wv UL 088 01261 4 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 Jeon 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 neryous 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 may 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 ayail- 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 tor 1908. Institution. Total. New York Zoological Park 103 LB(Sp ol Fn eer 8 ae es ice eRe 3149 IG Setter he Me tie te tice ol 2972 Fila lp hitaieeeray aa sete ie te 2526 Jniias |e onacoddacoence 2389 SCHOCHOEUMM | aidan cs a 2085 CUGRIG Yraceccdotens cogs 2001 ESRESIAMb a. rhs es ihe cieies 1843 1 Shine 1249) ene eee exe ERE 1002 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 visitors in 1907 was 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 as others see us. On this point we may quote the opinion of three German pro- who came to America fessors last August as delegates to the Seventh International Zoological Congress. At the close of their visit in New York, they addressed to one of the leading 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. 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- and 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. less painless. Ba Rego 454 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 Diem, 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 mallar ral ducklings on the wild- foal 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-McMillin 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. OO RY OD Or ee FE MD OOD OOO BD OS OD 2 DD OO W. T. H. 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 careful 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- 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. @We Be *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. Armar D. Saunderson. 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 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 by 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 catches 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. TOTAL Catves | Torat on MALES | FEMALES | jn 1907 |JAN. 1, 1908|| Nn 1903 Captive in the United States. . 506 610 203) |) 1116 969 Captive in Canada 214 262 98 476 41 sRocalnupANNeriCay ys ta oa 0 eos els oye av GOSS 720 872 301 1592 1010 CApHVeHHeHMLOpe ye fe) oie & lag wiles Rigsined os 54 76 22 130 109 mROeAieIHN Captivity... sha lo « aia eas same ale 3 774 948 323 1722 1119 Wild Bison in the United States, Estimated ahr 25 WitldebisommnkCanaday Estimated =) oe. 5 a0s) ~0a6s 4 ; 300. Lotals pure blood Bison, Jan. 1, 1908...) ... Bose 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 Bees) dace 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 fayoritism 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 usually 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. 44] 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 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. C. W. B. A SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO THE DELTA OF THE ORINOCO. N the 22nd of February, 1908, Mrs. Beebe Ons the writer sailed on the Royal Mail S. 5. “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. 14.3, WHITE SOUTH AMERICAN RHEA IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. of the French occupation), hundreds of neat, mosquito-screened houses and vistas of the gi- gantic 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 denom- 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 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 insects were collected. Add of wt see ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 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. C. W. B. A RARE ZEBRA. HE Zoological Park has very quired a fine male specimen of a most uncommon equine species known as _ the Grevy Zebra, (Equus grevyi), so named in honor of an ex-President of France. It is not recently ac- 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 ears. Its stripes extend quite down to its hoofs. This very handsome animal is found in south- ern Abyssinia and northern Somaliland. Thus far, practically all the specimens that have reached Europe and America have come from Abyssinia, and several of them have been sent 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 equines, as follows: Grevy zebra, Grant zebra, Chapman zebra, Persian wild ass and Prejevalsky horse. Wieiaehie Supplement to the ZOOLOGICAL POCIE TY BULLETIN Published by the New York Zoological Society. July, 1908 THE PASSING OF THE WHALE. By Freperic 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. Lueas on “The Passing of the Whale,” published as a supplement to the present number of the Burietin of the New York Zoological Society. It is a truthful statement by one of the best-informed students of the subject. The valuable whale is unquestionably going fast— faster than the valuable fur seal—and soon may be classed nith 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. God Tl. 