florida to the Great Lakes, and from Colorado 
to Texas. There are records of their occur- 
rence in twenty-two states and one territory, 
with a probability of their having strayed into 
five others. 

These birds were remarkably hardy for mem- 
bers of their Order, and numerous instances 
have been recorded of their appearance during 
snow-storms, and in the depth of winter. It 
seems probable, therefore, that the parrakeets 
roamed throughout the year over a great portion 
of their range, and nested in many parts of it. 
Their food consisted of such wild seeds, nuts 
and berries as they were able to find, the cockle- 
burr being mentioned as one of the favorite ar- 
ticles of their diet. 

It is unfortunate that not a single properly 
authenticated description of the nest has been 
published. A consideration of the methods of 
nidification of most other Psittacine birds, and 
particularly of those of the very close relatives 
of Conuropsis, would lead to the conclusion that 
the eggs were laid, in all probability, in hollows 
of trees. This was stated to be the case by both 
Audubon and Wilson and is confirmed by infor- 
mation obtained by Dr. Hornaday at Grant, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Florida, where a number were caught in 1883 
by a man living at the mouth of the Sebastian 
River. 

William Brewster states that he was informed 
on what he considered very good authority, that 
the birds built flimsy nests, much like those of 
mourning doves, in forks near the ends of hori- 
zontal branches of small cypress trees. How- 
ever, all of these reports lack essential details, 
and it seems probable that the nesting habits of 
this interesting bird must remain forever in some 
doubt. The egg, on the other hand, is well 
known. It is pure white in color, as are all of 
the known eggs of parrots, typically oval in 
shape and measures 1.44 by 1.12 inches. 

The bird itself is bright green above, with the 
forehead, crown, cheeks, region of the eyes and 
lores reddish orange. ‘This is followed by a yel- 
low collar which includes the chin, sides of the 
neck, nape and occiput. The breast and the 
under surface of the tail are yellowish green, 
and the bend of the wings and the thighs red- 
dish orange. The bill is white and the iris of 
so dark a brown as closely to approach black. 

That the species has been reduced to its pres- 
ent low numerical condition is a matter for the 
deepest regret. Its range, once so wide, has 
become more and more contracted with the ad- 
vance of civilization, so that if the species still 
survives, it must be limited to a few individuals 
in the wilder parts of Florida. The Big Cy- 
press Swamps of Southern Florida seem to be 
the most probable home of the survivors, if any 
remain. 


This extermination has been brought about by 
an intensification of the adverse conditions which 
have affected most of the native fauna since the 
colonization of North America begun. While 
the birds were of immeasurable benefit as de- 
stroyers of the seeds of noxious weeds, they 
were equally fond of stripping the young buds 
from fruit trees, and great numbers were shot 
by farmers for the protection of their orchards. 
Many were taken alive, and either caged in this 
country or shipped to Europe. Dr. Hornaday, 
in his American Natural History, mentions the 
following relevant incident: “In 1883, a col- 
ony of about thirty birds which nested on the 
Sebastian River was completely destroyed by a 
local hunter who captured the entire flock, and 
sent the birds to a New York dealer, in whose 
hands all those which reached him alive died in 
a short time.” Feather-hunters preyed upon the 
scattering flocks, and the havoc was completed 
by indiscriminating hunters who shot this bird 
and the splendid ivory-billed woodpecker simply 
to gratify a desire for the unusual. 


835 


One peculiar trait of the birds must have 
greatly facilitated their slaughter. When a 
flock had been fired at, the uninjured members 
never failed to turn and whirl screaming above 
the bodies of their fallen companions, thus giv- 
ing the marksman opportunity for firing again 
and again, until the survivors became too few to 
make firing profitable. 

After these details of destruction, it is pleas- 
ing to find that at least a small number of the 
birds taken alive still survive. The species had 
never been represented in the collection of the 
Zoological Society until August 31, 1911, when 
a pair arrived at the Park as the gift of the 
Cincinnati Zoological Gardens, through Mr. S. 
A. Stephan, General Manager. Mr. Stephan 
informs us that the birds were purchased in 
1889, at three dollars each, and have consequent- 
ly been in his possession for twenty-two years. 
During the first six years, numerous eggs were 
laid, but they were invariably thrown from the 
nests and broken. Besides the two birds now in 
our collection, six of Mr. Stephan’s original 
flock remain in the Cincinnati Gardens. 

The only other Carolina Parrakeets known to 
be in captivity are three birds in the National 
Zoological Park in Washington, and we are in- 
debted to Dr. Frank Baker, Superintendent, for 
information concerning them. Two of the 
specimens were received from Florida in 1898, 
and so have passed thirteen years in captivity. 
The third is the property of Dr. Paul Bartsch 
of the United States National Museum, and has 
been the companion of the two others for a num- 
ber of years. Although conditions have been 
favorable for breeding, and two of the birds 
have given evidence of a mutual fondness, no 
eggs have ever appeared. 

As far as can be learned, then, there are ex- 
actly eleven Carolina Parrakeets known to be 
living, of which we have two. Dr. Hornaday 
believes that, in view of the thoroughness with 
which every portion of Florida has been ex- 
plored, especially by Messrs. A. W. and Julian 
A. Dimock, and many ornithologists, there is 
not at this time even one colony alive in Florida, 
or elsewhere. 

Mr. David Seth-Smith, Curator of Birds in 
the Zoological Gardens of London, has made a 
careful canvass of the collections of living birds 
in England and on the Continent, and through 
his kindness we are able to state that not a single 
bird remains in captivity in Europe. The last 
specimens obtained by the Zoological Society of 
London were received in 1894, one living until 
June, 1902. One which died in Berlin in No- 


836 ZOOLOGICAL 
vember, 1904, was probably the last of the 
thousands shipped to Europe from America. 

If our birds survive until the return of warm 
weather, they will be placed in an aviary suit- 
able for breeding, and offered every inducement 
to undertake the task of reproduction, but ex- 
treme old age is strongly against the chances 
for thus increasing the numbers of this van- 
ishing race. 


AQUATIC TOADS. 
W E are exhibiting two species of Batrach- 


ians, representing the Old and the New 

World forms of the toads or frogs that 
are strictly aquatic, quite unable to move about 
when out of the water. The fish-like motions 
of these exceedingly droll creatures are of par- 
ticular interest to visitors. 

The two species exhibited are popularly 
known as the Smooth-clawed Frog and the Suri- 
nam Toad. The former, technically known as 
Xenopus laevis, inhabits Africa, from the Cape 
to Abyssinia. It receives its common name 
from the very apparent sharp black claws. ‘The 
hind feet are enormously developed and very 
generously webbed, and with them the creature 
swims with the ease of a fish, resorting to slow 
twists and turns, or darting into a dark corner if 
frightened. The eyes are minute and placed 
upon the top of the head. The tadpole of this 
curious creature has two very long tentacles 
protruding from the snout. 

The most remarkable habit of the Smooth- 
clawed Frog appears to be its ability to utter 
a metallic call while under water. We have 
noted our specimens going through this perform- 
ance and making enough noise to be heard a 
distance of thirty to forty feet. This was tak- 
ing place while they were at the bottom of their 
tank—under two feet of water. They appear 
to be hardy, and greedily devour earth worms 
or small fragments of raw beef. Their breath- 
ing habits differ from those of the Surinam 
Toad, as the eggs are apparently attached to 
water plants, and contain when deposited well- 
formed embryos. The tadpoles hatch within a 
period of forty-eight hours. Transformation 
into the adult form is rapid. 

Our other aquatic toad, the familiar Pipa 
americana, is the famous Surinam Toad, coming 
chiefly from the Guianas. It is seldom exhibited 
as a living captive, and thus forms one of the 
strangest features of our collection in the Rep- 
tile House. The general form is very peculiar. 
The entire creature is much flattened, and the 
head is triangular. The eyes are reduced to 
mere pin-points, and the skin forms a number 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


of short, irregular serrations on the upper lids, 
in front of the eye and at the angle of the mouth. 
The fingers are very slender, and end in star- 
shaped tips. As with the Old-World species, 
the rear appendages are greatly developed and 
extensively webbed. Remarkable in the life 
history of these batrachians is the structure of 
the skin on the back of the female, which as- 
sumes a pitted growth, for the reception of the 
eggs which are placed there by the male. In 
these epidermal craters the young undergo their 
entire metamorphosis. 

Surinam Toads are best collected at the end 
of the long dry period, when they are confined 
to the partially dried-up pools. In such condi- 
tions they never breed. Breeding takes place 
at the time of the great freshets. The male ar- 
ranges the eggs on the back of the female toad, 
in cavities which appear to be pouches of the 
skin. A rapid structural change appears to 
take place in the epidermis, in the course of 
which there exudes from such egg-pit what ap- 
pears like a lid, similar to the structure at the 
mouth of the tunnel of a Trap-door Spider. 
The entire transformation from the egg to the 
small perfect toad is rapid. After the young 
have escaped from the back of their mother, her 
skin soon resumes its normal appearance. 

While our aquatic toads from Africa feed vo- 
raciously upon any animal matter that may be 
placed in their tank, it is more difficult to induce 
the Surinam Toad to feed. We have observed 
that our specimens are uniformly fond of small, 
living fishes, and that they prefer to feed at 
night. its dlp, 10): 


RECENT ARRIVALS. 


Mammals.—Gorilla; Chimpanzee; Black Howler 
Monkey; Red Howler Monkey; 2 Spot-nosed Mon- 
keys; 5 Bearded Monkeys; Diana Monkey; Campbell 
Monkey; 2 Moustache Monkeys; Chacma Baboon; 3 
East African Baboons; Poto; 2 Mouse Lemurs. 

2 Lion Cubs; Adult Leopard; 2 Leopard Cubs; 2 
Snow Leopards; Ocelot; Margay Cat; Andes Black 
Bear; Spotted Hyena; Hunting Dog. 

Prong-Horned Antelope; Blessbok; Prjevalsky 
Wild Horse (born); Eld Deer (born); Axis Deer 
(born); 2 Mule Deer. 

5 Rock Squirrels; Big-eared Rat. 

Birds.—2 Black Spur-wing Geese*; 2 Carolina Par- 
rakeets*; Senegal Parrot; 3 Yucatan Jays*; 14 Les- 
son Euphonias*; 4 Black-throated Crested Quail*; 6 
Black-breasted Bob-white; 2 Black Storks; 2 Red 
Lories*; 2 Eastern Pratincoles*; 4 Hey Rock Par- 
tridges; 2 Giant Kingfishers; 2 Australian Sheldrakes ; 
2 Red-billed Hornbills*; Yellow-breasted Weaver*; 
Whippoorwill*; South American Turkey Vulture*; 2 
Orange-headed Vultures*; Canvas-back Duck; Siber- 
ian Ruby-throated Robin*; 5 Baldpate Ducks; Cuban 
Cuckoo*; Cuban Flicker*; 3 Eye-browed Woodpeck- 
ers*; 6 Cuban Green Woodpeckers*; 3 Cuban Banded 
Woodpeckers*; 2 Cuban Trogons; 2 Duck Hawks; 2 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 837 


AN OLD PROSPECTOR. 


Copyrighted by Carl Runguus. 


Painting by Carl Rungius; gift of Mr. Emerson McMillin. 


Double-creasted Cormorants; 7 Nightingales; 3 
Florida Redwings; Osprey; South American Rufous 
Hawk*; 4 Bonham Rock Partridges*; 5 Garden 
Warblers; Black-necked Screamer; 4 Kurrichane 
Hemipodes*; 4 Serin Finches*; 5 Himalayan Sis- 
kins*; Maroon Oriole*; Cinnamon Sparrow*; Gan- 
net; 14 Sanderlings; Bald Eagle; 2 Baya Weavers*; 
2 Shoveller Ducks; 4 Rustic Buntings; 4 D’Orbigny 
Blackhirds*; 2 Short-winged Sparrow-hawks; 6 Cuban 
Bob-white; 2 Giant Kingbirds*; Lawrence Owl*; 4 
Cuban Meadowlarks*; 2 Cuban Boat-tailed Grackles* ; 
2 American Flamingoes; 12 Yucatan Cardinals*; 6 
Yucatan Mockingbirds*; 2 Barnard Parrakeets; 7 
Jungle Fowl Hybrids*; Elliot Pheasant; 3 White 
Wagtails; 2 Crested Seriemas; 4 Lapwings; 4 Knots; 
European Dunlin; 2 Black-bellied Plover; European 
Golden Plover*; 3 European Oyster-catchers*; 3 
Spotted Red-shanks*; Bar-tailed Godwit*; 4 Common 
Red-shanks; 3 Tadorna Sheldrakes; 2 Redcrested 
Pochards; 4 Tufted Ducks; 3 White-eyed Ducks*; 4 
Brown headed Gulls; 2 Mew Gulls*; Lesser Black- 
backed Gull*; Gannet; Snowy Egret. 
Reptiles——Alligator, 9 feet 11 inches; 
Crocodile; 2 South African Crocodiles. 
Alligator, 9 feet 11 inches; African Crocodile; 2 
South African Crocodiles. 
4 Yucatan Terrapins; 


African 


4 Keeled-back Turtles; 


Hinged-back Tortoise; Leopard Tortoise; 2 Angu- 
lated Tortoises. 

Egyptian Monitor; Gila Monster; Exanthematic 
Monitor; 5 Tegus; Leaf-tailed Gecko; 6 Black 


*New to collection. 


Iguanas; Tiger Lizard; Frill Lizard; 4 Spiny-tail 
Lizards; Muricated Lizard; Cunningham Skink; 2 
Cyclodes; 4 African Chameleons. 

6 Central American Boas; 2 Green-headed Snakes; 
Crebo; Rough-scaled Sand Boa; Brown Sand Boa; 
4 Ringhals; Puff Adder; 2 South American Rattle- 
snakes; Horned Rattlesnake; 2 South American 
Striped Snakes; Green Tree Snake; Egyptian Cobra; 
3 Horned Vipers; 2 Sharp-nosed Snakes; Fer-de- 
lance; 2 Golden Tree Snakes; Butler Garter Snake; 
158 Snakes collected in Sullivan County by R. L. 
Ditmars. 

5 Surinam Toads; 13 Marine Toads; 4 Indian Bull 
Frogs; 2 White Axolotls; 4 Hellbenders. 


A GIFT OF ANIMAL PAINTINGS. 

N due process of development, the Zoological 
Society will eventually possess a collection of 
animal paintings and sculptures, for which 

accommodations already exist in the two gal- 
leries of the Administration Building that now 
are occupied temporarily by the Heads and 
Horns Collection. 

As a suitable beginning for the picture col- 
lection, Mr. Emerson MeMillin, a founder of 
the Society, has recently presented two large 
oil paintings by Carl Rungius, which make an 
excellent beginning for the proposed art collec- 
tion. ‘They were selected first because of their 


838 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


€ Pays 


WARY GAME. 
From a painting by Mr. Carl Rungius; gift of Mr. Emerson McMillin. 


high rank as works of art, and because they 
vividly portray two important species of the 
large game-animals of North America. Mr. 
Rungius has studied both species in their haunts, 
and these pictures represent the animals as he 
actally saw them in the country portrayed. 

“Wary Game” is a large painting of a band 
of six white mountain sheep rams, (Ovis dalli), 
standing on rugged slide-rock at the foot of a 
precipice in the McMillin Mountains, Yukon 
Territory. Through a very dark and stormy 
atmosphere, a patch of light descends for a mo- 
ment, and illumines the most conspicuous mem- 
bers of the band. 

The new painting entitled, “An Old Pros- 
pector,” represents a grizzly bear searching for 
ground squirrels in a rocky valley of the moun- 
tains around the source of the Athabasca River. 
It is of interest to note here that the bear was 
shot by Mr. Rungius in 1910. 

Most persons usually think of the grizzly 
bear as an inhabitant of timber, and this strik- 
ing picture conveys a valuable lesson on the 
haunts of the animal as frequently found in the 
northern Rockies. Photography has done this 
fine painting rather scant justice, and the picture 
must be seen to be fully appreciated. 

The paintings presented by Mr. MeMillin, 
and an elk picture, also by Rungius, hang in the 


of the Administration 
Wye Ab, 1st 


main reception 


Building. 


room 


OUR PROTECTED QUAILS. 


N Sunday, December 17, Mr. Madison 
Grant, Chairman of the Executive Com- 
mittee, sat with the Director of the Park, 

in the office of the latter, in the new Adminis- 
tration Building. One window of the office 
opens toward the beech and maple forest of 
Beaver Valley, and the edge of the jungle is 
only forty feet away. 

The Secretary and Director were discussing 
plans for securing a five-year close season for 
quail, woodeock, snipe and other birds, when 
suddenly Mr. Grant sprang up and called to 
the Director to look toward the edge of the 
forest. 

The Director quickly looked, and saw several 
small gray forms moving about on the sunny 
side of a red cedar stump,—only forty feet 
away. “Qauil. A whole covey of quail. They 
have been seen twice before in the Park. There 
are eleven of them.” “That shows the effect of 
bird protection!’ said Mr. Grant. The strange 
coincidence was accepted as a good omen for the 
cause of the quail. 


aq 
STERIC Tesi D 


NUURMeB SER SOON 


SNA W ee eee) eAG Roe lee 


By Raymonp C. OssurNn 


ZOOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 


Number 50 


Published by the New York Zoological Society. 


March, 1912 


THE 


HE small aquarium as an object of interest 
4 and decoration in the house has become so 
common that its presence no longer attracts 
special comment. The custom of keeping such 
aquaria is, however, of comparatively recent 
origin. Goldfishes have been kept and bred by 
the Chinese and other oriental peoples for sev- 
eral centuries, though, to be sure, this was most- 
ly done in small out-door pools in the gardens. 
The balanced aquarium has been clearly de- 
fined by Mr. Henry D. Butler, in a book en- 


BALANCED 


AQUARIUM. 

titled The Family Aquarium (New York, 1858), 
in the following terms: 
ceptacle 


“The aquarium is a re- 
for aquatic animal and vegetable life 


in fresh or salt water, which need never be 
changed. The old-fashioned fish globes were 


not aquaria in the proper sense, because it was 
absolutely necessary to change the water in them 
pretty frequently, lest the fish die. The vital- 
ization of the water without this change com- 
prehends the leading principle of the aquarium.” 
Undoubtedly the failure to grasp the principle 


nk Sit Ul 


FRESH AND SALT-WATER BALANCED AQUARIA IN THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 


The salt-water jars are near the windows, 
observation by 


the fresh-water ones beneath skylights. 


These aquaria have been much used for 


public school teachers and their classes. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


a? 


YOUNG GEOGRAPHIC TURTLES. 


Young turtles are very attractive aquarium pets, but should be provided with a float so 


that they may climb out of the water. 


of proper balance was the special factor which 
prevented the small aquarium from becoming 
popular at a much earlier period. 

The facts that animals require oxygen in res- 
piration and that green plants give off oxygen 
in excess was discovered and published as early 
as 1778, but lovers of aquatic life were slow to 
apply this knowledge. In fact it was not until 
1850 that the first properly balanced aquarium 
was described by Mr. Robert Warrington of 
Manchester, England, in a paper presented be- 
fore the Chemical Society and entitled, On the 
Adjustments of the Relations Between the Ani- 
mal and Vegetable Kingdoms, by which the 
Vital Functions of both are Permanently Main- 
tained. Warrington found that goldfishes could 
be maintained indefinitely in a glass jar in 
which was placed some Jal- 
lisneria (tape grass) to sup- 
ply the oxygen and with the 
addition of a few pond snails 
to clean up decayed vegeta- 
tion. Further experiments 
were then conducted by him 
along similar lines upon ma- 
rine animals and plants, and 
published in the Annals of 
Natural History for Novem- 
ber, 1853. 

The work of Mr. Philip 
Henry Gosse was also of the 
greatest importance in devel- 
oping the balanced aquarium, 
and his book, The Aquarium, 
an Unveiling of the Wonders 


SOCIETY 


cE rr. Z 


BULLETIN. 


advancement in the study of 
the marine aquarium had been. 

In England and Germany 
the small balanced aquarium 
soon became popular in the 
home. In America little at- 
tention has been paid to it, al- 
though a certain few enthus- 
iastic lovers of aquatic life 
have maintained aquaria with 
great success from the time 
the principle first became 
known. Mr. William Emer- 
son Damon in his book, Ocean 
Wonders, gives to Miss Eliza- 
beth E. Damon of Windsor, 
Vermont, the credit of being 
the first person in the United 
States to keep a properly bal- 
anced aquarium, the recepta- 
cle being a two-quart jar supplied with fishes, 
tadpoles and pondweeds (Potamogeton). 

The idea is prevalent, born of the old days of 
fish globes and persisting through ignorance like 
many other exploded notionsy that the aquarium 
requires a vast amount of time and fussing and 
especially that the more frequently the water 
is changed, the better it will be for the animal 
life. Nothing could be farther from the truth, 
for when a balance is secured the less changing 
of anything the better it will be, for fear of dis- 
turbing the nice adjustment which Nature has 
set up and the water should not be changed at 
all. Yet anyone maintaining a balanced aquar- 
ium will agree that the question first and most 
frequently asked is “how often do you have to 
change the water?” The writer has known per- 


BSS . “ 


ar 


ba | 


YOUNG LONG-EARED SUNFISH IN A BALANCED AQUARIUM. 


Smaller specimens of native sunfishes make as attractive aquarium pets as could be desired 
and are easily kept. 


of the Deep Sea, published in 
1854, showed how rapid the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


a —— 


SEA-LETTUCE (Ulva). 


It is the best aerator. 
and should be placed at the bottom of the tank. 


The red-seaweeds add color and variety 


sons who for years had kept aquaria equipped 
with plants and animals for proper balance, 
who still thought it necessary to change daily all 
or part of the water in order to maintain the 
animal life. 

The writer well recalls his own early attempts 
as a child to keep small native fishes in an 
aquarium made of a cast-off wash-boiler par- 
tially sunk in the ground in the garden, and the 
ingenuity with which he rigged a small tube to 
the pump-spout by the horse trough so that 
when anyone pumped water a small portion 
would escape for the benefit of the fishes. <A 
few water weeds would have done the work of 
aeration more successfully and with much less 
trouble; but the knowledge of the proper method 
was lacking, and after a number of abortive at- 
tempts the experiment was given up in despair. 
I have no doubt that thousands of persons have 
had similar experiences with various kinds of 
fish globes and other improper aquarium ap- 
paratus. 

Another prevailing notion is, that the small 
aquarium is simply a plaything serving to 
amuse the children or to afford an outlet for the 
energies of an occasional crank; and its only 
other excuse for existence is found in the fact 
that the green plants and goldfishes make a 
bright spot in the room. Even if this were all, 
who will deny that its existence is justified? 
But excuses are not necessary. Let it serve for 
the one as a plaything or bright spot in the 
room, but for the person who cares to study the 
life in the aquarium—and there is a constantly 
increasing number—the aquarium becomes a 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 841 


piece of scientific apparatus from which can be 
learned many of Nature’s laws that regulate the 
outside world. 


The unbalanced fish globe with its occasional 
renewal of water is unnatural,—as unnatural as 
the attempt of a person to live in a closet by 
opening the door once a day, filling the space 
with fresh air, then shutting off all ventilation 
until the next day. The cases, as far as respira- 
tion is concerned, are exactly parallel. It is 
possible to supply oxygen to fishes in the small 
aquarium by means of apparatus which will 
pump the air into the water, but this again only 
meets the problem half way. It supplies the 
oxygen, but does not remove the carbon dioxide 
which can escape only by passing into the air at 
the surface of the water. 

The balance of plant and animal life means 
complete and continual ventilation. Not only 
is oxygen supplied in sufficient quantities by the 
plants, but the carbon dioxide given off by the 
animals in respiration is consumed by the plants 
in the process of starch making. The adjust- 
ment is Nature’s own and all animals are adapt- 
ed to it. Such an arrangement is a pond in min- 
iature and may be used in the scientific study of 
aquatic life of various kinds. In the majority 
of cases, to be sure, only goldfishes are kept, in 
addition to a tadpole or a few snails and plants. 

According to the interests of the aquarist, 
however, this may be varied indefinitely. Wari- 
ous other attractive exotic fishes of striking 
colors, form and habits may be readily secured 
from dealers, or the collector may take up the 


GOURAMI 
This exotic specimen lived for several years at the Aquarium. 


(Osphromenus olfax). 


842 


ZOOLOGICAL 


COMMON BROOK SUCKER. 
A native fish that thrives well. 


study of local native fishes, the natural history 
of which will be found no less interesting than 
that of the exotic species. 

Aquatic insects afford a most interesting and 
almost infinitely varied field for study, and their 
habits, metamorphoses, ete., may be most readily 
investigated by this means. Again, if the 
aquarist is interested in aquatic botany, he will 
find here excellent opportunities and means for 
studying many water plants. Marine life is 
even more varied than that of the fresh water, 
and endless opportunities are afforded to those 
who live within reach of the sea. The micro- 
scopist will also find a constantly changing and 
ever interesting field of research in the minute 
life of the aquarium. 

As an adjunct to the scientific laboratory, the 
aquarium has become a necessity. Here it may 
vary in size from the common finger-bowl for 
minute animals to tanks for 
the larger forms. The various 
aquatic laboratories such as 
those at Wood’s Hole. Massa- 
chusetts, and at Naples in 
Italy, to cite two of the best 
known, make constant use of 
aquaria and could scarcely ex- 
ist without them. Nearly all 
colleges and universities have 
some means of maintaining 
aquaria, usually of the bal- 
anced sort, while a few, such 
as Trinity College, and Penn- 
sylvania and Princeton Uni- 
versities even possess facilities 
for the storage and circula- 
tion of sea water in larger 
tanks. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 
Naturally, larger aquaria 
have the advantage of sup- 


porting a larger and more va- 
ried stock, but it should be 
borne in mind that for scien- 
tific as well as for other pur- 
poses, the proper adjustment 
is of far greater value than 
mere space or variety of life. 
In the high-school, grade- 
school and even in the kinder- 
garten, balanced aquaria have 
found a place where they en- 
courage nature study among 
the children. The New York 
Aquarium has equipped hun- 
dreds of these for various 
schools in New York City. 
THE MEANING OF BALANCE. 

The factors which govern life in the balanced 
aquarium are the same as those which obtain 
elsewhere in nature, with the important differ- 
ence that certain of them are under control. In 
fact we may consider the aquarium as a minia- 
ture pond in which the conditions of food, tem- 
perature and aeration are under the control of 
the operator. In the natural pond the varia- 
tions of temperature alone are sufficient to pro- 
duce important cycles in the balance and in the 
life of the organisms. 

To secure and maintain a balance in the in- 
door aquarium is the most important problem 
which confronts the amateur aquarist. Tem- 
perature, which is such an important factor in 
the natural pond, can easily be controlled in- 
doors within the limits which are likely to af- 
fect seriously the inhabitants of the aquarium. 


YOUNG MIRROR CARP. 
The carps are very hardy and are excellent fishes for the beginner. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


TERRARIUM IN A ROUND AQUARIUM JAR. 


Suitable for small salamanders, frogs and some turtles, 
land snails, etc. 


Similarly the light factor offers but little diffi- 
culty and food can easily be added in the neces- 
sary quantities. 

The problem of aeration is more difficult. In 
the natural pond, with its large surface ruffled 
by the breeze, this takes care of itself, as a suf- 
ficient amount of oxygen can be absorbed from 
the air to supply all the animals that can find 
food within its waters; but in the narrow limits 
of the aquarium, with its restricted surface, 
comparatively greater depth, and the absence of 
any agitation of the water, the absorption of 
oxygen at the surface does not take place with 
sufficient rapidity to sustain much animal life. 

To supplement the surface absorption of oxy- 
gen, it is necessary to grow plants in the aquar- 
ium. It is a well known fact that in manufac- 
turing their own food from simple substances, 
plants give off oxygen as a waste product. This 
process takes place in the chlorophyll, or green 
matter of the plant, and in the submerged plants 
of the aquarium the oxygen passes off directly 
by absorption into the water. The fishes are 
thus supplied with oxygen given off by the 
plants as waste substance. 

Having absorbed the oxygen, the fishes com- 
bine it with the carbon of the food to obtain 
energy, and, in the process of respiration, give 
off to the water quantities of carbon dioxide or 
carbonic acid gas as a waste substance. This 
gas, composed of carbon and oxygen, is ab- 
sorbed by the plants and the carbon used in the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 843 


process of starch making, while the oxygen is 
returned to the water again as a waste sub- 
stance. Thus the animals and the plants of the 
aquarium are mutually benefitted, each supply- 
ing something that is required in the life pro- 
cesses of the other. 

Plants, however, able to manufacture 
starch, and consequently absorb carbon dioxide 
and release oxygen, only when they are exposed 
to sunlight. It follows then that on dark days 
the plants have less capacity for aeration than 
on bright days, and that they yield more oxygen 
in sunny windows than in dark corners. More- 
over they can make starch and consume carbon 
dioxide and yield oxygen, only during the day- 
time. Further than this, they consume a small 
amount of oxygen in their own respiration both 
day and night, so that at times when they are 
not engaged in starch making they tend to con- 
sume a part of the oxygen of the aquarium, al- 
though they use only a small portion of that 
thrown off during the day. If the water of the 
standing aquarium is supplied with an excess of 
oxygen during the day, a considerable amount 
of the oxygen will remain in solution in the 
water and aid in proper aeration thfoughout the 
night. 

It is evident then that an aquarium well 
stocked with plants will support a larger quan- 


are 


COMMON SALT-WATER SHRIMP. 
They live well in the small aquarium. 


844 


STICKLEBACKS. 


These miniature fishes are found both in fresh and salt-water. 


habits are especially interesting. 


tity of animal life during the day and in bright 
weather than it will at night or on dark days. 
The animal life of the standing aquarium must 
therefore be regulated to meet the poorest rather 
than the best conditions of oxygen production 
by the plant life. 

Temperature also affects the rate of starch 
making and consequently of oxygen elimination, 
as the protoplasm of the plant is more active 
in a higher than in a lower temperature. How- 
ever, the fishes are also less active in colder 
water and consume less oxygen, so that these 
factors balance each other and temperature does 
not especially affect the 


aeration of the aquarium. f rv 


THE AQUARIUM TANK. 
Undoubtedly the best kind 
of a receptacle for the be- 
ginner is the oblong, 
straight-sided aquarium with 
metal frame, glass sides and 
slate bottom. The medium 
size, holding six or eight 
gallons, will be the best for 
the beginner. The smaller 
sizes are difficult to balance 
and the larger ones are more 
expensive. For larger aqua- 
ria, eight gallons and up- 
ward, it is the only type that 
can be used to advantage. 
When well set up such a 
tank will last for years with- 
out leaking, and is easily 
reset, or can often be read- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


ily mended by running a lit- 
tle asphaltum or an aquar- 
ium cement in the joints. 
The rectangular, straight- 
sided, all-glass jars are ex- 
cellent; better in some re- 
spects than those with metal 
frames, for they are not 
likely to spring a leak. 

The glass jars, however, 
are more likely to crack and 
so prove an extra expense, 
but in the hands of the ex- 
perienced aquarist they are 
perhaps the most satisfac- 
tory for sizes under five gal- 
lons. Care should be taken 
to see that such jars rest 
firmly and evenly upon their 
bases, and that they are not 
subjected to sudden changes 
of temperature. The cylin- 
drical jar with straight vertical sides is satisfac- 
tory to maintain, but the inmates appear some- 
what distorted through the curved sides. For 
smaller aquaria the ordinary battery jar is as 
good as anything, except for the distortion, and 
has the advantage of being cheap. Very beauti- 
ful and well balanced aquaria can often be made 
with the two-quart size, but these are suitable 
only for very small animals and few of them. 

To test the limits of the capacity of the two- 
quart size, the writer once kept in such a jar, 
with plenty of weeds and in good light, a carp 


Their nesting 


YOUNG TAUTOG. 
A very hardy and interesting fish for the marine aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


nearly as long as the diameter of the vessel. 
The fish continued to live in good condition for 
several weeks until the experiment was acci- 
dentally brought to an abrupt end. 

On no account should the ordinary globes be 
used. They are often sold because of their 
cheapness, but they give the specimens a very 
badly distorted appearance, and what is much 
worse the constricted top affords but a small sur- 
face area for exchange of gases with the air and 
makes it almost impossible to clean the jar prop- 
erly. The slight additional cost in securing the 
proper sort of tank will be repaid many times 
in the satisfaction with which it may be man- 
aged. 

PLACING THE AQUARIUM. 

The aquarium jar or tank should be placed 
on a firm base where it will not be subjected to 
much vibration and where it will not have to be 
moved frequently. Fishes are sensitive to vibra- 
tion in the water and jarring or moving the 
aquarium frightens and disturbs the inhabit- 
ants. !t should not be placed too near a radia- 
tor, and if it is near a window it should be care- 
fully guarded from draughts in cold weather. 
North windows are the most suitable, since suf- 
ficient light is afforded for the growth of the 
plants and the direct rays of the sun, which 
tend to heat up the water and to over-stimulate 
the plant growth, will be avoided. If a south 
exposure is necessary, the tank may be placed 
farsher from the window or it may be shaded 
from the strong sunlight by a small screen of 
cheesecloth stretched upon a light frame. 

PLANTING THE AQUARIUM. 

This is an important proceeding, as upon the 
successful establishment of the plant growth 
depends the aeration of the standing aquarium 
and consequently the health of the animals. 
Many kinds of aquatic plants, both wild and 
cultivated, will grow readily in the narrow limits 
of the aquarium. The best species are those 
that will live entirly submerged and which have 
(1) narrow, ribbon-like or (2) finely divided 
leaves. 

In the first class are the tape-grass (Vallis- 
neria), arrow-head (Sagittaria) and pond-weed 
(Potamogeton) ; and of the second class, fan- 


wort (Cabomba), wmilfoil (Myriophyllum), 
hornwort (Ceratophyllum) and waterweed 
(Anacharis). Two or three of these plants 


placed together in the tank give a little diversity 
and make it more attractive than will a single 
species. Fine gravel or coarse sand or a mix- 
ture of these should be placed in the bottom of 
the aquarium to the depth of one or two inches, 
depending upon the size of the aquarium. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 845 
The plants can be anchored by packing their 
roots in the sand or gravel, and if necessary 
large pebbles can be placed about the bases of 
the plants until they become firmly rooted, or 
the lower ends of the stems may be weighted 
by wrapping with a small piece of soft lead just 
above the roots. Some aquarists insist that a 
layer of soil should first be placed under the 
gravel, but in completely aquatic plants this is 
quite unnecessary, while the soil is often a 
source of danger to the animal life through the 
decomposition of its organic ingredients. 

Nearly all of these plants will slip readily and 
the slips will soon form their own roots if an- 
chored to the bottom by a pebble or a strip of 
lead. The tape-grass sends out runners, from 
the joints of which young shoots arise. 

To obtain the best results, the aquarium 
should be planted at least a few days before the 
animals are introduced. This allows the plants 
a better opportunity for taking hold of the 
sand and it also permits them to thoroughly 
aerate the water in preparation for the animal 
life. 

The plants must of course be provided with 


~ ; A 


MOSQUITO LARVAE: ALL GLASS AQUARIUM. 
This rectangular type of jar can be had in all the smaller sizes 
and is the best form of the all glass jar. For balanced 
aquaria, the height should not exceed the width. 


846 ZOOLOGICAL 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


Bepartments : 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HoRNADAY. RAYMOND L. DITMARs. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
LEE S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TOWNSEND. 
Raymonpn C. OsBuRN. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Single Numbers, 10 Cents; Yearly, by Mail, 70 Cents. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 


Copyright, 1912, 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. 
eee 


Numper 50 MARCH, 1912 


EEE 


Officers of the Society. 


President: 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 


Executive Committee: 
MADISON GRANT, Chairman, 
PERCY R. PYNE, WILLIAM WHITE NILES, 
SAMUEL THORNE, WM. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
LEVI P. MORTON, FRANK K. STURGIS, 
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers: 


Secretary 

MADISON GRANT, 11 WALL STREET. 
Treasurer 

PERCY R. PYNE, 30 PINE STREET. 
Director 


WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, ZooLocicaL PARK. 
Director of the Aquarium 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, BaTTERY PARK. 


Board of Managers: 
Ex-Officio 
The MAYOR of the City of New York 
The PRESIDENT of the Department of Parks 


Glass of 1913. 
F. AuGusTuS SCHERMERHORN, FREDERICK G. BOURNE, 
Percy R. PYNE, W. AUSTIN WADSWORTH, 
GeorGE B. GRINNELL, Emerson McMILLIN, 
GeorcE C. CLARK, ANTHOny R. KuseEr, 
CLEVELAND H. DopceE, WarTSON B. DICKERMAN, 
C. LEDYARD BLAIR, MortTiMer L. SCHIFF. 


Glass of 1914. 


HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, James J. HILL, 

WILLIAM C. CHURCH, GEORGE F. BAKER, 
LISPENARD STEWART, Grant B. SCHLEY, 

H. CasIMIR DE RHAM, Wo. PIERSON HAMILTON, 
HuGu D. AUCHINCLOss, RoBerT S. BREWSTER, 
CHARLES F. DIETERICH, EpWARD S. HARKNESS. 


Qlass of 1915. 
Henry A. C. TaAYLor, 
HuGH J. CHISHOLM, 
FRANK K. STURGIS, 
GeorGE J. GOULD, 
OGDEN MILLS, 
Lewis RUTHERFURD Morris. 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
JoHN L. CADWALADER, 
Mapison GRANT, 
WILLIAM WHITE NILEs, 
SAMUEL THORNE, 


@fficers of the Zoological Park : 


W. T. Hornapbay, Director. 


H. R. MITCHELL W. Rep BLAIR 
RayMonD L. DITMARS H. W. MERKEL 
C. WILLIAM BEEBE ELWIN R. SANBORN 
E. 8. CRANDALL G. M. BEERBOWER 


@fficers of the Aquartum 
CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Director. 
RayMonp ©. Osburn, Assistant Director 
W. I. DENYSE ROBERT SUTCLIFFE 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


a sufficient amount of light or they will not grow, 
as they are able to manufacture their food only 
in the presence of sunlight. For reasons stated 
elsewhere the north window affords the best 
light for the aquarium. If the plants grow too 
luxuriantly they can readily be trimmed. Some 
aquarists prefer to trim off all the parts that 
come to the surface, thus keeping the plants 
entirely submerged. There is no doubt that 
such a method affords the maximum of aeration, 
since the more the plants are submerged, the 
less is the opportunity afforded for the escape of 
oxygen at the surface. 

However, many persons prefer the appear- 
ance of some plants floating at the surface, and 
there can be no objection to this so long as 
there is a sufficient amount submerged. Per- 
haps the most picturesque, and therefore the 
most satisfactory, results for the average person 
are obtained by providing at least two xinds of 
plants, one like the arrow-head or pond-weed 
with broad leaves which are allowed to float at 
the surface, and the other with finely divided 
leaves (milfoil, fanwort, etc.) kept submerged 
by trimming. The little duckweed (Lemna sp.) 
which floats entirely at the surface with its tiny 
roots hanging straight down in the water for a 
short distance, makes an attractive addition. 

The plants available for aquarium purposes 
are entirely too numerous to mention tere. 
There are many native species, some of which 
can be secured in nearly every pond and streem. 
They are generally annuals and do not live in- 
definitely, and the most satisfactory ones are 
those handled by the dealers, since these are 
cultivated especially for the purpose. These for 
the most part have been introduced from the 
tropics where they flourish perennially. 

STOCKING THE AQUARIUM. 

The experienced aquarist will naturally know 
what he wishes and how to secure it. The 
beginner, in his first efforts to keep an aquarium, 
should start as simply as possible with only the 
commoner and hardier fishes and wait until he 
has proved successful with these before attempt- 
ing to handle rare or expensive stock. Carps 
and the ordinary goldfishes known as commons 
are undoubtedly the best for the beginner within 
easy reach of a dealer. The highly bred, fancy 
varieties of goldfishes are less hardy and the 
same is generally true of the exotic fishes, how- 
ever attractive they may be. Almost any of the 
native fishes may be kept easily and will prove 
interesting and attractive. 

Catfishes are perhaps the most hardy, but the 
various suckers and minnows, as well as young 
sunfishes, basses, ete., can readily be kept. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


These can be collected with the aid of a small 
dip net, and the study of the local species should 
be much more common than is the case. Why 
so many people are satisfied to keep ordinary 
goldfishes when there are so many native fishes 
of more lively habits and graceful form, is only 
to be explained by the fact that they give so 
little trouble and can be bought of a dealer 
instead of collected at a brook. Of course one 
can readily understand the attitude of the fish 
fancier who makes a specialty of breeding the 
various strains of goldfishes or of keeping rare 
exotic forms of bizarre appearance or unusual 
habits. 

One serious error into which the beginner is 
likely to fall is that of overstocking. In his en- 
thusiasm for the fishes and his love for their at- 
tractive colors and movements, he places more 
specimens in his tank than can be readily pro- 
vided with oxygen. Often, when they are not 
all affected in a short time, the result may be 
that they are gradually enervated until the loss 
of some of them establishes a proper balance 
of the animal and vegetable life. Until the 
management of the aquarium is thoroughly mas- 
tered, the rule should be to keep well under the 
limit of animal life. 

It is difficult to lay down any hard and fast 
rule for this, because the number of fishes that 
can be kept depends upon their size and kind as 
well as upon the proportions of the tank and 
the amount of plant life in good thrifty condi- 
tion. It may be stated that the beginner will 
do well to supply only a couple of fishes three 
or four inches long to an aquarium of five or six 
gallons of water when the plants are in good 
condition. When he is well enough acquainted 
with the habits and appearance of his fishes, he 
will be able to know at once when his tanks are 
overstocked before any losses take place. 

There are, of course, many sorts of animals 
besides fishes that are adapted to aquarium life. 
The tadpoles, larvae of frogs and toads, are 
easily collected in any pond, or some of them 
may be purchased from dealers. In addition 
to their interesting habits they are useful scav- 
engers, but unless they are large it will not do 
to introduce them into the aquarium with car- 
nivorous fishes. In early spring the eggs may 
be collected and reared. Those of the frogs 
are laid in gelatinous masses, those of the toad 
in long strings. 

Of the numerous salamanders, the pale axolotl 
and the common mud-puppy (Necturus) both of 
which have external gills, are easily kept. The 
most attractive of the salamanders is the com- 
mon or spotted water newt (Diemictylus virides- 


BULLETIN. 847 
cens). These beautiful and graceful little ani- 
mals, although without gills, live well in the 
aquarium, since they are able to absorb sufficient 
oxygen through the skin, or may occasionally 
rise to the surface and fill the sack-like lungs 
with air. They swim readily with the limbs 
folded against the sides, or they climb with ease 
among the vegetation. They are carnivorous 
and are best fed on mealworms and pieces of 
earthworms. The eggs of the mud-puppy can 
often be obtained in large masses in ponds in 
early spring, and the larvae may be reared as 
easily as those of the frog, but the eggs of the 
newt are laid singly among water plants. 

Young turtles are interesting, but the most of 
them are better adapted to terraria than to the 
ordinary aquarium as they need to have some 
way of climbing out of the water. The soft- 
shell or freshwater leather turtle is more aquatic 
than other species and does not need to climb 
out, but must have loose sand in which it occa- 
sionally buries itself. It is carnivorous and 
feeds well on earthworms, mealworms and pieces 
of fresh meat. 

Young alligators are frequently brought from 
Florida, but it should be made a punishable of- 
fense to do so, for sooner or later they die unless 
special care is taken to provide them with heat 
and sunlight. The New York Aquarium is the 
recipient annually of many of these little fel- 
lows, usually in an emaciated condition because 
they have not fed well, and many of them do not 
recover, even under the care of an expert aquar- 
ist. They should be considered strictly hot- 
house pets and handled accordingly. 

The temperature of the ordinary living room 
in winter is too low for alligators as they require 
80° to 85° for their best development and should 
not be allowed to drop below 75°. Below this 
temperature they become sluggish and chilled 
and refuse to eat. If kept warm enough they 
will feed well on a varied meat diet consisting 
of fish, crayfish, earthworms, frogs, etc., alive 
or dead, or they will take fresh beef. The ma- 
jority of the water turtles are also carnivorous 
and may be given the above mentioned food, but 
the diet should be studied, as the different spe- 
cies vary somewhat in this respect. The same 
conditions of temperature should be applied 
here as with the alligators. 

The pond and river species of crayfishes are 
well suited to the small aquarium. Those from 
the mountain streams and cold springs are 
harder to keep on account of the difficulty of 
maintaining a sufficiently low temperature dur- 
ing the warm months. They should not be kept 
with fish smaller than themselves, for they some- 


848 


BALANCED SALT-WATER AQUARIUM. 


Here are shown ulva and red seaweed, sea-anemones, ascidians, shrimps and snails. 


times make too good use of their large pincers. 
They should be provided with some sort of a 
retreat in the form of rockwork or stones under 
which they can hide part of the time on bright 
days, as they are more or less nocturnal in habit. 
some species will climb readily among the water 
weeds. They are naturally scavengers and will 
eat almost anything, but prefer a meat diet. 
There are numerous aquatic insects which can 
readily be kept in the small aquarium and which 
offer a very attractive field for study. Of those 
available in the adult stage may be mentioned 
the hard-shelled water beetles (Dytiscus, Hydro- 
philus) and the whirling beetle. The water- 
bugs such as the oarsman and the electric-light 
bug (Belostoma) are among 
the commoner and larger of 
the true bugs. The larvae 
of the dragon-flies, caddis- 
flies and the dobson or hel- 
gramite are even more inter- 
esting and may be kept un- 
til they emerge in the adult 
winged condition. These 
forms are chiefly carnivor- 
ous, and if kept together the 
smaller may disappear into 
the rapacious stomachs of 
the larger. The dragon-fly 
larvae are even cannibalistic 
and unless provided with 
enough food the larger may 
devour the smaller, even of 


the same species. Any of 
the above forms may be 
readily collected with the 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


aid of a small dip-net. While 

their study has been chiefly 

confined to the entomologist, 

they will amply repay the 

labors of the aquarist. 
FEEDING. 


In the selection of food, 
one must naturally be goy- 
erned by the needs of his 
animals—some species are 
partly or entirely herbivor- 
ous while others are carniy- 
orous. Practically all of our 
native fishes are carnivorous 
and thrive best upon a meat 
diet of some sort, while the 
goldfishes and carp are 
largely vegetarian in their 
diet. Prepared fish foods 
may be obtained from a 
dealer in aquarium supplies, 
and he may be consulted as to that best adapted 
to a particular species of fish. In the case of 
carnivorous fishes, the prepared dry food may be 
supplemented occasionally by the addition of 
mealworms or of earthworms cut into small 
pieces according to the size of the fish. Special 
care should be taken, however, that such animal 
food is removed if not eaten as it decays much 
more readily than vegetable matter and so causes 
greater danger of pollution. 

To prevent the dry prepared food from be- 
coming scattered over the surface of the aquar- 
ium, it is advisable to make use of a floating 
glass ring which can be secured from a dealer. 
This not only gives the surface of the aquarium 


COMMON ROACH IN A BALANCED AQUARIUM. 
A very graceful and attractive species. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


YOUNG CATFISH. 
The local species of catfishes are hardy and interesting. 


a neater appearance after feeding time, but pre- 
vents the escape of smaller particles to contam- 
inate the water. Care in the matter of feeding 
is of the utmost importance in preserving the 
balance of the aquarium and in keeping the ani- 
mals in good condition. It must be remembered 
that the usual fault is that of overfeeding and 
the conditions should be studied carefully. 
CLEANING THE AQUARIUM. 

It must be clearly borne in mind that clean- 
liness is absolutely necessary to the welfare to 
the inhabitants of the aquar- 
ium. Contamination can 
arise only by bacterial decay 
of organic substances al - 
lowed to remain in the 
water. There are three gen- 
eral sources of such organic 
matter; First, fecal matter 
from the animals, relatively 
unimportant because the de- 
posits are small in amount 
and regular in occurrence; 
second, decaying vegetable 
matter from dead portions 
of the plants, also relatively 
unimportant since in the 
well balanced aquarium there 
is little tendency for the 
death of the plant tissues, 
and third, decay of excess 
food matter, the usual source 
of pollution. 

It is a common but very 
mistaken notion that an ani- 
mal should have food at 


SOCIETY 


They are excellent for the beginner. 


BULLETIN. 849 


hand at all times to keep it 
in good condition. It is well 
known that various forms of 
domestic animals, as well as 
the wild species confined in 
zoological gardens, make the 
best growth and keep in the 
most satisfactory condition 
when supplied only with what 
food they will clean up at one 
feeding. This applies with 
equal force to the inhabitants 
of the aquarium, but besides 
there is a real and grave 
danger of contamination in 
supplying more food than 
will be readily consumed. 
The first indication of 
serious pollution is a slight 
clouding of the water caused 
by the presence of countless 
millions of bacteria. This may go on until the 
water is of a milky color and the balance of the 
aquarium is completely upset by the accumu- 
lation of sulphur and ammonia compounds set 
free in the water by bacterial decomposition. 
How can the accumulation of dead matter be 
prevented? The usual means is to introduce 
some animal that will act as a scavenger to clean 
up refuse matter. The forms generally made 
use of are the tadpoles and fresh-water snails. 
Either of these under ordinary circumstances 


SOFTSHELLED TURTLE. 
Small specimens are well adapted to the aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


850 


MUDFISH OR BOWFIN. 


This is one of the hardiest of fresh-water fishes, but adult specimens are 


too large for small aquaria. 


will clean up waste particles of food and de- 
cayed vegetation and work over the fecal matter 
of the fishes, and will also tend to prevent an 
excessive development of the microscopic plants 
which form a green scum on the glass. If 
larger portions of plants begin to deteriorate it 
will be found best to cut them off and remove 
them since if they are not in good condition they 
will not serve for aeration and will become a 
source of danger. 

If care is taken in feeding—and a little study 
and experience in this matter is the only safe 
guide—no appreciable amount of food need be 
left to decay. If for any reason not all of the 
food is consumed or if there is any accumula- 
tion of fecal or other matter, these may be read- 
ily removed by means of a long pipette, or a 
rubber tube used as a siphon. For the small 
aquarium the pipette with an inside diameter of 
one-quarter inch and _ fitted 
with a large rubber bulb, is 
most convenient, or, the tube 
may be used without the 
bulb by placing the thumb 
over the upper end while in- 
troducing it and while with- 
drawing it after it is filled. 

For larger aquaria the 
pipette is rather tedious and 
the siphon is recommended. 
In either case the water 
should be strained through 
a cheesecloth net and al- 
lowed to flow back into the 
tank rather than to add 
fresh water to replace it. As 
has been stated elsewhere, the 
less changing of the water 
the better, for fear of intro- 


SOCIETY 


This salamander has the legs reduced to mere vestiges. 


BULLETIN. 


ducing some new factor to 
interfere with the adjust- 
ment already established. It 
will occasionally be neces- 
sary to add water to replace 
that which escapes by evap- 
oration. ‘This should be done 
a little at a time and care 
should be taken to have the 
temperature the same as that 
of the water in the tank. 

For the purpose of remoy- 
ing any deposits on the glass 
of the aquarium, a swab can 
be made out of a stick with 
a bit of cheesecloth wrapped 
about the end. The cloth 
may be removed each time 
it is used, which should not be more often 
than is necessary to keep the glass reasonably 
clean, or if it is used over it should be carefully 
cleaned and sterilized each time in hot water. 
The swab will serve not only to remove ordinary 
dirt, but also the green scum of the minute plant 
life which in strong light will soon cover the 
glass. These minute plants do no harm—in 
fact they are as beneficial in yielding oxygen as 
are the larger ones—and they are a natural part 
of the balanced life of the aquarium. However 
one keeps an aquarium to enjoy the view of its 
miniature water world, and if the green scum 
interferes with the view it may be removed with- 
out detriment to the adjustment. The scum 
grows thickest on the side nearest the light and 
it may be allowed to develop on that side as it 
will serve to screen the strong light somewhat 
from the animals. 


THE SIREN. 


I ¢ Young specimens are well 
suited for life in the small aquarium. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


For removing inanimate objects from the 
aquarium or for readjusting them, a strong pair 
of wooden forceps is advisable. The hands 
should not be put into the water and on no ac- 
count should the fishes be taken into the hands. 
If it becomes necessary to remove the fishes a 
small net of cheesecloth should be employed, and 
great care should be taken not to injure them by 
loosening their scales, as any such abrasion of- 
fers a foot-hold to the deadly fish fungus (Sa- 
prolegnia). 


MARINE AQUARIA. 


As most of what has been said of the fresh 
water aquarium will apply with equal force to 
the salt water aquarium, a detailed account will 
not be necessary. The factors governing life 
are the same in both. The best plants for aerat- 
ing are the species of green algae known as sea- 
lettuce. The common broad-leaved form is usu- 
ally best arranged by floating at the surface by 
a few small pieces of cork in such a manner that 
portions of the leaves will extend downward into 
the water. The species of marine plants are 
numerous and the various red, green and brown 
forms with strap-like or with finely divided 
fronds may be placed at the bottom to give va- 
riety and color, as well as to aid in aerating the 
water. Very often pebbles with these plants 
attached may be secured in shallow water. 

Unfortunately the salt water aquarium is a 
practical impossibility for most persons who are 
unable to make occasional visits to the shore. 
Artificial sea water can be easily prepared at a 
trifling expense, if the formula of Gosse is fol- 
lowed: chloride of sodium (common table salt) 
eighty-one parts, chloride of potassium, two 
parts, chloride of magnesia, ten parts, sulphate 
of magnesia (Epsom salts) seven parts, total 
100 parts. A pound of this mixture is sufficient 
to make about three gallons of artificial sea 
water. It should be filtered before placing in 
the aquarium. 

To be sure, natural sea water contains many 
other salts, but they have been found unneces- 
sary for the animal life of the aquarium and may 
be neglected. The sea water part of the prob- 
lem is thus readily solved, but very little ma- 
rine life is ever handled by dealers in this coun- 
try and the difficulty of obtaining animals and 
plants renders the salt-water aquarium impract- 
icable for the person of average means who lives 
at a distance from the sea. 

To one who is within reach of the sea, how- 
ever the marine aquarium offers a never ending 
and ever varied field for study and investiga- 
tion. Animals and plants may be obtained the 
year round, and many of them live well within 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 851 


the restricted limits of the aquarium. The many 
species of hydroids and sea anemones, marine 
worms, bryozoans, mollusks of many kinds, 
crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans, sea squirts 
or ascidians, as well as fishes are to be obtained 
and give a variety to the miniature scene which 
cannot be paralleled in the fresh water aquarium. 

Some of the small aquaria at the New York 
Aquarium have been maintained in a balanced 
condition for several years—one for as long as 
twelve years. Of course both animals and 
plants have been occasionally added to the stock, 
but the balance has not been interfered with dur- 
ing that time. Fresh water in small quantities 
must occasionally be added to the marine aquar- 
ium to replace that which evaporates. The ad- 
dition of sea water would, in the course of time, 
cause the salinity to become too great, since the 
salts do not evaporate. 


Se ney 


aS 


CmOROMO 


@ 


IMPLEMENTS OF USE TO THE AQUARIST. 


PORTABLE METAL FRAME AQUARIUM. 


A useful tank in all sizes and the only kind that is satisfactory for larger 


sizes above eight or ten gallons. 


Special care should be taken, whenever any 
new animals are added, to observe that they do 
not die and upset the adjustment of the aquar- 
ium by their decomposition. Portions of plants 
which are deteriorating may be removed and 
fresh ones added. Practically all of the ma- 
rine animals are carnivorous. ‘They may be fed 
upon pieces of clam, oyster, or fish, cut to proper 
size or finely grated for the smaller animals. 

Sea snails make good scavengers, but some of 
them are vegetarians and may attack the plant 
life too freely. However, these are just the 
points which the aquarist will be interested in 
determining for himself, and, with the proper 
attention, will offer no great difficulties. As in 
the fresh-water aquarium, it is very important not 
to overfeed and to remove by means of the siphon 
any excess food material which might by decay- 
ing interfere with the proper balance of life. 

AQUARIUM SOCIETIES. 

Interest in the small aquarium has been so 
sporadic in this country that there has been thus 
far little tendency for the formation of aquar- 
ium societies. In some of the European coun- 
tries, notably Germany, such societies are very 
common. At present there are but four in the 
United States, as far as the writer has been able 
to learn, though there should be one in every 
city. The members have an opportunity to talk 
over their difficulties and successes, to exhibit 
and exchange specimens and to discuss the vari- 
ous phases of this field of natural history. 

The Aquarium Society—This organization, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


which originated first as the 
Salamander Society, dates 
from April 13, 1893, when 
it was formed for mutual 
benefit by five enthusiastic 
aquarists in the Bronx. The 
society flourished under this 
name for several years, hold- 
ing meetings in the Bronx, 
New York City and Jersey 
City, but in December, 1896, 
was reorganized under the 
present name. 

The society now enrolls 
about sixty active members. 
Meetings are held twice a 
month, alternating between 
the American Museum of 
Natural History in New 
York City, and the German- 
American School in Jersey 
City. An annual exhibition, 
which arouses considerable 
outside interest, is held for 
a week in November. 

The members of the society are chiefly inter- 
ested in exotic fishes, with the exception of gold- 
fishes, comparatively few of which are kept. 
Mr. Isaac Buchanan, 143 Liberty Street, New 
York City, is the President, and the annual 
membership fee is $2.00. 

The Aquarium Society of Philadelphia.—This 
Society, organized May 5, 1898, and reorganized 
in January, 1900, has 125 active and ten cor- 
responding members and is the largest of the 
American societies. 

Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of 
each month, May to August excepted, at Fra- 
ternity Hall, 1414 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. The society specializes in gold- 
fishes, particularly fringe-tailed telescopes and 
fringe-tailed Japs. Exhibitions are held at 
each meeting. Some of the competitions are: 
best goldfish owned by member; best fish raised 
by member; best household aquarium; telescopes 
over one year; fringe-tails over one year, etc. The 
society has not issued any publications, but has 
contributed to The Guide to Nature. Dues, $1.80 
per year. President, Mr. William T. Innis, Jr., 
1311 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Brooklyn Aquarium Society Organized in 
February, 1911, this society has already fifty 
members and is growing rapidly. In May, 
1911, the first number of the Brooklyn Aquar- 
ium Society Bulletin—the first and only such 
journal to be issued by any society in America 
appeared. Thus far the society has held no 


ZOOLOGICAL 


public exhibitions. There is no attempt to spe- 
cialize in any one line, but goldfishes and exotic 
fishes are the rule. Meetings are held every 
second Tuesday, June to August excepted, at the 
headquarters, Fairchild Building, 702 Fulton 
Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. The President of the 
society is Mr. W. F. DeVoe, Baldwin, N. Y. 
The dues are $2.00 a year. 

Chicago Fish-Fanciers Club.—Organized in 
February, 1911, this society has twenty-six mem- 
bers interested in all kinds of aquatic life. 
Meetings are held twice a month, but no special 
exhibits have thus far been held. Mr. F. S. 
Young, 428 West 66th Street, Chicago, Illinois, 
is president. 

AQUARIUM JOURNALS. 


The first American periodical dealing espe- 
cially with this phase of natural history was 
published by Hugo Mulertt under the title The 
Aquarium and made its appearance in Cincin- 
nati in October, 1888. Two volumes were is- 
sued as a monthly. Apparently publication was 
suspended for a couple of years for we find vol- 
ume III beginning as a quarterly, published in 
Brooklyn (still under the direction of Mr. 
Mulertt) in October, 1892. In this form it 
continued to be issued as a very creditable jour- 
nal until 1897. 

Since that time there has been no periodical 
dealing especially with this field until May, 
1911, there appeared the Brooklyn Aquarium 
Society Bulletin, issued as a monthly (June to 
August excepted) and continuing to the present 
time. 

We are now informed that the New York, 
Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Chicago Societies 
have combined in a project to issue a monthly 
journal, The Aquarium, to be published in Phila- 
delphia (Innes & Sons, 1311 Sansom Street) at 
a dollar a year. The editorial staff will be com- 
posed of members selected from each of the so- 
cieties. The Brooklyn Aquarium Society Bul- 
letin will thus be superseded by a journal of 
much wider scope. There would seem to be 
ample room for such a periodical, and with the 
combined support of the various societies there 
should be nothing to interfere with its sucecss. 


BOOKS FOR THE AQUARIST. 


The aquarium student will naturally be inter- 
ested in obtaining all the information he can in 
regard to his animals and plants. For such in- 
formation he will find it advisable to read widely. 
The list of works given below embraces only 
such as are contained in the New York Aquar- 
ium library, all of which can be recommended to 
the amateur aquarist. Most of those issued by 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 853 


American publishing houses are still to be ob- 

tained from booksellers. A few are out of print, 

and may be obtained only from second-hand 

dealers. Some of the older, classical books are 

included, and a few that deal with the life of 

animals and plants in fresh and salt waters. 
OLDER WORKS. 

The Aquarium.—An unveiling of the wonders 
of the deep sea, with colored plates. By Philip 
Henry Gosse, A.L.A. Van Voorst, London, 
1854. 

Popular History of the Aquarium of Marine 
and fresh Water Animals and Plants—With 
colored plates. By G. B. Sowerby, F.L.S. 
Reeve, London, 1857. 

Ocean Gardens.—The history of the marine 
aquarium, and the best methods now adopted for 
its establishment and preservation. With col- 
ored plates. By H. Noel Humphreys, Samson 
Low Son & Co., London, 1857. 

The Aquarium Naturalist —A manual for the 
seaside, with a chapter on aquaria. Colored 
plates. By Thos. Rymer Jones, F.R.S. Van 
Voorst, London, 1858. 

The Fresh and Salt Water Aquarium.—With 
colored plates. By Rev. J. C. Wood, M.A., 
F.L.S. Routledge & Sons, London, 1868. 

The Family Aquarium.—The construction, 
stocking and maintenance of fresh water and 
marine aquaria. By H. D. Butler, Dick & 
Fitzgerald, New York, 1858. 

RECENT WORKS. 

The Amateur Aquarist—How to equip and 
maintain a_ self-sustaining aquarium.  Illus- 
trated. By Mark Samuel. Baker & Taylor 
Co., New York, 1894. 

The Aquarium.—lIts inhabitants, structure and 


management. Illustrated. By J. E. Taylor, 
Ph.D. New Edition, Grant, Edinburgh, 1901. 


The Book of Aquaria.—Being a_ practical 
guide to the construction, arrangement and man- 
agement of fresh water and marine aquaria. I]- 
lustrated. By the Rev. Gregory C. Bateman, 
A.K.C., and Reginald A. R. Bennett, M. A. 
Part I, Fresh Water Aquaria, Part II, Marine 
Aquaria. Scribner’s, New York, 1902. 

The Home Aquarium, and How to Care for 
It.—A guide to its fishes, and other animals and 
plants, with many illustrations. By Eugene 
Smith. Duttons, New York, 1902. 

The Fresh Water Aquarium and Its Inhabit- 
ants.—A practical guide, describing especially 
the plants and animals suitable for aquarium 
purposes, and with chapters on feeding and fish 
diseases. Illustrated by E. F. Keller and E. 
R. Sanborn. By O. Eggeling and F. Ehren- 
berg. Holt & Co., New York, 1908. 


854 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


COMMON NEWT. 
One of the most abundant of the local salamanders and the one best adapted to the balanced aquarium. 


Das Siisswasser-A quarium.—A practical guide 
in the German. Illustrated. By Dr. E. Bade. 
Fritz Pfennigstorff, Berlin, 1909. Can be ob- 
tained through dealers importing German books. 

GOLDFISH CULTURE. 

The Goldfish and Its Systematic Culture —A 
thorough guide for goldfish keeping and goldfish 
breeding in the house and out of doors. The 
construction and care of the parlor aquarium 
and of ponds for breeding. Illustrated. By 
Hugo Mulertt, New York, 1902. 

Goldfish Breeds and Other Aquarium Fishes. 
—Their correct propagation. A guide to fresh 
water and marine aquaria, their flora, fauna and 
management. Illustrated. By H. T. Wolf. 
Innes & Sons, Philadelphia, 1908. 

Japanese Goldfishes, Their Varieties and Cul- 
tivation.—A_ practical guide to the Japanese 
methods of goldfish culture for amateurs and 
professionals. Illustrated, with numerous col- 
ored plates. By H. M. Smith, U. S. Deputy 
Commissioner of Fisheries. W. T. Roberts Co., 
Washington, 1909. 

VIVARIA. 

The Vivarium.—Being a practical guide to 
the construction, arrangement and management 
of vivaria. Illustrated. By Rev. Gregory C. 
Bateman, A.K.C. Gill, London, 1897. 


NATURAL HISTORY. 

Ponds and Ditches——A description of the 
plants, animals and conditions of life in quiet 
fresh waters. Illustrated. By M. C. Cooke. 
E. & J. B. Young & Co., New York, 1885. 

Ocean Wonders——A companion for the sea- 
side. With a chapter on marine and fresh 
water aquaria. Illustrated. By William E. 
Damon. Appleton’s, New York, 1896. 

Life in Ponds and Streams.—With a chapter 
on aquaria. Colored plates. By W. Furneaux, 
F.R.G. Longmans, Green & Co., New York, 
1896. 

The Sea Beach at Ebb Tide—A guide to the 
study of the sea weeds and the lower animal life 
between tide marks. Illustrated. By A. F. Ar- 
nold. The Century Co., New York, 1901. 

Thz Sea Shore.—Dealing with marine ani- 
mals and plants and with a chapter on the salt 
water aquarium. Illustrated. By W. S. Fur- 
neaux. Longmans, Green & Co., New York, 
1903. 

Sea Shore Life—The invertebrates of the 
New York Coast (Vol. I. New York Aquarium 
Nature Series). 181 pages and 119 illustra- 
tions. By Dr. A. G. Mayer. For sale at the 
Aquarium and by A. S. Barnes and Company, 
New York. 


\3"\\ A ih ) 4~ 
VoL. XVI. No; 51 @ te MAY, 1912 


SOCIETY 
BULLETIN 


Published by 
The NEW-YORK: ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


ELI MANNS 
i wpe — ——— ; 


WD ) i a UN NM NN mn HMM i AN tN I 


att La 
ARTHUR FREUND, DES. 


Officers of the New York Zoological Society 
President 


Henry Fairrietp Ossporn. 


Hirst Vice-President Second Vire-President 
Samurext THORNE. JouHNn L. CaDWALaDER. 
Secretary Oreasurer 
Mapison Grant, 11 Wall Street. Percy R. Pyne, 30 Pine Street. 


Board of Managers 


Ex-0 fficio 
The Mayor of the City of New York. The Preswwent of the Department of Parks. 
Glass of 1913 
F. Auecustus SCHERMERHORN, CreveLanp H. Dopeée, Emerson McMittin, 
Percy R. Pyne, C, Lepyarp Buair, AntTuony R. Kuser, 
GrorceE B. GRINNELL, Freperick G. Bourne, Watson B. Dickerman, 
GrorGe C. CLark, W. Austin WapswortH, Mortimer L. Scuirr. 
Glass of 1914 
Henry FairrieLtp Osporn, Hveu D. Avcuinctoss, Grant B. Scutey, 
Winwiam C, Cuurcu, Cuarves F, Dierericu, Wo. Pierson Hamitton, 
L.isPENARD STEWART, James J. Hitt, Rosert S. Brewster, 
H. Casimir pE RHAM, Georce F, Baker, Epwarp S. Harkness. 
Class of 1915 
Levi P. Morton, Winriam Wuire Nites, Frank K. Srvureis, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, SaMvuEL THORNE, Georce J. Goutp, 
Joun L. CapwaLapDER, Henry A. C. Tayuor, OepvEN Mitts, 
Mapison GRANT, Hveu J, CuIsHoim, Lewis RurHerFuRD Morris. 


Executive Committee 
Mapison Grant, Chairman. 
Percy R. Pyne, SamueL THORNE, Levi P. Morton, LisPENARD STEWART, 
WitiiaM Waitt NILEs, Wm. Pierson Hamittron, Frank K. Srureis, 
Henry Farrriecp Osporn, Ex-Officio. 


General Officers 
Witu1am T. Hornapay, Director of the Park. 
Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director of the Aquarium. 
La Farce & Morris, Architects, H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. 


Officers of the Zoological Park 
Witiiam T. Hornapay, Director. 
H. R. MircHe.u, C. WiuiaAM BEEBE, H. W. MERKEL, Ewin R. SANBORN, 
Raymonp L. Dirmars, L. S. CRANDALL, W. Rew Buarr, G. M. BreerBoweER, 


Officers of the Aquarium 
Cuarztes H. Townsenp, Director. Raymonp C. Ossurn, Assistant. 
Wasuineron I. DEeNyseE, Roserr SuTCLiFFE. Wituiam W. Waite, U.S. N.(Retired). 


AOOLOGCTOALS SOCTEMY BULLETIN 


CONTENTS FOR MAY 


PAGE 
PS VEEVSYRWN Ro UCN ER a nc Frontispiece 
BimpsioRPinmy. (UParnhel)\se.s =e C. William Beebe and L. S. Crandall. 871 
Tue Wive-Hornep Wuitrt Mountain SUEEP_.....______. W. T. Hornaday. 857 
PE AVIP ER IAT SOAR RO DS ss. 2 aces oe oosce cso eesnce Sees C. William Beebe. 868 
GAMING H Riss RDS TOR MINI IAe ose ne ee ee _..C. William Beebe. 861 
Storm-Bounp Dvucks.......................- C. William Beebe and Verdi Burtch. 866 
sree RAGED Ys OF) THE (GREBES:--. 2-0-2. -. 222s coco sce co ee co cken the L. S. Crandall. 864 
ESTER D ERO ME GREOIN: sIINT gS AN OMA ee eee ee ee ose ee Mason Mitchell. 865 
Ivems or INtEREST (Mammal Department) ................-......- Ree Ditmanses' (0 
I'rems or INvrerEst (Bird Department)... SEP aE aE See L. S. Crandall; 863 
IVa ANAT URISVAG) 9,s2.55 008 0 /See ede data e eek ae 2 NM a Soe oS eee cea ee ee 865 


TIGER 


z 
i 
& 
w 
ae 
n 


LOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


Published by the New York 


Vor. XVI 


THE WIDE-HORNED WHITE 


Zoological Society 


Numeser 51 


MOUNTAIN SHEEP 


By Wiruram T. Hornapay 


made by Wilson Potter and Henry Diss- 

ton, Jr., of Philadelphia, resulted in the 
discovery by them of the most remarkable White 
Mountain Sheep specimens that (so far as known) 
have come out of northwestern America. The spe- 
cies represented is Ovis dalli, but the fact revealed 
by the specimens is new and startling. At the last 
moment before closing this manuscript, the Na- 
tional Collection of Heads and Horns received, 
as a gift from Frederic H. Osborn, of New 
York, a nephew of President Osborn, an Ovis 
dalli head that unmistakably belongs in the same 
class as the Potter-Disston specimens. 

The ordinary horn architecture of the white 
sheep, as found in Yukon Territory and eastern 
Alaska, and also in the Kenai Peninsula, is quite 
well known. Described in a few words, it is 
essentially a refined and compacted version of 
the standard horns of the Rocky Mountain Big- 
Horn, with the addition of long, slender points 
that sometimes abruptly thrust outward from 
the face. Sportsmen call it a close spiral, be- 
cause, instead of opening out widely from the 
face, the middle section of the horn descends 
almost parallel with the cheek, and not far away. 
Not infrequently, however, a white-sheep horn 
of extreme length will thrust a long, slender 
point outward almost at a right angle with the 
face. Occasionally, also, a black mountain sheep 


RR aie hunting trips to Yukon Territory 


develops horns of great spread in proportion to 
their length, but such cases seem to be excep- 
tional. The proposition that wide-spreading 
horns constitute a distinguishing character of 
the black sheep species has been strenuously 
denied. Thus far no locality, so far as we are 
aware, has developed a common type of widely 
spreading horns, even of the black sheep. 

The specimens under consideration are re- 
markable because of the fact that they represent 
a horn type never before seen by the writer in 
Ovis dalli, either as a distinct local type or other- 
wise, and also because there are so many of 
them (from the same locality) that they compel 
attention. Their unusual size may be mentioned 
as a third feature of interest. 

The series of specimens consists of six mounted 
heads, and while they have not been all cast in 
the same mold, their characters are fairly uni- 
form. Without descending for any distance 
parallel with the cheek, these horns spread out- 
ward, continuously, until at least four of the 
six acquire tip-to-tip proportions and openness 
of spiral that are remarkable for Ovis dalli. In 
general terms, Mr. Potter’s No. 1 is a fairly 
exact counterpart of a fine head of Ovis karelini 
in the National Collection of Heads and Horns, 
which measures in length 445 inches, spread be- 
tween tips 36 inches, and in circumference |13 | 
inches. 


58 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


THE WIDE-HORNED WHITE SHEEP 


BULLETIN 


HEAD No. 1--(Mr. Wilson Potter) 


Inches 
Spread, tip to tip . . . 34% 
Length on curve . 4434 
Circumference at base ..... . 14% 
Age .. aiae acm 7 years 


HEAD No. 2—(Mr. 


Spread, tip to tip. . 
Length on curve . 


Circumference 


Age 


HEAD No. 3—(Mr. 


Spread, tip to tip. . 
Length on curve . . 


Circumference 


Age 


HEAD No, 4—(Mr 


Spread, tip to tip . 


Length on curve 


Age 


Henry Disston, Jr.) 
Inches 
. 30% 
. 37% 
- 14% 
. 6 years 


. Henry Disston, Jr.) 


Inches 
icy 
- . - 40% 

- 13% 
.7 years 


. Henry Disston, Jr.) 


Inches 
- 2616 


. 386 


.7 years 


ZOOLOGICAL 


KARELIN SHEEP. 


Ovis kareling, (Severtzof?). 


Inches 
SpreadStipitotips) . <2. . ae ic 36 
Mengthionicurve. = = 255 = - 4475 
Circumference . . . ey sah) el S¥e 


Loe.—Chinese Turkestan. 
Head in the National Collection of 
Heads and Horns. 


HEAD No. 5—Mr. F. H. Osborn’s 
Gift to N. C. H. H. 


Inches 
Spreaditipito:tip). . .). . . < «--.29) 
Eengthon:curve’. .-.... . . 4138 
Circumference .... . 55 oN 
PAN Oia res fers c2ere 3 3 hie bie 8 years 


WHITE MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
Typical Specimen, showing the ordi- 
nary close spiral. 

Head in the Reed-MeMillin Collection, 
National Collection of Heads 
and Horns. 


REAR VIEW OF HEAD No. 1. 
(Mr. Wilson Potter) 


All the heads shown in this article 
have been phetographed and 
reproduced as nearly as possible on 
the same scale. 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


SHEEP 


HEADS SHOWN FOR COMPARISON 


859 


860 ZOOLOGICAL 


The specimens under notice at once strike the 
observer as representing something new in the 
horns of American mountain sheep. <A single 
specimen, even of an extreme type, would readily 
be accepted as an individual or freak develop- 
ment; but with six specimens, practically from 
the same locality, and another one coming 
greater than any in hand, it is in order to look 
seriously into the question that they present. 
The following comparative measurements are of 
interest, because they represent four localities 
and are strictly comparable, all being selected 
heads. 


OVIS DALLI HORNS, SPREAD BETWEEN TIPS, (in inches). 


1. The Wide-Horned heads: | 3414 | 30% | 2734 | 261 | 29 
| | | 
2. Charles Sheldon’s heads. | ; | 
Ogilvie Mts. 95 23 17% | 17 17% 
3. Charles Sheldon’s heads, | 
Pelly Mts. 20% | 18t& | 17% | 17% | 17% 


4. Reed-MeMillin heads, Kenai 
Penin. 2358 | 205% | 


THE SAME HEADS, LENGTH ON CURVE. 


1. The Wide-Horned heads 4434 | 37% | 4136 | 38% | 40% 
2, Sheldon heads, Ogilvie Mts. 2914 | 30 7 36 32 

3. Sheldon heads, Pelly Mts. 3834 | 32 35% | 2834 | 3634 
4. Reed-MeMillin, Kenai Penin.| 3444 36 383% 35% | 3656 


It is not often that the measurements of skulls 
or horns tell a story as striking as that re- 
vealed by the measurements of the four groups 
of heads set forth above. It seems hardly neces- 
sary to write down the conclusions they at once 
suggest; but at the same time it may be well 
to do so. 

These four groups of heads represent four 
widely separated localities in the range of Ovis 
dalli. On a map of northwestern America the 
Kenai Peninsula, Ogilvie Mountains and Pelly 
Mountains form a great triangle, near the center 
of which is the locality which furnished the five 
wide-horned sheep heads here noticed. 

The measurements show that the fifteen speci- 


mens composing Groups 2, 3 and +4 are not 
noticeably different from one another. They do 


not spread widely, and they are by no means 
particularly long. In fact, they are all of the 
same general type—small, of medium length, 
and close in spiral. 

The five specimens in Group No. 1, are 
equally alike, but their great spread, great 
length, and wide-open spiral place them abso- 
lutely in a class by themselves. As yet we do 
not know the western limit of the wide-horned 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


sheep, but we venture the prediction that an 
investigation of all the wide-horned Ovis dalli 
ever sent out of the Northwest will reveal the 
fact that they have come from Southwestern 
Yukon Territory, or northwestward thereof, in 
the direction of Mount McKinley. 

After an examination of these specimens, the 
question naturally arises, what do they mean? 

Distinctly, I think they do not represent a 
new species, nor even a sub-species. It is rea- 
sonably certain that as the collector progresses 
outward from the locality of the Disston-Potter 
series, a complete series of intermediate horns 
will be found, grading down to the standard 
form of close-spiral horn architecture as found 
in Ovis dalli generally throughout the best-known 
ranges of that species. 

It is, however, my belief that in the locality 
which furnished the wide-spreading horns de- 
scribed above, we have found Nature virtually in 
the very act of developing and striking off a 
wide-horned and long-horned sub-species of Ovis 
dalli. Waving hazarded a guess that these sheep 
were developed in a region where sheep food 
was particularly abundant and rich, Mr. Potter 
immediately replied: 

“Yes; that locality is on the eastern slope of 
the main range, where spring comes early, and 
the food for sheep is the finest that I ever saw.” 

Under such conditions, it is not at all difficult 
to imagine that in 200 years of quiet and un- 
interrupted breeding, carried on by the fittest 
of such rams as these, the result might easily be 
a new species closely paralleling Ovis karelini, 
and larger every way than Ovis dalli. 

As conditions of slaughter are to-day, the 
locality which produced these sheep will be in- 
vaded and shot to pieces by an eager army of 
sheep-hunters, just as soon as its name is made 
known; and thus Nature’s last attempt at 
species-making in American sheep will come to 
an untimely end. As this breed disappears, and, 
at least while we are bidding it farewell, we will 
eall it the Wide-Horned White Sheep, locality 
Yukon Territory. 


Duck Collection —The collection of ducks now 
installed on the Wild Fowl Pond is unusually 
complete and will well repay inspection. There 
are about 350 specimens of some twenty-three 
species, including several of the diving ducks of 
the genus Marila. All of the males are now in 
full nuptial array and present a much more strik- 
ing appearance than will be the case later in the 
summer, when many take on the eclipse plumage. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


S61 


EVERY BRANCH TREMBLES WITH THE WEIGHT OF VULTURES 


An Adjutant is Perched on a Bough in the Center Picture 


THE SCAVENGER 


BIRDS 


OF INDIA* 


By C. WititamM Breese 
Curator of Birds 


We who enjoy the comforts of Western civili- 
zation, seldom give a thought to the perfection 
of operation and concealment of our vast sani- 
tary and other systems. Occasionally the intri- 
cate lines of sewers, the mighty water-pipes, the 
mesh-work of electric wiring are laid bare in 
streets; all that 
plexus which makes life pleasant or possible in 
our great cities. But to realize that there are 
lands where, between scores of millions of human 
beings and the most dread diseases due to un- 
sanitary conditions, are bulwarks only of hosts 
of feathered beings, great and small, is a new 
thought, and one which should abate every feel- 
ing except of interest and appreciation. 

Even before one’s steamer comes within sight 
of the low marshy shoreline of India, there is 
evidence of the bird scavengers of that country. 
Hardly have the propellers begun to churn up 
the muddy water of the Hoogly, many miles 
from land, than gulls of several species come 
screaming toward the vessel and from thence 


our necessary subterranean 


+ 


A HUNDRED VULTURES FLAP TO THE FEAST 


onward every port-hole, every motion of the 
passengers is kept under surveillance, until a 
stray bit of bread or other refuse draws the 
Hock downward in swift spirals to the water. 
Gulls in this familiar even in our 
New York harbor, but when we enter the Hoogly 
itself a new element is introduced, the kite—the 
Brahminy kites with their long graceful wings 
and deep cleft tail, clad in strongly contrasting 
hues of white and rich chestnut, and the less 
conspicuous brown pariah kites of the city itself. 
These birds are adapted both in swift flight and 
grasp of talons for a life of pursuit and capture 
of living creatures, but they have chosen the 
easier method of livelihood in this land teeming 
with mankind, of subsisting upon refuse. Our 
country is not without a parallel, for along the 


role are 


* These notes were made chiefly in the vicinity of Calcutta 
and Rangoon. The birds mentioned are the following:—Brown- 
headed Gull—Larus brunneicephalus; Brahminy Kite—Haliastur 
indus; Pariah Kite—Milvus govinda; House Crows—Corvus 
splendens and insolans; Jungle Crow—Corvus macorhynchus; 
White-backed Vulture—Pseudogyps bengalensis; Adjutant— 
Leptoptilus dubius. 


A STRUGGLING PILE OF BIRDS 


862 


shores of Maine and Nova Scotia it is not an 
the bald eagle itself 
walking ungainly about in search of the refuse 
of the fishermen. The kite of India has brought 
unusual facilities to aid him in his new field, 
and the more we see of him the more we admire 
the savoir-faire which he shows in his mastery 
of the water, the earth and the air. One never 
tires of watching these birds about the harbors, 
now soaring, now perching upon the rigging, 
now swooping to the surface and with wings and 
tail lifted, daintily seizing some morsel with their 
talons. A few flaps then take them upward and 
give such impetus that the feet may be stretched 
forward to meet the beak, when the bird pro- 
eceds to feed as calmly and leisurely as if the 
process of flight needed no supervision, the wings 
and tail apparently taking care of themselves, 
supporting and steering their owner safely until 
the last bit of food is swallowed, when the 
faculties of the head again assume command. 