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 under the observation of the average citizen. Yet whales as economic animals have been and They are of the greatest possible interest zoologically, 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 brought great wealth to the New England States. was most important there were over six hundred In the days when the whale fishery 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 350 whales, more probably about 500, since prior to The first whal- methods represents not less than 1902 the waste was very great. ing station in which modern 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 steamers were employed. The effects of this over-multiplication were felt at once, and while 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__....... “1904 10 a oo ges = eee WAG) ~ 1905515 ss sof Se Se 892 z “1906 14 re pa ne Te 429 e “1907 14 of ope eee 481 iy 3935 whales Taken between 1898-1902, esti- mated. "5 se2ecn tne Beene ee 350 “ 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 ke sup- To a slight extent this may be true for there seems some rea- plied by overflow from another. 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 animalst 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 whick 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. 4AT The imports of whalebone into the United 1805 to 1905 were 81,985,655 Averaging 2,000 pounds per whale, a States from pounds. 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 Ccast 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 the many victims immolated on the altar of 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. But when the present appliances for taking whales were perfected the death knell 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. the have been placed on the Norwegian whale fisheries, deference to fishermen, restrictions other stations have been opened in Iceland and the Feroes. There is some whaling from New Zealand and South Africa, and concessions have been granted for other parts of the world. This does not include whaling for Sperm whales and 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 of the planting, only reaping, proper sense word when there is no 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 for all time. This may be very difficult to bring about, but may be accomplished in 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. ae ZOOLOGICAL SOC LEY | BULLETIN No. 31 Published by the New York Zoological Society October, 1908 NORTH FACADE AND DOME OF THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. ELEPHANT HOUSE 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 coy- 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 > the building operations in the Zoological * 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 SOCIETY BULLETIN. 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 moy- able beams of steel. jnos ay} Woy Udxe} AIA “Sulp[ing ay} jo }Juoly Ul FJa] PUe WS ayy 0} aovds uado 94} Adnooo [JIM spuvs ayy “4 ‘GSQOH INVHda1da AHL AO NOILVAA1A JIS ZOOLOGICAL Yeas: SOCIETY BULLETIN. ABE Vt Qs 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 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 iaying of ordinary macadam the coming of warm weather. raised. almost un- paving. The concrete floors are to be to leave the roots of certain trees 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 cost. 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. Wis Dae 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 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 £,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 SOCIETY INDIAN ELEPHANT BULLETIN. “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 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. q 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, “Tuna” 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, SOCIETY 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. Vivo “Ute Lek A LARGE SEA TURTLE. O: September 7th, the Aquarium received 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. CoH: 456 ZOOLOGICAL 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. Officers of the Society. President - Hon. Levi P. Morton. Executive Committee - Pror. HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, Chairman, JoHN S. BARNES, Mabison 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, 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. The President of the Dep’t of Parks, Hon. HENRY SMITH. , Class of 1909. Class of 1910. Glass of 1911. Levi P. Morton, F. 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. Casimir De Rham, William White Niles, George C. Clark, George Crocker, Samuel Thorne, Cleveland H. Dodge, Hugh D. Auchincloss, Henry A. C. Taylor, C., 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, 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: SOCIETY 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 offenders 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: The Times, Public Opinion, The Tribune, Morning Telegraph, Staats Zeitung, Vogue, North Side News, The Independent, Bronx Sentinel, Columbia (S. C.) States The Herald, Colorado Springs 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 educa- 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 without 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 broadcast, 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 Jaws of decency and good order. Weal Ele TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS. In the last issue of the BuLietin, 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. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. MALE SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR. NEW WORLD VULTURES. By C. WitiiamM 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- lions, 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- vouring 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 SOCIETY 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 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). Il. King Vulture (Gypagus papa). III. 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 ZOOLOGICAL 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 carrion 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. Tle 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 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 around him. goes on 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 occa- 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. ISS MIDWAY I. UNDER/U. 8. NAVY med DEPARTMENT. 5 “Cy / NATIONAL PARKS AND GAME PRESERVES, AND BIRD REFUGES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 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 501 in that state, are now preserved for all coming time. At the same time, we congratulate Dr. Palmer on tthe 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. a x ” tiared a Fan OT Gas sr NATIONAL BIRD REFUGES, ESTABLISHED 1903-1908. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. YY, SCALE OF MILES 7, \, /xiibihi ih Yy crane rake > 1 Qu. ncar fone ree Hanon 20 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- But the wilderness contains many moose, and zoologi- tically nothing of commercial value. 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 shewn (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 Cajon National Monument,” and fully twice as much more. The country south of the Colorado Cajion 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. 27 Miles 6Miles z 6 Miles 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 Maotson 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 imsects 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 Farrrizitp Osporn. 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 BuLLETIN is not our first gun, but it is our first broad-side. Our work will be mainly directed to the state and public 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 BuLietrn 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 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 BULLETIN. 507 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 wmild-life preserve! Evidently the Sen- ator felt that with that feature included, his bill might be defeated. But will it? 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 may in which they can secure that end is by saying so to their members of Congress, next December, when the bill mill start anew! 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. admirable fullness of detail. 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, PeEercy R. PYNE, 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 PI Director, WILLIAM T. HORNADAY 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 nf 1910. Glass of 1911. Glass nf 1912. F. Augustus Schermerhorn Henry F. Osborn, Levi P. Morton, Percy R. Pyne, E 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, Samuel Thorne, . Casimir De Rham, Hugh D. Auchincloss, Charles F. Dieterich, Cleveland H. Dodge, James J. Hill, C. Ledyard Blair, George F. Baker, Henry A. C. Taylor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Grant B. Schley, Hugh J. Chisholm, Nelson Robinson, Payne Whitney, Frank K. Sturgis, Frederick G. Bourne, James W. Barney, George J. Gould, W. Austin Wadsworth Wm. PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills Permission is given to quote in print any of the matter contained in this issue, with the usual credit to the Zoorocican Socrery BuLuietin. 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 Butierry 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, 2. 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 wild 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- seribe, 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. INE WE VOL Kui te eens oh oo ed rll Lecelienes Aoalhye $5,213.00 Massachusetts . 2,320.00 Minnesota .......... 1,054.00 Pennsylvania 503.00 Montana ..... 366.00 TUUN SONG): Soo eeaecceecscees 177.50 District of Columbia... 149.00 Connecticut -... 97.00 New Jersey .- 92.00 California 91.00 Michigan ..... 83.00 Ohio 72.00 Missouri ~.......... 53.00 New Hampshire 53.00 @JsTa hho rane ees ee a eee econ eee eee 48.00 Rhodes Jislam dl, eee. ee ee ee 39.10 Nebraska 32.00 England ... 25.00 Colorado . 15.00 Arizona 15.00 Florida 10.00 Maryland 8.00 Washington 7.50 Eran cemeesats 6.90 Towa .-......- 6.00 Wyoming 5.00 Kentucky 4.50 Maine) s 2 --- 4.00 West Virginia 4.00 “Amomymous” .........--------------- 3.00 ‘South mCarolinay eee 1.00 Louisiana ...... 1.00 Vermont ......:. 1.00 ES TUIS HMR OMIT Ta reseee esate eae neers cence 1.00 STIG) es Ue ee se Se eee eer ere $10,560.50 EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S’ REC- ORD IN WILD-LIFE PRESERVATION. A 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 Cajfion 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 Conserva- 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 unsportsmanlike and unfair game 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. ae believe that every owner of a private game 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. ROUND the coast of the United States, Atiere 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, Loujsiana, 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 credit 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. 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 Crus, Pittsburg, Pa. J. O. Reaume, President. William M. Kennedy, President. Tue Norru American FisH anp Game Prorective AssocraTion, January 20, 1909. Membership about 400. Vio abe Jel, Ernest T. Seton, President. Member- Sixty members. Hon. Dr. An international organization. Adopt- ed at the Toronto Convention, after a full discussion of Plank 5. Tue Rop anp Gun Cuus, Sheridan County, Wyoming, May 1, 1909. George Lord, President; Dr. F. A. Hodson, Vice-President. ganized May 12. Twenty members. Seventy-four members. Tue Camp-Fire Crus or Micuiean, Detroit, May 20, 1909. Gustavus D. Pope, President. Or- CONVICTION OF SONG-BIRD KILLERS. INCENZO SACCO and Antonio Guadagno, V iio were arrested by Deputy Game-Warden John J. Rose, of the Zoological Park force, for killing song-birds for food, as described in Buiietin No. 32, page 473, were finally tried and convicted, and sentenced to ten weeks in the penitentiary. If the fines to which the men 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 Peed 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 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. NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL PARKS AND GAME PRESERVES. June 1, 1909. IN THE UNITED STATES. Area. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.................. 2,142,720 acres. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National and Minlitamyeeeleni ness Ce sess eee essere eereeeeceencas 651951 eee Sequoia, California ... 160,000 <‘ Yosemite, California 967,680 ‘ Mt. Rainier, Washington-_ Oss OU Crater Lake, Oregon............ 159,360 ‘“* 2,019,000 *“* 600,000‘ Game Canon Game Presery Mt. Olympus National Monument.. Superior Game and Forest Preserve 909,743 “ Wichita Forest and Game Preserve. ee SrAlan Wichita National Bison Range..........................- 9,760 Montana National Bison Range, fenced range, for captive game herds......-.----...--.--..- 20,000 “‘ IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES. Rocky Mountains Park, Alberta 2,764,800 acres. Yoho Park, Alberta....... 1,799,680 “ Glacier Park, Alberta... eee 1,474,560 <“* Buffalo Park, Alberta (for captive bison) ........ 384,000 “ Elk Island Park, Alberta, (for captive bison)... Jasper Park, Alberta ...... EEE oon CES East Kootenay Preserve, British Columbia........ Yalakom Mountains, Columbia 514 WILLIAM DUTCHER. “THERE 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. Trroporr 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 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. Witr1am Dutcuer, 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 bequeathed 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. Grorcr O. Surmetps, 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 ini 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 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 Conservation of big game are the real exterminators of our finest wild animals. At this moment, a very aggravating case in point is reported from Fre- 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 were 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:— “E. 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 the settlements. They are helpless and can be picked off with ease. Farmers, not hunters, are 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- survive 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 ell 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 majority. For example, in 1907, a clause slipped through the Montana legislature remoy- 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 Park! No wonder Jackson’s Hole has put on mourning. The inclusion of the ell was of course un- necessary, and also decidedly unfortunate. With 30,000 elk in Wyoming, there is no need for a perpetual close season; and there is no around the Yellowstone 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 ‘is 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 eatinction! 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. * ™ ip ay IWIN mS ca) PUBLISHED BY THE HUDSON-FULTON COMMISSION IN COOPERATION WITH THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 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. A. 