In the city itself—Caleutta or Rangoon—the 
Brahminy is not seen, the brown pariah kite 
holding sway as best he can against a new 
rival, the house crow. Much has been written 
of this latter bird but still more remains unsaid. 
As the two kites have each found their niche 
in life, so the guilds of house and jungle crow 
keep more or less to their appointed zones of 
influence. In comparison with the house crows 
of India, our English sparrow is wariness itself. 
The will enter one’s very at the 
hotel in search of food, and when dining on an 
outside balcony, if a table is left unguarded for 
a moment, a descends 
straightway upon toast or butter and bears it 
off in triumph before the turbaned waiters can 
move a step. The house crow is trim and sleek, 
pleasant to look upon and with a brain which 
has few equals among the class of birds. 

As we leave the heart of the city, the su- 
periority of the crows diminishes, giving way 
to the greater brute force of the pariah kites 
and dogs, but it is not until we reach some 
suburb that we enter the realm of the greatest 


uncommon sight to see 


crows room 


black-winged arrow 


of all scavengers, the great vulture host of 
India. Unlike all the lesser factors in this field 


of usefulness, these great birds ply their trade 
with the least amount of effort; in fact, even 
a keen observer of bird life, might travel in 
India for many miles without 
seeing a single vulture. But at the appointed 
time and place, no more wonderful sight awaits 
the ornithologist than the gathering of these 
clans. 

When near a large Indian city, one treads 
some great road like that which delighted the 
heart of Kim, there comes to the ear the loud 


scores of 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


call of mynas, and the harsh notes of magpies or 
rollers; a distant crow may give voice or a kite 
squeal from a house-top. The sky is clear, 
blazing blue, marred by neither .cloud nor the 
form of any bird. A horse or bullock falls by 
the roadside and is surrounded at once by a 
shouting, gesticulating crowd of natives. A 
crow flies over and adds his shout of approval to 
the uproar, thereby summoning all of his clan 
in the neighborhood. 

Later the stricken animal is carried away to 
some spot set apart for the city refuse, but long 
before it has reached its destination a great 
shadow passes and with a loud rush of wings a 
huge brown form swoops low overhead and 
swings up to the topmost branch of a dead tree. 
A glance upward shows the sky full of vultures 
all descending swiftly in great spirals focussed 
upon this single speck of earth. Dozens are 
close at hand, scores of others afar off, while 
the straining eye discovers, now here, now there. 
still more coming constantly into sight, at first 
the least of motes against the blue, then taking 
form and motion, and finally assuming the indi- 
viduality of species. Every branch of every 
nearby tree is atremble with impact after impact 
of the great weight of bodies. Finally when 
every available arboreal space is occupied, the 
walls are filled. The living fringe of crows 
which tops the walls becomes gradually replaced 
with vultures. When the last perch is filled, 
the latecomers are compelled to settle in the open 
fields, forming densely packed mobs of several 
hundred birds—standing room only. Always 
the kites, which have collected in numbers, weave 
an intricate aerial net-work over the fields and 
in and out among the trees; they too, with the 
crows, must abide their time. A disturbance in 
one of the trees draws attention to an adjutant 
which has alighted on several of the vultures, 
when gently but firmly seizing their necks in 
his great beak, he tumbles them without injury 
off the branch to make room for himself. He rep- 
resents another link in the endless chain of bird 
scavengers in this land, and as the kite has de- 
serted the more noble proclivities of his aquiline 
kindred, so the adjutant has abandoned the clean 
feeding of the storks to join the vulturine pro- 
fession. With beak and wings he forces his 
way to the perch, but for many minutes the 
attacks of all his neighbors render his position 
uncertain, until the attention of the combatants 
is distracted by the approaching object of their 
desires. 

Not a bird moves while the dead animal is 
brought to the center of the waiting host, and 
only the hundreds upon hundreds of craning 
necks and unwinking eyes express the pent-up 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


eagerness, the unappeasable hunger which a 
vulture seems ever to typify. 

I shall never forget the impression which this 
scene made upon me; the hosts of lesser folk, 
crows and mynas, cawing and screaming; the 
scores of kites squealing their loudest, and 
finally the great silent, intent host, line upon 
line, crowd upon crowd in every direction. 

As the last native walks way, a vulture upon 
the topmost bough leaps from his perch and 
with all his might flaps toward the feast; ten, 
a score, a hundred follow at his very tail and 
the scavengers are at their work. There is 
nothing unpleasant or revolting to the eye. 
From the moment the first vulture alights on 
the carcass until the last bird flaps reluctantly 
away from the clean-picked bones, nothing is 
visible but a struggling pile of birds, two, 
sometimes three deep, with dozens constantly 
leaving, and their places taken at once. Men 
who have witnessed such scenes dozens of times, 
say that a horse or bullock will be completely 
devoured within nine to eleven minutes after the 
first vulture arrives. When the vultures have 
done, the crows consume every remaining scrap, 
and the bones await whatever use the needs of 
mankind require. Thus swiftly does the beast 
of burden fulfill its physical reincarnation in 
these eastern lands, and thus is wrought safety 
for millions of human beings, where otherwise 
plague and disease would work their utmost 
havoc. 


ITEMS OF INTEREST 
Bird Department 


Mating Geese.—The most uncommon event so 
far is the mating of a female graylag goose with 
a male pink-footed. These birds constructed a 
bulky nest and four eggs were deposited early in 
April. This is a really remarkable occurrence. 
and a detailed account will appear in a future 
BULLETIN. 

Wintering Ostriches.—The ostriches, which 
have now passed their second winter in the open. 
have come through in perfect condition. The 
success of this experiment in acclimatization, 
which seemed decidedly risky at first, is now 
established beyond a doubt. 


A Rare Turkey.— Quite without expectation. 
an apparently perfect female of the beautiful 
ocellated turkey reached us recently from Yuea- 
tan. This species is as delicate as it is lovely and 
has so far defied our most determined efforts to 
persuade it to live with us. All of our individuals 
have arrived during the period of cold weather, 
and invariably have been infected with roup or 
tuberculosis before arrival. The present bird, 


BULLETIN 863 
however, appears to be in better than average 
health, and we hope to be able to acclimatize her. 


Friendly Gulls—The unusual abundance of 
herring gulls in the neighborhood of the Zoologi- 
eal Park this spring induced us to place a daily 
supply of cut fish at convenient points about our 
lakes. The birds were not slow in taking ad- 
vantage of our hospitality, and we have been re- 
warded by the constant presence for several 
weeks of these masters of flight. No doubt we 
shall soon be deprived of the pleasure, for most 
of the birds depart in April for the northern 
breeding grounds. They generally return in 
October, and perhaps we may be so fortunate as 
to be able to persuade some, at least, to pass the 
winter with us. 


Soiled Water-Fowl—A road that sends forth 
clouds of dust in the wake of every passing auto- 
mobile is unquestionably an abomination. It was 
doubtless the ambition of the worthy persons who 
recently sprayed the surface of Pelham Avenue 
with crude oil, to remedy a condition which has 
caused much annoyance. The task was well per- 
formed—so well, in fact, that enough oil re- 
mained upon the surface of the road to entirely 
cover Cope Lake and Lake Agassiz, when washed 
into the water by a drenching rain. This oil 
has had a remarkable effect upon the plumage of 
the water-fowl quartered on the lakes. Mallards 
and black ducks are now indistinguishable, by 
color, at least; barnacle, white fronted and 
Canada geese are a homogeneous and non-com- 
mittal black, while the once white swans are a 
truly pitiful sight. As soon as the oil has 
passed down the Bronx River an attempt will 
be made to restore the feathers of the swans to 
their former snowy state, but inky geese of vari- 
ous sizes will continue to puzzle inquiring visi- 
tors until after the annual moult. 

Nesting Water-fowl.—Although spring has 
been delayed, the Bird Department hopes for an 
unusual number of breeding successes when the 
vernal season does arrive. In a few cases, nest- 
ing operations have already begun. Several pairs 
of Canada geese are incubating, the first egg 
appearing on April 5. Mallard ducks antedated 
the geese by at least a week, and it is quite safe 
to say that a fairly careful search of the various 
nesting localities in the Zoological Park would 
reveal fully 100 nests of this enterprising bird. 

The Cereopsis geese, which lost their brood 
of goslings in 1910, as a result of a local epi- 
demic of parasitic bronchitis, have been busily 
constructing a nest in the Crane Paddock, and 
eggs will doubtless follow in due season. Ruddy 
sheldrakes, wood, mandarin and probably other 
ducks, are diligently home hunting. ais (Ce 


S64 ZOOLOGICAL 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
Bepartments : 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HorNADAY. RayMmonpb L. DitMars. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Lee S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TowNSEND. 
Raymonn C. OsBuRN 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Yearly, by Mail, $1.00 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1912, 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. 


Von. XVI. No: 51 MAY, 1912 


THE TRAGEDY OF THE GREBES. 


Because of the almost unprecedented duration 
and frequent occurrence of periods of very low 
temperature, the winter of 1911-12 was an un- 
usually severe one for those species of birds 
which commonly pass that season with us. In 
the vicinity of New York, conditions were some- 
what ameliorated by the absence of deep snow. 
but in the northern portions of the state the 
reverse was the case. 

The Finger Lakes of central New York— 
more especially Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka— 
have always been a haven for great numbers of 
water-fowl during the winter months. Large 
flocks of ducks take advantage of the open 
water to feed on the succulent aquatic plants, 
crustaceans and insect larvae, and numerous 
loons and grebes pursue the fishes which form 
their daily fare. Only at long intervals are 
these lakes frozen over, and the birds become 
accustomed to resorting there with confidence. 
Induced by the unseasonable mildness of the 
early winter, many others lingered on their 
southward journey, so that the number of indi- 
viduals during the past season probably was 
eyen greater than usual. 

When the sudden fall in temperature came, 
the birds found themselves in a serious predica- 
ment. Their feeding grounds were frozen over 
completely or so restricted that the available 
food was quickly devoured. As the ice en- 
croached farther and farther and the circle of 
open water drew closer, it seemed that starva- 
tion must overtake the flock. At this juncture, 
however, the State Conservation Commission 
took a hand and the ducks were supplied daily 
with grain. We are informed by Mr. Llewellyn 
Legge, Chief Game Protector, that in February 
about 5,000 ducks were being cared for in a 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


space in Seneca Lake, kept open by the move- 
ment of the water from a large spring. 

For the grebes and loons, however, this treat- 
ment was of no avail. Strongly specialized for 
pursuing darting fishes under water, they are 
almost helpless when out of that element. Loons 
are able to stand erect only upon the entire 
tarsus and cannot rise on the wing unless a 
good expanse of open water allows a flapping 
start. Grebes are not at quite such a disad- 
vantage when ashore as are loons, all of our 
species being able to stand firmly upon the toes 
and get about fairly well. It is probable, how- 
ever, that they cannot rise from the land, even 
when space offers for a running start. 

Finding themselves being closed in by the ice 
and the food supply no longer accessible, these 
birds, possessing, perhaps, more initiative than 
the ducks, took wing while still able to do so 
and started on a search for open water. As 
might be expected, the flight was in a southern or 
south-easterly direction. The loons seem to have 
succeeded fairly well in reaching some haven, 
only one instance of disaster having come to 
the notice of the writer. This bird, reported as 
a Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata), was 
stranded near Utica and died shortly after a 
game warden had chopped it out of the ice from 
which it had been unable to extricate itself. 
This unfortunate ending may have been hastened 
by the well-meaning but misguided warden, who 
placed the bird in a warm bath and supplied 
it with canned salmon! 


The grebes, however, were less fortunate. 
Weakened by lack of food, and, no doubt, be- 
wildered by the apparent absence of their 
natural element, they dropped wherever fatigue 
overtook them. Floundering in the deep snow, 
the miserable birds must have perished in great 
numbers. Many doubtless fell prey to foxes and 
other predacious creatures. Between February 
11 and 28, 1912, no less than thirteen Holboell 
Grebes (Colymbus  holboelli), shipped from 
Syracuse, Canajoharie and Rhinebeck, arrived at 
the Zoological Park. all considerably the worse 
for their experience. 


When one considers the widely separated lo- 
calities and the slimness of the chance that any 
individual bird would drop near a road or in 
some other place sufficiently travelled for the 
waif to be discovered, it is not difficult to be- 
lieve that the number of those which died un- 
found must have been large indeed. 

This instance forms an excellent example of 
the effect of natural conditions on the fluctuating 
status of species. For a bird of more concen- 
trated distribution than that of this grebe, a 


ZOOLOGICAL 


calamity of this sort might easily result in total 
extermination. Even now, there can be no doubt 
that the Holboell Grebe has experienced a severe 
check, from which it may be some time in re- 
covering. In the duk for April, 1912, John H. 
Sage records that “an unusual flight of Colym- 
bus holboelli was noticed here during the month 
of February, 1912.” At least ten helpless birds 
are known to have been picked up, most of them 
unable to rise from the ice which covered the 
Connecticut River. The effects of the severe 
winter, then, were evidently widespread, and one 
can readily believe that the ranks of a species 
even so widely distributed as Colymbus holboelli, 
have been very materially reduced, L. S. C. 


AN AMERICAN BIRD PROTECTOR 
IN SAMOA 


Extract from a letter written by Mason 
Mircueryi, American Consul at Apia 


“For the past year or more I have been try- 
ing to induce the German Governor of Samoa, 
Dr. Schultz, to issue laws to protect the birds 
of these islands. With the exception of the 
Tooth-Billed pigeon, no protection has been 
given to any bird. In consequence of this, the 
Lupi (Lavender-Neck Fruit-Pigeon), has de- 
creased over fifty per cent. in the last ten years. 
Without protection, five years hence, they will 
be as searce as the Manumea (Tooth-Billed 
Pigeon), especially if they are not protected in 
the breeding season. Formerly they were the 
most numerous of the six varieties of pigeons 
found on these islands. They are extensively 
shot for food, and are sold by the natives at 
twenty-five cents each. 

“No one, either white or native, knew when 
or where the Lupi nested; and some averred they 
migrated to other islands to breed. ‘This I have 
found to be untrue, for they nest in these islands, 
high up in the forest trees, in the parasitic plant 
which grows in tree-forks, called by the Samoans 
the laumapapa, or in English the bird’s nest 
plant (Asplenium nidus). They hatch in Oc- 


tober. I have seen both their nests and young 
birds. For this interesting bird I have advised 


a close season from August first to December. 

“The Governor informs me the common coun- 
cil will take the matter up, and be guided by 
my advice. If they fail to do so, it will be 
another case like that of the passenger pigeons 
in America. 

“T have secured protection for all the perch- 
ing birds, for all time, in addition to all birds 
outside of the two varieties of fruit pigeons, the 
aquatic birds, and members of the snipe family. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 865 
Ducks need no protection. Inasmuch as the 
natives are unable to shoot on the wing, but few 
ducks are killed; and the snipe are migratory 
and do not nest here.” 


NEW MEMBERS 
DeceMBER 12, 1911 ro Aprit 4, 1912 
LIFE MEMBERS 


Dr, John C. Phillips, 
Marion MeMillin, 
Allison V. Armour, 
Z. Marshall Crane, 


FELLOWS 


Henry Ford, 

Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, 
Carl E. Akeley, 

Samuel F. Sanford, 


Dr. Frederic A. Lueas, Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, 

Prof. Henry E. Crampton, Prof. Frederic S. Lee, 

Dr. W. D. Matthew, Prof. Gary N. Calkins, 

Dr. William K. Gregory, Prof. Albert S. Bickmore, 
Lee S. Crandall. 


ANNUAL MEMBERS 


Mrs. F. D. Millet, 

Mrs. R. Burnside Potter, 
Henry Stuart Patterson, 
Mrs. James B. Clews, 
Wolcott G. Lane, 

Hugo Lieber, 

Miss Pope, 

Mrs. E. M. Townsend, 
Mrs. Ralph Sanger, 


C. Bahnsen, 

Ralph Smillie, 

Mrs. Ansel Phelps, 
Charles F. Adams, 
Louis Frank, 

Frank H. Keen, 
Philip Rhinelander, 
S. D. Waldon, 
Judge Carroll Sprigg, 
Dr. George W. Meyer, Mrs. Charles Sheldon, 

Mrs. John R. Drexel, Herbert Wm. Ferris, 

Mrs. Frederick Pearson, Mrs. Leigh Hunt, 

Wm. Ross Proctor, Mrs. Joseph Dowd, 
Hamilton T. Kean, Wilfred C. Leland, 

Mrs. Evans R. Dick, P. C. Cartier, 

Gerard H. Huntman, Jobn Dryden Kuser, 

Mrs. Glover C. Arnold, Albert Tag, 

Mrs. Jules S. Bache, Dr. Clinton L. Bagg, 

Mrs. Edward Holbrook, Stephen Birch, 

Mrs. John N. Yonnelé, J. E. Roth, 

Mrs. Henry R. Hoyt, Mrs. Henry P. Davison, 
Mrs. James Byrne, Mrs. Malcolm Stuart, 

Mrs. J. Clifton Edgar, Harold W. Beder, 

Mrs. Valentine Mott, H. Grant Straus, 

Mrs. William Alexander, Arthur Chapman, 

Mrs. Robert Waller, James Barnes. 

Miss Louise Murray, Mrs. Chauncey M. Depew, 
Mrs. Charles Scribner, Mrs. Butler Williamson, 
Mrs. John T. Pratt, William Forbes Morgan, Jr., 
Mrs. Harry J. Luce, Mrs. John E. Alexandre, 
Mrs. John T. Terry, Jr., Mrs. A. Barton Hepburn, 
Mrs. B. Aymar Sands, Mrs. Joseph A. Flannery, 
Mrs. William H. Hyde, Miss Mildred Gautier Rice, 
Henry G. Gray, Mrs. Isaac Vail Brokaw, 
R. Burnside Potter, Mrs. Wm. Curtis Demorest, 
Joseph Walburn, Mrs. D. Hunter McAlpin, Jr., 
Warren Kinney, Mrs. John Black Stewart, 
Mrs. Charles H. Tweed, Mrs. Harry H. Whitlock, 
Mrs. Ogden Mills Reid, Mrs. Wm. Crittenden Adams, 
Mrs. Augustus B. Field, Miss Eliza O’B. Lummis, 
Francis S. Male, Mrs. Henry Ladd Corbett, 
Miss Edith McCoon, Miss Henrietta Prentiss, 
George J. Openhym, Mrs. J. Borden Harriman, 
George L. Williams, Mrs. Charles Warren Hunt, 
Henry F. Keil, Dr. Governeur Morris Phelps, 
Mrs. Aymar, Mrs. Wm. M. Kingsland, 


866 ZOOLOGICAL 


CANVAS-BACK DUCKS ON THE WING 


STORM-BOUND DUCKS 
Wild ducks wintering at Branchport, New York 


By C. Witriam Breese and Vervi Burren 


severity on the bird and animal life of our 

northern states. It is difficult enough for 
the wild creatures to wage their never-ending 
warfare against living foes and especially man, 
but when to these a sudden onslaught of storm 
or cold is added, they have small chance of 
survival. At such a time the birds and animals 
of prey are correspondingly hard pressed to find 
food, and the storm-bound victims can expect 
from their enemies only increased energy in 


is: past winter has been one of unusual 


pursuit and capture. 

Under such conditions, man should not only 
entirely curb his hunting and sporting pro- 
clivities, but he should do dynamic work in help- 
ing the weakened creatures to tide over the 
period of danger. 

During the past month the Zoological Society 
has received several canvas-back ducks that were 
picked up in a starving condition, and it was 
learned that in many parts of New York State 
ducks by the hundred were brought to starvation 
by the continual frozen condition of their feed- 
ing waters. It is most gratifying to learn that 
in a number of instances, large numbers of 
wild-fowl were saved by systematic feeding, both 
on the part of game wardens and private indi- 
viduals. It is also a matter for sincere congratu- 
lation that, owing to the recently inaugurated 
law preventing the shooting of ducks in late 
winter and spring, untold numbers of these birds 
were saved from death at the hands of persons 
to whom sympathy for any wild creature is an 
unknown characteristic. Mr. Verdi Burtch has 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


most kindly sent me the following notes and 
photographs relating to the ducks which win- 
tered near his home at Branchport. This is in 
west central New York, just west of Seneca 
Lake. I give the notes in full, as they present 
so vividly the struggle for life which these 
splendid birds wage day after day against the 
elements. 

At the head of Lake Keuka, near Branchport, 
is a sandbar formed by the inlet on the north 
and a big gully on the west, which cuts off the 
harbor from the remainder of the lake. A 
channel one hundred and fifty feet wide has been 
cut through this bar to admit boats to the harbor. 
This channel never entirely freezes over, even in 
the most severe winters like the one just past, 
owing to an ever present current flowing from 
the lake into the bay and back again. 

After the lake had frozen over this winter, 
ducks gather in the channel to the number of 
several hundred. About one-half were canvas- 
backs, while the remainder was about equally 
divided between American golden-eyes and 
American scaup, with a lone butterball and a few 
redheads. 

I first visited the channel on February 12, at 
which time they were all able to fly. As I ap- 
proached, the canvas-backs arose first, then the 
golden-eyes and then the scaups, a portion of 
the latter, however, flying only to the other side. 
All the scaups and some of the golden-eyes and 
canvas-backs returned and alighted in the water, 
while the remainder settled on the ice, well out in 
the middle of the lake. 

A female canvas-back, after circling a few 
times, became exhausted and fell to the ice, but 
struggled along until she reached the water. 
Twelve black ducks were there on February 16, 
and a few redheads on the 17th. 


EXHAUSTED CANVAS-BACK 
Struggling to reach the water 


ZOOLOGICAL 


AMERICAN SCAUP DUCKS 
Male in the lead, two females following 


On February 18, Mr. C. F. Stone and myself 
once more observed the ducks closely, when 
some of them appeared to be weak. We went 
out to examine those that were on the ice, and 
picked up a male scaup that was unable to fly. 
When we got back to the channel we found a 
dead male canvas-back floating there, and fished 
it out. It was very thin and had evidently died 
of starvation. Mr. Stone took the captive scaup 
home and fed it with minnows and scraps of 
beef. which it took from the hand, and was so 
eager that it would peck at his finger or coat 
sleeve. This bird died after he had it about a 
week. 

On the morning of February 19, Frank Verder 
put a lot of wheat into the water and picked 
up a dead male canvas-back and a dead male 
seaup. I threw a lot of chopped cabbage into 
the water, and I think that the ducks ate some 
of it, and cleaned up all of the wheat as well. 
I picked up a male canvas-back that was out 
on the ice unable to fly, and found a dead female 
golden-eye on the ice that had a hole pecked in 
the abdomen, doubtless the work of a herring 
gull. 

February 22 was extremely cold, with very 
high winds, and altogether it was one of the 
roughest days which I can remember. The fol- 
lowing day was bright with no wind. There was 
not one-half as many ducks in the channel as 
before, and very few were canvas-backs. I 
think that they must have arisen during the 
wind storm, and were blown over to Seneca 
Lake, where there was more open water. Two 
male canvas-backs that had been picked up on 
the ice in the inlet, unable to fly, were brought 
to me. 

On February 24 I found only ten canvas- 
backs, thirty-six black ducks, about thirty Ameri- 
can golden-eyes and American scaup, and one 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 867 


AMERICAN SCAUP DUCKS 
Male and Female 


butterball. On February 25 the butterball, two 
males and a female canvas-back, nine golden- 
eyes and a few scaups were out in the lake on 
the ice, and a dead black duck and a dead scaup 
were floating on the water. 

On March 3 only a female scaup and the 
butterball were left. A dead canvas-back lay 
at the edge of the ice, and in the middle of the 
lake a gull was busily feeding on a dead golden- 
eye. 

On March 10 the little butterball was the 
only bird left of the original flock, and it ap- 
peared to be well and strong. More ice had 
formed, leaving but a small space of open water, 
in which floated the butterball and a Holboell’s 
grebe. When I approached, the butterball rose 
and was on the wing for at least ten minutes. It 
must have been able to catch many minnows here. 
because it had endured the long cold spell very 
well. 

About two hundred black ducks were in the 
channel every morning after March 10, working 
up the inlet during the day where there was 
considerable open water. No canvas-backs or 
scaups were seen after March 3, and no golden- 
eyes after February 24. On March 17 the ice 
began to break up in the inlet, and then hooded 
mergansers, mallard and black ducks were seen. 
The butterball and Holboell’s grebe were still 
in the channel on March 15. 


Rearranging the Bears.—The polar bear pre- 
sented by Mr. Rainey, and temporarily occupy- 
ing an outside cage of the Lion House, has been 
removed to Silver King’s old quarters. Some of 
our visitors declare this bear to be a finer speci- 
men than Silver King. She does not weigh as 
much, but her pelage is so very thick and white 
that she seems larger by comparison. The 
animal will undoubtedly enjoy the pool in her 
new quarters. 


868 ZOOLOGICAL 


IMPERIAL 


PARROT 


THE IMPERIAL PARROT 
By C. WiiuiAM BEEBE 
Curator of Birds 

N the nineteenth of February the Zoological 
Society came into the possession of a 
parrot hardly second in interest to the 
rare Carolina conures or parrakeets described 
in the last number of the Butietin. This is 
the Imperial Amazon Parrot (Amazona im peri- 
alis) of the Island of Dominica. Its demand on 
our interest is for the most important of all 
reasons—that of a vanishing race, soon to be- 
come extinct; the ever-tragic eclipse of a living 
creature which has slowly evolved through all 
the ages past. In this case the details make it 
all the more lamentable, for this bird is worthy 
of its name—in size and beauty far excelling 
others of its group; and for the cause of its 
rarity we need look no further than the wilful, 
needless warfare waged by ignorant human be- 

ings upon the living creatures of the earth. 
Over three-quarters of a century ago one of 
these parrots was living in the London Zoological 
Gardens and it was this very bird which was 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


first described by Mr. Vigors who named it 
Psittacus augustus. After passing through the 
fiery furnace of modern nomenclatural revision, 
this has finally emerged as Amazona imperialis. 
But though the terms are altogether changed, 
recognition of the beauty of the bird has always 
remained, whether we speak of it as the August 
or the Imperial. 

In 1865 on the presentation of a second speci- 
men to the London Society, we learn from the 
donor, Mr. Bernard, that even then it was a 
very rare bird in Dominica, and in its haunts 
in the central mountains, only one or two were 
obtained annually. This second bird lived for 
about six years. Since that time a third has 
been exhibited in London and another bird is in 
the possession of an English aviculturist. So as 
far as actual numbers in captivity, this bird is 
even rarer than the Carolina parrakeet. 

The Imperial Amazon is by far the largest of 
its genus—a genus which is composed of at 
least forty-five forms, which range from Mexico 
throughout the West Indies and South America 
to Argentina. It is as large as a cockatoo, meas- 
uring twenty-one to twenty-two inches in length 
and with a stretch of wings of three feet. The 
coloring of our bird is brilliant and exceedingly 
harmonious in tone. ‘The head, neck and under 
parts are purplish-brown, the feathers tipped 
with green on the crown and with pale lavender 
on the cheeks and lower plumage of the body. 
The nape is purplish-black, and when the bird 
is excited, these feathers are elevated into a 
conspicuous ruff. The upper plumage, sides. 
flanks and wings are green, with scarlet showing 
along the edge of the wings and on the flight 
feathers. The tail is chiefly of a rich warm 
maroon. Its eye is unusually striking, the iris 
being bicolored—an outer ring of bright scarlet 
and an inner one of pale hazel. It is impossible, 
however, to give a perfectly accurate description 
of the colors, as the tips of many of the feathers 
are highly iridescent. In one light the plumage 
of the under parts appears concolorous—of a 
dull coppery hue; but when the bird turns side- 
ways to the light, there flash out on every 
feather, consecutive bands of the most brilliant 
green, purple and violet. 

So our bird, which is a female, is a prize in- 
deed, not only from the sentiment of its rarity 
but because of its unusual size and beauty. 

Five years ago it was a young fledgling with 
a broken wing, in the possession of a Carib 
Indian. Since that time it has lived in perfect 
health in Roseau, Dominica, until it was found 
and purchased for the Zoological Society. 

The island of Dominica to which the Im- 
perial Amazon is confined is about midway in 


ZOOLOGICAL 


the long chain of Lesser Antillian islets which 
extends in a wide curve from Porto Rico to 
South America. North of it is Guadaloupe, with 
Martinique to the south. It is roughly a flat oval 
in shape, twenty-five by sixteen miles and very 
mountainous. As I have passed it going and 
coming from South America I could clearly dis- 
cern the high central ridge extending north and 
south, and sending out numerous spurs at right 
angles, dividing the entire island into a succes- 
sion of abrupt hills and valleys. 

Thirty-five years ago Mr. Ober wrote a brief 
account of this bird in its haunts, and since that 
time but little more has been added to our 
knowledge of the species. This splendid parrot 
which the natives call Ciceroo, can be found only 
in the highest mountains where the mountain 
palm, gommier or gum-tree, bois diable and 
other plants are found, upon the seeds of which 
it feeds. It is very shy and difficult of ap- 
proach, and Mr. Ober tells us, “the ery is harsh, 
resembling the call of a wild turkey. Morning 
and evening they call one to another for perhaps 
an hour; during the rest of the day they remain 
silent, except for an occasional scream. When 
a gun is fired, they all cry out, and then keep 
perfect silence. They do not seem to associate 
in flocks at this season, like the parrot, but are 
found more often in pairs. They breed in the 
hollow tops of high trees, and the young are 
rarely taken. When caught young, they readily 
learn to talk. It descends to the valleys in the 
rainy season to some extent, but prefers the 
mountains. At this time they are very fat, ex- 
cellent eating, and much hunted.” 


Mr. Ober made an excursion into their moun- 
tain fastnesses and camped on their feeding 
grounds, but so wild and wary were the birds, 
that though assisted by Carib Indian hunters, 
he was able to secure only three, which are now 
in the National Museum. In later years a new 
road was opened through the forest and one col- 
lector shot a dozen specimens. 

Whatever fluctuations may mark the final 
years of a species, we may be almost certain that 
in the case of a conspicuous insular parrot such 
as this, there is small hope of more than a few 
years’ lease of life. 

Considered as one of the creatures which man 
will soon efface from the earth, the Imperial 
Amazon illustrates an interesting fact. Instead 
of being spread over a million square miles as 
was the Carolina parrakeet, this bird is found 
only on about one hundred and fifty miles of the 
earth’s surface. But isolation in the thick tropi- 
cal jungle of one small mountain ridge has done 
more for it than all the advantages which vast 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 869 
northern forests and southern everglades con- 
ferred on the parrakeet. 

As we have seen how our single northern 
representative of the order of Parrots has been 
almost if not wholly exterminated in the United 
States,* it is worth while briefly to review the 
present status of these birds in the West Indies. 
Three distinct groups of parrots formerly in- 
habited these islands, macaws, Amazons and 
conures or parrakeets. Of the several species 
of macaws, not one survives to-day, and whereas 
formerly, members of this splendid group of 
birds lived in Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Guadaloupe, 
Dominica and Martinique, all have been extermi- 
nated by the inhabitants, the persecution being 
the direct result of the palatibility of the birds. 
The last of the West Indian macaws to go was 
Ara tricolor, which lived in Cuba and the Isle 
of Pines. It was nearly two feet in length, clad 
in orange, maroon, scarlet and blue. The last 
specimen was killed forty-eight years ago, and 
to-day less than a dozen skins are known to 
exist in museums. As to the other species of 
macaws we have only the brief, all too imper- 
fect, accounts of early French voyageurs and 
missionaries. 

Thirteen species of Amazon parrots are West 
Indian, and fortunately only two have already 
become extinct, although several, like the Im- 
perial Amazon, are almost gone. Six forms oc- 
cur in the Greater Antilles in extremely dimin- 
ished numbers; two in Jamaica, and one each in 
Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti and Porto Rico. Grand 
Cayman, far to the southeast of Cuba also has a 
peculiar species of Amazon. These birds, with 
their more or less white foreheads are apparently 
related to the white-fronted Amazon of Mexico 
and Central America. Starting with the Lesser 
Antilles and going southward, we find two 
species of this group of parrots in Dominica 
and one in Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vin- 
cent. Unlike the more northern forms, these 
natives of the smaller islands seem to have a 
South American ancestry, showing a closer re- 
semblance to Brazilian species. 

The violet Amazon, closely related to our 
Imperial bird, formerly lived in Guadaloupe, 
but we have now not so much as a feather left 
to us. From descriptions we know that its head 
and neck were violet or slate-colored, its back 
green and its wings yellow and red. More than 
two hundred and fifty years ago it was written 
of this bird that when it eats cashew nuts its 
flesh tastes like garlic; if it feeds on “bois des 
inde” it tastes like cloves; if on bitter fruits, it 
* The last authentic record is that of Mr. Frank M. Chapman, 


who, in April, 1904, saw thirteen Carolina parrakeets in the 
Okeechobee region of southern Florida. 


870 ZOOLOGICAL 
becomes bitter as gall, but when the parrot feeds 
on guayas it is at its best and then the French 
commit great havoe among the flocks. In 1779 
the violet Amazon had become very rare owing 
to the terrible war which the French colonists 
wage on it when it is “fat and succulent.” So 
to-day we can only wish that the birds had ad- 
hered to a diet of cashew and bitter fruits ! 

In Martinique there lived a green Amazon 
with red cap and tail-feathers, of which an early 
writer says, “the parrot is too common for me 


to stop to give a description of it.” It has 
since vanished, leaving not a feather. Mr. 


Rothschild in his volume on Extinct Birds has 
collected much of the available data and gives 
colored plates of these macaws and parrots, re- 
constructed from the fragmentory descriptions. 

The third group is the long-tailed conures or 
parrakeets which are smaller than the others, and 
being less conspicuous and valuable as food we 
find very meagre notices of them among early 
writers on the islands. Mr. Austin Clark has 
summed up our knowledge of these birds, and 
finds that they are at present found in Jamaica, 
Cuba, Haiti, Porto Rico and St. Thomas, while 
similar or closely related species have been ex- 
terminated on Guadaloupe, Dominica, Marti- 
nique and Barbados. 

We have had on exhibition in the Large Bird 
House, no fewer than twenty-three forms of the 
genus Amazona, five of them West Indian. 

With our trumpeter swans, whooping cranes, 
Carolina parrakeets and Imperial Amazon we 
have the foundation of a collection of extreme 
interest and value, and one which should attract 
many visitors to the Zoological Park. As we 
watch these pitiful remnants of earthly races, 
we feel like ascribing to them the death slogan 
of the old Roman gladiators, ““Morituri saluta- 


mus!” 


ITEMS OF INTEREST 
Mammal Department 


Moving the Polar Bear.—Silver King, the big 
one of the most contented 
inmates of the Park. He has entirely abandoned 
his sullen attitude since his home has been 
changed from the small den built especially for 
him, to the Polar Bear Den with its large swim- 
ming pool. Having sold the female polar bear, 
which previously occupied the big bear den, Silver 
King was moved into his commodious quarters 
on the morning of April 15. When the big 
shifting box was placed against his cage he 
evinced a decided determination to remain where 
he was, and although we blocked off the sides 
with heavy oak planks, giving him very little 


polar bear, is now 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


room, he refused to leave his old quarters. A 
large piece of beef was fastened in one end of 
the shifting cage, but even this failed to arouse 
the bear. 

It was then decided to try an_ interest- 
ing experiment, by bringing Flip, the walrus. 
down in front of the den, to see if this would 
attract Silver King’s attention. The walrus is 
very tame and will follow Keeper Snyder where- 
ever he goes. Waddling after Mr. Snyder, 
toward the bear den, the walrus emitted a series 
of grunts and characteristic gutteral sounds 
which caused Silver King to rear on his hind 
feet and look with interest on the approaching 
procession. There was no doubt about the bear 
recognizing his natural prey of the ice floes. 
As the walrus passed, he started tearing at the 
bars. 

When Flip was stationed in front of the 
shifting cage, Silver King thrust in his head 
and shoulders and gazed at the living bait, with 


marked interest. Flip was then given a soap 
box as a pedestal, placed directly in front 
of the door of the shifting cage. Almost 
immediately after he had climbed on this, 


the big polar bear hurled himself in, when the 
door was lowered behind him. Flip was then 
led back to his tank, while Silver King followed 
his awkward gait with longing and hungry 
gaze. 

The shifting cage was soon lashed against the 
open door of the big Polar Bear Den, and Silver 
King lost not a minute in entering his new 
quarters and making a detailed investigation. 
Men were assigned to watch him all through 
the day, and a keeper remained all night to 
observe the bear’s actions in his new cage. There 
was, however, no need of this vigil, as Silver 
King spent a great part of his time swimming 
in the commodious tank and appeared to be well 
satisfied with his new quarters. We anticipated 
more trouble in enticing him into the steel cage 
attached to the den where he might be locked 
in during cleaning time. Silver King made a 
travesty of our apprehensions by utilizing this 
shifting den as his sleeping quarters from the 
start, so the change is in every way satisfactory 
to this fine animal and to the keepers. In fact, 
in his new den this redoubtable animal has done 
none of the troublesome things that we had good 
reason to expect of him. 

Hybrid Bear Cubs.—Our visitors have been 
much amused at the antics of the hybrid bear 
cubs. The tiny youngsters commenced gambol- 
ing around the den with the first warm spring 
days. Compared with the mother, which weighs 
350 pounds, these little bears are ludicrously 


ZOOLOGICAL 


small. They are exceedingly playful, and de- 
spite their size, stand upon their hind feet and 
box at each other in true bear fashion. 

The arrival of these young bears was at- 
tended by unusual condition, as Czarina, the 
mother of the bears, has for years avoided the 
sleeping compartments. It was during very cold 
weather, in January, that we discovered the 
little bears, which Czarina had huddled in an 
unprotected corner of the den. Young bears are 
the most helpless creatures imaginable, and _ it 
seemed that we must surely lose them from ex- 
posure to the cold. As Czarina would not go 
into her sleeping house with her helpless cubs, 
it was a case of building a house over the mother 
and her litter. 

Boards were fastened against the bars 
at the southwest corner of the cage and 
a quantity of bedding was shoved into this 
corner. We then proceeded to house Czarina 
in by building a roof over her and boarding up 
the front of the triangle, as there were other 
bears in the den that might interfere with the 
youngsters. We made this house strong enough 
to prevent them from tearing it apart and 
covered it with planks studded with wire nails. 
A tar paper, water-proof covering was after- 
wards added. A small door was cut, through 
which to feed Czarina, and she appeared well 
satisfied in these close quarters, where she re- 
mained thus confined until early in April, when 
the young bears were strong enough to with- 
stand exposure to the weather. The front of 
the house was then removed and late in April 
the entire structure was taken down. Then it 
was, during a cold rain, that Czarina decided to 
shelter her young in the sleeping den, which she 
entered for the first time in four years. 

Tropical Bears in Winter.—The South Ameri- 
can spectacle bear has successfully passed the 
winter out of doors. Frederico was inclined to 
shiver and look uncomfortable at the approach 
of the really cold weather, so we built a glass ex- 
tension in front of his cage, of hot-bed frames, 
and heated the interior of the enclosure with a 
small oil stove. Under these conditions he ex- 
perienced no further discomfort. This rare ani- 
mal will soon be transferred to his permanent 
cage, which will be the northerly one in the 
new of Bear Dens. The other South 
American bears will be quartered near by. The 
sleeping dens of these animals will be warmed 


series 


during the winter months by small electric 


Wits Ibe 1B): 


heaters. 


Bulletin No. 6:—Wanted, two copies. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 871 


BIRDS OF PREY AND THEIR AVIARY 


By C. Wititam Breese and L. S. CRANDALL 
Part I. 


HE Eagles, the Hawks and the Vultures 

have at last come into their own! The 

splendid collection of these birds in the 
Zoological Park, from the great condor of the 
Andes with his ten foot span of wings, to the 
tiny Cuban sparrow hawk, are waiting only the 
coming of May to be installed in their spacious 
new quarters. No more shall the King of Birds 
be confined in such cages as happen to be vacant 
in the Ostrich or the Aquatic Bird Houses; but 
from now on, all the great feathered, aerial 
earnivores will have a permanent home of their 
own in the heart of Bird Valley. 

Every one of these birds is of interest; both 
from the standpoint of the position it has won 
for itself in life, and from the importance of 
its relation to mankind. The unconquerable 
spirit of the peregrine falcon and the golden 
eagle looks out through their fierce, splendid 
eyes, revealing that fearlessness in attack upon 
domestic creatures which turns every man’s hand 
against them; the less fierce but keen, searching 
watchfulness of the great Asiatic vultures re- 
minds us of the thousands of human lives they 
save each year in their work as scavengers. 

The aviary we shall discuss in Part II; and 
in future publications the interesting lives of 
individual species will be taken up in detail, 
their haunts, their homes, their ways of life and 
their relation to mankind. 

The vultures of North and South America are 
included in the Order Cathartidiformes, while 
those of the Old World are united with the 
hawks and eagles of both hemispheres, as Ac- 
cipitriformes. Of the latter group, the vultures 
form the family J’ulturidae. Most of these birds 
feed entirely upou carrion, seldom having the 
temerity to attack living creatres. 

The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) of Europe 
and northern Africa is, without doubt, the best 
known, and has been divided into a number of 
local races or subspecies, each differing slightly 
from the others, although the name griffon is 
applied indiscriminately to several of them. 

This bird lives in companies in open country. 
While hunt- 
ing, they soar over the surrounding country at 
At the first sight of food, the 
bird spying it swoops downward, this movement 


generally roosting on nearby cliffs. 
great heights. 
being noted by its neighbors which immediately 


follow. ‘Thus there is no dearth of guests at the 
gruesome feast. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Our pair of Griffons, which 
has been with us for several 
years, constructs a nest each 
spring in the straw covering 
the floor of the aviary at that 
season. Two white eggs are 
deposited, although the normal 
clutch is given as one only. 
These eggs, unfortunately, have 
invariably proved infertile. 

Greatest in size and 
repulsive in appearance of the 
Old World vultures now rep- 
resented in the collection, the 
Eared Vulture (Otogyps auri- 
cularis) is probably also the 


most 


oa 
most uncommon. The bare 
skin of the head and neck 
varies in color from sickly 


flesh color to blood red, accord- 

ing to the condition and age of the bird. The 
absence of feathers throws into greater promi- 
nence the powerful, hooked beak. The playful 
and almost jovial nature possessed by many vul- 
tures of both the Old World and the New, is well 
developed in this species. Its greatest pleasure 
is to strongly oppose the keeper’s attempt to 
clean its cage; striking at the rake with awkward 
but powerful feet. This vulture is a native of 
tropical Africa, the birds of Egypt being con- 
sidered as a separate form by some authori- 
ties. 

Perhaps the most maligned of all the Fal- 
conidae is the Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo 
borealis). This unfortunate bird is known vari- 
ously as chicken-hawk and hen-hawk, in refer- 
ence to its fancied habit of raiding poultry 


yards. For this reason, the Red-Tail is perse- 


RED-TAILED 


HAWK 


SOCIETY 


& 


HARPY EAGLE 


BULLETIN 


cuted continually and shot on 
every possible occasion by the 
farmer, in his supposedly right- 
eous indignation. As the bird 
generally meets its fate while 
hunting for the destructive mice 
that swarm about the fields, its 
end is even more deplorable. 
And it is while the farmer is 
about, bent on the destruction 
of this beneficial creature, that 
the rapacious Cooper or sharp- 
shinned hawk spreads swift de- 
struction among his poultry. 
And it is this same speed that 
carries the marauder out of 
danger; often before his pres- 
ence is known and almost in- 
variably before his species can 
be determined. Shooters 
should learn to distinguish bird-killing from 
harmless hawks, and it is our intention to ar- 
range a series of native species to facilitate the 
gaining of this knowledge. 

The Harpy Eagle (Thrasaétus harpyia) is one 
of the largest and most powerful of the Accipi- 
trine birds. An inhabitant of the dense tropical 
forests from Mexico southward, little has been 
learned of its wild habits. The thickness of its 
tarsi and the extreme length of its talons testify 
to the fact that their owner feeds on animals 
of considerable size, and it is known that fawns. 
pecearies, sloths and monkeys enter into its bill 
of fare. The wings are broad and strong, and 
although the bird appears slow and awkward 
while moving about its cage, it is said to be 
able to handle itself with great ease while on 


the wing. Certain it is, that once its selected 


GRIFFON VULTURE 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


victim has been seized by the great hooked 
claws, it has small chance for escape. 

The nesting habits of this magnificent bird 
are very little known. It is said to build in the 
tops of the highest forest trees or on rocky 
cliffs, the nests being repaired and used year 
after year. Tt is sometimes said by the indians 
that the Harpy lays four or five eggs, the last 
three serving as food for the eaglets hatched 
from the two others. This, however, is a very 
common tale, most often related of those species 
concerning which the truth is not known, and 
is probably untrue. 


Because of the inaccesibility of their habitat, 
Harpies are seldom to be obtained and our two 
fine specimens were secured only after years of 
waiting. 

Of the larger birds of prey of the Old World. 
probably the best known is the Lammergeyer or 
Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). This 
bird seems to occupy a position intermediate be- 
tween the eagles and vultures, differing from the 
latter in its fully feathered head, but resembling 
them closely in most other points. It probably 
feeds mostly upon such carcasses as chance 
brings in its way, but there seems to be no 
doubt that it kills its own prey on occasion. It 
is said to be very destructive among the herds 
of sheep in spring, darting at the lambs as they 
stand near the brink of a precipice and either 
pushing them over with the force of the blow 
or so startling the little creatures as to cause 
them to lose their balance and plunge down- 
ward, when their persecutor follows leisurely 
to feast. It is from this habit that its German 
name has been derived. 

The Lammergeyer once ranged from Portugal 
to China, but is now no longer found in Europe, 
unless possibly in the mountains of the south- 
eastern portion. It is a bird of the peaks and 
builds its nest in the most inaccessible cavities. 
The single brownish egg is laid usually in 
February. The period of incubation and the 
length of time spent in the nest by the young 
bird, are unknown. 

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is 
found throughout North America, Europe and 
northern Asia, varying its habits according to 
the conformation of the country of its range. 
Its food consists of live mammals and birds, in 
the pursuit of which it is very active, when its 
size is considered. Dead animals, however, are 
not refused and doubtless form a very consider- 
able portion of its diet. 

In North America, this bird is often confused 
with the immature bald eagle from which it is 
to be distinguished by its feathered tarsi. In 


SSNS Se a 


INDIAN CRESTED EAGLE 


LAMMERGEYER 


873. 


ee) 
+t 
us 


ZOOLOGICAL 


EARED VULTURE 


the eastern United States it is not common, but 
it is numerous among the mountains of the West, 
where its nest is built on well secluded ledges. 
In Europe and northern Asia, the Golden 
Eagle is widely distributed. This is thought to 
be the bird used by the Tartars in hunting. The 
birds are trained as were the faleons of Europe, 
to pursue and capture game for the benefit of 
their 
by a horseman and is kept hooded until game 
is sighted, when the hood is removed and the 
leash slipped. The bird at into 
the air, and, spying the fleeing creature, dashes 
off in pursuit, the sportsman following the chase 


masters. The eagle is generally carried 


once mounts 


on foot or horseback. The animals most fre- 
quently flown at with Golden Eagles are ante- 
lopes and sometimes wolves, with which the bird 
Pallas states that the value 


among the Tartars of a well trained bird of this 


is well able to cope. 


species is equal to that of two camels. 

The Indian Crested Eagle (Spizaetus nipalen- 
sis) is represented in the collection by an im- 
mature specimen, for which the adjective, crested, 
seems somewhat misleading, as this portion of 
the plumage is very slightly developed in the 
young. The and nape feathers of the 
adult, however, reach a length of three or four 
inches and add greatly to the appearance of the 
bird. This eagle is of somewhat smaller size 
than the golden, and like it, has the tarsi 
feathered. It is clad in black, white and sober 
browns. It breeds throughout the Himalayas 


crown 


and in China and Japan, descending to the 
warmer plains of India to pass the winter. A 
bird of the forests, it is seldom seen above the 
trees and very rarely soars, preferring to lie in 


wait in some leafy retreat for the hares, part- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


GOLDEN EAGLE 


ridges and junglefowl which form its prey. The 
nest is a bulky structure, generally placed in a 
tall tree, and lined with green leaves; a single 
egg being laid. 

So much has been written concerning the Bald 
Eagle (Haliaetus leucoephalus leucocephalus ), 
our national emblem, that only repetitions are 
This is a 
bird of the air, frequently seen at great alti- 
tudes, as it describes graceful circles in keeping 
watch over its especial territory. It is swift 
and powerful on the wing, and undoubtedly 
takes a certain portion of its food by this means. 
Its principal diet, however, is composed of fish. 
for which it is mainly dependent upon those 
cast up along the shore, although it sometimes 
assumes the role of fisherman. It is well known. 
also, that the Bald Eagle is not above robbing 
the osprey of its prey. 

The shrill scream of the Bald Eagle is very 
and familiar note in those 
localities in which it is of regular occurrence. 
The voice of the male is said to be distinguished 
from that of its mate in being more clear and 
unbroken. 

As is usual among Accipitrine birds, this eagle 
builds its nest in a lofty position, the top of a 
tall tree by choice, and two or three dull white 
eges are laid. The young spend several months 
in the nest, during which period they are fed 
constantly by their parents. 

The northwestern form of the Bald Eagle is 


possible in the scope of this article. 


characteristic is a 


a much larger bird and has been separated from 
the type as Haliaetus leucocephalus alascanus. 
This subspecies is found in Alaska, Mackenzie, 
Kiewaten and Ungava, south to British Columbia 
and the Great Lakes. 


GENERAL INFORMATION 


MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organi- 
zation, who desire to contribute toward its support and are endorsed by two members in good 
standing. 

The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to 
the Zoological Park and the Aquarium 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 _compli- 
' mentary tickets to the Zoological Park and Aquarium 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. 

Applications for membership may be handed to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park, 
Dr. C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the Gen- 
eral Secretary, No. 11 Wall Street, New York City. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thurs- 
day of each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these’ days fall on a holiday 
no admission fee is charged. From May 1 to November 1, the opening and closing hours are from 
9 o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From November 1 to May 1, 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, from 9 o'clock 
A. M. to 5 o'clock P. M.; October 16 to April 14, from 10 o’clock A. M. to 4 o’clock P. M. No 
admission is charged. 
PUBLICATIONS 


The publications of the Society are for sale at the prices affixed below. Address H. R. 
Mitchell, Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park. 


rstenAnnual Reports 2a ss Paper $ 40 | The Origin and Relationship of the 
Second ae uP ..Paper $ 15 Cloth 1.00 Large Mammals of North America 
Third * - eC TERN CC: otra agence ene anaes sk A eae Cloth $ .75 
Fourth ‘“ a 60 Sat ieee 2 Bos 
Fifth “ « “ 1.00 | Zoclogica Vol. I. Nos. 1-7 inc. (Beebe), the Set 1.30 
Sixth ‘< = .. 1.00 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 8. The Northern 
Seventh “ : 1.25 Elephant Seal (Townsend) _............. 25 
Eighth “ 3 Benet VES Sie aie ; 
Ninth “ « « 1.50 | Phe Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds 
Tenth “ “ “ 1.50 (Mo wai send ) arco, ee ethernet: 20 
Eleventh “ ¢: “1.25 | Chameleons of the Sea (Instantaneous 
Twelfth “ ig eae 29 Color Changes in Fishes) (Townsend) 15 
Thirteenth “ iy 1.25 Sea-Sh iPr estes loth ~1.2 
Fourtecith': « “ 1.95 | Sea-Shore Tife (Mayer) 22... Cloth 1.20 
Fifteenth “ “ “1.25 | Guide Book: New York Zoological Park 25 
Sixteenth “ Oye N85 @Hornuday 42595 ee By Mail  .35 
Notes on Mountain Sheep of North teen ae 

Amerier a(Elornaday,) > os2-2-oe eet Paper .40 The National eee of Heads and 

y Horns (Hornaday) Large quarto. 

Destruction of Our Birds and Mammals Pants Son ae as Ae Paper, Each 1,00 
(CRM ety) as es ner oa a 5 ser 7 
The Caribou (Grant). alii 8s «“ Pad) ree UL SLIT GINOS aly Aoi. -c.teletetne ge eee Out of Print 
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Souvenir Books and Post Cards of the Zoological Park may be obtained by writing the 
Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park, New York City. 

Publications of the Aquarium may be obtained by writing Dr. C. H. Townsend, Director, 
Battery Park, New York Gity- 


* 


JULY, 1912 


VOL xX Wr NO: 52 


wy Sn wm 


oo ype 
eSOCTETY 
BULLETIN 


ici | : = k ' Aes in 
| u ished by 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
AS MMU MUNTINMUNAANAANNINOUUGUTOTOVONOOLAVAHRIDOTUCER AG EAU U CANOE q | 
tI! 


| Hi i ANANTH IA AN 
A ATER THe 


TTT Acc STN TTT UAT TT NT A TTT ET CTL MNT TT 


ARTHUR FREUN 


| 
| 


Officers of the Nem York Zoological 


President 
Henry Farrrietp Osporn. 


Hirst Hice-President 
SaMurEL THORNE. 


Secretary 
Mapison Grant, 11 Wall Street. 


Board of Managers 
Ex-O fficio 


The Mayor of the City of New York. 


Glass of 1913 
CLEVELAND H. Doneg, 
C. Lepyarp Buair, 
Freperick G. Bourne, 
W. Austin WapswortH, 


F. Aucustus SCHERMERHORN, 
Percy R. Pyne, 

Georce B. GRINNELL, 
Georc_ C. Ciark, 


Class nf 1914 
Hueu D. AvucuHinc Loss, 
Cartes F, Dierericnu, 
James J. Hitz, 
Grorce F. Baker, 


Henry Fairrietp Osporn, 
Winxriam C. Cuurcn, 
LisPENARD STEWART, 
H. Casrmir DE RuaM, 


Glass of 1915 
WiniuiaM Waite NILEs, 
Samuet THorne, 
Henry A. C. Taytor, 
Hveu J. CutsHorm, 


Levi P. Morton, 
ANDREW CARNEGIE, 
Joun L. Capwa aber, 
Mapison Grant, 


Executive Committee 
Mapison Grant, Chairman. 
Percy R. Pyne, Samuet THORNE, Levi P. Morton, 
WirtiiaM Wuite NILEs, Wm. Pirrson Hamitton, 


Henry Farrrierp Ossorn, E2-0 fficio. 


General Officers 


Sarirty 


Second Vice-President 
Joun L. CApWALADER. 


Greasurer 
Percy R. Pyne, 30 Pine Street. 


The Presiwent of the Department of Parks. 


Emerson McMirtiin, 
ANTHONY R. KuseEr, 
Watson B. DickERMAN, 
Morvimer L. Scuirr. 


Grant B. Scutey, 

Wm. Pierson Hamittron, 
Rosert S. Brewster, 
Epwarp S. Harkness. 


Frank K. Sturgis, 

GeorceE J. Goutp, 

Ogven Mitts, 

Lewis RurHEerRFuRD Morris. 


LisPENARD STEWART, 
Frank K. Srureis, 


Wirtiam T. Hornapay, Director of the Park. 
Cuaries H. Townsenp, Director of the Aquarium. 


La Farce & Morais, Architects. 


Officers of the Zoological Park 
Witriam T. Hornapay, Director. 
C. Wizu1aM BEEBE, 
L. S. CRANDALL, 


H. R. MircHettu, 
Raymonp L. Dirmars, 


Officers of the Aquarium 


Cuarites H. Townsenp, Director. 
Wasuineron I. DeNyssz, 


H. W. MerkeEt, 
W. Rei Brarr, 


H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. 


Erwin R. SAnporn, 
G. M. BreersBowerr, 


RayMmonp C, Ossurn, Assistant. 
Rosert SUTCLIFFE. 


BOOM OGC Te AL: SOC PY) BU i LET LN 


CONTENTS FOR JULY 


PAGE 

Hans ScHomBurRGK with Pyemy Hrepo.........----2.---....2- Frontispiece 
une yGwuva Eine PORO DAN e exe ceees. cane -- eres Se ceeceee seeeeceeceoe W. T. Hornaday. 877 
On THE Trait oF THE Pyemy Hippo................22-2-2.--- Hans Schomburgk. 880 
Bimosion Preyva (Part lye. C. William Beebe and Lee S. Crandall. 886 
“TRVEUID) "VE: GOYA wF 515) SI. Osan ee ee SO eee eS Harry Whitney. 891 
Thf GSE) ORE “TOSCO A OY of oR sea ee ee ee a Elwin R. Sanborn. 885 
Lee S. Crandall. 889 

AC OU OGIO ATH ZARIKAN(ONTES etree eee eee Raymond L. Ditmars. 893 
Elwin R. Sanborn. 894 


INGE poe Tones Stes es a ete eee cee OC SESE eee ee a cee ey sed 885 


MYVd IWOIDOIOOZ AHL YOA GAAYNLdVO OddIH AWOAd AIVW LINGY AHL GNV WOYNAWOHOS SNVH 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


Published by the New York Zoological Society 


Vou. XVI 


AWILE Sn 


NUMBER 52 


One .eyeGyiy. HOE PP OP O'r AM i 


By Wiiu1am T. Hornapay 


Africa, and all the slaughter of big game 

that for a century has furiously pro- 
ceeded, the dark continent has not yet given up 
all her wild-animal secrets. The wonderful 
pygmy African elephant (Elephas pumilio) 
stole into the world very quietly in 1905, but in 
1889 the far more wonderful okapi burst upon 
the scientific world like a meteor. Since that 
astounding animal, the zoologists have been in 
a mental state of what-next. 

The pygmy elephant of the Congo country 
and elsewhere, “we-have-with-us-to-night,” as it 
were, in the lusty personality of the type speci- 
men, now about fourteen years of age; but thus 
far the okapi has eluded us. Major Powell- 
Cotton literally called back the supposedly 
almost extinct white rhinoceros by discovering 
in the Lado District an entirely new outcrop of 
them. For this species we have striven, but 
thus far without avail. 

With the exception of a few museum men, 
and the few zoologists who are specially in- 
terested in the ungulates, the Pygmy Hippo- 
potamus has been to the world nothing more 
than a name, and to most people it has been 
not even that. Its discovery was made known 
to the world in 1844 by Dr. Samuel G. Morton, 
of the Philadelphia Academy of Science, but 
with the publication of his papers, the diffusion 


[) aisen, all the exploring to and fro in 


of knowledge regarding the new species almost 
came to an end. 

Speaking generally, and so far as the stand- 
ard works on natural history have been con- 
cerned,the Pygmy Hippopotamus has been almost 
as unknown and as mythical as the queer beasts 
of the visions of St. John the Divine. Touch- 
ing the literature of Hippopotamus liberiensis, 
we might almost say that there is no general 
literature,t except a very interesting chapter in 
Mr. Graham Renshaw’s book, “Natural History 
Essays.” 

The best way in the world to secure zoological 
varieties from the remote corners of the earth is 
by taking pains to provide funds with which to 
purchase the animals that bold and venturesome 
men are ever ready to capture and bring out 
for a price. It is impossible for any zoological 
park or garden to capture its own animal col- 
lections, without becoming a dealer in wild ani- 
mals—an impossible undertaking. 

Eighteen months ago, Mr. Carl Hagenbeck, 
ever ready to try the untried, and attempt the 
impossible, despatched to Liberia, west coast of 
Africa, an intrepid hunter and explorer named 


*At the hour of going to press we received from Hamburg, 
Major Schomburgk’s account of the capture of our Pygmy 
Hippos. It is printed in its entirety, directly following Dr. 
Hornaday’s article ——Ed. 

“Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of 
Morton in 1844 and 1849, and Leidy (osteology) 1852. 


Science. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


OUR ADULT MALE PYGMY HIPPO 


Hans Schomburgk. His mission was to find 
and secure alive several specimens of the almost 
mythical Pygmy Hippo. The region which 
finally had to be penetrated was found to be 
reeking with cannibals, for whose diversion an 
imposing company of native soldiers had to be 
enlisted. Mr. Hagenbeck pithily declared that 
“My traveller objects to being eaten!” 

The travels, experiences and hardships of 
Hans Schomburgk remain to be related, for the 
trophies have traveled faster than their history. 
At the present moment, the public will be most 
concerned in the fact that the New York Zoologi- 
cal Society has secured the best portion of Herr. 
Schomburgk’s catch—a living pair of Pygmy 
Hippopotami! 

The adult male in the case is thirty inches 
high at the shoulders, seventy inches in length 
from end of nose to base of tail, and the tail 
itself is twelve inches long! The weight of this 
animal is 419 pounds, and all these figures are 
offered subject to correction. 

The female is believed to be only two years 
old. It stands eighteen inches high at the 
shoulders, and weighs 176 pounds. 


The Pygmy Hippo is characterized first of 
all by its midget size, which in the adult animal 
is about equal to that of a twelve-months-old 
baby hippo of the large species. Its skull is 
more convex, or rounded, on its upper surface, 
than that of H. amphibius; its legs are longer 
and more slender in proportion, and its eyes 
do not “pop” out of its head like those of the 
giant species. Another striking character is the 
long tail, which in proportion is about twice 
as long as that of its only living relative, am- 
phibius. 

The face of the Pygmy is relatively smaller 
than that of the large species, which brings the 
eyes nearer to the median line of the skull. The 
lower jaw of the Pygmy bears only two incisor 
teeth, while the large species has four; and 
while the orbits of liberiensis are large, they are 
proportionally less elevated than those of the 
large hippo. As the latter swims nearly sub- 
merged, the eyes seem to float on the surface 
of the water like two shiny glass marbles. 

The color of the Pygmy is recorded as “slaty 
black” on the back, “sides greenish slaty gray, 
and under parts grayish white.” Pending the 
arrival of our specimens, we quote this remark- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


able color scheme with all reserve, and subject 
to amendment. 

We await with keen interest Hans Schom- 
burgk’s account of the habits, and life history 
in general, of this rare and strange animal. We 
have been informed, however, that it makes its 
home in swamps and wet forests, often at a 
distance of several miles from the nearest river 
or lake, and that it is not at all dependent upon 
large bodies of water, as its colossal relative 
always seems to be. We may confidently expect 
to hear that it subsists on fleshy and tender 
plants and reeds, and grass that is not too coarse 
and tough to be masticated by small jaws. 

Regarding the habitat of this animal, we can 
at present only describe it as the interior of the 
Republic of Liberia and regions adjacent; a 
designation not quite so vague as it seems, be- 
cause Liberia as a whole is not large. We 
imagine that Herr. Schomburgk penetrated about 
200 miles into the interior from the coast, but 
the awful character of that region would make 
this equal in difficulty and hardships encountered, 
to about 500 miles in East Africa. Heretofore 
it has been known that the species inhabits the 
Little Scarcies River, St. Paul’s River, Du 
Queah River and Fishermen Lake. 

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is, besides its only 
living relative, a midget, no more. Caliph, the 
enormous male hippo, who now stands in a 
mounted state in the American Museum of 
Natural History, stood four feet, nine and one- 
half inches in shoulder height, twelve feet and 
four inches in length from end of nose to root 
of tail, his circumference was eleven feet and 
eight inches, and his weight has been given as 
close to 6,500 pounds. Beside the enormous 
bulk of a full grown male hippo of the common 
species, it is like a six-months-old human infant 
of thirteen pounds weight beside a man of 180 
pounds. The disparity in size fairly challenges 
the imagination.. In bulk, one adult male Nile 
hippo weighing 6,000 pounds is equal to four- 
teen adult male Pygmy Hippos! Strange to say, 
notwithstanding the fact that many big hippos 
have died in Zoological Gardens during the last 
hundred years, we can not learn that thus far 
anyone ever has had the enterprise to ascertain 
the weight of a full-grown male by actually 
weighing its remains. When our Peter the Great 
passes from earth, he will be weighed. 

Up to this time, so Mr. Renshaw informs us, 
only one living specimen of the Pygmy Hippo 
ever has been sent from Africa to Europe. That 
was in 1873, when one was sent to the Dublin 
Zoological Gardens, arriving at that institution 
in a dying condition, and lived there only 
“about five minutes.” Not a single living speci- 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


879 


men ever has been exhibited, prior to the arrival 
of our specimens at Hamburg on June 15, 
1912. 

The museum of the Philadelphia Academy of 
Science contains the only series of museum 
specimens of the Pygmy Hippo now in America, 
embracing a mounted skin, a mounted skeleton, 
two skulls, and an unmounted skeleton. The 
Leyden Museum (Holland) is the only other 
which can be said to possess a series of speci- 
mens. There is one mounted skin in the Lon- 
don Museum and another in the Paris. This, 
with the mounted skin of the Dublin calf, in the 
Dublin Museum, completes the list of Museum 
specimens now extant, of an important species 
that was discovered and described sixty-eight 
years ago! 

Our unique pair of living Pygmy Hippos will 
reach New York about July 10, 1912, and 
will be exhibited in the Elephant House. For 
their accommodation, a small additional bathing- 
tank, communicating with their apartment, will 
be constructed immediately. The cost of the 
pair was $12,000, and as zoological rarieties 
they are well worth their cost. 


HIPPO CAUGHT IN A PIT ON THE 29TH OF 
FEBRUARY 


BULL 


880 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


Three hippos caught near 


ON] EEE SER ALLE Om 


THE PYGMY Hee 


AN ACCOUNT OF THE HAGENBECK EXPEDITION TO LIBERIA 


By Hans ScuoMBureK 


Major and Military Attaché, Liberian Legation, London 


66 OME to see me at once,” was the tele- 

( gram I received from Carl Hagenbeck, 

when I had let him know that my pro- 

jected trip through the French Congo had been 

abandoned. I hurried to Hamburg to meet our 

grand old man of Stellingen, who greeted me 
with these words: 

“Will you go for me out to West Africa, 
to try and capture an animal that has never 
been brought to Europe alive, and help me to 
preserve a dying species of the African fauna?” 

“Why, certainly,” was my reply, “Have I not 
just equipped an expedition to go to the Western 
Coast?” 

But when he then told me in confidence that 
I was to go to Liberia, capture and bring back 
alive specimens of the Pygmy Hippopotamus, I 
must confess that I hesitated. Here I was asked 
to catch alive an animal which had not even 
yet been shot by a European hunter! Prof. 
Buttikofer, the great authority on Liberia, had 
tried for years to secure a specimen, and after 
all he had to be content with the skins and 
skeletons of three animals that had been shot 
by native hunters, without himself even having 
seen a live animal. 


During my twelve years of African travel, my 
motto had been, “Nothing is impossible.” I had 
explored the Wa Lunda country on the water- 
shed of the Congo and Zambesi, without an 
armed escort, in the face of the evil prophecies 
of old hands who took leave of us for good 
when we started on our trip. I had succeeded 
in bringing home alive the first East African 
elephant, an undertaking that had been tried by 
many a well known hunter without success. 
“Yes,” I said, “I will go!” 

Six weeks after this conversation I landed in 
Monrovia, the capital of the Republic of Liberia. 
Here I was greeted from all sides with the as- 
surance that no such animal as the Pygmy 
Hippo existed, but only the big Hippo. 

Having read in Buttikofer’s book that he 
had obtained a specimen of the Pygmy Hippo 
on the Duquea River, I decided to give this 
river the first trial. Unfortunately I arrived 
just in the beginning of the rainy season. With 
the greatest difficulty I managed to collect twelve 
carriers, who, on the promise of extra high 
wages, agreed to follow me. 

In this lot, I must have found the human 
sweepings of the streets of Monrovia. How they 


ZOOLOGICAL 


humbugged me! They evidently thought I was 
powerless to do anything, and I knew only too 
well that they would desert on the slightest 
pretext. 

In Sheffeliensville I got the first news of 
Pygmy Hippos. Mr. Lett, an American mulatto, 
who had been a hunter with the Buttikofer ex- 
pedition, gave me the assurance that the Pygmy 
Hippo existed on the upper part of the Duquea 
River, while his big cousin, the ““Kiboko” of East 
Africa, only frequented the rivers near the coast. 
I hired six canoes in Sheffelien to bring me up 
to Jehtown, six days up the Duquea River. 

Rain was the order of the day. In pouring 
rain we started every morning, and pulled all 
day long against the current of the swollen 
river. The second day out, I thought the time 
had come to teach my carriers a lesson. We 
were so far from civilization already that I no 
longer feared desertion. 

When I called the boys in the morning to 
start, nobody came; so I called up my headman, 
and asked him very quietly if the boys were 
packing up. 

“No,” was the reply, “they do not want to 
start yet.” 

Without saying another word I took up my 
Browning automatic revolver, and put seven 
shots through the roof of the boys’ hut. Then 
they came quickly! From that moment I took 
the reins; and after I had picked out the biggest 
and laziest of the motely crowd, and had given 
him a good hiding, I had no further trouble. 


After a month’s hard hunting, I at last had 
the luck to see a Pygmy Hippo. I was drifting 
down the river in my canoe, late one afternoon, 
when I saw the animal trying to climb up the 
steep bank of the river. Before it had noticed 
us, we were within ten yards. I stood with my 
gun ready to shoot, but with a great effort I 
curbed my hunting passion. Carl Hagenbeck’s 
last word had been: “Now, remember! We must 
have our animals alive! Do not shoot before you 
are sure to be able to catch one.’ Not five 
yards from the canoe the little brute dropped 
back into the water and disappeared. 

Shorly after that I returned to the coast 
and fitted out anew to penetrate into the Golah 
country. Two months I hunted there without 
any success. In the rains it was practically im- 
possible to find any tracks; but in spite of every- 
thing I managed to find about thirty promising 
places in which to dig my pits. At first I had 
the intention to try netting the animals, but the 
uncertainty of their movements, and the thick 
undergrowth of the dense Liberian forests, made 
net-hunting impracticable. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 881 


One day a Hippo fell into one of the pits. 
It had rained for thirty-six hours, and before 
my scouts reached the place it escaped un- 
harmed! For the first time in my life, I knew 
myself beaten. Practically all my carriers were 
sick; the whole country was under water, and 
the native trails were recognizable only because 
in them the water raced down like mountain 
torrents. 

I returned to the coast and cabled to my 
people that the only chances for success were 
in the short, dry season from January to May. 
The net result of this expensive expedition was 
that I had absolute proof of the existence of the 
dwarf Hippo. 

But what Hagenbeck undertakes, he carries 
through against all odds, and without consider- 
ation of financial sacrifices. He had not lost 
faith in me; and in December, 1911, I started 
out on my second expedition. This time I was 
known in Liberia, and had but small difficulties 
in raising a caravan of fifty good men. 

I had seen on the last trip that nothing could 
be done near the coast, though the beasts exist 
even within a day of the coast; but there it is 
hunted too much by the natives, and is conse- 
quently too rare and shy. 

The confluences of the upper Lofa River were 
this time my goal. Here, in the practically un- 
known Gorze territory of the powerful and war- 
like Golah tribe, near the big Sue Bush, where 
there is no human habitation for days and days, 
I could reckon on success. 

But again I encountered an unforseen ob- 
stacle. The Pesse tribe had declared war, and 
was fighting the Government and its allies. 

Yangaia, a big fortified Golah town, I reached 
without any considerable trouble, but when I 
called my carriers the next morning to start, 
they rebelled, one and all. The previous day we 
had had a sharp march of twenty-five miles 
through thick bush. Instead of taking their 
loads the whole crowd came down to my tent, 
which I had pitched outside the village, and 
refused to go on. They said: 

“We are tired to-day; and there is war ahead. 
To-day we will not move, for to-morrow we 
hold word.” 

This was all I could get out of them. The 
whole success of the expedition was in the bal- 
ance. Had I made them the slightest concession, 
everything would have been lost. Once more 
I told them to take their loads, but only a threat- 
ening murmur was the answer. Then I saw 
red, open rebellion! I slipped the Browning 
in my pocket, took my hunting crop and went 
among them. Clash, crack went the whip on the 


882 ZOOLOGICAL 


HOWARD RAPIDS IN THE LOFA RIVER, IN THE COUNTRY 


OF THE PYGMY HIPPO 


naked body. <A few straight hits from the 
shoulder on the jaws of those who did not move, 
and quicker than I can tell it I drove the 
mutinous crowd before me like a herd of sheep! 
The result of the rebellion for the boys was that 
I stopped their rations for three days, and their 
allowance of gin for a month. 

The same day I reached Taquema, the forti- 
fied town of the paramount chief of the Golah, 
Tawe Dadwe. I had reckoned greatly on the as- 
sistance of this omnipotent native king, but to my 
great sorrow he declared openly that he could 
not help me, because the war pressed him too 
hard. He even expected an attack from the 
Pesse daily. Against my usual custom, I had to 
submit to the entreaties of the 
chief, and pitch my tent in the 
middle of the town. 

During my stay at Taquema the 
scouts of the enemy approached 
the town, but hearing that a white 
man with a big caravan and guns 
had arrived, they thought discre- 
tion the better part of valor. Here 
I had an opportunity to study the 
most secret sacrificial rites of this 
unknown tribe. 

The Lofa River, one of the big- 
gest rivers in Liberia, flows within 
an hour of Taquema. For two 
months I hunted on the small 
tributaries of this river, the course 
of which will appear entirely dif- 
ferent from what it has been 
thought, when my map of the 
hinterland of Liberia is finished. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


In spite of the greatest en- 
deavors and the hardest work 
which I have done during my long 
hunting career in Africa, I did 
not even manage to shoot one of 
these shy and secretive animals, 
in order that I might send home 
positive proof of its existence. 

The greatest difficulty in hunt- 
ing the Liberian Hippopotamus is 
that, unlike their big cousins, they 
do not frequent the rivers. They 
make their home deep in the in- 
hospitable forest, in the dense 
vegetation, on the banks of the 
small forest streams; but, not 
satisfied with the protection the 
forest affords them, they enlarge 
the hollows which the water has 
washed out under the banks, and 
in these tunnels, where they are 
invisible from the bank, they sleep during the 
heat of the day. 

Day after day I patrolled the streams, con- 
tinually in water up to my hips, frequently to 
my shoulders. At last, as I was nearly des- 
pairing, on the 27th of February, Diana, the 
goddess of the hunters, smiled on me, and the 
first Liberian Hippopotamus fell a victim to 
my gun. It was a nearly full grown cow. I 


was following the spoor of a small herd of the 
newly-by-me discovered dwarf elephant, when 
a fresh track of a Mwe (Golah name for the 
Pygmy Hippo), made me leave the elephants. 
I followed this spoor down to a small streamlet 
with hardly two inches of water, where it led 


THE FIRST BULL HIPPO CAUGHT 
Photographed in Africa 


ZOOLOGICAL 


aad ~> s- 
ane & — 


BUILDING A TRANSPORT BASKET FOR CARRYING A 


PYGMY HIPPO 


Skeleton basket on the left 


into one of the above mentioned holes. I sent 
my boy round, and when he started poking into 
the hole with a stick, a responsive grunt fol- 


lowed, and not two yards from me the head of 
the much coveted animal appeared. I still car- 
ried my elephant gun. As my shot rang through 
the forest, one of the rarest of the 
African fauna lay before me. 

My camp was far away in the bush, and to 
my great regret I had to abandon the skeleton. 
It was only with the greatest difficulty that I 
managed to skin the animal and have the skin 
brought by my two hunters to the tent. 

In spite of all difficulties, however, I had not 
given up the idea of catching 
Wherever I found a likely place 
I had a pit dug. It is easy to 
catch the great East African 
Hippo, which keeps continually 
in the same water and uses the 
same tracks. With the Pygmy 
Hippo, it is very hard to even 
find a place where there is the 
slightest chance of catching one, 
because this brute roams through 
the forest like an elephant or a 
pig, mostly goes singly, though 
sometimes in pairs, and rarely 
uses the same track twice. 

Meanwhile over a hundred 
pits had been made by my men, 
all carefully dug seven feet deep 
and covered that not the 
sharpest eye could detect any 
sign of danger. 

At last, two days after I shot 
my first animal, and when I was 


animals 


a hippo alive. 


so 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 883 
still working on its thick skin, 
a boy rushed to my tent breath- 
lessly shouting from afar: 

“Massa! Massa! Dem Mwe 
done catch!” 

On Nea Tindoa, an inhabited 
island in the Lofa river, a big 
bull had fallen into one of my 
pits. My Momoro, 
started at once with a few boys, 
to reach the place the 
night, and keep guard to pre- 
vent the meat-hungry 
from killing the Hippo. 

At last I had succeeded! 
rainst the prophecies of Euro- 
peans, Liberians and natives! 
And only a few days before 
Tawe Dadwe told me: “It is im- 
Mwe! It 

has never been done, and they 
have only been shot after they 
have been caught in the pits. 
dangerous. 


sergeant, 


same 


natives 


possible to catch a 


They are too 
Many a hunter has been killed. You 
white men know a lot, but here you are trying 
something that is impossible.” 

Early the next morning I reached the place. 
Before night a fence had been built around the 
hole, and the animal was let out. It was a 
beautiful full-grown bull, in the prime of his 
life. 

Nothing like Six days 
after that, the second one was caught; this time 
a two-year-old cow. A week later, the third, 
a young three-quarter-grown bull was taken. 
Now I had three at three different 
places. Macca, where the little cow was caught, 


succeeds success ! 


animals, 


CARRYING 
transport 


A PYGMY HIPPO 


Hippo passing through a village 


884 


I decided should be my central collecting sta- 
tion; and we started to bring the animals there. 

Now the real trouble commenced. The Golah 
people refused to carry them! For the big ani- 
mals, I needed at least forty men each, to cut 
roads and carry. 

Had it not been for the unselfish assistance I 
had from the Liberian Government, which had 
appointed me Major on the Geographical Staff, 
I never would have been able to bring my ex- 
pedition to a satisfactory end. 


Nobody can imagine the enormous difficulties 
of the transport of those heavy animals, which 
we had to carry in self-invented native-made 
baskets, through the roadless hinterland of Li- 
From the farthest place inland, where I 


caught three animals, it took me, even after the 


beria. 


men had cut the roads, twelve days to reach the 
first river on which I could use boat-transport to 
the Coast. 

A native king, Gongzoo, had, on the promise 
of a big present, promised carriers for the first 
animal caught in his district, but when I asked 
for the men, he point blank refused! By that 
time I had put the Hippo in a basket, and had 
brought it with my own carriers, under the most 
frightful difficulties, to his town. It was a 
matter of getting men from him, or standing the 
chance of losing my hard-won animal. 

I tried a bluff, with only my sergeant for 
I arrested the chief in the middle of 
his own town, kept him in front of my revolver, 


support. 


loaded all my guns, put them before me on the 
table, and declared war provided the men were 
It succeeded. 


When the people saw their king a prisoner, the 


not forthcoming within two hours. 
men came. What would have happened if they 
had accepted my challenge, I do not know! 

After I had got the first three animals to my 
central station, and handed them over into the 
charge of one of Hagenbeck’s most experienced 
keepers, I returned to Monrovia, to arrange all 
about the further transport, and to meet my 
wife, who had come out to join me, and to put 
the experience which she had gained during an 
eight-months horse-back ride through the hinter- 
land of the Cameroons, into the services of 
Hagenbeck. 

Shortly after we had returned to Macca, 


another big bull and a youngster were caught; 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


and then it was high time to return to the coast, 


before the rains should set in and make the 


country impassible. His Excellency, President 
D. E. Howard, very kindly put soldiers at my 
disposal, to assist me in collecting sufficient car- 
riers. 

After I had managed to tame a full-grown 
Mwe, the 


succeeded in collecting 150 men in three days. 


natives feared me so much that I 
While Mr. Moltmann, the keeper sent by Hagen- 
beck, and I hurried ahead to arrange for the 
food for the animals, Mrs. Schomburgk super- 
intended the transport, as it was absolutely 
necessary that one European should keep an eye 
on the carriers so that they did not drop the 
heavy baskets on the uneven and partly-moun- 
tainous trails. 

At last we had reached Japacca, and could 
put our poor, ill-treated animals into proper 
cages, which had been sent out from Hamburg. 
The 


animals were in good condition and feeding well, 


Now our greatest troubles were over. 


so that we could expect to get them safe to Ham- 
But 


got to the coast at Cape Mount, we were 


burg. another trouble arose. When we 
prophecied a bad sea for the first of June, the 
day the steamer Alexandra Woermann was to 
eall for us. But even then our luck did not 
Certainly with difficulties, but with- 


out mischief, we shipped our valuable cargo. 


desert us. 


In the Bay of Biscay we had stormy weather. 
The ship rolled heavily, but the animals did 


not seem to mind it. 


The enormous expenses of these two expedi- 
tions can easily be imagined when one con- 
siders that in Liberia everything has to be 
carried. Great quantities of trade goods are 
necessary to procure food for the carriers, and 
also as presents for the native chiefs. 

Fortune has again been kind to Hagenbeck’s 
colors. For forty years attempts had been 
made to bring these animals to Europe; and we 
had succeeded. The greatest satisfaction to me, 
however, was when I had the honor to be pre- 
sented by Mr. Hagenbeck to His Majesty Kaiser 
Wilhelm II, when he visited Hagenbeck’s Ani- 
mal Park, at Stellingen, on the 17th of June, 


where he congratulated me on my success. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 885 

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN large family or several persons. To mention 
the nationality would be to assail us with the 

neem Bremen Te Reptile pride of 2,000 years of bigoted ancestry; so we 

W. T. Hornapay. Raymonp L. Ditmars. will call them Americans. As rapidly as they 
Aquarium Bird ate their luncheon, just so rapidly was the 


C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 
Lee S. CRANDALL. 


C. H. TowNseEND. 
Raymonpn C. OsBurn. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Yearly, by Mail, $1.'0 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1912, 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. 


Vor. XVI. No. 52 JULY, 1912 


THE LAND OF THE “FREE” 


The care that people bestow upon property 
other than their own, is the truest index of their 
thrift and character. Generally those who are in 
the most straitened circumstances have but slight 
conception of the value of their possessions, and 
are just as proportionately careless with the 
property of others. In some cases they are 
merely indifferent and thoughtless. Then there 
is another class that is wilfully malicious and 
destructive. It is a positive delight for them to 
steal and commit all sorts of other depredations 
when they are not under observation. 

If the forest lands of the Park were opened 
wide for a single Sunday, the damage resulting 
could not be made good in an entire year. Every 
bush and shrub would be reduced to a naked 
skeleton, if any remained at all, and every tree 
might well tremble for the safety of its lower 
branches. It may be a noble thought to com- 
mit the peoples’ parks to “the care of the 
people,” but those who would scorn the re- 
sponsibility are altogether too numerous. A 
great many of the visitors to the Park on Sun- 
day, or any other day, have not the slightest 
desire to exercise their privilege in a decent and 
conscientious manner. 

The disorderly ten per cent. move across the 
landscape like a blight, and the trail of debris 
in their wake is the testimony of their con- 
tempt for law and order. It is sad enough when 
the responsibility is carelessly or thoughtlessly 
laid aside, but when the human impulse is purely 
malicious, it would seem that the vaunted “cradle 
of liberty” sometimes turns out human docu- 
ments that do not recognize the difference be- 
tween liberty and license. 