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 Scientifie 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: TrinuNre Buripine, New York Telephones: Berkman 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 Commission, IN COOPERATION WITH Tue New York Zoowuocicat Sociery. September, 1909 THE WILD ANIMALS OF HUDSON’S DAY. By Wiruram T. Hornapay, Dmecror or tHE New Yorx Zoorocican 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 Qee the bold adventurer who has sailed * All the Illustrations reproduced with this article are from “Tne American Narurat History,” copy- right, 1904, by William T. Hornaday, and appear here by the permission of the publishers, Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons. an evil moment the baneful eye of the epicure fell upon the savory Canyasback, 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 unto!d 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 520 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 Loon, 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 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION PE eet PEE ee a = SAN) etme at Se ms cw he nies - a yn a ng ep Waris 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,” —hbecause 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 BULLETIN. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY THE BALD EAGLE, 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 BULLETIN. 525 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- sa~ds of Italian laborers by whom every song- bird is regarded as legitimate prey for the pot! Every camp or large settlement of Italian labor- 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 species 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 net at least one of them. The former is 526 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 woods 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 both 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 BULLETIN. ROBIN. BLUEBIRD. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 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-coyered 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 \ PS vm Flex fn 2 ee, BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST. HOUSE-WREN. PURPLE MARTIN. SCARLET TANAGER. 530 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoAnn 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 period 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. 532 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. Uy, ss cee =— AP « NIGHT-“HAWK.” ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. Painted by CaRL RUNGIUs. WHITE-TAILED DEER. THE WILD ANIMALS OF HUDSON’S DAY. PART II1—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 “Tne American Naturat History,’ copy- right, 1904, by William T. Hornaday, and appear here by the permission of the publishers, Messrs. Charles Scribner’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- 1 OTTER: 2. FISHER. Moon” 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 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- 535 BULLETIN. SOCIETY ZOOLOGICAL ‘O9PBUI SEM BSUIMBIP SIY} OUI} 94} 3B oaM Ady) se ‘yuvq [vo13ojooz yioX MeN ey} JO puog JoAvAg AY} Ul SyJOM 9SOY} JO SuOIjonposdads yoeXe eB “puod ay} Jo dIPprIu ay} UI SY¥OIVS Jo asnoy pue ‘wep oy) “MYOM YIHHL GNV Sug AVdd NVOIMAWY HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 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 more 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 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 traflic 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. 537 By permission of Outdoor Life Magazine. THE PUMA, OR MOUNTAIN “LION.” Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoop. Copyright, 1902, by W. L. UNDERWoobD. 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 SOCIETY 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 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 enawers, are today our most abundant wild 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 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 kecome 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. SOCIETY BULLETIN. 541 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 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; for their 542 but that is not the case. ‘The strangest thing is that it knows enough to feign 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 “‘scientific 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 state. 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. 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. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 543 LARGE BIRD-HOUSE AND ITALIAN GARDEN IN BAIRD COURT. THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK OF OUR DAY. By Wiix1am 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 eomplete;” and so 54d 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 cee 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 carefully 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 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION what is there to show for all this? 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- tematie 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. This is a «ce there ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 545 > cg pee Sy . 3 yi Tee TH mir ba ne ‘i 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 BULLETIN. 