On a warm Sunday in June, two of the Park 
benches near the Elk House were occupied by a 


strewn 
boxes 


ground with egg-shells, fruit-skins. 
papers, and tins. One of the keepers 
passing, went to the great pains to bring a debris 
can to the spot and compel the visitors to clean 
the place thoroughly and put the rubbish into the 
can. Later in the day he returned to find that 
the little party of pleasure seekers had carefully 
overturned the can and seattered the contents in 
every direction over the ground, littering the 
place, not only with their own garbage, but 
that of perhaps a hundred others who very de- 
cently had the care of the grounds on their 
minds. 

There are times when “liberty” is so grossly 
abused that it becomes a curse to decent citizens. 
and we often see that result in the Zoological 


Park. 1d 15 1S 


_ NEW MEMBERS 
AprRIL 4, 1912, ro JuNE 6, 1912 
LIFE MEMBERS 


Mrs. James M. Varnum, Mrs. Frederick A. Constable, 
H. M. Tilford, Mrs. William F. Milton, 
Mrs. Charles W. Cooper, Charles deRham, 


Mrs. Anna Woerishofter. 
ANNUAL MEMBERS 


Miss Pauline Robinson, Mrs. Nicholas Murray Butler, 
Mrs. Richard Stevens, Mrs. Lewis Cass Ledyard, 
Mrs. Goelet Gallatin, Mrs. J. Todhunter Thompson, 
Maj. E. J. Winterroth, Mrs. Douglas Robinson, 
William Lowe, Mrs. Edgar S. Auchincloss, Sen., 
Miss Marion Scofield, Mrs. Eric Pierson Swenson, 
Joseph McAleenan, Mrs. William Allen Adriance, 
Henry Graves, Jr., Miss F. Randolph Peaslee, 
Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, Mrs. Alexander vonGontard, 
Mrs. Alexis W. Stein, Mrs. James Stewart Cushman, 
Mrs. G. L. Smidt, Mrs. John Jesse Lapham, 
Miss Louise M. Iselin, Countess deLangier-Villars, 
Mrs. W. A. M. Burden, Mrs. August Heckscher, 

Mrs. S. M. Jarvis, Mrs. Walter N. Kernan, 

Mrs. Gorham Bacon, Miss Mary C. Huntington, 
Mrs. John C, Clark, Mrs. Joseph S. Auerbach, 
Mrs. Francis Rogers, Mrs. John Harsen Rhoades, 
Adolph Vietor, Mrs. Snowden Fahnestock, 
Duff G. Maynard, Miss Cornelia N. Simons, 
Mrs. A. Mason Jones, Mrs. William Manice, 

Mrs. F. T. Adams, Miss Anna Edgar Donald, 
Mrs. Wheldon Keeling, Mrs. J. Arden Harriman, 
Mrs. Walter L. Carr, Mrs. Henry S. Redmond, 
Mrs. James Roosevelt, Mrs. Henry Wilmerding Payne, 
Mrs. John H. Scoville, Miss Elisabeth B. Brundige, 
Walter R. Callender, Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, 
George B. Goodwin, Mrs. Melvin A. Bronson, 

Miss Anne K. Eastman,Mrs. C. Tiffany Richardson, 
Mrs. August Zinsser, Mrs. Horace Clark Du Val, 
Frederick W. Pope, Mrs. Alvin W. Krech, 

Mrs. C. C. Auchincloss, Baroness KR. de Graffenried, 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN 


THE EAGLE AND 


Photographed from the 


THE BIRDS OF PREY 


VULTURE AVIARY 
roof of the Zebra House 


AND THEIR AVIARY 


Parr II. 
By C. Wiiriam Breese and Ler S. Cranpatu 


HE Eagle and Vulture Aviary is situated 
just north of the new Zebra House and 
forms the sixth and southernmost link in 
the chain of bird exhibits which extends through- 
out the length of Bird Valley, the others being 
Cope Lake, the Duck Aviary, Flying Cage, 
Crane Paddock and Aquatic Bird House. The 
permanent home of the raptorial birds is a true 
outdoor aviary consisting of thirteen large fly- 
ing cages, ranging from those twelve feet square 
by fifteen high, intended for the smaller hawks, 
to the great center flight cage, twenty-four feet 
square and rising to a height of thirty-two feet. 
Each cage has a domed concrete shelter in the 
rear. The twelve years of experience gained in 
housing these birds in the outside cages of the 
Aquatic House, and also in the Ostrich House, 
has furnished an abundance of suggestions for 
the details of construction. 

Already it is evident that the new installation 
will be satisfactory in every respect. Aside from 
actual adaptability to the requirements of the 
birds of this group, an aviary such as this must 
be made pleasing to the eye of the visitor; and 
in constructing a long row of wire cages this is 
always a difficult matter. It was a happy 


thought of Director Hornaday to bend the entire 
front into a sweeping segment of a circle. Thus, 
while from the great height of the flights the 
extent of the exhibit as a whole is clearly evi- 
dent, no long, hard, straight lines appear, and 
as the visitor moves along, cage after cage is 
revealed around the gently curving front in a 
way which precludes all appearance of monotony. 

Another factor, purposely introduced to break 
up the monotony of a straight running front, is 
the irregularity of the cages both in height and in 
size. The photograph makes this clearer than can 
any description—the largest cages, terminal and 
central, being separated by two intervening 
groups of smaller size. 

The framework of the new aviary consists of 
two-inch metal pipe, with the innovation of 
being split, each half bolted on separately, so 
that the concealed attachments of the wiring 
can in time of need be exposed with but little 
trouble. The wire itself is all of electric weld, 
the mesh of the partitions being one by four 
inches to avoid any possibility of injury from 
birds fighting in adjoining cages. The flights in- 
tended for small hawks have wire mesh one inch 
by twelve, while the mesh of the seven great eagle 


ZOOLOGICAL 


KING VULTURE 


and condor cages measures three by twelve 
inches—so open that at a few yards distance 
the wires become almost non-existant to the eye. 

As to house furnishings, the birds of prey are 
well provided for. There are generous tanks of 
clear fresh water for drinking and bathing, firm, 
round perches of wood for the hawks and eagles, 
flattened ones for the condors, at different 
heights, carefully arranged in relation to each 
other, in order to facilitate flight from the lower 
to the higher ones, while at the same time inter- 
fering as little as possible with the general fly- 
ing area. Tall stubs of trees provide a variety 
of perching places, and piles of boulders will 
soon be furnished to those species which haunt 
barren rocky mountains. 

The need of this aviary may be appreciated 
when it is stated that on the very first day of 
installation every cage was filled with the 
twenty-eight species of eagles, hawks and vul- 
tures which have heretofore had their homes in 
various odd cages of the bird collection. 

After life in their rather cramped quarters it 
was good to see the birds—bald eagles, harpys, 
condors, and all the others, stretch their wings 
to the widest and flap easily up to the first 
perches and then to the highest, twenty-one feet 
above the ground. It took but a few minutes for 
the birds to settle down and as most of them 
were taken as fledglings from the nest, this new 
allowance of liberty will meet their utmost de- 
sires. 

Beneath the domes of the concrete skeletons, 
low perches provide protection from rain and 
storm for the birds which desire it. Access to 
the cages is gained through sheet-iron doors at 
the back of each shelter. These doors are well in 
harmony with the general solidity of the struc- 
ture and preclude all possibility of draught. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 887 


The flooring has been given careful thought. 
Unlike the conditions which obtain in the cages 
of all other groups of birds, sand is a very un- 
satisfactory flooring for birds of prey. It often 
adheres to the moist food of these birds and 
when swallowed becomes a menace to their 
health, so coarse gravel has been used instead 
and is proving a perfect substitute. The meat 
and dead animal food such as rabbits, guinea 
pigs and other rodents may be placed anywhere 
upon the floor of the cage without danger of 
becoming sandy and unwholesome. The gravel 
may be cleansed with a hose in a few minutes 
and the well-drained floor will leave the cage 
sweet and clean. 

Although the very name of vulture stands for 
noisomeness and ill odor, these birds prefer 
fresh, untainted food, and in captivity will touch 
none but the cleanest and best they can get! As 
a result, our vultures are free from disagreeable 
odors, and their plumage is as clean as that of 
a thrush. In amiability and good nature they 
far excel their fieree and more dignified rela- 
tions the hawks and eagles. The sanitary con- 
ditions are as welcome to these erstwhile scaven- 
gers as to any of the other inmates. 

The New World Vultures, forming the Order 
Cathartidiformes, were described in BuLLEeTins 
No. 31 and No. 32, and only cursory mention 
will be undertaken here. 

The Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) of the 
Andes, is becoming a very rare bird in captivity. 
It is being slaughtered for its “quills,’ for 
millinery purposes. Fortunately, it is most 
tenacious of life, and our old male which arrived 
on November 30, 1899, is still with us, after a 


SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR 


888 ZOOLOGICAL 


DUCK HAWK 


period of nearly thirteen years. He now has as 
cage mates, a pair of younger specimens, with 
which he keeps on terms of armed neutrality. 

The King Vulture (Gypagus papa) is a South 
American bird, the scarcity of which is nearly 
equal to that of the condor. This is a remark- 
ably handsome bird and the brilliant coloration 
of our two specimens seems strangely out of 
place among their sombre neighbors. 

The Black and Turkey Vultures of North and 
South America, are divided into two subspecies 
each, all being represented in the collection. The 
North American Black Vulture (Catharista 
urubu urubu) is distinguished from the South 
American form (Catharista urubu brasiliensis) 
chiefly by its larger size. The South American 
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura aura) is not 
only much smaller than the North American 
bird (Cathartes aura septentrionalis) but differs 
also in the proportions of its head and bill, the 
former presenting certain peculiar bony pro- 
cesses not found so highly developed in septen- 
trionalis. These vultures all are of great in- 
terest because of their high economic value as 
scavengers. 

The Orange-Headed Vulture (Cathartes wru- 
butinga) is undoubtedly closely related to the 
turkey vultures but is coal black in body color 
and the bare parts of the head are brilliantly 
colored with pale orange, pink and greenish 
black. These birds appear to be as particular 
in their feeding habits in the wild state as their 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


congeners are voracious, and are said by the 
natives to take only the choicer parts of such 
food as they may happen upon. It certainly is 
true that this species is greatly outnumbered by 
the turkey vultures, at least in Guiana, and is 
much more solitary in habit. In captivity, it is 
shy and delicate and will not be allowed a suf- 
ficient supply of food if confined with other 
larger birds. 

The California Condor or Vulture (Gymno- 
gyps californianus) is one of the finest and cer- 
tainly the rarest of all the birds of prey of 
North America. Uncommon as this Condor is, 
however, two young specimens have found their 
way to the Zoological Park in recent years, one 
in 1909 and the other in the following year. 
We now have three individuals of this fine 
species, old “General” having been in the collec- 


tion since 1905. 
The Audubon Caracara (Polyborus cheriway) 
is, in a way, a link between the hawks and 


vultures. It hunts much upon the ground and 
probably feeds mostly upon carrion, but never- 
theless is well able to catch and kill living prey 
when occasion offers, as evidenced by the sharp- 
ened talons. 

The genus Buteo is represented in the collec- 
tion by four species — the Red-Tailed Hawk 
(Buteo borealis borealis), the Western Red-Tail 


AUDUBON CARACARA 


ZOOLOGICAL 


(Buteo borealis calurus), the Red-shouldered 
Hawk (Buteo lineatus lineatus), and the Euro- 
pean Buzzard (Buteo buteo). These birds are 
similar in habits, feeding mostly upon mice and 
frogs, and are of great value to the farmer. 

One of the finest of the eagles is the Aus- 
tralian Wedge-tail (Uroaétus audax), somewhat 
similar to the Golden in general appearance, 
but much more tawny in body color and lacking 
the feathered tarsi. Now that the importation 
of live birds from Australia is no longer legal, 
it will doubtless be difficult to secure specimens 
of this eagle. 

The American and Ferruginous Rough-leg 
Hawks (Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis and 
A. ferrugineous) are now represented in the 
collection by several specimens each. Both 
possess feathered tarsi, the former presenting 
several plumage phases. These birds hunt 
mostly in the twilight, beating their way across 
the fields at a short distance above the ground. 
The owl-like appearance of the bill and gape, 
particularly in the Ferruginous, are very strik- 
ing, and the resemblance is increased by the fact 
that it bolts mice and sparrows practically whole, 
as do the owls, and does not tear them to bits 
as is the habit of most hawks. 

The Sea Eagles are represented by two species 
—the White Breasted (Haliadetus leucogaster) 
and the Vulturine (Gypohierax angolensis). The 
former is closely related to the bald eagle and 
has much the same feeding habits. Both of 
these birds are found near the Eastern oceans, 
where the highly poisonous sea-snakes form a 
great portion of their food. 

One of the fiercest and most predatory of 
American Accipitriformes is the Duck Hawk 
(Falco peregrinus anatum), so swift on the wing 
that it is able to overtake the fastest flying 
ducks. The European subspecies (Falco pere- 
grinus peregrinus) is the Peregrine Falcon, the 
favorite hawk of the days of faleonry, and as 
the two forms are separated only with great 
difficulty, if at all, it is safe to attribute to our 
bird all of the qualities of strength and courage 
which gave the “Noble Peregrine” its name. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES 
Brrp DeparTMENT 


Gulls that Perch—The readiness with which 
birds adapt themselves to the changed conditions 
of captivity is well demonstrated by some of 
the smaller gulls in the Flying Cage. While 
it is true that these birds may sometimes perch 
when flying at liberty, it is far from a common 
occurrence. The laughing gulls, brown-headed 
gulls and a short-billed gull have developed a 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 889 


fondness for alighting on the slender cross-bars 
which join the sides of the cage close to the top. 
Here the birds spend most of their time, calling 
as vociferously as though on their native sands. 


Prolific Water-fowl. — Breeding operations 
among the birds are now under full sway. Two 
pairs of herring gulls are incubating their eggs 
in one of the enclosures of the Goose Paddock. 
A number of young Canada geese are following 
their parents from one pond to another, while 
tiny mallard ducklings fairly swarm on the 
various bodies of water. The white call-ducks 
have three sturdy youngsters a month old which, 
as the parents are full winged, are apt to be 
seen almost anywhere within the Park limits. 
The wood ducks have been remarkably prolific. 
No less than eighty-eight eggs of this species, 
with probably a few of those of the Mandarin 
intermixed, have been removed from the nest 
boxes and entrusted to the solicitous care of 
sitting hens. About twenty ducklings have 
already been hatched, and with a fair share of 
good fortune, our flock of this lovely species 
should be greatly augmented by fall. 


Nesting Owls and Vultures.—The eggs of the 
giant eagle owls and the griffon vultures have, 
as usual, come to naught. Those of the owls 
met with a mishap when just at the point of 
hatching, and were found broken at the bottom 
of the cage. None of the many eggs of the 
griffon vultures have ever proved fertile, 
but it is to be hoped that in the liberal confines 
of the new aviary better results will be ob- 
tained. 


Cereopsis Geese.—The most important event 
of all is the successful hatching of five sturdy 
goslings by the cereopsis geese. The little birds 
are much stronger than those of two years ago 
and are growing rapidly. A temporary fence of 
fine-mesh wire has been placed across the Crane 
Paddock, giving the geese a large space at the 
southern end well supplied with grass. As this 
is only the second time that birds of this species 
have been hatched in this country, as far as 
known, much interest attaches to the occurrence. 


The Owl Cages.—Now that the eagles and 
vultures have been removed to more commodious 
quarters, their former abodes are available for 
their smaller relatives and the owls. The dainty 
sparrow hawks, of which we possess four species, 
are now ensconced in two large out-door cages 
on the western side of the Aquatic Bird House, 
where they can enjoy a degree of liberty never 
before within our power to give them. The 
other cages of this series are occupied by our 
extensive collection of owls. Ss: 


890 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


FEEDING THE YOUNG HOODED SEALS 
From a photograph made in the Zoological Park 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 891 


YOUNG HOODED SEALS IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


When feeding time arrives the young seals are very alert. 


THE HOODED SEAL OF 


They watch for the keeper in a very intelligent manner. 


THE NORTH ATLANTIC 


By Harry WuitNey 


distinct species of seals inhabiting the 

Atlantic waters contiguous to northeastern 
America:—the Harbor or Ranger Seal (Callo- 
cephalus vitulinus, Linnaeus), a small coastal 
breeding seal which frequently ascends fresh 
water streams; the Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida, 
Schr.), also a small coastal breeding seal; 
the Harp Seal (Phoca gruenlandica, Fabr.), 
somewhat larger than the two preceding 
seals, and, unlike them, breeding upon the north 
Atlantic ice floes; the Bearded or Square-Flipper 
sometimes called the Big Seal (Phoca barbata, 
Fabricius), a very large seal, breeding along the 
northern coasts ; and the Hooded or Bladder-Nose 
Seal (Cystophora cristata, Erxleben), which, like 
the Harp Seal, gives birth to its young upon the 
winter-formed ice floes of the north Atlantic. 

The five young seal pups which I brought from 
the north in May, 1912, and which are now in 
the New York Zoological Park, belong to this 
last species, and a brief description of the 
species, its habits and its economic value, may 
be of interest to the readers of the BuLLETIN. 

In size, the Hooded Seal ranks second to, and 
sometimes rivals, the Bearded Seal, which is 
classed as the largest of the Atlantic seals. A 
full grown Hood “dog” will not infrequently 
measure from eight to nine feet in length, and 
tip the scale at one thousand pounds, while an 
old female Hood will often weigh between 
eight hundred and nine hundred pounds. 

In color, the adult is bluish-black on the back, 
with a belly usually of lighter shade, varied with 
paler spots, though sometimes the belly is of a 
light-grayish tinge, with darker spots. 

The male has a muscular sac or bag extending 
from the nose backward to the center of the 
head. This bag may be inflated at will, forming 
a hood-like covering to the head. It is this hood 
which gives the species its name. 


FP taint of the walrus, there are five 


The Hooded Seal has one other distinctive 
feature. While each of the other four species 
mentioned has six front teeth or incisors in the 
upper jaw and four in the lower jaw, the 
Hooded Seal has but four above and two below. 

Both males and females will attack their 
enemies with boldness and savage ferocity, 
and in all my experience I have never encoun- 
tered a more determined or dangerous antagonist 
among wild beasts than an angry Hooded Seal 
brought to bay. I have seen an old dog Hood 
seize a gaff between his teeth and chew it into 
splinters. They travel upon the ice with re- 
markable speed, and the hunter must always be 
alert, prepared to meet their vicious charge. 

Hood pups are nursed by their mothers until 
about two weeks old, when they are left to 
forage for themselves. After capturing the five 
little pups now in the Bronx Zoological Park, 
and taking them aboard our ship, the Neptune, I 
was confronted with the difficulty of securing 
proper food for them, and it occurred to me to 
examine the stomachs of the carcasses of several 
of the old ones which had been killed. To my 
surprise I found that all I examined contained 
perfectly fresh herring, and in nearly every in- 
stance the fish were whole and entirely free from 
injury, without a tooth mark or seratch. From 
a single one of the old dogs I secured in this 
way six large fish. It is claimed that the seal 
herds off the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts 
destroy more codfish and herring each year 
than are taken by the entire fishing fleet. 

The Hooded Seal is migratory in its habits. 
During the summer the greater herds are found 
along the southeast coast of Greenland. In 
February and March they appear in countless 
numbers on the winter-formed ice floes off the 
Labrador and Newfoundland coasts, both in the 
open Atlantic and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 


892 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


It is at this time that they give birth to their 
young upon the floes, where they are found in 
families consisting of the mother seal, her pup 
and two or three old males. I have seen few 
instances where a seal gave birth to more than 
one pup in a season. 

The pup is a shapeless, furry, steel-grey ball 
when first born, but grows and assumes shape 
with truly wonderful rapidity. It is safe to 
estimate that it increases three or four pounds 
in weight in each twenty-fours hours during the 
first eight days after birth. The stormier the 
weather and the more snow that flies, the better 
it thrives. 

The Hooded Seal attains its full growth in 

four years, and competent observers state that 
they begin breeding at that age. 
HOODED SEALS ON THE ICE It sometimes happens that large herds become 
imprisoned upon the floes, through long con- 
tinued winds in one direction which raft the ice 
and cut off their retreat. When this occurs and 
the seals are long exposed to the strong rays of 
the sun, their skins burn and crack, and they 
are subject to intense suffering. When in this 
condition, at times when the ice parted, per- 
mitting them to again return to the sea, I have 
observed them jump clear of the water, giving 
bellows of pain that could be heard for a long 
distance. When the skins are thus burned they 
are valueless, and the animals are not molested 
by the sealers. 

The value of the Hood, and, in fact, all 
species of north Atlantic hair seals, lies in its 
hide and blubber. The hide is tanned into 
| d leather, and the blubber converted into oil. From 
its hide, wallets, traveling bags and other fine 
leather goods articles are manufactured. The 
oil is utilized in many ways. It has even been 

said that no small proportion of 
high grade seal oil which finds 
its way into the Italian market, 
passes through a process of de- 
odorization and refinement and 
is launched upon the market by 
the resourceful Italian as “olive 
oil.” 


BRINGING THE SEALS TO THE ‘‘NEPTUNE” 


Sealing has long been one of 
ok di : the most important industries of 
the Colony otf Newfoundland. 
The seal fishery, it is said, had 
its beginning early in the eigh- 
teenth century, and the records 
ot the Newfoundland Board of 
Trade state that as early as the 
year 1742, Fogo and Twillingate 
reaped a profit of nearly three 
thousands pounds sterling from 
HOODED SEAL AND YOUNG trade in seal oil. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 893 


In the early days sealers went to the ice in 
sailing craft, but in 1862 the Bloodhound and 
the Wolf, the vanguard of the present large fleet 
of sealing steamers especially fitted for the work, 
were introduced, and a new era in seal hunting 
began. It is the object of the sealers to find 
the floes upon which the herds are located, and 
this done, old and young alike are slaughtered 
upon the ice. Late in the season, after the 
young have taken to the water, a sealing steamer 
will sometimes follow a large herd at full speed 
for a hundred miles, or until the herd, becoming 
exhausted, takes to the ice floe again for rest. 
When thus thoroughly wearied they will not at 
once return to the water, and are spoken of as 
“beat out.” After a long drive of this kind they 
are very poor, and large lumps form under each 
flipper. 

The harp, the one other species, as previously 
stated, which whelps upon the ice, though a 
much smaller seal than the Hood, is more valu- 
able, and is found in much larger herds than the 
Hood. The young of this species is snow white 
until two weeks old, when it sheds its first coat 
and assumes a dark slate color. 

The seal hunt was at its zenith in 1831, when 
686,836 seals were captured. In 1911 the total 
numbered 304,591. Captain Abraham Kean, 
with the Florizel, captured the largest number 
of any one ship during that year, his catch 
reaching a total of 49,129, of which more than 
half were harps. 


Condition of the Great Apes.—With the ex- 
ception of occasional colds and_ bronchial 
troubles, our family of great apes is in good 
condition. The animals have passed through 
the winter without serious illness, except the 
chimpanzee known as _ Little 
Dick. This unusually vigorous 
animal has several times broken 
his legs during his rough play, 
and but recently came from the 
hospital where he had been re- 
tired with a dislocated knee. A 
new exhibition is being prepared, 
in which the apes will further 
demonstrate their mental capac- 
ity. The orang-utans, Mimi and 
Mike, are now nearly adult. 
These creatures appear to possess 
the strength of two men, and 
while both are good natured, are 
at times inclined to be stubborn. 
They are very destructive, and 
our repair men are kept almost 
constantly busy on the iron 
work and trapeze bars of the 
cage. 18 Ib, 1D). 


ADULT HOODED SEAL 


HOODED SEAL 
The flippers are turned under when moving around 


HOODED SEAL AND YOUNG 
The sealer Neptune in the background 


894 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


MALLARD DUCKS 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES 


Albino Alligators——Through the interest and 
courtesy of Mr. George L. McVey, the Reptile 
House possesses five albino alligators. So much 
of the coloring pigment is lacking in the skin 
of these reptiles that they are of a pinkish white 
hue, while the eyes are very pale, though appar- 
ently as sharp and alert as those of any normal 
saurian. These little alligators were captured 
near Miami, Florida. They are now about nine 
inches long, lively and healthy, and indicate 
a disposition to rapidly develop. 


Giant Spiders. — The collection of giant 
spiders of the tropics is of marked interest. 
Some of our examples have been exhibited con- 
siderably over a year, and all of them have spun 
intensely white silk tubes in their cages. These 
spiders regularly shed their skins. When the 
old skin is about to be cast it splits up the back, 
the spider withdraws its legs from the original 
casing, leaving the former covering so intact as 
to appear like another spider. The keepers have 
several times been deceived in cleaning the cages 
by cautiously poking aside the shed skin of one 
of these creatures, while the living inmate of the 
cage was actually hiding in its silk tunnel. 


A Long-Lived Beetle——Although the small 
insects are supposed to live for comparatively 
short periods, we have an interesting record of a 
beetle that was captured on the borders of the 
Sahara Desert by a lady visiting the Pyramids. 
This lady picked up the beetle and placed it in 
what she believed to be an air-tight tin box; her 
intention being to have the insect mounted upon 
arriving in America, as a souvenir of her trip 
to the desert. She believed that the insect would 
die immediately after being placed in the box. 
Arriving in America three months later she dis- 
covered the box in her trunk, and upon opening 


it was astonished to find the beetle, which had 
been all this time without food and water, in a 
lively condition. She presented the insect to the 
Society, asking that it be installed in one of the 
cages of the Insect Collection. This creature 
died on April 10 of the present year, after 
having been in our possession for seventeen 
months. Curiously enough, it was seldom 
noted to partake of food during the period it 
was exhibited here, although it remained uni- 
formly lively up to the time that it died. 


Bushmaster and Lancehead Snakes. — From 
Mr. R. R. Mole, who sends us many interesting 
South American reptiles and insects, we have 
just received a fine example of the fer-de-lance 
and a large specimen of the South American 
bushmaster. These two serpents represent the 
deadliest species of reptiles of the new world. 
The lance-head snake is about six feet long and 
the bushmaster is about eight feet in length. 
The latter is of a beautiful salmon hue, the 
body crossed by sooty-black bands. The scales 
are so rough as to suggest the surface of a 
pineapple. In his letter relating to these ser- 
pents, both of which were captured on the 
Island of Trinidad, Mr. Mole explains that 
the great pit vipers of that island are now be- 
coming very rare, owing to the activity among 
their numbers of the indian mongoose, which 
was imported to Trinidad some years ago. De- 
spite its habit of killing poisonous snakes, the 
mongoose is not rated as a very valuable 
mammal in Trinidad, owing to its habit of fre- 
quently killing poultry. 

New Tigers Arrive—A fine pair of young 
Bengal tigers has been placed on exhibition at 
the Lion House. The male was born in 1910 
and the female is a year older. 

New Monkeys—The happy family in the 
south lobby of the Monkey House has been 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


increased by the addition of a hamadryas 
baboon, two long-armed baboons, two golden 
baboons, six rhesus monkeys, six common maca- 
ques and two mangabeys. <A new type of spring 
board has been constructed and placed in this 
cage. This spring board is about twenty feet 
long, very elastic and supported on studs at both 
ends. On it the monkeys take much vigorous 
exercise, some of them bounding about six feet 
into the air, to the great amusement of our 
young visitors. Jets Ib. 10% 

A Strange Nestling—One of the white call- 
ducks established her nest in one of the mule 
deer shelter houses. There are four deer 
quartered there that make use of the house at 
night; but in spite of this, the duck bravely 
held to her post. A few days before she left 
the nest, Keeper Quinn observed a small, furry 
ball peeping out from under her wing, and upon 
close inspection was astonished to see—not a 
duckling—but a very small kitten! The duck 
resented any attempt on his part to approach 
closely, but gave no heed whatever to the little 
tramp. The kitten was thriving as best it could 
without food, but its pitiful attempts to nurse 
were so pathetic that we took it from the nest 
and carried it to the Reptile House, where it 
was fed and cared for. How it ever found the 
nest is a mystery. If it had been thrown into 
the range, there was yet a long distance for it 
to travel to reach the house, and it was so small 
and feeble that even this was a Herculean task. 

Flip.—Our walrus, “Flip,” is thriving and 
growing. In the last few months he has gained 
fifty pounds in weight and is apparently de- 
termined to join the class of animals that have 
lived and are going to live out the limit of their 
natural longevity in the Park. Keeper Snyder 
has devoted a great deal of care to maintaining 
Flip in fine condition, and the young walrus re- 
pays it, both by being healthy and having an 
abnormal fondness for his keeper. Some mem- 
bers of the Pinnipedia are well known for their 
remarkable intelligence, and Flip is bright be- 
yond the ordinary range of pinniped wisdom. 

If his food is not forthcoming according to 
the fixed schedules, he makes known his wants by 
tumbling his food-pan end over end along the 
rocks, making a continuous racket until some 
one comes. If irritated he barks like a sea- 
lion, but expresses pleasure with a number of 
softly modulated grunts. When the hood seals 
are fed, he is always a curious observer, and 
then uses his softest voice to attract the atten- 
tion of the keeper. Should the man leave with- 
out noticing him, he barks lustily and dashes 
into the pool to show his great displeasure. He 
follows the keeper about like a dog, readily 


BULLETIN 895 


climbs a flight of stairs, and descends with the 
greatest ease, without the slightest uncertainty. 

The water in his pool is artificially maintained 
at the same salinity as the sea, and is evidently 
a potent factor in the general good health of the 
animal. 


Young Hood Seals.— Mr. Harry Whitney, 
who has just returned from a trip into Arctic 
waters on a sealer, has presented to the Park 
five hood seal pups. One end of the crocodile’s 
summer pool has been filled with salt water and 
the youngsters installed there. Although but 
a trifle over two feet long, they possess tiny, 
sharp teeth, and an entire willingness to use 
them if any familiarity is attempted. In pulling 
themselves up on the rocks, the front flippers are 
bent so that the seal really walks on the ends 
as they curve under. When annoyed, they ex- 
press their irritation by growling very much 
like a dog. Only three are feeding regularly. 

Moving the Bears.—The new Bear Dens are 
at last ready, and are being occupied as rapidly 
as the intended inmates can be moved. The dens 
fill a long-felt want. All the bears can now be 
brought together, and the cages that they have 
occupied in various other buildings can be de- 
voted to the specimens for which they were in- 
tended. Inasmuch as many of the tropical bears 
require heat in the cold months, an ingenious 
electrical heating plant has been installed in this 
new series. The compartments requiring heat 
have been covered over, and the cage fronts 
fitted with glass. Each sleeping den-for the 
South American and Malay sun bears is pro- 
vided with an electric plate warmer, fastened 
against the outer wall. 


Gavial from the Ganges.—F or the second time 
in the history of the Park, we have a gavial. 
This time the specimen is of good size. The 
gavial is interesting because of its habitat—the 
Ganges and Jumna rivers of India, and _ its 
striking form. The very long, thin snout is like 
the handle of a frying pan. The time was when 
the gavial sometimes played a part in some of 
the religious rites of the Hindus. It is recorded 
that in times past the Hindu mothers did not 
hesitate to throw their tiny babies into the 
Ganges, as an offering to the God of the river. 
It is a fact, however, that the inhabitants of 
the Ganges-Sumna region do not hold the gavial 
as sacred, for it is a matter of record that in 
1877 Director Hornaday collected twenty-five 
specimens, great and small, without precipitating 
any trouble with the natives. 

A Lizard Flying Cage.—A big yard with sand 
and grass, a pool of water, and the privilege of 
basking in the warm sun should warrant a con- 


896 


HUMAN PROFILE ICEBERG 


Photographed in June, 1909, off the entrance to the harbor of 
St. Johns, Newfoundland, by V. S. Chapman, 
of Newark, New Jersey 


tented and quiet collection of lizards. But it 
does not. Hitherto the lizards have regarded 
their domain as too small and persisted in leap- 
ing the fence. While the hot days of summer 
last, the escaped lizards do very well, but as the 
cool autumn nights herald the approach of 
winter, the escaped lizards suffer accordingly, 
and before they can be recaptured, sometimes 
become hopelessly chilled, and do not survive 
long. To prevent further escapes we are con- 
structing a long run entirely covered with wire 
mesh. In this the lizards may climb, but any 
leaping will be limited, and escapes are posi- 
tively barred. 

A New Cheetah.—A new cheetah has been 
added to the collections of the Lion House, a big 
specimen this time, and a very friendly one. 
These friendly animals are valuable because they 
feed well and usually live longer than the 
nervous individuals. There is, in the new ar- 
rival, no highly-strung nervous temperament to 
become disarranged, with a consequent loss of 
appetite that must be coaxed back to normal 
conditions. This specimen has evidently been 
trained for hunting, as he may easily be led 
about on a leash. The collection of the Lion 
House has never before been so large, or so 
varied, and has never before contained so many 
handsome animals. 

Playful Snow Leopards. — The two snow 
leopards living in the big central outside cage 
of the Lion House are the liveliest cats that we 
have ever had. They are not only constantly 
around, but seem abundantly good- 

In captive animals this is a valuable 


moving 
natured. 
asset. The keepers enter the cage at cleaning 
time, on a perfectly amicable basis with the 
leopards; they perform their duties, and retire 
without causing the slightest disturbance. Even 
good-tempered animals are sometimes greatly 
annoyed by the presence of human beings, and 
often inflict injuries either upon themselves or 
their keepers, purely through nervousness. These 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


beautiful animals regard any unusual proceed- 
ing with perfect equanimity, and play, eat or 
sleep in the most systematic manner. 


Gunda’s Tusks——Animals with tusks and 
horns devote a great deal of their time in wear- 
ing them down, and in a good many instances, en- 
tirely destroying them. The elephants are par- 
ticularly gross offenders. An elephant is always 
examining locks, bolts and bars, to the detriment 
of his tusks. 

The little pigmy elephant, Congo, splintered 
his tusks so badly that it was necessary to have 
special brass castings made to fit the ends; and 
sometime before, Gunda, becoming irritated at 
Keeper Thuman, chased him from the corral, 
incidentally ramming the fence and knocking six 
inches from the end of one of his tusks. To 
prevent further fractures, Gunda also will be 
compelled to wear brass castings. 


Primate Kindergarten.—The daily exhibition 
of our great apes dining and performing other 
man-like feats, has been strengthened by the ad- 
dition of some school-room work. A small black- 
board has been introduced, and several of the 
apes are able to grasp a piece of chalk and make 
rough marks with it. It is exceedingly difficult 
for an orang or chimpanzee to use the ends of 
the fingers upon a small object. The chalk is 
held against the palm of the hand, opposite the 
thumb side, by the bent-in fingers. In this 
fashion the marking is rather awkwardly man- 
aged. Susie is by far the most expert. She 
goes to the board, pulls the cover down, takes 
the piece of chalk and marks on the board, then 
very soberly and even precisely places the chalk 
back in the groove and pushes the cover into 
place. Susie is a very versatile and apt pupil. 
When Keeper Engelholm utters a few words 
in a conversational tone, she readily understands. 

New Sea-Lions.—The big pool on Baird 
Court once more resounds with the cheerful note 
of the sea-lion. Early this summer the bottom 


INDIAN ELEPHANT GUNDA 


ZOOLOGICAL 


hs Shae | 
TH EEN 


BEAR CUB AT LIBERTY 


of the pool was raised three feet, to economize 
water. The pool is now easier to empty and to 
clean, and the change in no way detracts from 
the swimming possibilities. The present inhabi- 
tants are exceedingly active, and furnish plenty 
of excitement for the visitors that constantly 
gather around. 


Musk-Ox Herd—Because a musk-ox looks 
as round and sleek as a Jersey cow, it does not 
necessarily follow that it is just as fat. If the 
musk-ox is amiable and allows one to approach 
closely enough to stroke him, the investigator 
would be astonished to find under the long, silky 
outside hair, a thick covering of the finest wool, 
at least two inches thick. During the cold that 
prevails in our New York winters, this covering 
is at its best; but as the warmer days approach, 
the wool is shed out, leaving the musk-ox in the 
lightest of summer covering. To all appearances 
his pelage is just as abundant as ever, and in 
consequence the animal is an object of much 
speculation by visitors as to the extent that he 
is able to endure the heat. Thus far this season 
Keeper McEnroe has collected from five young 
musk-oxen about twenty pounds of wool, and 
there are as many pounds yet on them. It could 
be converted into excellent clothing, as it is as 
fine and delicate as the best wool of sheep. 

Wild-Horse Colt.—If there is special signifi- 
cance in being born on Sunday, our herd of 
Prjevalsky horses is destined to become famous, 
for all of the births in that family have occurred 
on that day. The latest foal arrived on June 
9, 1912, early on Sunday morning. The total 
is now five specimens, three of them born in the 
Park. 

Births. Six elk, two axis deer, three sika, 
a barasingha and four red deer, besides three 
buffalo calves have been born into the herds 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 897 


this season. Only by constantly selling the 
rapid increase have we been able to prevent the 
herds from overflowing the various ranges. Were 
it not that our fine surplus is in constant demand, 
we would be confronted by serious problems in 


overstocking. 


Bob-White—The quail covey that spent the 
winter in the Park disappeared as mysteriously 
as it came. Not a sign nor a sound announced the 
departure of the quail, and it was generally 
concluded that these shy birds had been fright- 
ened away for good. Unless some human voice 
is deceiving us, however, the very sweet calls, 
“Bob-white! Bob-white,”’ that recently have 
floated through the woods of Beaver Valley 
would indicate that these interesting birds have 
not deserted the Park. In fact, the chances are 
that breeding operations are under way. 


A Lively Bear Cub.—One of the little bear 
cubs born to Czarina possesses the faculty 
which seems inherent among bears—for finding 
every nook or cranny worth while trying for an 
escape. He succeeded in getting through an 
opening in the overhang not over six inches wide. 
When captured he made a very noisy resistance 
and aroused his mother to the extent that the 
keepers could not open the gate of the den to 
put him back. Accordingly he was loosely 
wrapped in burlap and lowered into the bathing 
pool; his mother promptly rescuing him. All 
openings large enough for a small Raffles bear 
to squeeze through have been closed. 


Shouting Pea~-Fowl—The peacock is the para- 
dox of the avian world. To display his gorgeous 
plumage upon any and all occasions is appar- 
ently as agreeable to him as it is to the observer. 
But there is a thorn for each rose, and a voice for 
each peacock. While the proudly strutting bird 


HIS MOTHER RESCUED HIM 


898 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


OUR HERD OF PRJEVALSKY WILD HORSES AND THE LATEST ARRIVAL 


is a delight to the eye, his voice is equally as 
great a nightmare to the musical ear. 

Under ordinary working pressure, the Park 
does not produce sounds of sufficient intensity to 
provoke the discordant protest of the pea-fowl, 
but the heavy blasting of the rock in the work- 
shop yards is evidently a powerful incentive. As 
each charge of dynamite is fired, every peacock 
accepts the challenge and hurls his raucous voice 
along the line with redoubled intensity. To 
those who are familiar with the aftermath, it is 
the rule to hear the blast, and await with bated 
breath the inevitable pea-fowl chorus. 

Robber Sparrows.—lIf the English sparrow 
had the divine faculty of reading the human 
mind he might be the vainest of birds. No 
other creature in the world attracts so much 
attention as this independent little tramp. Every 
rascally trait has been foisted upon him; and 
yet, in winter our streets and parks would be 
very cheerless without his optimistic chirping. 
The sparrow is a born optimist and no one can 
deny that he is not aggressive and self-reliant. 
When every food supply of our feathered mi- 
grants is closed tight in the grip of winter, this 
brave little fellow starves and freezes with 
Pickwickian cheerfulness, until the advent of 
another spring. He is no exception to the rule 
that the virtues of every creature are properly 
balanced by their defects. But why condemn 
him for so valiantly upholding with all his 


sturdy courage the motto of the “early bird’’? 
The busy bee is not in the running with the spar- 
There are no limits to the ingenuity he is 
called upon to employ in earning his daily 
bread. To him it is distinctly a case of a sur- 
vival of the fittest, and his hereditary birthright 
of Spartan-like bringing-up has endowed him 
with a resolution that is not to be denied. 

But for all the canny devices to which he 
resorts in the daily struggle for existence, the 
following clever trick would scarcely seem be- 
lievable, had I not known the observer’s veracity 
to be unquestioned. 

The favorite hunting ground of the robin, 
when there are nestlings eager for food, is a 
smoothly-clipped lawn after a warm rain. Then 
the earth-worms come to the surface and are 
easily captured. Under these conditions a robin 
was observed hopping about, looking for food. 
A number of sparrows were also apparently 
similarly engaged. Finally the robin located 
a worm, seized it and gave a lusty pull. The 
worm resisted the tugging and stretched like a 
bow string to a length of about six inches. Sud- 
denly a sparrow darted over, caught the worm 
midway between the ground and the robin’s beak 
and flew triumphantly away with it. This op- 
eration was repeated several times by the spar- 
rows remaining, and the robin at length gave up 
in despair, and departed to a locality where 
there was no competition and highway robbers 
were less numerous. E. R. S. 


row. 


GENERAL INFORMATION 


MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organi- 
zation, who desire to contribute toward its support and are endorsed by two members in good 
standing. 

The cost of Annual Membership is $10 per year, which entitles the holder to admission to 

the Zoological Park and the Aquarium 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 compli- 
mentary tickets to the Zoological Park and Aquarium 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. 

Applications for membership may be handed to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park, 
Dr. C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the Gen- 
eral Secretary, No. 11 Wall Street, New York City. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


The Zoological Park is open every day in the year, free, except Monday and Thurs- 
day of each week, when admission is charged. Should either of these days fall on a holiday 
no admission fee is charged. From May 1 to November 1, the opening and closing hours are from 
9 o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From November 1 to May 1, 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, from 9 o’clock 
A. M. to 5 o’clock P. M.; October 16 to April 14, from 10 o’clock A. M. to 4 o’clock P. M. No 
admission is charged. 
PUBLICATIONS 


The publications of the Society are for sale at the prices affixed below. Address H. R. 
Mitchell, Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park. 


First Annnal  Report.cccescccs-cccccesceeeenne Paper $ 40 | The Origin and Relationship of the 
Second S --------Paper $ .75 Cloth 1.00 Large Mammals of North America 
Third elt Nag), ROE aceon * BOs 60 (Granby Gece eres) lesiehe Cloth $ .75 
Fourth ROEM ES esr iy 40 a .60 : a 
Fifth CC ia 34 a iy « 5 « 1.00 | Zoclogica Vol. I. Nos. 1-7 inc. (Beebe), the Set 1.30 
Sixth Uh cea eee " A) is 1.00 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 8, The Northern 
Meer thy tee seri ne ee «1.00 “1.25 Elephant Seal (Townsend) ............... 25 
Eighth 3 Bete rae aot 1.00 i 1.25 = etd : ; 
Ninth eter Meany, MELE Phy « 1.25 “« 1.50 | The Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds 
Tenth « Oh, te ae “ 1.25 “« 1.50 Ghlawnisentl)) cee: 28a ee ee eee .20 
Eleventh “ ee es 1.00 4 1.25 | Chameleons of the Sea (Instantaneous 
Twelfth fe RPA = ee # yee Color Changes in Fishes) (Townsend) 15 
Thi t t See MAS Laban Mine NS fe “ Ki “ 2 ‘ 
Rew eon Ie en « 1.00 « 1.95 | Sea-Shore Life (Mayer). ..2:.2.002...2.....- Cloth 1.20 
Ta SSC Nd ee SER pa ees eng “1.00 “ 1.25 | Guide Book: New York Zoological Park 25 
Sixteenth tos ue tte s 1.00 - “ 1.25 GHormaday.) @. eae pee Se By Mail — .35 
“a \g 

Dae On, eras seek of | North Pipes (a0 The National Collection of Heads and 

mens Ronn y Fr ae P : Horns (Hornaday) Large quarto. 

Destruction of Our Birds and Mammals > Parte Was dee Paper, Each 1.00 
(GieL OVA LGLLYs) rr pte tactetee ences Saha tegen tenn 15 vir : 
The Caribou (Grant) ... : « SAO y| a Ee ullebimsIN OSs) Mie Qe ee ae cesses cnerancra ceed Out of Print 
C3 = & Bee eee ee eee CLGLIES 9 G0) [pels ULE LINE =DI-MMORENIY, - \reccecraescwsamne Yearly by Mail 1.00 


Souvenir Books and Post Cards of the Zoological Park may be obtained by writing the 
Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park, New York City. 

Publications of the Aquarium may be obtained by writing Dr. C. H. Townsend, Director, 
Battery Park, New York City. 


Vor. XVI.No.s3 0)" AA SEPTEMBER, 1912 


* SOCIETY 
BULLETIN 


=4, = 
LZ POPES AAAATTLL A 01OCT YS OSOOOCOETATN 


an TNE Tay 
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SL, = ECTS LETT TTT OO WORE MO CMO OCOD PCCM MUL OUT LULL TATE TTT OTC 
‘ “Sarees CEREGRIC tor Nn 


vy Published b 
THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
i 


\ 


Officers of the New York Zoological Soriety 


First Wice-President 
Samvuewt THORNE. 


Secretarp 


Mapison Grant, 11 Wall Street. 


The Mayor of the City of New York. 


I’. Aucustus ScHERMERHORN, 
Percy R. Pyne, 

Grorce B. GRINNELL, 
Grorce C, CLark, 


Henry Fairrreitp Osporn, 
Winiiam C. Cuurcu, 
LisPpRNARD STEWART, 
H. Casimir pe RHAm, 


Levi P. Morton, 
AnpREW CARNEGIE, 
Joun L. CapwaLapeEr, 
Mapison GRANT, 


Percy R. Pyne, 


Witiiam Wurrr Nives, 
Henry Farrrierp Ossorn, Ea Officio. 


Samurt Tuorne, 


President 


Henry Fairrretp Osgorn. 


Board of Managers 
Ex Officio 


Class of 1913 
Curveranp H. Dopcer, 
C. Lepyarp Buair, 
Freperick G. Bourne, 
W. Austin Wapswortn, 


€lass of 1914 
Hvueu D. Avcuinc oss, 
Cuartes F. Dierericu, 
James J. Hix1, 
Grorce F. Baker, 


€lass of 1915 
Witiiam Wuire NILes, 
Samurt THORNE, 
Henry A. C. Taytor, 
Hveu J. Cuisnorm, 


Executive Committee 


Manpison Grant, Chairman. 


Wn. Pirrson Hamirton, 


General Officers 


Levi P. Morron, 


Second Vice-President 
Joun L. CapwaLapeEr. 


Treasurer - 


Percy R. Pyne, 30 Pine Street. 


The Presipent of the Department of Parks. 


Emerson MecMriiuin, 
Antuony R. Kuser, 
Watson B. DickerMAn, 
Mortimer L. Scurrr. 


Grant B. Scuiey, 

Wm: Pierson Hamirton, 
Rogert S. Brewster, 
Enwarp S. Harkness. 


Frank K. Srurais, 

Grorce J. Govutn, 

OapEeN Mitts, 

Lewis Ruruerrurp Morris. 


LispENARD STEWART, 
Frank K. Srurais, 


Wirurm i. Hornapay, Director of the Park. 


Cuartes H. Townsenn, Director of the Aquarium. 


Ta Farce & Morris, Architects. 


H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. 


@fficers of the Zoological Park 
Witiiuam T. Hornapay, Director. 
H. W. MeErKeEt, 
W. Rem Briar, 
Grorcre A. Dorn. 


H. R. Mircuett, C. Wiri1aM Berse, Erwin R. Sanporn, 


Raymonp L. Ditmars, L.. S. CRANDALL, G. M. BreerBower, 


Officers of the Aquarium 
Raymonp C. Ossurn, Assistant. 
Rogert SurcLirrer. 


Cuartes H. Townsenp, Director. 
Wasuineton I. DeNyser, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 


CONTENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 


EUELOD ODENDR ONS ote stereo a eis e eiisieus cle sever Contents Page 
g 


RHoOpODENDRONS—Baird Court Frontis piece 


BrauTiryING THE ZooLtoaicaL Park H. W. Merkel 901 
Tue Case In Hann 4. R. Sanborn 910 
Transportinc WiLtp ANIMALS..... R. L. Ditmars 911 
Opp Frirnpsuies Between Birps L. 8. Crandall 913 


ZooLtoeicaL Park Norms......... i. R. Sanborn 915 


NUGUVO NVITIVLE FHL UVAN ONILNVTd NOUGNAGOGOHU 


AOE sco ten a” 
Ore Si oe ee. oo | ~ 

- 5 4 7 ~ 

5 = “~ 


Published By the 


af Zoological Soc » 
-, ‘ 


ae 


BEAUTIFYING THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK 


By Hermann W. MerKer 


Chief Forester and Constructor 


HE planting of any zoological park of 
magnitude presents the same problems 
and needs as those of other parks, with 
several others that are due to zoological con- 
siderations. Much additional planting is neces- 
sary, and some of the planting, which all rules 
of landscape architecture demand, is not pos- 
sible on account of the inexorable demands of 
the animal kingdom, as opposed to the possibili- 
ties of the vegetable world. For example, many 
an ugly corner could be hidden by shrubbery if 
the animals would only refrain from eating such 
planting; and many a fine natural vista could 
and would be preserved were it not for the 
necessity of having the animals and_ shelter 
houses and shade trees necessary to a zoological 
park. Lakes and ponds would teem with 
aquatic plants if they did not teem with preda- 
tory wild ducks and geese; and the Cranes’ Pad- 
dock would be a fine smooth lawn if the cranes 
did not consider it their life work to discover 
what the grass roots look like. Therefore, a 
compromise instead of perfection in design often 
is the only thing possible in a park or portion 
of a park where wild animals are kept for ex- 
hibition. 
The writer has yet in mind the mental picture 
that he had made of the ultimate appearance of 


the interior of the Flying Cage, and the effort 
that was made to obtain that ideal. Lotus and 
papyrus were waving in the summer breeze, 
showing off to perfection the vivid red of the 
flamingo and delicate rose color of the roseate 
spoonbill. Bamboos and banana plants, cannas 
and great palms were affording nesting sites 
and shelters for the herons and ibises. Cormo- 
rants and pelicans were harmlessly diving and 
sporting among water-lilies that matched the 
gorgeous hues of the mandarin ducks. The 
great Victoria regia spread its immense leaves 
for the support of the dainty gallinules and 
egrets. 

So far so good. Everything was provided 
and planted to produce this picture; the birds 
were awaited and peace reigned supreme. 

The great day came. The birds were turned 
loose, and—but let me draw a veil over the 
record of the next agonizing day and night. 
To the credit of the winged destructors I will 
add that we did recover, perfectly uninjured 
and as good as new, several palm tubs and 
flower pots. So much for what might have been. 

In planning the planting of the New York 
Zoological Park, the Executive Committee and 
its advisors early adopted a definite policy, and 
has adhered to it as strictly as possible through- 


902 ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


WESTERN 
Rhododendrons 


out the progress of the work. 'This policy was to 
preserve as nearly as possible the wild character 
of the park, to establish an adequate boundary 
shelter, to provide sufficient shade in all corals 
and along all walks, and to confine all formal 
planting to the immediate vicinity of the large 
buildings and to Baird Court. The general re- 
sult appears to have given general satisfaction. 

All of the planting in the Zoological Park 
may, like omnia Gallia of old, be divided into 


three parts, according to its primary use, 
namely: shelter or protective planting, shade 


planting and ornamental planting. On the south 
and west the Zoological Park is bounded by 
streets that are or ultimately will be occupied 
solidly by large apartment houses, which if not 
shut out will obtrude most unpleasantly into all 
the views from within, as do even now, by reason 
of their higher ground, certain existing build- 
ings that in some instances are two or three 
blocks distant. This prospect called for the 
great border plantations which extend from 
West Farms at 182d Street, at the southeast cor- 
ner of the Park, to Pelham Avenue and South- 
ern Boulevard, the northwest corner, being in 


APPROACH 


TO BAIRD COURT 


and German iris 


length 1,400 feet, and in width from 30 to 250 
feet. 

In order to have this border effective in winter 
as well as in summer it was determined to use 
conifers to the largest extent possible; and over 
5,000 of these evergreens were planted. White 
pine and hemlock predominate with about 750 
plants of each, the remainder being white, bal- 
sam, Norway, oriental, Douglas and Colo- 
rado spruces, silver fir, Nordman’s fir, red and 
white cedar, Austrian pine, Norway pine, pitch 
pine, Scotch pine and others. Wherever pos- 
sible this great belt of evergreens was fronted 
by a planting of flowering or berry-bearing 
shrubs, such as arrowwood, highbush huckle- 
berry, snowberry, witch hazel, sumacs, cornels, 
pepper bush, ete., of which about 12,000 were 
used. All of this planting has done exceedingly 
well, some of the white pines making an average 
annual growth of over 30 inches. In a way this 
border plantation has formed a great nursery; 
and many of the fine evergreens now seen at the 
Concourse and elsewhere have been transplanted 
from the borders. 

Besides forming a shelter belt and wind- 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIE'TY 


BULLETIN. 903 


= 2 TN WER Ct % 
ip’ oa - ; 


WESTERN 


APPROACH 


TO BAIRD COURT 


Various species of iris are planted here 


break, this great mass of evergreens and shrubs 
make an ideal home for nesting birds. Our 
feathered friends have not been slow to take 
advantage of it, and may often be seen feeding 
in great numbers on the berries of the various 
shrubs. It is a fact that it is often impossible tc 
obtain seed from such plants as the highbush 
huckleberry, arrowwood and black-haw, because 
the birds get ahead of the men. 

This year the border planting was augmented 
on the south by a row of Norway maples on 
182d Street, which, for the most part, is ele- 
vated considerably above the Park itself, and 
consequently will show off the planting to great 
advantage. 

Only those acquainted with the ground before 
1904 can realize that all of our planting re- 
quired an immense amount of preparation in the 
way of draining and filling. While it is true 
that some years must elapse before the ever- 
greens will arrive at perfection, no one will dis- 
pute the fact that even now the border planting 
is a conspicuous and welcome feature, and of 
very great advantage to the Park. 

For the shade plantings along the walks and 


roads, and in the various corrals and ranges, de- 
ciduous trees were, of course, used in most in- 
stances. 
American trees of a permanent character, such 
ete. As many 
varieties as possible have been used, so as to 
present all the types that are available. It must 
not be understood that no quickly growing trees 
were planted, for we have not hesitated to use 
poplars, box elder and soft maples wherever 
shade was needed at once. In nearly every in- 
stance, however, permanent trees have been set 
in close proximity to the others, so that the 
temporary trees will not be missed when they 


Preference has always been given to 


as the oaks, the elms, ashes, 


are finally removed. 

Except in two cases, that of Audubon Court 
and Baird Court. straight lines were carefully 
avoided, and all the trees were spaced so as to 
give ample opportunity for their full develop- 
ment. The importance of ample spacing is, un- 
fortunately, often overlooked, and more private 
and public parks have been spoiled by planting 
too closely than by not planting enough. 

No special attempt was made to introduce a 
great number of foreign species, but all of the 


904 ZOOLOGICAL 
hardy American trees that will live have been 
or will be used and labelled, as we already have 
done with the native trees adjacent to walks and 
roads. 

No less care was taken to give all of the trees 
planted an adequate amount of good soil. On 
Baird Court, for instance, a trench four feet 
deep and sixteen feet wide was filled with good 
soil, giving each tree nearly thirty-eight yards 
of soil; and in addition a cast-iron grating four 
feet by eight feet surrounds each trunk, pre- 
venting the packing down of the soil, and ad- 
mitting air and moisture to the roots. The 
flourishing condition of the elms on Baird Court 
attests that the money and effort were not ex- 
pended in vain. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


In corrals and ranges it is very necessary to 
protect every tree with a substantial guard 
strong enough to withstand the attacks of what- 
ever animal the enclosure may contain. That 
this is not a simple matter in the case of a bison 
that can strike a blow of as many foot pounds 
as a locomotive, or a giraffe that can reach 
seventeen feet or more, may readily be imagined. 

The purely ornamental planting is both for- 
and natural in character as the occasion 
demanded. Of the formal planting, that of the 
Concourse and Italian Garden is, of course, 
the more important and consists, broadly speak- 
ing, of four large flower beds edged with box- 
wood and separated by grass walks. These are 
flanked by large masses of evergreens that rise 
from the low-creeping forms of mughus and 
dwarf white pine near the center, to the tower- 
ing specimens of American cedar thirty feet in 
height. Great numbers of European and 
American pines, cedars, junipers and thuyas in 
all their horticultural forms and variations were 
used with charming effect. In front and below 
the Italian Garden the same effects were ob- 
tained in a larger way by using Japanese holly 
as a hedge, and large specimens of evergreens 
on either side of the three flights of steps that 
lead to the garden. Fronting the conifers and 
gradually blending into natural woodland are 
masses of hybrid and native rhododendrons in 
all the gorgeous colors of their kind, reinforced 
with various lilies. Leading from the Concourse 
to the entrance is a broad avenue, which, like 
Baird Court above the garden and Pelham Park- 
way below the entrance, is planted with Ameri- 
can elms. Altogether the Concourse, Approach 
and the Italian Garden form a park entrance 
not approached in either dignity or grandeur by 
any other park entrance in New York. 

Semi-formal in character is the perennial and 
shrubbery border in front of the new Eagle and 
Vulture Aviary. This is formed of two great 
masses of planting, divided by shrubs of the 
best kind into a number of hardy herbaceous 
perennial beds, presenting all that is best, new- 
est and beautiful in hardy poppies, phloxes, 


mal 


MADONNA LILY 


CONIFERS 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


ARE AS DECORATIVE IN WINTER AS IN SUMMER 


ae Jog 


POOL IN BEAVER VALLIEY IN MIDSUMMER 
Completely surrounded by ferns and rhododendrons 


905 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


GERMAN IRIS 


sunflowers, asters, etc. This planting was done 
late in the spring of 1912 and will not show to 
good advantage until next year. Another inter- 
esting bit of planting is the iris and lily groups 
on either side of the west approach of Baird 
Court where American, Asiatic and European 
irises, which have so aptly been named the poor 
man’s orchids, maintain a succession of blooms 
until July. later taken up by the lilies. 


Rhododendrons cover the banks and various 


Of the informal or natural planting the best 
example is found in the woodland walks of 
Beaver Valley from the Buffalo Entrance to 
Baird Court. Here also we have worked with a 
definite aim in view, to restore an originally 
beautiful forest that had been trampled and 
picked bare of almost every native wild flower 
and fern into the best conditions that protection 
and care would Thousands of 


have shown. 


N} 


species of water lilies fill the pool 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


RHODODENDRONS 


native rhododendrons, azaleas and_ rhodoras 
were planted. Leucothe, Andromeda 
brought from North Carolina, and yellow root, 
yew and wild flowers, such as wake-robin, blood- 
root, snakeroot, violets, anemones, hepaticas 
and hundreds of ferns were spread under the 
great oaks, beeches and tulip trees, until now 
these plants, and others like dog’s-tooth violets, 
spring beauty, and asters 
which came back with protection alone, make a 


were 


jewelweed wood 


oP ett Ps _ 


MOUNTAIN LAUREL NEAR 


trip to the Park well worth the while. Farther 
south, along this same walk, is a magnificent 
mass of mountain laurel covering the whole east 
and north side of the hill occupied by the Rock- 
ing Stone Restaurant. Of these glorious plants, 
only a dozen or so broken and stunted speci- 
mens were found when the Park was taken over 
by the New York Zoological Society; though an 
abundance of stumps showed clearly that it had 
been a permanent feature in the forest before 


r 


an 


BEAR DEN 


THE POLAR 


908 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


A ae : 


BORDER PLANTATION OF CONIFERS IN 1905 


fire and marauders did their deadly work. Now 
over 4,000 fine thrifty bushes from three to six 
feet high delight the eyes of visitors as they 
approach the Lydig Arch. 

On account of the poisonous nature of the 
foliage of the mountain laurel and rhododen- 
drons, none have been planted near the enclos- 
ures of the ruminants, as visitors might easily 
break off branches and feed them to the sheep, 
ete., with bad effect. The low wet ground op- 
posite the Rocking Stone Hill has been planted 
with magnolias, the fragrant blossoms of which 
perfume the air for a great distance. 

Another ornamental planting that may well 
be mentioned is the rose groups from the Buf- 
falo Range to the restaurant. On the slope 
facing the upper bison corrals is an interesting 
lot of seedlings, showing an intermixture of 
Rosa rugosa, Rosa humilis and others, several 
of them of horticultural value. Above these and 
around the base of the Lydig Arch is a great 
mass of memorial roses, and west and north of 
these, two groups of Multiflora and ramblers 
and prairie roses. All of the varieties of roses 
mentioned are of value, not only on account of 
their flowers, but also because of the winter food 
supplied by the bright red rose hips, and the 
excellent protected nesting sites which the 
thorny tangle affords. 


We have planted many shrubs that are useful 
in attracting birds, such as buckthorn, red and 
black chokeberry, black haw, arrowwood, maple- 
leaved viburnum, kinnikinnick, several cornels 
and many others. 

Fortunately we have always had at hand an 
abundant supply of good fertilizer and mulch- 
ing material, and the writer has never been 
stinted by the Director in the sinews of war 
necessary to care for this vast planting material, 
nor has he hesitated to use men or money when 
the occasion for extraordinary effort was re- 
quired. For instance, in 1905 when our 12,000 
newly planted trees and shrubs were endangered 
by a drought of seven weeks, permission was ob- 
tained from the Water Department to use the 
fire hydrants surrounding the Park, and a num- 
ber of men working in relays, sometimes all 
night, through watering and mulching  suc- 
ceeded in keeping the losses down to one and 
one-tenth per cent., though over 5,000 of these 
plants were large conifers. 

Again in 1912, when the shortage of water 
caused the Department of Water Supply to 
issue an order that no city water should be used 
on the grounds, a gasoline engine and pump, 
quickly purchased and set up on the banks of 
Lake Agassiz, saved the situation. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 909 
e 
S * i pet 
=o 


THE SAME PLANTATION OF CONIFERS IN 1912 


To others who are considering the planting of 
a zoological park, our failures in this direction 
may be as interesting as the successes, and espe- 
cially two instances which come to the writer’s 
mind. The first one was the combination of 
water birds and rhododendrons. It would seem 
that these two, both loving water, would agree 
perfectly, and for that reason the center island 
of the Goose Aviary was planted with rhododen- 
drons. In spite of great care and several trials 
the plants have always died, undoubtedly on 
account of the great amount of lime voided by 
the fish-eating birds. The second combination 
that failed to work was that of squirrels and 
crocuses, and similar bulbous plants. On the 
lawn of Audubon Court we planted thousands of 
crocus, scillas, snowdrops, etc., but there are 
now but very few left. The gray squirrels, of 
which hundreds make their home in the Park, 
followed the planters closely, and worked early 
and late until every bulb had been dug up. 
The bulbs were not eaten at once, but unearthed, 
the sprout bitten out, and the remainder re- 
planted for future use. 

In spite of these and various other setbacks, 
however, the planting in the New York Zoologi- 
eal Park, as a whole, is more than satisfactory. 
It may be said that the Zoological Society 
has accomplished its aim, and carried out its 


Sek Crs aah 


original plan of making the Park an attractive 
recreation ground, filled with the beauties of 
nature, where the jaded mind of the busy city 
dweller may find entertainment, peace or seri- 
ous study, as he is inclined. 

Young Pea Fonl.—Several of the pea fowl 
have succeeded in rearing their young this sea- 
son; a matter of considerable import, as the 
peacocks attract the attention of the visitors as 
much as any of their wild contemporaries. 
Coming upon an old hen and her young upon 
one of the walks, I attempted to photograph 
her. This proceding she completely frustrated 
by circling around her young or flying directly 
at me whenever I approached within a radius 
which she evidently regarded as the danger 
line. She was not at all anxious to fight, but 
showed not the least timidity in making an 
attack. The young ones in the meantime were 
constantly running about in pursuit of insects, 
and seemed to have the most sublime confidence 
in their parent’s ability to ward off any danger. 
So far she seems to have been eminently suc- 
cessful, for the young and mother were taking 
food from a group of visitors but a few days 


ago. EK. R.S. 


Butietin No. 6.—Wanted, one copy. 


910 ZOOLOGICAL 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
Departments: 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HorNApDAyY- RAYMOND L. DITMARs. 
Aquarium Bird 
C. H. TOWNSEND. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 


RAYMOND C. OSBURN. LEE S. CRANDALL. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 


Yearly, by Mail, 31.00. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1912, by the New York Zoological Society. 


Each author is responsible for the scientific accuracy 
and the proof reading of his contribution. 


Etwin R. SANBORN, Editor. 


Von. XVI. No. 53 SEPTEMBER, 1912 


THE CASE IN HAND. 


Some time the layman will understand that 
wild animals are dangerous. Some time he may 
learn that to safely approach an animal on 
terms of familiarity it is necessary to have a 
knowledge of the habits of the animal. More 
important than all else, some time he may learn 
that when he exercises any selfish privileges, or 
insists upon giving the public a treat by stepping 
over the rail and putting some creature through 
its paces, that he places the men in charge of 
these animals in serious danger. The visitor can 
make even a friendly animal dangerous, and 
thereby render the old adage, “familiarity 
breeds contempt,’ the very personification of 
truth. Any large animal approached on a basis 
of familiarity is thereafter in the dangerous 
class. 

No living man ean absolutely know the curi- 
ous freaks of temperament that are constantly 
passing through the brain of wild animals, and 
after some of them have been pampered and 
petted by would-be animal trainers, the men 
who are compelled by their every-day tasks to 
come in contact with their various charges are 
liable to be sacrificed. 

Any stranger who enters a corral, steps be- 
hind a railing or in any way places himself in 
a position that will bring him close enough to 
afford an animal the opportunity to do harm, is 
not only courting danger for himself, but is 
paving the way for possible future injury of the 
keeper. A man that takes advantage of the fact 
that he can secure an inside privilege, may rest 
assured that in “petting” large animals he is 
preparing trouble for the keepers; and_ inci- 
dentally he may inadvertently subject the off- 
cers of the Park to criticism. 

It is time for visitors to call a halt, and allow 
the officers and keepers of the Zoological Park, 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


who are compelled to handle vicious animals, 
to work out their own salvation in their own 
fashion. 

Kindness to animals is all right up to a cer- 
tain point, but carrying it beyond the danger 
line is nothing short of folly. For months after 
the male Indian elephant, Gunda, came to the 
Park, I visited him daily, invariably provided 
with sugar, some peanuts, or other bit of food 
that he particularly liked. He became so well 
acquainted with me that by whistling in a peeu- 
liar way he would come to me from any point in 
his yard or shelter. One day, after he had 
secured my offering of sugar, he launched a 
terrific blow at me with his trunk with deadly 
intent. It was a lesson that bore fruit. I never 
tried it again. And yet to protest with a visitor 
for leaning over a guard rail and presenting 
his hand to the teeth of a bear is to draw down 
upon the keeper a most indignant protest. 

My work brings me constantly in contact with 
various animals, and, after years of observation, 
I have reduced it all to one line of thought: 
what are we going to do to each other? It is 
fairly possible for the man to judge, but not so 
with the animal. The animal is always nervous, 
and the tension is quite likely to carry him either 
in the direction of maiming himself or the man. 
If he is nervous to the point of fear, then the 
sympathy is all with the animal, and the sooner 
he is left to his own resources the greater the 
display of humanity. If he is bold and displays 
no timidity, the danger then points directly to 
the man in the case. 

To the keeper of a wild animal, the location 
of the danger point may be diagnosed very ac- 
curately by knowledge that can be gained only 
by long experience. When the keeper is not 
absorbed with the care of a third party, his 
chances are at their best. If, on the other hand, 
there is a stranger present, the keeper is bur- 
dened with the care of the stranger and himself. 
The stranger does not care what happens to the 
animal as long as he himself is safe, and the 
risks are, therefore, doubled; the animal is the 
direct sufferer for the time being and the keeper 
in the end. Gunda has been for years a center 
of interest. Because he can throw back his head 
at the beck and call of every man, woman and 
child while they heave all kinds of food into his 
eager throat, and chase up and down the fence 
in a rage when he is tormented, he has become 
a great attraction. 

If the responsibility for accidents could be 
placed where it belongs, there would be fewer 
accidents. Some of the people with hearts over- 
flowing with the milk of human kindness ought 


ZOOLOGICAL 


to realize, if they do not, that when they pet and 
feed any captive animal they are liable to ruin 
its disposition. How many of the men who 
spend a part of their time in the Park on Sun- 
day afternoons baiting the bull elk Stanley 
until he charges the fence to the breaking point, 
would dare go into the corral to feed or care for 
him? Not many; but someone must render this 
service. 

Gunda is like the majority of men and wo- 
men. He has moods. He has his good qualities, 
and his bad ones are not improved, either by 
ceaseless baiting or misdirected attention from 
people who imagine that he never gets a meal. 
Man cannot serve two masters, nor can an ele- 
phant. It would be an idle thought to ascribe 
the entire responsibility for Thuman’s accident 
to outside influences, but it would remove all 
doubt if there never had been any. E. R.S. 


TRANSPORTING WILD ANIMALS 
By Raymonp L. Dirmars 


EW of our visitors realize the time and 

labor consumed in moving animals from 

one cage to another. Such operations are 
frequent, and, in an institution such as_ the 
Zoological Park, where many visitors are near 
by, every precaution must be taken to prevent 
the escape of an animal. This work always de- 
mands ingenuity, and no two operations are 
quite alike. On an average, our work inyolves 
the removal of one animal a week, and we are 
rather proud of a record that shows a general 
absence of escapes and casualties. 

It must be considered that to successfully 
maintain a record of this kind there must not 
alone be ceaseless vigilance in inspecting the 
many cage doors and the multitude of locks 
securing them, but operations relating to the 
removal of heavy and dangerous animals from 
temporary cages to permanent quarters must be 
most carefully planned. 

Of all animals to be moved, the greatest pre- 
caution must be exercised with the bears. These 
animals are not only powerful, but ingenious in 
seeking and working at weak places. A bear 
will test every board of a temporary chute lead- 
ing into the shifting cage. It will work at the 
fastenings of the shifting cage; seek to force 
its fore feet through any openings that may 
appear large enough, and rock and endeavor to 
upset the shifting cage. Hence it will be under- 
stood that in moving a large bear a considerable 
amount of planning and construction work is 
necessary. The shifting cage must be placed 
upon a strong platform constructed by efficient 
carpenters; in fact, the general arrangement in 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 911 


placing the shifting cage must be practically as 
strong as the permanent caging for the animal. 

In moving large cats it is not necessary to 
adopt the elaborate precautions involved in 
shifting a bear. Lions, tigers and leopards 
are powerfully built and vigorous animals, and 
they become highly excited during shitting op- 
erations, but while they may tear wildly at 
corners or small openings, there is no ingenuity 
displayed in their furious attacks, nor do they 
seek weak points and concentrate their atten- 
tion upon such places. ‘Thus, in moving a big 
cat animal, a simple, hastily built staging holds 
the shifting cage against the door of the ani- 
mal’s quarters, the transportation cage is roped 
in position and the animal run in. This latter 
part of the operation may appear to those not 
familiar with the erratic habits of captive ani- 
mals as comparatively easy. 

It is during this very process, however, that 
many hours may be consumed in caging a 
frightened or stubborn animal. The writer re- 
members instances where it required days to 
induce a bear to enter a shifting cage, and the 
animal went in only after all kinds of enticing 
bait had been placed before it. It had been 
prodded and coaxed and forced forward by 
heavy planks run through the bars, and then 
was observed by a man who had been left on 
watch to walk quietly in of its own accord. 

It is often quite as difficult to induce a newly 
arrived animal to leave the travelling cage 
which it has occupied since it left its native land. 
Frequently it is impossible to force an animal 
out of its travelling cage through the door of 
its permanent quarters, and in such instances it 
is necessary to remove a panel of the door of 
the permanent cage in order to bring the travel- 
ling box inside. Once inside, the door of the 
travelling box is again opened. In a day or two 
the animal decides to prowl about its new quar- 
ters. Then an opportunity must be awaited 
to trap it in the sleeping den, lock it inside, 
again remove the panel of the main cage and 
take out the travelling cage. The writer remem- 
bers a stubborn snow leopard that arrived late 
in the afternoon and was lashed against the open 
door of its new home. We worked until dark 
endeavoring to coax the animal out of its stuffy 
travelling cage, but it clung in such tenacious 
fashion that our labors continued well into the 
night. 

Many of the smaller carnivores must be cap- 
tured in nets, as they cannot be coaxed into a 
shifting cage. This refers to the wolves and 
foxes, and the greater number of the inmates of 
the Small-Mammal House. Some of these ani- 
mals are so nervous that to capture them with a 


912 ZOOLOGICAL 


LIFTING A CRATE FROM A SHIP’S HOLD 


net is liable to cause convulsions. From such 
attacks they recover slowly, or perhaps not at 
all. For animals of such intensely nervous dis- 
position, we prepare a trap door in the shifting 
cage, securely fasten food at the end of the box, 
and regulate the door to drop when the animal 
grasps the morsel inside. Many of the small 
carnivores, particularly the wild dogs and the 
foxes, prefer to starve for days before making 
an attempt to obtain the meat in the improvised 
traps. 

In moving hoofed animals altogether different 
precautions are taken. In this work our plan- 
ning is directed more toward crating the animal 
without injuring it. The deer and antelope are 
naturally timid animals and become greatly ex- 
cited when they note anything unusual about 
to take place. The mere sight of a crate sends 
them scurrying to remote corners of their ranges 
or corrals. For the heavy stock, like the bison, 
we have long runways or chutes, into which the 
animal may be run, when section gates are suc- 
cessively closed behind them, finally forcing 
them close to the crate. With such an arrange- 
ment we crated fifteen bison in two days’ time. 
It is, of course, impossible to construct such 
runways in all of the deer ranges, and we must 
therefore resort to various schemes in capturing 
and crating these nervous animals. In the past 
eight years we have offered for sale a con- 
siderable number of hoofed animals bred and 
born in the Park. This means the crating of a 
great number of shy and active animals, and 
our consultations have been many before we 
could decide upon the best methods of capturing 
them. Among several hundred deer shipped 
from the Park very few specimens have been 
sent away with as much as a bruise to illustrate 
our difficulties in crating them. 

When we select deer to be crated, a consulta- 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


tion is held with the keepers in charge and a 
plan of campaign is mapped out. It is usually 
advisable to secure these animals in their shelter 
houses where they may be handled at close 
quarters; but this is not always possible, as 
some of our deer seldom go near their barns. 
In cases like this a room of the barn is selected 
as a trap, the animal’s food is placed inside and 
a long rope is attached to the door. A scheme 
like this is not always successful. Some deer 
will immediately become suspicious of the un- 
usual proceeding and prefer to fast, remaining 
out on the range where they are satisfied in pick- 
ing up leaves or nibbling at the sparse grass. It 
was in this manner that we attempted to capture 
a herd of red deer. We were in despair of 
trapping them in the room until we decided to 
shut off their outside water supply and place a 
drinking trough in the room, together with their 
food. After five days’ time, a man on guard 
with a rope controlling the door, noted an incli- 
nation of the animals to enter the house. They 
had several times approached the door, and 
would have entered during the night, but a sud- 
den storm completely upset our operations. A 
heavy rain formed a generous pond in one cor- 
ner of the range, and it was a full week’s time 
before we finally captured these specimens. 

It is considerably more difficult to pick out 
certain deer running with the herd. In work 
like this the plan is to run all the animals into 
a supplementary corral, and then release those 
not wanted. With all of the animals much ex- 
cited and dashing about in every direction it is 
lively work to retain those specimens to be 
crated. So difficult is the handling of some of 
the hoofed animals that we often find it neces- 
sary to erect temporary spans of fence to sepa- 
rate them in the way described. When deer 


to be crated are enclosed in a room, we resort 


eee it 


ur 
vir} 


SHIFTING A LARGE BEAR 


ZOOLOGICAL 


CHUTE FOR SHIFTING BUFFALOES 


to several methods in crating them. The larger 
deer are usually roped and pulled into a crate. 
With the smaller and more active specimens, 
several keepers rush them into corners, grasp 
them firmly and then force them into the boxes. 
While this work is not dangerous for the men, 
great care is necessary in handling the strug- 
gling animals to prevent breaking limbs and 
injuring antlers, and there is much padding of 
corners and of the crates themselves. 

In moving reptiles, preliminary precautions 
are not so elaborate, although great care is nec- 
essary in handling the poisonous snakes. With 
very nervous examples, that will stop feeding 
if handled, we employ a box trap with a drop 
door. The snake enters the box to hide, the 
trap is removed to another cage, the door opened 
and the snake emerges at its leisure. With a 
big python the work is strenuous, but not par- 
ticularly dangerous. The serpent is covered 
with a blanket, and through the folds a keeper 
seizes its neck. When the head is pinned down, 
eight or ten men quickly grasp the body; the 
writhing creature is straightened out, and then 
precipitated, tail first, into the new cage it is to 
occupy. 


ODD FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN BIRDS 


By Lee S. Cranpari 
Assistant Curator of Birds 


HILE there is undoubtedly an instine- 
tive tendency among birds to seek mates 
of the same species, which accounts 
largely for the paucity of records of wild 
hybrids, there are numerous facts which tend 
to demonstrate that the barrier is, in many cases, 
a flimsy one at best and readily put aside under 
favorable conditions. One of the best-known 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 913 


cases is that of the Lawrence and Brewster 
warblers, hybrids between golden-wings and 
blue-wings. These cross-bred birds have been 
noted only where the ranges of the parent 
species overlap, and it would appear that prox- 
imity is the only requisite for mating. Numer- 
ous wild duck hybrids have been described, many 
of them doubtless resulting from unions between 
wing-tipped birds, unable to seek more natural 
mates. 

In captivity, the objections of birds to alien 
species seem to be readily overcome, and many 
very interesting hybrids have been produced. 
The greater number have been obtained from 
water fowl, which are easily crossed. With 
many species, it is necessary to confine the birds 
in a compartment secluded from the sight of 
others. Very often, however, birds at large 
among a diverse assembly will select mates of 
totally unrelated species. One of the most strik- 
ing instances was furnished by a large, un- 
pinioned male Canada goose, which had winged 
his way from Lake Agassiz to Cope Lake, 
perhaps with the intention of selecting a mate 
from the geese gathered there. His fancy evi- 
dently was taken by the female Cereopsis goose. 
Her rightful mate, however, is a powerful bird 
and the Canada must needs go about his court- 
ing with discretion. He commenced his cam- 
paign by attaching himself to the pair and fol- 
lowing their every movement most assiduously. 
The male Cereopsis appeared to resent this 
attendance and did not hesitate to show his dis- 
like. Soon, however, he became more tolerant 
of the other’s company and ceased his hostile 
demonstrations. After this point, matters went 
smoothly for the Canada. His attentions be- 
came more and more persistent, until finally 
he usurped the position of the Cereopsis. Once 
he had gained this coveted place, however, he 


RECEIVING A LION BY EXPRESS 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


did not display the magnanimity of the de- 
posed gander, but drove him to the far end of 
the enclosure. As we did not consider the dis- 
turbing our pair of Cereopsis desirable, the 
Canada was returned, with a clipped wing, to 
Lake Agassiz, when the Cereopsis soon reunited. 

Male Egyptian geese are well known as 
tyrants, and will surely prove the rogues of any 
collection in which they are included. Their 
splenic tempers often turn them against their 
weaker companions, and catastrophes are of fre- 
quent occurrence. It caused us no regret, there- 
fore, when our old Egyptian escaped from the 
pen in which he and his mate are always con- 
fined during the breeding season, and met with 
an accident which compelled his removal from 
the Wild Fowl Pond and allowed us to liberate 
his less quarrelsome mate. It had never occurred 
to us that the tyranny of the male Egyptian 
might be domestic as well as general, but the 
alacrity with which the female formed an alli- 
ance with a brant goose seemed to indicate no 
sorrow at the loss of her former spouse. 

It is true, of course, that birds mated in this 
manner rarely lay eggs. We were greatly dis- 
appointed, therefore, when the Bewick and 
Trumpeter swans, which have been close com- 
panions for years, destroyed the nest of the 
bean and gray-lag goose, where the latter was 
closely incubating her five eggs. Some most 
interesting hybrids might have resulted from 
this cross. 

It is well known that wild-fowl at liberty 
sometimes mate for life, and rarely separate 
until death claims one of the couple. That cross- 
mating and captivity do not affect the trait is 
well shown by an European brant and a lesser 
snow goose, which have been inseparable for 
about four years. There are several unattached 


CANADA GANDER FOLLOWING A CEREOPSIS GOOSE 


birds of these species and of each sex in the 
same enclosure, but the stability of the union 
has never been threatened. 


Many of these queer friendships are purely 
platonic and often are formed between birds of 
widely separated groups. When it was decided 
to attempt to acclimatize the rheas during the 
past winter, a male guinea-fowl which had 
shared their corral during the summer months, 
was allowed to remain with them. A perch was 
placed across one corner of the indoor shelter 
for his convenience, and on it he passed the 
nights of fall and early winter. As the tempera- 
ture dropped lower, however, the bird was no 
longer to be seen in his accustomed place, and 
his absence caused an investigation to be made. 
A thorough search failed to reveal his presence, 
and it was not until a sleepy rhea was disturbed 
that the missing bird was found, warmly 
ensconced beneath her protecting wing! The 
guinea-fowl availed himself of the rhea’s hospi- 
tality until the warm days of spring rendered 
this shelter unnecessary. He then turned upon 
his benefactor with a ferocity which she lacked 
the courage to oppose and pursued her relent- 
lessly about the enclosure. It was a truly ludi- 
crous sight to see the diminutive bird driving his 
lumbering victim about the paddock, but the 
matter became so serious as to cause the tyrant’s 
removal. 

One of the most remarkable of these associa- 
tions is that of the Ceram cassowary and the 
great marabou stork. Each spring, with the 
return of warm weather, the cassowary is given 
his liberty in the Crane Paddock. This is also 
the summer home of the Javan and Indian adju- 
tants and the marabou. The latter tolerates the 
company of his allies during the few weeks that 
elapse between the date at which they are placed 


ZOOLOGICAL 


TAHR ON THE TREE GUARD 


in the paddock and the coming of good weather 
of sufficient constaney to insure the safety of the 
Cassowary. When the great bird finally is 
added to the group, the pleasure of his gro- 
tesque companion is unmistakable. Each is 
allowed the most unexpected freedom with the 
other’s person, and frequently the cassowary 
may be seen lying upon the ground, the mara- 
bou perched solemnly upon his back, often with 
his long wings widespread. Until fall, the two 
birds are constantly in each other’s company, 
and are separated only when it becomes neces- 
sary to remove them to warmer winter quarters. 


ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES. 