547 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 mammals, 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. AViammal Sie coe oad es aA 246 743 TESTO SMe eer eee ee ees 644 2816 Rie tilesiae meee ste enr eee 25 1969 ] BCs G1 GRR ee 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 suffice. 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 cats, are quite as rich as those mentioned above. 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, Gyrfalcon, 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 Buxietin 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 N N-FULTO HUDSO *]0Oq uUOdIy-Bag ay} puL ‘spilg Bulyola q JO} ASNOP{-Pilq asuB] ay} DUIMOYS “MaVd IVOIDOIOOZ MYOA MAN “LUNOO GuIVA AO NOILYOd V ark Says 7 F ie Hitt | pe , : WAND scusisassoi eailaiad ANA» en FSP GE es _ r ee , 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 550 “SIVUNOO AIV-NddO SLI GNV ASNOH AdOTALNVY FHL 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. ii or HARPY EAGLE. be ey 552 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION AMERICAN BISON BULL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 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 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- eric 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 ip iiliisde 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 BuLLEriIn. 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 let 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. ‘QOUBISIP OY} UF BSnoH S,9}BWIIY GYRI1 94} UO osno}]-pllq ‘94j}UED UL WapseH UBIEI] 439] 84) Uo Zurpying wojeuys;ujwpy “LUNOD GUIVa AO GNA HLYON GNV ASYNOONOD AHL 555 BULLETIN. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 556 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION THE HERD ON ITS RANGE. THE WICHITA NATIONAL BISON HERD. PRESENTED TO THE NATION BY THE New York ZOOLOGICAL 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. 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 offspring 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. CELEBRATION HUDSON-FULTON pias) A BIT OF LAKE AGASSIZ FROM THE JUNGLE WALK. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 559 rh TT EPH 786 i i iin tn 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 effort, 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. Jiamuanivg tet ee 42.356 2,887 Reb ruatsyyee ese oreo eee 37,804 10,224 Misr cheese aoe sate 77,841 10,583 April oe eee EERE eace ene a ee eee en 118,584 27,835 1 Ey ieee eaee ceeeen Eeneriie eee ere 182,192 20,706 at Co peet eek ee eee ae 187,656 19,622 vil ieee she irs eee 15 OL. ae ee agate Poe ee seek ene 190,813 160 September See ae seen oe 153,007 26,487 October ee 120,952 30,2 INO EDD eRe ee ee 91,642 26.463 Mecembers (=e ete ‘511.2 OG ne eee Total for the year........ 1,413,743 560 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 in the Bronx! 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 admission 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 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. MOELLER BAY, ALASKA PENINSULA. 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: Hybrids, born here. i specimens, representing 17 species. Ze E Ola Garsieeec eee ....Ursus maritimus. 2 Kadiak Bea BE ‘ middendor fi. 2 Yakutat Bears.. dalli. 1 Admiralty Bear eulophus. 1 Peninsula Beat... merriami. 1 Arctic Brown Bear undetermined. 3 Grizzly Bears. horribilis, 9 Black Bears americanus. 1 Syrian Bear syriacus. 2 Brown Bears.. arctos. 2 Hairy-Eared Bears piseator. 1 Himalayan Black Bear torquatus. 1 Japanese Bear....._. japonicus. 2 Yezo Bears.. ferox. 1 Sloth Bear labiatus. 2 Sun Bears....... ee malayanus. lmAndes blacks Bear cn. se ornatus majori. 562 HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 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 “lantern” 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 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. 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 HSNOH WENGE INVHda1d FHL eeerst tee LH any hit v fi AU | nREREE IED i N i i ae sae ann WOT tie : we ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 565 MALE HIPPOPOTAMUS. HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION JAPANESE RED-FACED MONKEY AND YOUNG. IMPORTANT ACCESSIONS FROM SaBLe ANTELOPE. GREATER Kupbuv. Mountain ZEBRA. Grant ZEBRAS. CoNnGAN SITaTUNGA. SPEKE SITATUNGAS. Duiker ANTELOPE. mr HM ee ee TAMANDUA: tt DD Wart-Hoe. Hyarena Doa. Briack-BackEp JACKALS. CaRACAL. CHEETAH. Hyrax. Broap-Nosep Crocopi.Le. PREHENSILE-TAILED ANTEATER. YOUNG MEXICAN PUMA. AFRICA IN 1909. Buiack-Foorep PENGUINS. Eeyptian GEESE. BaTeELeur EaGtes. VULTURINE SEA EaG_es. TourAcous. GOLDEN ORIOLE. Rock Turusu. TREE PORCUPINE. LIST OF INSTITUTIONS HOLDING EXHIBITIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF OR IN COOPERATION WITH SCIENTIFIC, HISTORICAL AND ART COMMITTEES OF THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION COMMISSION AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, Engineering Building, 29 West Thirty-ninth Street. Robert Fulton Exhibition. Consists of paintings, drawings, books, decorations and furniture, and working models of John Fitch’s steamboat, the first boat