The Agile Goat.—It would be exceedingly 
difficult and very likely a useless task to attempt 
to prove with words alone the extraordinary 
mountaineering feats of the wild sheep and 
goats. In the language of a hunter, inelegant 
but expressive, “they can perch where a tele- 
scope can’t look.” Visitors to the Park fre- 
quently see the Rocky Mountain goats airily 
standing on the ridge of their shelter, or run- 
ning lightly along the roofs. No matter what 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 915 


the condition of the roof may be, it is negotiated 
with perfect ease. 

This feat, however, becomes rather common- 
place in comparison to one performed by the 
Himalayan tahr on Mountain Sheep Hill. In 
their corral, directly on the ridge, stands a cedar 
tree ten inches in diameter. To protect it from 
the horns of the tahr family, a tree-guard of 
small slats was placed around it and securely 
fastened with wires. These sticks are five feet 
long, two inches wide, an inch thick and stand 
close to the tree, offering the most precarious 
foothold. Passing Mountain Sheep Hill re- 
cently, I was astonished to observe one of the 
goats lightly perched on the top of the guard, 
nimbly shifting her feet from stick to stick. 
There is but one way for the goat to get to the 
top of the guard, a straight leap from the 
ground, and absolute precision in alighting on 
the ends of the sticks. Mr. Merkel assures me 
that he has seen the goat with all four feet on 
the end of one stick. The accompanying picture 
does not show the goat’s method of getting on 
the guard, but it undeniably proves that it can 
be done. My personal knowledge of the temper 
of this particular animal may fairly be regarded 
as proof that it would be a physical impossi- 
bility for any one to have posed her in the airy 
position that the photograph records. 


A Reliable Engineer.—Take a small stream, 
a generous supply of trees (poplars and birches 
are best), plenty of peace and quiet, put a fence 
around it and add a good sized healthy Ameri- 
can beaver. After you have done all this, come 
back to your peace at dusk, being perfectly cer- 
tain that you furnish the quiet, and prepare to 
see a wonderful display of animal ingenuity. 

Such an opportunity was afforded me once at 
our Beaver Pond and after several trips—dur- 
ing which time I failed to bring along enough 
quiet—the beaver furnished me an exclusive en- 
tertainment. The Beaver Pond is a stationary 
body of water and to maintain it in clean condi- 
tion, a hydraulic ram keeps the water at a 
suitable height. In order that the water does 
not overflow the banks, a twelve-inch pipe has 
been placed under the dam in the bed of the 
stream. At the end of the pipe, under the dam, 
an elbow and a thirty-inch perpendicular joint 
have been attached to serve as an overflow for 
the pond after the water has attained a certain 
level. 

But the beaver, not agreeing with these utili- 
ties, waged a continuous warfare with the men 
as to the ultimate maintenance of the water sup- 
ply; and upon my successful visit I learned just 


916 


how he did it. It was nearly dusk when his nose 
popped out of the water near the dam. Draw- 
ing himself clumsily upon the bank, he carefully 
inspected the matted sticks and mud that filled 
the outlet of the stream from bank to bank. Ap- 
parently satisfied that there was no leakage 
there, he turned to the overflow pipe and peered 
down into the black hole. 


The sound of falling water was proof that 
this spot needed work. Scarcely hesitating, he 
dived from the bank and presently reappeared 
with the butt of a small tree about three inches 
in diameter and four feet long. Dragging it to 
the hole he lowered it until it stood upright. 
With unflagging energy he made trip after trip 
to the bottom of the pool, each time carrying, 
limbs of various sizes to the pipe and jamming 
them into it. When the stick seemed too long, 
he withdrew it and made a notch near the center, 
and, upon returning to the hole, the stick would 
then bend to follow the curve of the pipe. 
Finally he commenced to fill the interstices with 
mud. 


In carrying the mud he was quite as ingenious 
as he had been in rafting his timber. Sinking 
to the bottom of the pool, he pushed himself 
along the bottom with his hind feet, plowing the 
mud ahead with his breast until the bank was 
reached. Here he seized the pile with his fore 
feet and. clasping it against his breast, waddled 
slowly to the hole and dropped it in. The num- 
ber of steps back and forth to the water were 
innumerable, but they did not falter until the 
sound of the falling water was lessened and 
finally ceased altogether. Knowing then that 
his work was at end, he sat on the edge of the 
pool to rest and comb the mud out of his plenti- 


fully bedaubed fur. 


Nen Zebra House.—This installation for the 
wild equines, with its outlying yards, will be 
completed and opened early this fall. The 
various species of wild horses, asses and zebras, 
of which the Society has an extensive collection, 
may then be exhibited to a good advantage. 
The collection and new installation will be 
thoroughly described in the next number of the 
BuLietin. 


Friendly Red Squirrels——There is not one 
wild creature in the woods that is as shy as the 
red squirrel; particularly when he dwells within 
striking distance of boys with guns. After many 
of these experiences he may be heard scolding 
and chattering deep in the woods, but affords 
only fleeting glimpses of his lithe red body as 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


he skips about through the trees. As soon as he 
learns of a section of the woods where he is not 
molested his timidity disappears and he becomes 
the boldest of beggars. 


At Rock City, in the Bradford oil regions, 
there are a few acres in which the red squirrel 
finds a safe refuge. Despite the fact that the 
grounds are swarming with people, little red- 
skin is quite at home, and boldly runs around 
among the luncheon parties, begging for bits 
of bread or any delicacy they may offer. 


Woolly Monkeys.—One of the two little 
woolly monkeys from the upper Amazon has 
now lived in the Park for nearly three years. 
This is a record for keeping this delicate little 
animal in the Park, at least, if not in any other 
zoological garden. The two live out of doors 
during all the days when the weather is agree- 
able; evidently a good policy for their health 
has remained uninterruptedly excellent. 


Guinea-Fonl.—The guinea-fowl run about 
the Park with a very business-like air, and 
always impress one, as they scurry across the 
paths and through the bushes, as having an im- 
portant mission which they are hurrying to 
fulfil. They invariably steal a nesting site 
which they conceal with great care. Whenever 
the hens lay they announce it by bursting out 
of the bushes with a tremendous noise, which 
is immediately echoed by the whole flock. Even 
though this important event is so loudly adver- 
tised, the nests are difficult to find and the ap- 
pearance of a flock of young guinea-fowl is 
always in the nature of a surprise. When the 
young are hatched they have a devoted follow- 
ing of old birds that vie with each other in 
searching out delicate insect morsels for the 
hungry flock. Guinea-fowl are desirable birds 
around plant and vegetable gardens, as they 
wage a persistent warfare on all insect pests 
and seldom scratch up the ground. To some 
nervous persons the voice of the guinea-fowl 
is distracting; but to those of us who have 
grown accustomed to the cry of the pea fowl, 
the song of a guinea-hen is not without its 
charms. 


How the Gnu Drinks.—The old adage, “there 
is nothing new under the sun,” has been dis- 
proved by the gnu. It is quite well known that 
all ruminants plunge there noses into water 
when drinking, and draw the water into their 
stomachs by a muscular contraction of the 
throat aided by the slight vacuum created. But 


ZOOLOGICAL 


the gnu does not do it that way. They lap the 
water like a dog or a cat. This may be ac- 
counted for by the fact that the nostrils, which 
are thin, flat and wide, are placed near the end 
of the muzzle. Should the gnu thrust his nose 
into the water the very narrow air space would 
be completely covered and afford no means of 
breathing while drinking. 


Ivy from Fontainebleau.—Mrs. Eli Harvey 
has presented to the Park a root of ivy from 
the famous forest of Fontainebleau. This noted 
forest has been the Mecca of all the artists of 
France from time immemorial. Rousseau has 
glorified the old oaks, and could the silent aisles 
of the forest speak what a wondrous story they 
might tell of the generations of painters that 
have transferred its marvelous beauty to their 
canvas. Mrs. Harvey has planted the tiny sprig 
against the sheltered side of an ancient oak near 
the Bear Dens. 


Collecting Reptiles —Curator Ditmars has 
just returned from a successful collecting trip 
in Sullivan County. He secured 11 species 
and 115 specimens of our native reptiles. In 
addition to these, he also captured 129 speci- 
mens of insects, including a splendid lot of 
katydids. Enumerating the species, there 
were represented in the collection 6  rattle- 
snakes, 14 milk snakes, 75 striped snakes, 3 
red-bellied snakes, 5 ring-necked snakes, 13 
water snakes, one black snake, one hog-nosed 
snake, 2 ribbon snakes, 17 katydids, 14 broad- 
winged meadow locusts, 50 walking sticks rep- 
resenting 2 species, eighteen narrow-winged 
meadow locusts, 12 lesser katydids, 8 ground 
katydids, and 10 cone-headed locusts. 


New Shops.—Destruction of the old worn 
out workshops and sheds in the Service Yard 
is progressing ‘steadily, and the buildings that 
for so long have answered a useful purpose 
will soon be a matter of ancient history. The 
Pelican House for birds is rapidly nearing com- 
pletion, and work upon other structures will 
soon be in progress. 


An Agressive Giraffe——The giraffe is one of 
the mildest, most inoffensive animals, and the 
large placid eyes, so like the “gazelle-like eye” 
of which the Arabian poets write, are almost 
conclusive proof of its excessive timidity. But 
the giraffe does not lack courage nor aggressive- 
ness in defending himself. Not having horns 
of a dangerous character, he makes use of the 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 917 
best weapons available—the two fore feet. 
Backed by considerable weight, he is able to 
strike out forward with terrific force and great 
precision. The movements of the giraffe are 
awkward, but carry him over the ground so 
rapidly that he is close enough to strike before 
one is aware of it. A blow from either foot 
would be a very serious matter, and the keepers 
have had several narrow escapes from our large 
male specimen. 


The Chipmunk.—One of the most cheerful 
and active dwellers in the woods of the Park is 
the common chipmunk. Like the red squirrel 
he selects a suitable place for a home and ap- 
parently after he has determined upon the loca- 
tion resides there indefinitely. For many years 
one of these hard-working little rodents has 
dwelt under a boulder near the Beaver Pond. 
Almost any bright summer morning he may be 
seen perched on the top of his home-site bask- 
ing in the warm sun. His labor in securing 
food for the long winter is limitless, and in 
pursuit of his task he radiates in all directions 
from the home base. When the wild cherry is 
fruitful, he scurries about under the trees 
stuffing his cheek pouches almost to the burst- 
ing point; making countiess trips from the 
harvest to the storehouse. How much food is 
required to carry him through the season when 
supplies cannot be obtained, is beyond compre- 
hension, but the energy with which he pursues 
his task would indicate that the amount stored 
must be enormous. Considering the chipmunk’s 
energy and the fact that he is only a trifle 
snaller than the red squirrel, some idea of the 
storing capacity of the chipmunk may be gained 
by the fact that in a tree which was cut down 
in the Park was found a squirrel’s nest that con- 
tained at least two pecks of hickory nuts. This 
comparison is based upon the respective work- 
ing ability of the two rodents. 


Friendly Tortoises.—It is a matter of wonder 
to observe the attitude of the giant tortoises 
toward visitors. Like many of the other ani- 
mals they have learned to beg for food, and the 
most astonishing part is the kinds of food they 
will take. It is not strange that the monkeys, 
deer, elephants, and even ducks, geese and pea- 
cocks accept peanuts or candy, but it is de- 
cidedly humorous when a great lumbering tor- 
toise painfully struggles to the top of the wire 
fence with his fore flippers and willingly eats 
ham sandwiches or pie, and moreover devours 
the food with decided relish. 1D5 its Ss 


BULLETIN. 


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ZOOLOC 


GENERAL INFORMATION 


MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organi- 
zation, 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. 

Applications for membership may be handed to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park, 
Dr. C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the Gen- 
eral Secretary, No. 11 Wall Street, 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 May 1 to November 1, the opening and closing hours are from 9 
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From November 1 to May 1, 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, from 9 o’clock 
A. M. to 5 o’clock P. M.; October 16 to April 14, from 10 o’clock A. M. to 4 o’clock P. M. No 
admission is charged. 


PUBLICATIONS 


The publications of the Society are for sale at the prices affixed below. Address H. R. 
Mitchell, Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park. 


First Piao EREPONt eh: apisis wet’ te koe Paper $ 40 | The Origin and Relationship of the 
Second s “«_ ....Paper $-.75- Cloth 1.00 Large Mammals of North America 
Third . eee Bere ei A0 . 60 (ROTREED NRE a Seema in diaae RA Cloth $ .75 
Fourth és Bede Sc tua. eo) a: 60 | Zoologica Vol. I. Nos. 1-7 ine. (Beebe), the Set 1.30 
Fifth x i ee ee Ate cS 1.00 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 8. The Northern 
Sixth = DORE Nap ch ap ts a5 sf 1.00 Elephant Seal (Townsend) ......... 25 
Seventh ~ OR a ote ag 1.00 o 1.25 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 9. Diseases of Pri- 
Eighth bY a Searean a 1.00 fe 1.25 WOAAEESH (ULAL I) cede. coh apt eise siete 15 
Ninth ee Pet oe eit te 1.25 x 1.50 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 10. New Blood 
Tenth s Poe thio gatas 1.25 1.50 Pheasants” (Beebe) s.0:..4) ee ees oes 15 
Eleventh “ Ney Sona eee RY 4 1.25 | The Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds 
Twelfth « Soe Rie Het 1.00 1.25 (GE GWRSENG) siete ox pier ecars stains hee cir rare 20 
Thirteenth “ Min ave 1.00 oe 1.25 | Chameleons of the Sea (Instantaneous 
Fourteenth “ Lesage 1.00 $ 1.25 Color Changes in Fishes) (Townsend) 15 
Fifteenth =“ pee eet .005 5 125) © Sea-Shore Wife’ (Mayer): ¢ss.. cs Cloth 1.20 
Sixteenth  “ Pe | neil tree 1.00 ‘i 1.25 | Guide Book: New York Zoological Park 25 
Notes on Mountain Sheep of North (Gale) HED DS pr hen SO Or er gears By Mail .35 
America (Hornaday) ..........-.--+ Paper 40 | The National Collection of Heads and 
Destruction of Our Birds and Mammals | Horns (Hornaday). Large quarto. 
(ERO CE CK) a 2s ee oh RMI occ ae aL ia hee CEA RAN eS cron fetta ue civ ote ec erebshcty Paper, Each 1.00 
MibetOantoou Grant ye. evs. 60 aye esse ee “ 40. |aubulletin-NOs. IeanGsG cosy. <2 ye wets ss onlin Out of Print 
Mi < Se MNP ns cute shan eect Cloth  .60 | Bulletins—bi-monthly........... Yearly by Mail 1.00 


Souvenir Books and Post Cards of the Zoological Park may be obtained by writing the 
Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park, New York City. 

Publications and Post Cards of the Aquarium may be obtained by writing Dr. C. H. Town- 
send, Director, Battery Park, New York City. 


Vor. XVI. No. 54 | 4a\ SP, NOVEMBER, 1912 


ZOOLOGICAL 
> SOCIETY 
BULLETIN 


THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


m Ee Published’ by 
7 A i am LLAMA UT SNA TT 


mar | ANNONA RMN a 
ANAEANATOTARAR AT TUTTO 


(Emr HYP S11 Mee PTY LP YO 
HUR FREUND 10152 


Officers of the New York Zoological Society 
President 


Henry Fairrietp Ossorn. 


First Wice-President Second Vice-President 
Samuret THorne, Joun LL. CapwaALaper. 
Secretary Treasurer 
Mapison Grant, 11 Wall Street. Prrcy R. Pyne, 30 Pine Street. 
Board of Managers 
Ex Officio 
The Mayor of the City of New York. The Presipent of the Department of Parks. 
Class of 1913 
F. Aucusrus SCHERMERHORN, CreveLtanp. H. Dopce, Emerson McMituin, 
Percy R. Pyne, C. Lepyarp Bratr, Antuony R. Kusrer, 
Gerorce B. GrINNELL, Freperick G. Bourne, Watson B. DickERMAN, 
Grorce C. Crark, W. Austin WapswortH, Mortimer L. Scuirr. 
Class of 1914 a 
Henry Fairrietp Ossorn, Huen D. Aucuinc oss, : Grant B. Scuuey, 
Witiiam C. Cuurcu, Cuarves F, Dietericn, Wm. Pierson Hamitron, 
LispENARD STEWART, James J. Hitt, Rogert S. Brewster, 
H. Casimir pe Ruam, Grorce F. Baker, Epwarp S. Harkness. 


Class of 1915 


Levi P. Morron, Winziam Wuire Nixes, Grorce J..Govutp, 

ANnpREW CARNEGIE, Samuret THORNE, OcpEen Mitts, 

Joun L. CapwaLaper, Henry A. C. Taytor, Lewis Ruruerrurp Morris. 
Mapison Grant, Frank K. Srurais, 


Executive Committee 


Mapison Grant, Chairman. 


Percy R. Pyne, Samurt Tuorne, Levi P, Morton, LisPENARD STEWART, 
Witriam Wire Nixes, Wm. Pierson Haminron, Frank K. Srureis, 


Henry Fairrietp Osporn, Ea Officio. 


General Officers 
Wituiam T, Hornapay, Director of the Park, 
Cuaries H. Townsenn, Director of the Aquarium. 
La Farce & Morris, Architects. H. De B. Parsons, Consulting Engineer. 


Officers of the Zoological Park 
Wiriiam T. Hornapay, Director. 
H. R. Mircuety, C. Wiri1am BEEBE, H. W. MerkKet, Erwin R. SAnporn, 
Raymonp L. Dirmars, L. S. CranpatLt, W. Rerp Bratrr, G. M. Berrsower, 
Grorce A. Dorn. 


Officers of the Aquarium 
Cuartes H. Townsenn, Director. Raymonp C. Ossurn, Assistant. 
Wasuincron I. DeNysr, Ropert Surcrirre. 


LOOMOG TOA SOCIETY BUMLE ET LN 


AQUARIUM NUMBER 


CONTENTS FOR NOVEMBER 


Prepared and Edited by Dr. Raymonp C. Ossurn 


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WOIUVOOV HHOA MON AHL NI SAHSIAATIA ADNVUO 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN 


Published by the New York Zoological Soctety 


VoL. XVI 


NOVEMBER 1912 


NUMBER 54 


THE CRAYFISH 


are better known to the casual observer 

and few have been the subject of more 
study by naturalists and scientists than the cray- 
fishes. ‘These are popularly known by a variety 
of names such as crawfish, crawdad, cray, loeb- 
ster, crab, ete. The origin of the word “‘cray- 
fish’’ is interesting as an illustration of the 
changes which words sometimes undergo during 
the evolution of languages. Apparently from 
the Old High German word “Krebis” there have 
been derived the modern German word “Krebs,” 
the Old French “crevice” from which has come 
the modern French “‘ecrevisse,’ and the Old 
English ‘“‘crevis’” or “creves,” which has been 
corrupted into “crayfish” and still further into 
“crawfish.” 

Every country lad knows where and how 
crayfishes may be found, and is quite familiar 
with their propensity for stealing bait when he 
is fishing for the far more desirable suckers, 
catfish and shiners; and what barefooted urchin 
in the country does not possess among his treas- 
ures at least a few crab’s-eyes or lucky-stones, 
as the calcareous concretions formed within the 
thorax are called? Though harmless enough, 
they are usually greatly feared by the small 
boys and girls who love to wade barefooted in 
the shallow streams and ponds. The bass fisher- 
man fully appreciates the value of the soft- 
shelled stage as a tempting lure for the wily 
game. 


IN of the inhabitants of fresh water 


Popular writers have, for the most part, over- 
looked the possibilities of the crayfish and refer- 
ences to this interesting animal outside of scien- 
tific literature are rare indeed. James Whitcomb 
Riley, who has been able to see something of 
poetic charm in many of the humble creatures 
of the woods and streams, evidently considers the 
crayfish as occupying the lowest limit of exist- 
ence, for he pictures a treetoad utterly disgusted 
with the long and continued drought, which 


“Jest backed down in a crawfish hole 
Weary at hart and sick at sole.” 


Alfred Henry Lewis’s “Crawfish Jim,” though 
harmless, is not a particularly attractive charac- 
ter. Even the English language takes a fling 
at the little crustacean on account of his mode 
of backing out of difficulties, and “‘crawfishing”’ 
is widely and slightingly applied to this method 
of the human species in escaping from an un- 
pleasant situation. 

Various scientific monographs have been writ- 
ten on the structure, habits, distribution and 
relationship of the crayfishes, while their use as 
a laboratory type for the purpose of illustrating 
the crustacea has become a matter of course in 
the colleges and secondary schools of Europe 
and America. Yet in spite of all that has been 
written by the scientists, the natural history of 
the crayfish is but little known to the general 
reader, and it is commonly regarded as a use- 
less and uninteresting animal, which may occa- 


© 
x3) 
ras) 


CRAYFISH, DORSAL SIDE 


The abdomen is turned under as at the end of a 
swimming stroke. 
sionally serve for bait or to furnish amusement 
for the youngsters, and which sometimes makes 
a nuisance of itself by burrowing into dams and 
levees, allowing the water to seep out. 

Even the fact that the crayfish has a very 
considerable food value is known to but a small 
percentage of Americans. The crayfishes are all 
edible and are eaten in many parts of the world, 
and only the small size of most of the species 
has prevented them from being any less popular 
than the lobster as an article of diet. The large 
muscles of the abdomen, similar to those of the 
lobster, are the most valuable parts. Many a 
country boy has discovered that a luscious tidbit 
may be obtained by removing the big muscle and 
toasting it on a stick before his campfire. In 
Europe they are commonly used, and in some 
places are cultivated for market. 

The special report on the fisheries of the 
United States contained in the last report of the 
Bureau of the Census, states that in the year 
1908 the total catch of crayfish in this country 
was 666,000 pounds, netting the fisherman $34.,- 
000—a little over five cents a pound. The states 
chiefly interested in this industry at that time 
were Louisiana, 88,000 lbs.; Oregon, 178,000 
lbs., and Wisconsin, 348,000 lbs. But the Ore- 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


gon crayfish (of the genus Astacus) are larger 
than the eastern species (of the genus Camba- 
rus) and so command a higher price. Perhaps 
the absence of lobsters from the Pacific coast 
may have been a contributing factor, but at any 
rate the Oregon catch was valued at $14,000, 
while the Wisconsin catch, though nearly twice 
as large, was valued at the same figure. While 
crayfishes may be taken by lines, nets and seines, 
the chief method of capture is the trap or pot, 
and, according to the census estimate, 606,000 
pounds of the total were taken in this manner. 
In New York City the demand for crayfishes is 
confined almost entirely to the foreign popula- 
tion, who have learned abroad to appreciate the 
delicacy of this aquatic food. Yet a very con- 
siderable quantity is consumed here, and ship- 
ments are received from numerous sources. Dr. 
E. A. Andrews* is responsible for the state- 
ment that one-half million crayfishes are shipped 
to New York annually from a very limited re- 
gion on the Potomac River. 

The crayfishes belong to the decapod, or ten- 
footed crustacea, and are thus closely related to 
the marine lobster and prawn. They constitute 
a separate family, the Astacidae, which is rep- 
resented in every continent (Africa excepted) 
and in many of the larger islands of the world. 
This family is divided into two sub-families: the 
Astacinae and the Parastacinae, limited respec- 
tively to the northern and southern hemispheres, 
with the exception that the genus Parastacus 
of South America ranges northward into Mexico. 
For some unknown reason, the crayfishes have 
been unable to adapt themselves well to the con- 
ditions of life in the tropics, and but few 
species are found outside of the temperate zones. 
Quite a number occur in Mexico, especially in 
the highlands where temperate conditions obtain. 

The Astacinae contain three genera whose dis- 
tribution is very interesting and the reasons for 
which are not fully understood. The species of 
Astacus occupy Europe and western Asia and 
the Pacific slope of North America, while the 
genus Cambarus is limited to North America 
east of the Rocky Mountains, and the closely re- 
lated Cambaroides to eastern Asia. Thus each 
group, Astacus, and Cambarus plus Camba- 
roides, is divided into two widely separated 
fields, between which occurs a division of the 
other group. There is no overlapping of the 
groups to indicate that they have occupied the 
same region at the same time. The absence of 
crayfish from Africa is especially interesting in 
view of the fact that they occur in Madagasear. 
This, however, is in accord with the distribu- 


*The Future of the Crayfish Industry. 
new series, vol. XXIII, pp. 983-6. 


Science, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


tion of certain other Madagascar animals, for 
example, the true lemurs, which flourish on this 
and other islands of the Indian Ocean, but not 
on the mainland. 

The first important work on the North 
American crayfishes was that of Hagen* in 
1871. Since that time Faxon and Ortmann have 
added greatly to our knowledge of the group. 
Hay? lists eighty-four species, only five of which 
belong to the genus Astacus, found west of the 
Rocky Mountains. The remaining seventy-nine 
belong to Cambarus, found east of the Rockies. 
Nine species, plus three varieties, were listed 
for Mexico, Central America and the West In- 
dies. More recently several additional species 
have been described. 

Ortmannt has divided the crayfishes of North 
America according to their habits into three 
groups: I, river species; II, mountain stream 
species, and III, burrowing species. While no 
sharp distinction can be made between these 
groups, it is true that many species are confined 
entirely to larger streams and lakes, others are 
never found except in small cold streams and 
springs, while others are entirely burrowing in 
habit. The burrowing species are often found 
at considerable distance from any open water, 
in lowlands where they can have water the year 
round by digging holes, which, in extreme cases, 
extend to a depth of three or four feet. Some 
species, known as chimney builders, deposit the 

earth brought up in constructing the burrow in 

a ring of pellets around the opening, sometimes 
extending to a height of ten to twelve inches 
and a diameter of twelve to eighteen inches, 
though usually the piles are much smaller. Ac- 
cording to Ortmann (1. c., p. 42) there is no evi- 
dent purpose in constructing circular mounds. 
The crayfish simply adopts the easiest way of 
getting rid of the dirt removed from the burrow. 
Each hole contains only one individual, except 
during the time the young remain with the 
mother and also at the mating season, when a 
pair may occupy the same burrow. The holes 
are often found sealed up by pellets of earth 
placed at or near the mouth, and this is espe- 
cially true in winter when they may remain 
sealed for three or four months. 

Crayfishes are all more or less nocturnal in 
habit, though some of the species of the larger 
streams and ponds wander about a good deal 
during the day and are not at all averse to tak- 


*Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 
of Harvard College, IT, No. 1. 

+Synopsis of the Astacidae of North America. 
American Naturalist, December, 1899. 

+Crayfishes of Pennsylvania. Memoirs of the Car- 
negie Museum of Pittsburgh, vol. II, No. X, 1906. 


BULLETIN. 923 
FEMALE CRAYFISH 
Under side showing abdominal legs or swimmerets. The last 


two pairs of walking legs end in spikes, the others 
have pincers for holding the food. 


ing food in the daytime. Other species confine 
their activities to the night and lie hidden away 
under stones or in burrows the rest of the time. 
Four species found in the United States are 
blind and inhabit caves. The best known of 
these is Cambarus pellucidus (Tellkampf) of 
Mammoth Cave, Wyandotte Cave and other 
caverns of Kentucky and Indiana. The eyes of 
crayfishes are compound (7. e., composed of 
numerous facets) like those of insects and 
other crustaceans. The facets are arranged in 
a hemispherical form on the end of the movable 
eye-stalk, but in blind species the facets are 
wanting. 

The crayfish can walk in any direction, back- 
ward, forward or sideways, by means of the 
thoracic legs, though progress by this means is 
slow. Especially is this true on land, where, not 
having the buoyancy they possess in the water, 
they drag themselves along in a laborious fash- 
ion. In swimming the crayfish uses his abdo- 
ment after the same manner as the lobster, and 
a quick movement of the tail will send him dart- 
ing backward through the water for some dis- 
tance. When cornered he will defend himself 
vigorously with the large pincers, but he usually 


924 ZOOLOGICAL 
considers discretion the better part of valor, and 
escapes if opportunity offers. The method of 
swimming has two advantages: he presents his 
large fighting claws to his enemy while fleeing, 
and when cover is reached he can enter it back- 
ward without stopping to turn around and 
blocks pursuit with his claws. In fighting he 
possesses some of the qualities of the bulldog, 
and doesn’t always know when to let go. If a 
stick is poked at him, he may attack it with 
such vigor that he can be drawn from his retreat, 
or even out of the water before it occurs to him 
that he can release his hold. The species which 
live on a muddy bottom would seem to have 
taken a lesson from the Hebrew exodus, and 
learned to cover their retreat by a pillar of 
cloud. In this case, however, the cloud consists 
of mud which is stirred up to such an extent by 
striking the tail on the bottom that their where- 
abouts is effectively obscured. When, after a 
few minutes the mud is settled, the crayfish may 
be seen half buried under it, his colors com- 
pletely obscured by it, and his slowly moving 
antenne and watchful eyes the most conspicu- 
ous parts observed. 

In New England crayfishes are not common, 
and only one species (C. bartoniz) has been re- 
ported. West of the Adirondacks and Catskills 
they become very abundant, and this is espe- 
cially true of streams having their source in the 
Alleghenies and in the great central basin of the 
United States. No less than twenty-five species 
and varieties inhabit the Ohio River basin, which 
is perhaps the richest area in the world in 
species of crayfishes. Species are numerous in the 
South Atlantic and Gulf States, and also in the 
region of the Ozark Mountains west of the 
Mississippi. 

In the number of individuals these regions 
are no less rich than in number of species. A 
single haul of a fine-meshed seine will often 
yield hundreds of them. In the writer’s ex- 
perience in collecting fishes in Ohio, the cray- 
fishes were frequently so abundant as to ma- 
terially impede the progress of the work. A 
half-bushel of crayfish would often have to be 
looked over and the smaller fishes separated 
from the clawing and snapping mass, and when 
recovered, were often found injured by the large 
pincers of their armored fellow captives. 

Thus far only a single species has been re- 
ported in the region about New York City*. 
This is the widely distributed Cambarus bartoni 
(Fabricius), which occurs in eastern Canada 
and eastern United States south to North Caro- 
lina and west to Indiana, and which is the only 


*Paulmier. Higher Crustacea of New York State, 


Bull. 91, New York State Museum, 1905. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


species reported from New England. Recently 
the New York Aquarium has obtained an abun- 
dance of specimens of another species, C. limosus 
(Rafinesque), from Central Park Lake, New 
York City, and Prospect Park Lake, Brooklyn. 
This species has not hitherto been known outside 
of the Delaware, Potomac and Susquehannah 
river drainages, except for one locality, Redbank, 
New Jersey, in the New York Bay drainage 
(see Ortmann’s “Crayfishes of Pennsylvania”). 
Its appearance in the park lakes of New York 
City thus extends its range considerably. Dr. 
Ortmann has called my attention in a recent 
letter to the fact that this species has been in- 
troduced into a lake at East Hampton, Con- 
necticut, and also that it has been naturalized, 
locally, in Germany. Cambarus limosus is 
essentially a lowland species of the rivers and 
ponds, while of C. bartoni, Ortmann (1. «., 
p. 447) says “Ecologically this species is a form 
of the rapid and cool waters of the uplands and 
mountains, living preferably in small streams 
and even in springs,” 


Cambarus limosus is now abundant in the arti- 
ficial lakes of New York City. On seining trips 
to these lakes, made by employees of the 
Aquarium for the purpose of obtaining fishes, 
they have been taken readily, sometimes a couple 
of dozen or more at a haul. Whether they occur 
in the lowland streams of the vicinity has not 
been determined. Neither is it known whether 
their appearance here is of recent date, or 
whether they have merely been overlooked. At 
any rate, there are no records of occurrence in 
this vicinity, and the study of the specimens in 
the local museums reveals only very recent 
captures from these same lakes. 


As to the possibility of recent distribution to 
the eastward from the Delaware River system, it 
would seem that this may have been facilitated 
by means of the Raritan Canal. In this case 
their appearnace in Central Park Lake would 
have necessitated the species distributing itself 
across the brackish waters of New York Bay or 
the lower Hudson River, and to get to Prospect 
Park Lake the East River would also have to 
be crossed. No crayfishes are found in salt 
water, however, and this fact would seem to be 
opposed to such a distribution. Experiments 
have been made at the New York Aquarium to 
test the resistance of this species to the harbor 
water, and it has been found that in brackish 
water having a specific gravity of 1.14 degrees 
they will live for many days. If investigation 
should prove that the species has distributed 
itself commonly in eastern New Jersey, the 
hypothesis that they have gained access to the 
park lakes through the brackish water of the 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


NORMAL AND PALE PHASES OF Cambarus limosus 


The pale form is really much lighter than it appears in the cut, being nearly white. 


lower Hudson would gain considerable support. 
There is a possibility that they may have been 
distributed accidentally among water plants, 
or that they have been purposely carried by 
some one. At any rate there is no question but 
that they have permanently adapted themselves 
to the local waters. 

Our two local species of crayfishes may be 
readily distinguished as follows: Cambarus limo- 
sus has a strong spine on either side of the ros- 
trum, or pointed projection between the eyes, 
while C. bartoni has no marginal spine on the 
rostrum. In C. limosus there is a patch of spines 
on either side of the carapace in the region of 
the cervical, or neck, groove, while in C. bartoni 
this region is only slightly granulated. There 
are various other well-marked differences in 
structure, form and color of the body, and espe- 
cially in the appendages. 


BULLETIN. 925 
Photograph by R. C. Osburn. 
A distinct color variation not hitherto 


noticed in the species has appeared in C. limosus 
from this vicinity. Faxon* and Ortmann (I. e., 
pp. 355-6) have carefully described the colors 
as usually found, which briefly stated are: Chief 
color olivaceous with large blotches of dark 
green; under parts pale. Each segment of the 
abdomen is marked above by paired brown 
(burnt sienna) spots and there is a brown spot 
on each side below the eye. The tips of the big 
pincers are ferruginous and behind this is a ring 
of dark green or nearly black. 

The color variety is not a case of albinism, for 
the eyes appear to be as fully pigmented as in 
the typical form, but there is an almost total 
suppression of the normal body coloration. The 
ground color is almost white, but it is tinged 


“Revision of the Astacidae, Memoirs of the Museum 
of Harvard College, vol. X, p. 88. 


926 ZOOLOGICAL 


CRAYFISH 
In the water the crayfish balances himself easily on the 


walking legs Photograph by R. C. Osburn 


with pale bluish on the upper part of the thorax 
and abdomen and on the legs. There is no indi- 
cation anywhere of the dark green or blackish 
pigment, and the only red to be observed is a 
faint tinge of this color in the region where the 
abdominal spots occur in the normal form. No 
structural differences have been observed. 

Cases of partial albinism or suppressed de- 
velopment of color have been noted occasionally 
in various species of animals. Of the crayfish 
Dr. Ortmann writes thus in reply to a recent let- 
ter: “The pale blue color-variety is very re- 
markable indeed. Bluish specimens, as a color- 
variety, have been described in European spe- 
cies of Potamobius (Astacus), but have always 
been regarded as extraordinary cases. I have 
occasionally observed slate-blue specimens in 
Cambarus bartoni, but always single individuals 
only. I have received specimens of a whitish 
variety of C. virilis from Sandy Lake, Peter- 
boro County, Ontario, Canada, a lake remark- 
able for its limestone deposits, but here they 
are all said to be of this color.” 

More than two dozen specimens of this pale 
phase of C. limosus, of both sexes, have been 
taken at different times in Prospect Park Lake, 
Brooklyn, during the past two summers, among 
about two hundred of the ordinary color phase— 
no exact counts were made. 

What may be the cause of the suppression of 
the ordinary colors in this and similar cases 
of partial albinism is not known. Whether it is 
due to some congenital variation (mutation or 
saltation), which would then be hereditary, or 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


whether it is due to some physiological condi- 
tion developed during the life of the individual 
is unknown, and could only be determined by 
breeding experiments. From the number of 
specimens and from the fact that they were 
taken living with the ordinary variety, it seems 
probable that the difference is congenital and 
due to the suppression of a color-developing fac- 
tor. This assumption is further borne out by 
the fact that color is not entirely absent, but 
merely suppressed in large part. 

The reproduction of the crayfish is very in- 
teresting and has been the subject of much 
study in this country, especially by Professor 
i. A. Andrews,* of Johns Hopkins University. 

It has long been known that the crayfishes 
have no larval surface-swimming stages as do 
their marine relatives, the lobsters and prawns. 
As early as 1755 von Rosenhof noticed that the 
young of the European crayfish are similar to 
the mother and that they remain with her for 
a time after hatching. Rathke in 1829 showed 
that the young emerges from the egg in essen- 
tially the adult form and so has no metamor- 
phosis. Later, however, Huxley (1879) proved 
that the young before the first moult are not ex- 
actly similar to the adult, but differ in the lack 
of setae, or bristles, and in the form of the 
first and sixth abdominal appendages. ‘Thus 
it will be seen that there is only a slight degree 
of metamorphosis and of a different sort from 
that seen in the marine crustacea. 

The reason for the elimination of the free- 
swimming stages is probably to be found in their 
adaptation to a special habitat. If a surface- 
swimming stage were present, as in the lobster, 


A FEMALE CRAYFISH 


Showing method of carrying the eggs. 
Photograph by R. C, Osburn, 

the young of the mountain stream species might 
be carried into the larger streams, while those 
of the inhabitants of the lowland streams might 
even be carried out to sea at this period. 

The eggs of the crayfishes are regularly laid 
in the early spring and the time of laying for 

*The Young of the Crayfish, Astacus and Cam- 
barus. Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, vol. 
XXX, pp. 1-79, plates I-X. 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


any species may extend over a considerable 
period—in Cambarus bartoni, for example, from 
March 15th to May 15th. Chidester* has ob- 
served that in C. bartoni var. bartoni there is 
also an autumnal spawning season beginning 
with the latter part of September and extending 
through October and November. Although Chi- 
dester does not discuss the matter, this probably 
does not mean that two broods are produced in 
a season, but that some of the females mature 
their eggs in the spring and others in the fall. 

Andrewsy has carefully studied the reproduc- 
tion of Cambarus affinis. Three hundred to six 
hundred eggs, of a diameter of about one and 
one-half millimeters, are produced. These, as 
in the lobster, become attached to the under side 
of the abdomen, especially on the swimmerets, 
by adhesive portions of the egg envelopes. The 
eggs are laid in April and May and hatch in a 
few weeks, the time apparently depending on 
the temperature of the water. 

When first hatched each young crayfish is at- 
tached by the telson thread, a string of cuticle 
fastened at one end to the telson or last ab- 
dominal segment and at the other to the now 
empty egg membrane. In this condition they 
remain for two days, when they moult and pass 
from the first stage to the second. In the 
second stage also the young are inactive and re- 
main with the mother, but the telson thread is 
lost and they remain attached by grasping the 
old egg cases and the abdominal setae with their 
pincers. During this time they eat nothing and 
the yolk sac is gradually absorbed. After six 
days in this condition the skin is again moulted 
and the young emerge in the third stage. By 
this time they have taken on the form of the 
adult, except that the proportions are somewhat 
different. 

The third stage marks the beginning of active 
life, and, while the young remain with the 
parent more or less closely for a week or so, they 
gradually wander away and begin an independ- 
ent existence. By fall the young ordinarily 
reach a length of about two inches and are sexu- 
ally mature, and the first pairing takes place in 
October or November of the first year. 

After this there are no more moults and con- 
sequently no growth until the young have been 
produced in the following spring. 

How long erayfishes live has been ascertained 
for only a few species. Andrews found no 
specimens of Cambarus limosus living after the 
third summer, and Ortmann states that, except 
in oceasional individuals, three years constitutes 


*American Naturalist, May, 1912. 
+Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, vol. 
XXXV, 1907. 


BULLETIN. 927 
the life period of C. obscurus. The European 
crayfish Astacus fluviatilis, has been known to 
live six years. 

Size is dependent largely upon the species. 
Some of our smaller species do not attain a 
greater length than a couple of inches. C. 
limosus reaches a maximum of about four 
inches, while the European Astacus fluviatilis 
grows to nearly eight inches. The largest 
species known is Astacopsis franklinii, found in 
small streams of Tasmania, which reaches a 
weight of eight or nine pounds and is thus about 
equal in size to the European lobster. 

The crayfish has many natural enemies. Per- 
haps the most destructive are various species of 
fishes, the larger salamanders, such as the mud- 
puppy (Necturus) and hellbender (Crypto- 
branchus) and water-snakes. No doubt the 
semi-aquatic mammals take their toll and the 
raccoon is said to be particularly fond of them. 
Many aquatic birds feed upon them. They are 
parasitized by leeches, copepod crustaceans and 
worms. The shells are often overgrown with 
diatoms and algae, and those from our park 
lakes are often covered with a profuse growth 
of a large colonial protozoan (Kpistylus). It 
is doubtful if these do any particular harm, ex- 
cept, perhaps, to impede the progress of the 
crayfish when the growth is abundant. Fur- 
thermore, all crayfishes are given to cannibalism 
to some extent, and not only are young devoured 
by the adults, but full-grown specimens, when 
shedding, may be attacked and devoured before 
the new shell has had time to harden enough to 
serve for a protection. 


CRAYFISH COVERED WITH PROTOZOANS 
Photograph by R. C. Osburn. 


One-half natural size. 


928 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 
Departments: 
Mammal Reptile 
W. T. HORNADAY- RAYMOND L, DITMARS. 
Aquarium Bird 


C. H. TOWNSEND. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 


RAYMOND C. OSBURN. LEE 5. CRANDALL. 


Published Bi-Monthly at the Office of the Society, 
11 Wall Street, New York City. 
Yearly, by Mail, $1.00. 
MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS. 
Copyright, 1912, 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. 


Vor. XVI. No. 54 NOVEMBER, 1912 


Minute adopted by the Executive Committee 
of the New York Zoological Society, held on 
Tuesday, the eighth of October, One thousand 
nine hundred and twelve. 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee 
learn with deep regret of the death of Mr. 
Hugh J. Chisholm, a member of the Board of 
Managers since 1900. 

From the time of the early development of 
the New York Zoological Park, when interest 
and support were most needed, Mr. Chisholm 
always displayed the keenest interest in the 
great undertaking and readiness to assist in 
its development in every way. He attended all 
the meetings of the Board, and always expressed 
great pleasure in the progress of the work. His 
generosity and good-will were a source of 
strength to the Executive Committee, and it is 
with a sincere sense of loss that this entry is 
made upon the minutes. 


AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY 


The annual meeting of this society was held 
in Denver, occupying three days, from Septem- 
ber 3d to Sth, inclusive, Mr. S. F. Fullerton, of 
St. Paul, Minn., presiding. Fifty-three mem- 
bers were present, a good attendance considering 
that a majority of the membership reside in the 
eastern states. 

The following papers, embracing many fields 
of fisheries work, were read and discussed at the 
meeting: 


A Defense of the Humble Dogfish. By George Wm. 


Miles. 
Protection of the Undersized Fish. By G. H. 
Thomson. 


BULLETIN. 


The Black-Spotted Mountain Trout. 

The Whitefish. By C. H. Wilson. 

The Whitefish. By 'T. S. Palmer. 

Report on Progress of the Building of New Pond- 
fish Hatchery in Kansas. By L. L. Dyche. 

The Kansas Fish Law. By L. L. Dyche. 

Report on Oregon Fish and Game Laws. 
Cranston. 

The Catfish as a Host for Fresh-water Mussels. By 
A. D. Howard. 

The Oyster and Fish Industry of Louisiana. 
O. Hart. 

Some Suggestions Looking Toward the Enlargement 
in Scope and Membership of the American 
Fisheries Society. By H. Wheeler Perce. 

Pollution of Public Waters in Massachusetts. By 
G. W. Field. 

Demonstration of Free Pearls of Forced Production. 
By R. E. Coker. 

Grayling. By H. D. Dean. 

Preservation of Our Fish 
Ward. 

Recent Legislation on the Fur Seal Fishery. By 
C. H. ‘Townsend. 

Fishways for the Rank and File. By O. W. Buck. 

Federal Control oyer Fish in Boundary Waters. By 
H. Hinrichs. 


By S. E. Land. 


By C. K. 


By W. 


Fauna. By Henry B. 


The following officers were elected for the 

coming year: 

President, Dr. Charles H. Townsend, Director of the 
New York Aquarium. 

Vice-President, Prof. H. B. Ward, University of 
Illinois. 

Recording Secretary, Mr. Ward Bower, U. S. Bureau 
of Fisheries. 

Corresponding Secretary, Dr. Geo. W. Field, Massa- 
chusetts State Fish Commissioner. 

Treasurer, Mr. C. W. Willard, Westerly, R. I. 


The 1913 meeting will be held in Boston, but 
the exact date has not yet been determined. 


SPECIES OF FISHES IN THE WORLD 


Questions are frequently asked at the Aqua- 
rium concerning the number of species of fishes 
in this region, in North America and in the 
world. In any locality where the fishes have 
been well studied, it is an easy matter to answer 
such a question. Thus, within fifty miles of 
New York City there have been taken two 
hundred and thirty-nine species, according to 
Mr. John T. Nichols, of the American Museum 
of Natural History, who has carefully collected 
the records of occurrences. Of course, this 
number may be increased slightly in coming 
years, especially by the capture of marine 
wanderers accidental to our fauna. 

The number of North American species can only 
be estimated somewhat roughly at present, for 
the reason that in many regions the fishes have 
not been studied with sufficient care. Jordan and 


ZOOLOGICAL 


Evermann, in their Report upon the Fishes of 
North and Middle America, list about three 
thousand five hundred species. Since the ap- 
pearance of this work a number of additional 
species have been described. How many fishes 
yet remained unknown, how many of those listed 
are pure synonyms or should be classed merely 
as variations, cannot be known until many more 
years of study have been given to the subject. 

Mr. W. W. Henshaw, Chief of the Biological 
Survey at Washington, has recently published 
an estimate of the probable number of species 
of vertebrated animals in the world (Science, 
Sept. 6, 1912, p. 317) as follows: 


INVA Sis ee atoy sre eaves rafsic esses order 7,000 
ESOS be rerrets timichs secre share aia ose as Ge 20,000 
Crocodiles ‘and turtles! 2... ..0-54. 025... 300 
TETAS: wetter ercisys) Tete c etese och sista, are oue.c 3,300 
Sakeswere rs cncintn i nialeysisrescre cisions Serco 2,400 
LOT HS Nl WORE Do pobooeeoacc spacer 2,000 
WS aAINAN GENS? echtaronaisieiais fs ciceercgar lee 200 
FEISS! ee ate lt orks ors toi aysresrepsievolarn ae roter sige 12,000 

MO LAIMNGE SA Pte ees aoe 47,200 


As Mr. Henshaw points out, such estimates must 
necessarily be little more than guesswork, ex- 
cept, perhaps, in the birds and mammals which 
are better known than the other groups. In 
view of the fact that some three thousand five 
hundred fishes are listed for North American 
waters north of Panama, the total of twelve 
thousand for a world estimate appears rather 
small. To be sure, many species, especially of 
the ocean waters, are very widely distributed, 
and many undoubtedly yet remain to be placed 
in synonymy. Yet, when one considers the vast 
regions of the earth—central portions of South 
America, Africa and Asia, the islands of 
Oceanica and depths of the ocean, in all of 
which the fish fauna is very imperfectly known 
—it would seem that Mr. Henshaw’s estimate is, 
to say the least, a very conservative one. 


NEW MEMBERS 
June 6, 1912, to October 8, 1912 


ANNUAL MEMBERS 


Mrs. C. C. Auchincloss, Mrs. H. K. Pomroy, 
Mrs. Alvin W. Krech, H. C. Koehler, 

Mrs. Frederick H. Eaton, Arthur B. Hunn, 
Mrs. Joseph Palmer Knapp,Sidney J. Jennings, 
Mrs. E. LeGrand Beers, James ‘Timpson, 
Mrs. DeLancey Kane, Maunsell S. Crosby, 


Dr. J. H. O’Connell, M. M. Hansford, 
Mrs. Augusta Booth, Theodor A. Simon. 
Baroness R. de Graffenried. 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 929 
THE GARDEN POOL AND THE 
MOSQUITO 


T IS a matter of common knowledge that 
many species of small fishes have a fond- 
ness for the larvae of the mosquito as an 

article of diet. The result of this is that open 
streams and ponds where fishes thrive never 
produce large numbers of this irritating and 
often dangerous pest. Unfortunately for 
humanity the mosquitoes are not as particular 
where they live as fishes are, and will thrive 
in many places unfitted for fish life. Appar- 
ently no puddle of water is too small or too foul 
to breed mosquitoes, while fishes, even catfishes 
and carp, have their limits. Any temporary 
mud-hole holding water for a couple of weeks 
may yield a plentiful crop of mosquitoes, and 
even a tin can, before it has time to go dry after 
a heavy rain, may furnish enough to cause a 
household considerable worry. 

The rain barrel can be covered, the tin can 
emptied, the puddle drained or oiled, but what 
about the fountain and the lily pool, which, 
even in the heart of the city, is maintained for 
the beauty and interest, and apparently also for 
the mosquitoes it affords? ‘The garden pool 
cannot be oiled like the stagnant marsh pool. 
To do so would destroy its beauty; to drain it 
dry enough to kill the mosquitoes would also 
mean the killing of the plant life contained in 
it. The one solution of the problem is the in- 
troduction of small fishes in sufficient numbers 
to destroy the wrigglers. 

Without question, the best fish for this pur- 
pose, all things considered, is the goldfish. The 
common variety of goldfish is hardy and well 
suited by centuries of cultivation for life in such 
pools. They are easily obtained from dealers 
in fish and aquarium supplies and will stand 
shipment in a small amount of water better than 
most any other ordinary fish—and ‘“‘commons’”’ 
are cheap. A few small specimens introduced 
into a pool will be sufficient to keep the mosqui- 
toes in check, for it has been shown by abundant 
evidence that the young goldfishes will select 
the wrigglers for food, even in the presence of 
various sorts of prepared fish foods. 

In the fall, when the water is turned off to 
drain the pool, the fish may be transferred to 
indoor aquariums, or they may be returned to 
the dealer and a new supply purchased the fol- 
lowing spring. The lily pond and fountain 
should not be permitted to become a nuisance to 
the household and the neighbors when the addi- 
tion of a few common goldfishes will not only 
remove the mosquito larvae before they trans- 
form, but will at the same time render the pool 
much more attractive. 


930 


SPINY DOGFISH 


Embryo still attached to the egg; reduced one half. 
Photograph by R. C. Osburn. 


FISHES THAT PRODUCE LIVING 
YOUNG 

HE statement that some fishes bring forth 

their young alive is usually a startling 

one to the person who is not familiar with 
ichthyological lore. ‘The common sorts of fishes, 
it is true, lay their eggs either broadcast in the 
water or in various makeshifts for nests, and 
the fertilization takes place after the eggs are 
laid. But in a number of groups the eggs are 
retained until the young are developed, and it 
is of interest that these viviparous fishes are 
often not closely related, but belong to widely 
separated families. The development of the 
life-bearing function in such unrelated groups 
forms one of the best examples of parallel 
evolution. 

It is an equally interesting fact that most 
fishes that bear living young are closely related 
to others that reproduce in the usual manner; 
they are, therefore, individual species or genera 
which have adopted this mode of reproduction 
without undergoing a sufficient change in struc- 
tural characteristics to separate them from the 
parent stock. Thus the sharks, rays and killie- 
fishes have representatives of both classes. The 
surf-perches (Embiotocidae) of the Pacific 
Ocean represent a single family in which all 
the members are live-bearing. Among the 
sharks, the majority of the species are vivi- 
parous, but the Port Jackson and bullhead 
sharks lay large eggs with tough, horny shells. 
The majority of the rays or skates lay eggs with 
horny shells, but certain members, as the sea- 
bat or sea-devil (genus Manta) and the butter- 
fly ray (genus Pteroplatea) bring forth living 
young. Among the killie-fishes, the more com- 
mon genera (Fundulus and Zygonectes) lay 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


eggs, but in the genus Gambusia, etc., living 
young are produced. 

In the viviparous sharks and rays, the eggs 
are very large—as large as those laid by their 
oviparous relatives. The eggs contain sufficient 
nutriment, or nearly so, to bring the young to 
a proper condition for birth and but little 
nourishment is ordinarily derived from the 
mother. In the live-bearing bony fishes where 
the eggs are small, the young receive their 
nourishment, or a portion of it at least, from 
the maternal tissues. In the surf-perches, partic- 
ularly, as shown years ago by Professor Eigen- 
mann, the eggs are reduced in size to such an 
extent that they contain very little yolk, the 
nourishment in this case being derived from the 
membranes of the mother. The eggs of the 
Viviparous fishes are always comparatively few 
in number for very good reasons. First, since 
the young at birth are larger and more highly 
developed than those hatched in the ordinary 
way and so are better able to take care of them- 
selves, it has not been necessary to produce such 
a large number in order to continue the species. 
Second, a larger number of young would be too 
great a strain upon the vitality of the parent, 
which must be preserved if the young are to 
be produced in good condition. It is as though 
each type of fish possesses a certain amount of 
energy for reproduction, which, in the case of 
egg-laying fishes, can be devoted to the produc- 
tion of a large number of eggs, but which in 
the live-bearing fishes is devoted to the special 
nourishment and protection of a much smaller 
number, 


The common little shark, known as the dog- 
fish, produces several young at a time. These, 
when born, are about eight inches in length, 
while the adult fish reaches not more than 
three feet. It will thus be evident that the 
younger generation is well on its way to ma- 
turity at the time of birth and has passed most 
of the dangers that surround the ordinary type 
of fish during its hatching and growth periods. 


The surf-perches again seldom reach more 
than a foot in length, and bring forth a small 
number of young, which range in length ac- 
cording to the species from one and a half to 
two and a half inches, so these young are well 
on the way to maturity. 

Among the killie-fishes, the top-minnow 
(Gambusia affinis) of our southern Atlantic 
States bears a larger number of young, but these 
at birth are only about one-third of an inch, 
while the adult mother reaches a length of about 
two inches. According to a recent article in 
Science, by Dr. Hugh M. Smith, the average 
number of young in families produced in June 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


is one hundred, individual cases ranging from 
eighty-five to one hundred and thirty-four. Dr. 
Smith suggests that two broods are produced in 
a season, since the young are known to make 
their appearance both in spring and late summer. 
The second brood is much smaller in number, 
consisting of about two dozen, ranging, in the 
fish examined by him, from eighteen to thirty. 

The smaller fresh-water live-bearing fishes 
are easily kept and reproduce readily in cap- 
tivity. They are, therefore, much in demand by 
fish fanciers and are among the most interesting 
of the many species of aquarium fishes. 


A FASTIDIOUS SPIDER-CRAB 


LL young spider-crabs decorate the cara- 
pace and legs in the attempt to render 
themselves less conspicuous in their en- 

vironment (see the Butietin for November, 
1911). The specimen figured in the accompany- 
ing cut exhibited rather unusual taste in the 
matter of color as well as in the selection of 
material. When brought into the Aquarium it 
was covered with scraps of seaweed. It was 
placed in a tank in which there were few weeds, 
but a great many small, orange-colored ane- 
mones (Sagartia leucolena) attached to peb- 
bles. Apparently perceiving that algae were no 
longer in style, the crab in a short time dis- 
carded them and proceeded to adorn himself 
with the anemones. ‘The polyps seemed as well 
contented on the crab as they did on the stones, 
expanding and feeding as well as though it were 
their natural habitat. At the time the photo- 
graph was made, the crab, which was a trifle 
over an inch long, was carrying eleven anemones 
about with him. 


THE SWORDFISHING INDUSTRY 
CCORDING to the Fishing Gazette the 


swordfishing has been better the past 

summer than for many years. At Boston, 
where nearly all of the swordfish catch is landed 
and marketed, seven hundred and seven were 
brought in in one day, and on one other day six 
hundred and eighty-four of these big fishes 
were landed at T Wharf, the fishing dock. One 
schooner brought in two hundred and two at one 
time. This is a profitable business when one 
considers that the average weight of the fish is 
about two hundred pounds, and that they bring 
usually from eight to eleven cents a pound. 
The total quantity Janded at Boston during the 
month of July, 1912, was 1,014,350 pounds, 
valued at $93,370, or a little over nine cents a 
pound. 


BULLETIN. 931 


SPIDER-CRAB 


Decorated with sea-anemones ; slightly reduced. 
Photograph by R. C. Osburn. 

The swordfish is the largest fish, except the 
great tuna, regularly taken for market. Indi- 
viduals weighing over four hundred pounds are 
rarely taken, but there is a record of one weigh- 
ing seven hundred and fifty pounds. 

They are occasionally taken on trawl lines, 
but the harpoon is the usual means of capture. 
They usually swim near the surface, above 
which the dorsal fin often projects. A sailor at 
the masthead keeps watch for these signs, and 
when a fish is sighted the fishing vessel ap- 
proaches until the harpooner on the “pulpit,” a 
small framework at the end of the bowsprit, 
is within striking distance. To the head of the 
harpoon is fastened a light rope with a keg 
made fast to the end to serve as a float. 

After the fish has tired himself out in his 
struggles to escape from the harpoon and the 
float, the fisherman approaches in a dory and 
finishes him with a lance. Not infrequently, 
however, the fish retaliates by attacking the 
boat with his sword. ‘The strength of the in- 
furiated fish is such that the sword will easily 
pierce the bottom of a skiff, or even of a 
schooner, for that matter, as the records abun- 
dantly testify. I recall seeing a skiff which had 
been struck in such a manner that the sword 
went completely through the boat, piercing both 
sides. 

The favorite fishing grounds are the off-shore 
waters from Block Island to Cape Cod and 
northward, and it is no uncommon sight on pass- 
ing the region about No Man’s Land, off Mar- 
tha’s Vineyard, or the Nantucket Shoals, to see 
numbers of small fishing vessels, equipped for 
swordfishing, cruising about with a man at the 
masthead on the lookout for swordfish. The 
small schooners and sloops which engage in 
other fishing at other seasons of the year gener- 
ally carry swordfish tackle, and often when on 
other business are ready for a try at the big fish. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


c=) 
9 
wo 


THE BIG GROUPERS 


MALLER specimens of the Spotted Grou- 
S per or Jewfish (Promicrops guttatus) have 

lived remarkably well at the Aquarium, so 
it appeared probable that adults would do 
equally well. Consequently about a year ago 
a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound specimen was 
brought from Key West, Florida, as a gift from 
Mr. Danforth B. Ferguson. 

Up to that time this was the largest bony 
fish ever exhibited at the Aquarium, and the 
largest fish of any kind with the exception of an 
occasional large shark. On account of its size 
this specimen could not be accommodated in a 
wall tank with the other groupers, but was 
placed in the large center pool with the stur- 
geons, drumfishes and sand sharks. 

On April 3, 1912, six more large groupers, 
most of them considerably larger than the first, 
were brought from the same locality and placed 
in the same pool. One of these died on Sep- 
tember 8th, and though by no means the largest 
of the lot, it measured six feet three inches in 
length, and weighed, in a very emaciated con- 
dition, two hundred and thirty pounds. 

Though accustomed in their natural habitat 
to very pure sea-water of a high salinity, they 
have adapted themselves well to the harbor wa- 
ter supplied to the center pool, which has only 
half the salinity of pure sea-water and which 
is filthy beyond comparison with that of the 
Florida Keys. 

It is thus demonstrated beyond question that 
these giants among the finny tribes are hardy 
and adaptable in confinement, and we predict 
that they will become popular as aquarium ex- 
hibits in other institutions than our own. 


OUR BLACK-SPOTTED TROUT 


4 Bg trouts of western North America pre- 


sent an exceedingly difficult problem for 

the systematist, and authorities on the 
group are by no means agreed as to the status 
of many of the forms which have been variously 
regarded as species, varieties or merely local 
phases. 

The cut-throat or black-spotted trout, like 
most of its relatives, is extremely variable, and 
as its range is very great, extending from 
Alaska to California and from the head-waters 
of the Yellowstone to the Pacific, some widely 
different conditions or habitat are presented. It 
may be that some of these differences are due 
to direct effects of the environment, but prob- 
ably the modern students of heredity would re- 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


gard the species as one possessed of a great 
complex of characters, which, under geographi- 
cal isolation, have become segregated or sorted 
out in various ways to produce the variations in 
color, ete., which are observed. 


The trout of Yellowstone Lake and neigh- 
boring waters was originally described as a 
separate species, Salmo lenisi, in honor of Cap- 
tain Meriwether Lewis, the leader of the Lewis 
and Clark expedition. Later it was considered 
a variety of Salmo clarki, the cut-throat or 
black-spotted trout. All the tendency of recent 
years has been to merge it completely with 
clarki, and drop the varietal name. 


The manner in which the species has become 
distributed in the head-waters of the Yellow- 
stone from the Snake River by way of ‘Two- 
Ocean Pass, has been interestingly described by 
Dr. B. W. Evermann. It appears that the cut- 
throat trout is the only species of fish inhabiting 
the waters of Yellowstone Lake. Certain other 
species have been introduced, but according to 
Messrs. Thompson and Leach, of the United 
States Bureau of Fisheries Stations at the lake, 
none of those introduced are ever taken, so it is 
presumed that they have failed to adapt them- 
selves to these waters. 

Every summer the Aquarium receives eggs of 
the cut-throat trout through the kindness of the 
United States Bureau of Fisheries, and the past 
season the writer had the privilege of seeing the 
work of taking the eggs at the lake stations. 
The Yellowstone trout, like most lake-dwelling 
trout, run into the shallow waters to breed, 
and where possible ascend the small streams 
which empty into the lake. Often the way is 
barred by shallows in the streamlets, but, un- 
dismayed by difficulties that ordinarily they 
would not attempt, the fishes, prompted by the 
breeding instinct, attempt to pass over ripples 
so shallow that swimming is impossible, and 
progress must be made, if at all, by a series of 
flops and struggles over the uneven gravel and 
stones of the stream bed. The writer observed 
one such shallow, where, in perhaps the space 
of a square yard, about a dozen trout were at- 
tempting to pass by this method from one pool 
to the next higher. The water was so shallow 
that the fishes were more than half exposed to 
the air, and were compelled to lie on one side 
between struggles. Occasionally a fish would 
flop out upon the dry gravel. However, the 
large number of fishes in the pool above proved 
that many, if not all, that made the attempt had 
been successful. In some pools the fish were 
so numerous as to render the bottom scarcely 
visible, and to capture them to obtain eggs 
meant only dipping them out with a hand-net. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


The morning before my arrival at the lake, 
Mr. Thompson had taken three hundred thou- 
sand eggs. The Yellowstone trout yield on the 
average not more than one thousand eggs, so to 
secure the above number it had been necessary 
to strip at least three hundred females. After 
fertilization, the eggs, which are orange in 
and about the size of small peas, are 
placed two or three layers deep in wooden trays 
with a wire screen bottom, and the trays are 
set in running water. 

The eggs when in this condition do not stand 
transportation as well as they do after the em- 
bryos have partially developed, so they are kept 
at the lake until they are eyed, that is, until the 
eyes af the developing embryos are visible as 
black specks in the eggs. In this condition they 
may be shipped, with proper care as to tem- 
perature and handling, to any part of the world. 
For transportation from the lake the trays are 
packed in ice in the shipping crates and hauled 
by express wagons sixty-five to seventy miles to 
the nearest railroad station at Gardiner, Mon- 
tana. From here they go by rail, usually to the 
United States Fisheries Stations at Bozeman, 
Montana, and Spearfish, South Dakota, for fur- 
ther hatching, or they may be shipped else- 
where. All that is required is that the eggs be 
kept moist and the temperature low. 

The eggs received at the New York Aquarium 
make, first, the long drive out of Yellowstone 
Park, then a twenty-five hundred mile trip by 
rail. On their arrival the trays are again placed 
in running water, maintained at a proper tem- 
perature, and the process of development, which 
has been delayed by the cold during the ship- 
ment, goes forward again to its completion. 

Up to the period when the young fishes are 
planted in streams and lakes to look after them- 
selves, the work of the fish culturist, the product 
of modern scientific methods, is far more certain 
of its results than is the work of the agriculturist 
or horticulturist. When our visitors view the 
black-spotted trout hatched and reared in the 
Aquarium, we bee that they will recall not 
merely the long journey, but also the scientific 
studies that have made possible such results. 


egas 


color 


THE ORANGE FILEFISH 
NE of the most unique fishes of our fauna 
is the Orange Filefish (Alutera schoepfi), 
known also by a variety of local names, 
such as foolfish, leather-jacket, hambag-fish, old 
maid, living skeleton and sunfish. The 
filefish is derived from the serrated character 
of the dorsal spine, which is somewhat like that 


name 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


No) 
9 


JAWS OF ORANGE FILEFISH 


Jaws, fully opened, and teeth of Orange Filetish, enlarged 
about one-half. Photograph by R. C. Osburn. 


of the trigger-fishes, to which the species is 
closely related. The term foolfish was un- 
doubtedly applied on account of the peculiar 
facial expression, and the actions of the fish in 
swimming tend to strengthen the application. 
The color of the adult fish is usually a light 
orange overlaid with irregular brown blotches, 
but a great amount of variation is observed, and 
sometimes when the brown is wanting the fish 


has a startling resemblance to an animated 
omelet. The filefish, along with the trigger- 


fishes, has been cited as an example of warn- 
ing coloration, their striking hues being supposed 
to signal the fact that the flesh is poisonous. 
The seales are very small and covered with sharp 
prickles which give to the skin a texture not 
unlike the shagreen of the shark. 

In form the fish is very deep and extraordi- 
narily thin so that the prominent features of the 
skeleton are often observable externally, and the 
common name living skeleton is rather appro- 
priate. The upper part of the head is remark- 
ably retracted so that the eye is situated almost 
under the dorsal spine and above and posterior 
to the gill opening and the pectoral fin, while 
the latter is anterior to the hinder end of the 
very oblique gill opening. The lower jaw is 
protruded to such an extent that its teeth are 
directed strongly backward. 

The position of the small mouth is such that 
the fish must assume very unusual positions in 
feeding. In nature they find their food about 
piles, rocks and in similar situations, and they 
feed upon corals, hydroids, bryozoa, mollusks, 
crustacea, seaweed, ete., which they cut up by 
means of the sharp, incisor-like teeth. Only 
when the food is above them can they take it in 
a horizontal position; if it is in front of them 
they must turn obliquely downward, while if it 


934 


it is below them they must stand on their heads 
to secure it. In the Aquarium they may be 
even seen to turn partly over backward to pick 
food from the bottom. Mr. W. I. DeNyse, who 
has observed them feeding in nature, informs 
me that these positions are habitual with them. 
The teeth of the filefish are very peculiar, but 
well adapted to the function of cutting. In the 
lower jaw there is a single series of sharp-edged 
incisor-like teeth. These are opposed to a 
double row of teeth in the upper jaw which are 
so arranged that they present a single cutting 
edge. The lower jaw closes inside of the upper 
in such a way that an admirable pair of shears 
is formed, and the trenchant function is further 
increased by the serrated edge. 


The bones forming the bases of the fins are 
very strong, especially the anterior ones of the 
dorsal and anal series, which are remarkably 
enlarged. The pelvic fins are entirely wanting, 
but the pelvic girdle is modified to form a strong 
brace consisting of a single bone extending 
from between the jaws, where it is attached, the 
full length of the abdomen, to which it lends 
support and protection. The ribs are short and 
very strong and are broadened posteriorly to 
overlap, suggesting the uncinate processes of 
the ribs of birds. 


In the Aquarium the tail is used almost en- 
tirely as a rudder, and progress is made in an 
awkward-appearing fashion by means of scull- 
ing with the pectoral fins and by the undulatory 
motion of the dorsal and anal fins. These move- 
ments are reversed in swimming backward. 
When rapid progress is desirable the tail is used 
in the manner usual in fishes. 

While the orange filefish is known from the 
Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod, and even as far 
north as Salem, Mass., it is naturally a fish of 
the warmer seas and is found in this region 
only during the warmer months. Whether they 
migrate southward, or are killed by the cold at 
the approach of winter, is not known. The 
young, three inches and over, are fairly com- 
mon along the coast of Long Island and south- 
ern New England every summer, especially in 
September, but the adults are more rare. A 
few adults are usually taken each season at 
Gravesend Bay and at Woods Hole, Mass., but 
occasionally several years will pass without the 
capture of a single specimen. The present 
season has been unusual in the appearance of 
large numbers of adults at Gravesend Bay; as 
many as seventy-five or eighty being taken at 
a single haul of a pound net. 

The filefish reaches a maximum length of two 
feet, but the largest taken in this region meas- 
ured about eighteen inches. They present a 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


rather bizarre appearance in the Aquarium, and 
their peculiar and awkward movements seem 
to have a greater attraction than usual for our 
visitors. While the adults live fairly well, con- 
siderable difficulty has been experienced in 
handling the young, and it has not been possible 
to keep them more than a few months. Probably 
the difficulty lies with the character of the food, 
although the diet has been varied as much as 
possible in the attempt to rear them to maturity. 
The filefishes have no economic importance 
for the scanty flesh is bitter and offensive to the 
taste, and it is not improbable that it is impreg- 
nated with a poisonous alkaloid. Such poisons 
are known to exist in the nearly related trigger- 
fishes, some of which are so noxious as to cause a 
severe disease, ciguatera, which not infrequently 
results fatally both to man and lower animals. 


COMMON SEA CATFISH 


AQUARIUM NOTES 


Tarpon.—A splendid mounted specimen of 
the tarpon has been presented to the Aquarium 
by Mr. H. Casimir de Rham, Member of the 
Board of Managers of the New York Zoological 
Society. The fish, which weighed one hundred 
and sixty-five pounds, was taken by Mr. de 
Rham with rod and line at Bahia Honda, 
Florida. 


Aiding Investigators—During the past year 
the Aquarium has been able to aid biological re- 
search in a number of ways. Owing to lack of 
laboratory space and proper equipment but little 
such work can be carried on within the walls of 
the Aquarium building. Mr. George G. Scott 
of the College of the City of New York, how- 
ever, has pursued certain investigations on the 
blood of fishes in an improvised laboratory. 

Dr. Jacques Loeb, of Rockefeller Institute, 
has been supplied with large numbers of killie- 
fishes for use in the investigation of certain 
biological problems. Prof. C. F. W. McClure, 
of Princeton University, has been furnished 
with the eggs and embryos of salmonoid fishes 
for the completion of studies on the origin and 
development of the lymphatic vessels. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 935 


RED HIND 


Dr. G. A. MacCallum, of New York City, has 
been for some months examining the diseased 
and dead fishes for the purpose of determining 
the nature of fish diseases and the cause of 
death, and especially to study the parasites of 
the fishes in the Aquarium. 


Porpoises and Dolphins.—Numerous attempts 
have been made to secure these small toothed- 
whales in good condition for exhibition at the 
Aquarium. On several occasions specimens of 
both have been taken in local waters and placed 
in the large center pool, but they have always 
appeared to be injured before their arrival and 
never have lived more than a week or so. 

The last such attempt was made a short time 
ago when a specimen of the common dolphin was 
captured in a pound-net at Holly Beach, N. J., 
and brought to the Aquarium on September 
11th. It was evidently nearly dead on arrival, 
but it survived for two days. 

On two occasions we have tried to secure 
specimens of the porpoise through the coopera- 
tion of the porpoise fishery at Cape Hatteras, 
N. C., the only such fishery on our coast. The 
first time none were secured. Last winter a sec- 
ond attempt was made and several fine speci- 
mens were captured and shipped. The worst 
blizzard of the season was then raging on the 
coast and transportation was delayed at a time 
when it was impossible to protect the animals 


properly. The result was that all were chilled 
and none of them reached New York alive. 

It would seem that the Fates have decreed 
against us in regard to these animals. However, 
not being predestinationists in this respect, we 
have decided to renew our efforts and another 
trial to obtain porpoises from Hatteras will 
probably be made during the coming fall or 
winter, in the hope that persistence may be 
crowned with success. 


Stored Sea-Water Analysis—There is in the 
storage reservoir at the Aquarium a supply of 
water varying from sixty thousand to seventy 
thousand gallons brought in from the open sea 
for the benefit of our tropical fishes, since these 
forms, as a rule, do not live well in the brackish 
and filthy harbor water. The reservoir was 
filled in July, 1908, and since that time the wa- 
ter has not been entirely renewed, although 
twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand gallons 
are added yearly to make up for losses due to 
waste. It is a fact forcibly impressed upon the 
management of the Aquarium that corrosion is 
constantly taking place in the lead-lined and 
galvanized piping and the bronze pumps 
through which this sea-water is circulated. Fear- 
ing that there might have been an accumulation 
of lead, zine or copper salts in solution to a 
degree that would be poisonous to the fishes, it 
was determined to have the water analyzed. 


936 


COWFISH 
The vertical fins often assume very unusual positions in 
sculling slowly about the aquarium tank. 

Dr. Otto Kress, of the Department of Chemis- 
try of Columbia University, undertook the 
analysis, and his results showed that in spite of 
the corrosion there has been no increase in such 
poisonous salts in the water. There is thus no 
reason to fear that the very considerable chemi- 
eal action of the warm sea-water upon our piping 
and pumps can prove a 


source of danger to the 
fishes. 
The thanks of the New 


York Zoological Society are 
due Dr. Kress for his kind- 
ness in making the analysis. 


The Large Turtles — 
Both the green and logger- 
head turtles live well in cap- 
tivity, no matter what their 
age, provided, of course, that 
they have sustained no in- 
juries in capture or during 
transportation. 

There are at _ present 
twelve green turtles of vari- 
ous sizes in the New York 
Aquarium. The smallest 
weighs not more than ten 
pounds, the largest about 
four hundred. One specimen 
from the South Pacific Ocean 
was brought around Cape 
Horn in a sailing vessel and 
presented to the Aquarium 
in 1898. It is in excellent 
condition after fourteen 
years of confinement. 

One loggerhead was re- 
ceived on August 29, 1900, 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


and is still on exhibition. This specimen weighs 
about four hundred and fifty pounds, the largest 
loggerhead ever seen at the Aquarium. Several 
others weigh in the neighborhood of two hun- 
dred pounds, and the smallest one weighs about 
fifty. 

The smaller hawk’s-bills live well, but larger 
ones, seventy-five to one hundred pounds, appear 
to be unable to adapt themselves to the condi- 
tions of life in captivity and can seldom be 
induced to take food. 

Leatherbacks have been tried on several occa- 
sions, but the attempt to keep them has always 
resulted in failure. They swim continually, will 
take no food and soon weaken and die. Pos- 
sibly very young individuals might give different 
results, but these we have not been able to ob- 
tain. 

All the larger turtles are kept in the harbor 
water, though in nature they live in the purest 
sea-water of the open ocean. 

Other Aquariums.—American cities have been 
slow to perceive the importance of the public 
aquarium as a means of entertainment and 


TRUNKFISHES 


The humpbacked Buffalo Trunkfish, the common Trunkfish and the horned Cowfish 


are all represented in the same tank. 


ZOOLOGICAL 


SOCIETY BULLETIN. 


937 


TRUNKFISH 


The body is encased in an armor of bony plates. 


and instruction, but recently the idea seems to 
have taken hold in a number of centers. For 
many years New York City stood alone in this 
respect among the cities of the United States, 
although its aquarium has continually demon- 
strated the great popularity of such institutions 
from its opening day in December, 1896. 

The Detroit Aquarium was opened to the 
public in 1904, and although it is rather inac- 
cessibly situated on Belle Isle, several miles 
from the city, the attendance for the past year 
exceeded the million mark. This aquarium, 
located nearly eight hundred miles from the sea, 
nevertheless maintains a fine collection of marine 
fishes by means of a storage system and has 
thoroughly demonstrated the practicability of 
the inland salt-water exhibition. 

In Philadelphia a temporary aquarium was 
opened in Fairmount Park on November 25th, 
1911, in one of the old water-works buildings. 
Although possessing but nineteen tanks, in which 
only fresh-water fishes are exhibited. this aqua- 
rium has thoroughly justified its existence, and 
in the ten months from the time of its opening 
to October Ist, 1912, two hundred and sixty-six 
thousand three hundred and thirty-eight visitors 
viewed the exhibitions. A salt-water aquarium 
one hundred feet by fifty feet is in process of 


construction, with provision for thirty tanks, 
and will be occupied before the end of the year. 
Mr. W. E. Meehan, formerly State Commis- 
sioner of Fisheries of Pennsylvania, is the 
superintendent. 

At Boston a new city aquarium has just been 
completed and will be opened to the public 
within a few weeks. Provision has been made 
for both salt and fresh-water exhibitions. Mr. 
L. L. Mowbray, formerly in charge of the 
Bermuda Aquarium, has been made superin- 
tendent of the Boston Aquarium, and Mr. A. O. 
Featherstone, for more than eleven years an 
employee of the New York Aquarium, has 
accepted an advanced position in the Boston 
institution. 


Key West Fishes.—An unusually fine lot of 
fishes arrived at the Aquarium on October 9th 
from Key West. Altogether there were three 
hundred and fourteen specimens of fishes, repre- 
senting forty-three species, besides conches and 
starfish. The following list will show the great 
variety of forms represented in the collection: 
Nassau, red, yellow-fin and black groupers; 
mutton-fish; snook; margate; black, blue and 
queen angel-fishes; spadefish; spot and gray 


938 


ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


BULLETIN. 


SPADEFISHES IN THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM 


These cross-barred beauties are graceful swimmers. 


snappers; common and salmon rockfish; common 
and buffalo trunkfish; cowfish; butterfly-fish; 
rock and red hinds; trigger-fish; porgy; white, 
gray, yellow and blue-striped grunts; squirrel- 
fish; schoolmaster; rainbow parrot-fish; red and 
Spanish hogfishes; porkfish; brown and green 
morays; filefish; yellowtail; Bermuda chub; 
scorpion-fish; surgeon-fish; remora or shark- 
sucker; southern puffer or swellfish, and sea 
catfish. 

All of these except the buffalo trunkfish and 
the queen angel-fish have been exhibited before 
in the Aquarium. Some of these will eventually 
be placed in the new Boston Aquarium, when 
the salt-water tanks there are completed. In 
the meantime, they are all being cared for in 
the New York Aquarium and a large proportion 
will remain on exhibition here. The collection 
was made and cared for during transportation 
by Mr. L. L. Mowbray, Superintendent of the 
Boston Aquarium. 


Burietin No. 6.—Wanted, one copy. 


The Giant Salamander.—After the lapse of 
several years, the largest species of amphibian 
known to the modern world is again represented 
in the collections of the New York Aquarium. 
The species, Megalobatrachus japonicus, is a 
native of Japan, and is a veritable giant among 
recent amphibians, reaching a length of about 
three feet. 

Some of the early ancestors of the group were 
as large as alligators, but with the exception 
of this one all the modern species are small, 
most of them reaching a length of only a few 
inches. 

Aside from the mere fact of size, the species 
is interesting to the student of geographical 
distribution because its only near relative is the 
common hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleghe- 
niensis) of the Ohio River drainage. Evidently 
these two species are the last representatives of a 
group which once had a world-wide distribution. 

The specimen at present in the Aquarium is 
about two feet long. The giant salamander 
lives well and has even been known to breed in 
captivity. 


GENERAL INFORMATION 


MEMBERSHIP IN THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Membership in the Zoological Society is open to all interested in the objects of the organi- 
zation, 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. 

Applications for membership may be handed to the Chief Clerk, in the Zoological Park, 
Dr. C. H. Townsend, N. Y. Aquarium, Battery Park, New York City, or forwarded to the Gen- 
eral Secretary, No. 11 Wall Street, 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 May 1 to November 1, the opening and closing hours are from 9 
o'clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. From November 1 to May 1, the opening and 
closing hours are from 10 o’clock A. M. until one-half hour before sunset. 


NEW YORK AQUARIUM 
9 o'clock 


The Aquarium is open every day in the year: April 15 to October 15, from ¢ 
A. M.-to 5 o’clock P. M.; October 16 to April 14, from 10 o’clock A. M. to 4 o’clock P. M. No 
admission is charged. 


PUBLICATIONS 


The publications of the Society are for sale at the prices affixed below. Address H. R. 
Mitchell, Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park. 


First eAgiAl s REPOLE tec 5% Gele’s oe ce anon Paper $ .40 | The Origin and Relationship of the 
Second ie “ - ....Paper $.75 Cloth 1.00 | Large Mammals of North America 
Third ss Sree MOR en ne AO “ 60 ETE Dae acs eS ee nea ae aa Cloth $ .75 
Fourth “ Mlhae st Cy, oe AO “ 60 | Zoologica Vol. I. Nos. 1-7 ince. (Beebe), the Set 1.30 
Fifth “ (ER See a5 “ 1.00 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 8. The Northern 
Sixth “ « “ 15 « 1.00 Elephant Seal (Townsend) ......... 25 
a a Pg oR ? ce 5 Zoologica Vol. I. No. 9. Diseases of Pri- 
Seventh noes 1.00 1.95 : lai ‘ 
: if ee ra ‘00 te 1.95 mates (Blair) Be bcs ik bstaratia oss kh 5 
Eighth x aaa es a & 5 Zoologica Vol. I. No. 10. New Blood 
Ninth srg 1.25 eo 1.50 Phedsants,(Beehe): svatccdecs cece + teas 15 
Tenth s bap Vinduit icone ema EL) 1.50 | Zoologica Vol. I. No. 11. Feeding Habits 
Eleventh "3 gels in: 1.00 . 1.25 of Serpents (Ditmars)............. In Preparation 
Twelfth ss Sets pee ross 1.00 ¢ 1.25 | The Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds 
Thirteenth “ Cage ayaa, 6 1.00 S 1.25 (GBownSend ees tetenrercane mia yan art si 20 
Fourteenth “ ee oe 1.00 S 1.25 | Chameleons of the Sea (Instantaneous 
Fifteenth “ LOS pe eye 1.00. s 1.25 Color Changes in Fishes) (Townsend) 16 
Sixteenth “ Cee ie Peek 1.00 “ 1.95 | Sea-Shore Life (Mayer) .............: Cloth 120 
Notes on Mountain Sheep of North e CHaRnd a Berke Aooriegh Park By Mail 35 
America (Hornaday) SSE og ORO Fo Paper .40 Pais haaticnaet Gailection Gee ited: and 
Destruction of Our Birds and Mammals _ _ | Horns (Hornaday). Large quarto. 
(Hornaday) .---- +++... ee sees eee es 15 Rartsstand Que. sv. s% strata ac. - Paper, Each 1.00 
The Caribou (Grant) ........0.0.-.-00. Pe 40: } Bulletin Nos--1 and fi). tie. oo asso 's » Out of Print 
cs o Rib ah Metavlattelaret ate 'n 8tea]ate Cloth .60 | Bulletins—bi-monthly........... Yearly by Mail 1.00 


Souvenir Books and Post,Cards of the Zoological Park may be obtained by writing the 
Chief Clerk, New York Zoological Park, New York City. 

Publications and Post Cards of the Aquarium may be obtained by writing Dr. C. H. Town- 
send, Director, Battery Park, New York City. 


DONUT 


3 2044 106 274 893 


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