operated and propelled by steam; Robert Fulton’s “Clermont,” the first successful application of steam to navigation, and John Stevens’ “Phenix,” the first steamboat to sail on the ocean. The exhibition will be shown in the Council Room of the Society, on the eleventh floor, and will be open from 9.00 a. m. until 5.30 p. m. during the entire period of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, and from 9.00 a. m. until 5.00 p. m. daily until December 6th. CITY HISTORY CLUB OF NEW YORK, 21 West Forty-fourth Street. Special Exhi- bition of Illustrations, Photographs, Maps and Plans, relating to the history of the City of New York, and all of the originals used in the City History Club Historical Guide Book of the City of New York. COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, St. Nicholas Avenue and 139th Street. Hudson-Fulton Exhibit. During the Hudson-Fulton Celebration and for some weeks thereafter, the College of the City of New York will have on exhibition in its historical museum a collection of charts, views, manuscripts and relics representing old New York. Among the charts will be original prints of New Netherlands and New Amsterdam by Nicholas J. Vischer, about 1650; N. Visscher, 1690; Lotter’s “New Jorck,” 1720; contemporary plans and views of the Revolu- tionary period showing the movements of Washington and Howe in this vicinity during the Cam- paign of 1776; Revolutionary battle relics; portraits, residences and letters of old New York- ers; bronze busts of Washington, Lincoln and Fulton by Houdon and Volk; and other material suggested by the celebration. Take Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway to 140th Street, or Broadway Subway to One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh Street; also Amsterdam Avenue surface cars to college entrance. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN. Through the courtesy of Commissioner Michael J. Kennedy and his assistant arboriculturist, J. J. Levison, the different species of trees have been labeled in Prospect Park, from the Plaza to the Willink Entrance; in Bedford Park; in Highland Park, and in Tompkins Park. An additional small enameled sign has been hung on those labeled trees that were indigenous to the Hudson River Valley in 1609. The special label reads: “This species is a native of the Hudson River Valley.” FRAUNCES TAVERN, 54 Pearl Street, near Broad Street. Historic Revolutionary Building. Built in 1719. Scene of Washington’s farewell to his officers on December 4th, 1783. Restored December 4th, 1907, by the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution. Open daily, except Sundays, from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. Special Exhibition of Revolutionary Relics by the New York State Society of the Sons of the Revolution, who are the owners of that historical building, September 15th to November Ist. Take Subway to Bowling Green Station, or Third Avenue Elevated Railway to Hanover Square Station, or Broadway surface cars. LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, corner of Pierrepont and Clinton Streets, Brooklyn, between Brooklyn Bridge and Borough Hall. Open daily, except Sundays, from 8.30 a. m. to 6 p. m. Reference library of 70,000 volumes; manuscripts, relics, ete. Auto- graph receipt of Robert Fulton and original manuscript volume of Danker’s and Sluyter’s “Journal of a Voyage to New York in 1679-80.” Take Subway to Borough Hall, Brooklyn; Third Avenue Elevated Railway to Brooklyn Bridge, connecting with Bridge cars; or surface cars to Bridge. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, Central Park East. Main entrance on Fifth Avenue at Eighty-second Street. Open daily, except Sundays, from 10.00 a. m. to 6.00 p. m.; in winter to 5.00 p. m.; Saturdays to 10.00 p. m.; Sundays from 1.00 to 6.00 p. m. On Mon- days and Fridays an admission fee of 25 cents is charged, except to members and copyists. Col- lections illustrating all departments of Art and Archeology. Special Exhibition of a magnifi- cent Collection of over 130 of the works of Old Dutch Masters, constituting the finest Exhibi- tion of this kind ever made. Products of Colonial Art: Industrial Art, Furniture, Pewter of the 17th and 18th centuries, ete. (Two illustrated catalogues for sale, one of Dutch Exhibit and one of Colonial Arts; price 10 cents each. Also finely illustrated edition de luxe.) Take Fifth Avenue stages or Madison Avenue surface cars to Eighty-second Street, one block east of Museum; connection with Subway at Forty-second Street, and with Elevated Rail- way and West Side surface cars at Fifty-ninth Street. NATIONAL ARTS CLUB, Twentieth Street near Irving Place (Gramercy Park). This house was formerly the residence of Samuel J. Tilden, and is situated one block east of the birth- place of Ex-President Roosevelt. Open daily from September 20th to about October 18th, 1909, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Special Loan Exhibition by the National Arts Club, in coop- eration with the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. Three centuries of New York City: Special Exhibition of Paintings, Photographs, Draw- ings and other interesting materials, illustrating the growth and progress of New York from the time of Henry Hudson to the present day. (Catalogue for sale.) Take Fourth or Madison Avenue surface cars to corner of Fourth Avenue and Twentieth Street, one block west of Club-house. Subway Station at Eighteenth Street and Fourth Avenue, three blocks away. NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, Bronx Park. Museums open daily including Sun- days from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.; Conservatories from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. Grounds always open. — In the Grounds and Conservatories exhibits of Plants, Shrubs, Trees, and Natural Woodland; in the Museums, Plant Products utilized in the Arts, Sciences and Industries. All plants grow- ing on Manhattan Island and Hudson River Valley at the time of Hudson’s arrival are marked with the letter “H.” (Special illustrated catalogue for sale.) Take Third Avenue Elevated Railway to Bronx Park (Botanical Garden). Subway pas- sengers change at 149th Street; also reached by Harlem Division of the New York Central Railroad from Grand Central Station, Fourth Avenue and Forty-second Street. NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 226 West Fifty- eighth Street, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Open daily, except Sundays, from 10.00 a. m. to 5.00 p. m., until November Ist. Special Exhibition of old Deeds, Manuscripts, Books, Portraits, ete., relating to the history of the United States up to and including the War of 1812. (Catalogue for sale.) Take Broadway surface cars to corner of Fifty-eighth Street. Subway station at Cotumbus Circle (Fifty-ninth Street), two blocks distant; Sixth Avenue Elevated station at Ninth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, three blocks away. NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, corner of Seventy-seventh Street and Central Park West. September 25th to October 30th, open daily from 9 a. m. to 5 p.m. Robert Ful- ton Exhibition, of the New York Historical Society, in cooperation with the Colonial Dames of America. (Catalogue for sale.) Take Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway to Eighty-first Street and Columbus Avenue, or sur- face cars traversing Central Park West; also reached by any Columbus Avenue surface car to Seventy-seventh Street. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Lenox Branch, Fifth Avenue and Seventy-second Street. Open daily, except Sundays, from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. Special Exhibition of Prints, Books, Manuscripts, etc., relating to Henry Hudson, the Hudson River, Robert Fulton, and Steam Navigation. (Special illustrated catalogue for sale; price 10 cents.) Take Fifth Avenue Stages, or Madison Avenue surface cars to Seventy-second Street, one block east of Library; connection with Subway at Grand Central Station and with Elevated Railway and West Side surface cars at Fifty-ninth Street. REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York will make an exhibit in the chapel of the Church of St. Nicholas, Fifth Avenue and 48th Street, during the week of the celebration, 9 to 5 daily. This church was organized A. D. 1628, and the exhibit will comprise articles connected with its long history. VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE MUSEUM, in Van Cortlandt Park. This fine colonial mansion, built in 1748, with furniture of period, is one of the oldest houses within the area of Greater New York; it is in the custody of the Colonial Dames of the State of New York. Open daily, 9.00 a. m. to 5.00 p.m. Special Exhibition of Mezzotint Portraits of men prominent in political life prior to the Revolution; Wedgwood’s Medallion Portraits of Illustrious Person- ages; Cartoons and Caricatures of political events, ete. (Special illustrated catalogue on sale.) Take New York Central Railroad from Grand Central Station; Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway, connecting at 155th Street with the Putnam Division of the New York Central Rail- road; or Subway trains marked Van Cortlandt Park. WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS (The Jumel Mansion), Roger Morris Park, Edgecombe Avenue and One Hundred and Sixty-second Street. Built about 1760. Under the Department of Parks. Exhibition by the ladies of the Washington Headquarters Association, Daughters of the American Revolution. Open free daily, including Sundays, from 9 a. m. to 5 p.m. Special features: Collection of Colonial furnishings, objects and pictures; also the Bolton Collection of War Relics of the Revolution. Take Amsterdam Avenue surface cars; Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Street, or Broadway Subway to One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Street. 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 1st 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. Agassiz ee = Bulalo it House | z ie Buflalo Range Me alle a im | Wiss i Bulow Deer” ° ug Range a3 | CROTONA PARKWAY Bufulo Breedi NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. Administration Bldg.,8.D 4 Elephant House, 20 ....F < Alaskan House, 32 -H3 Elk Range 21 i2 Alligator Pool, 36. .H 4 Feed Barn, 27 .. Antelope House, 50.....J 3 Flying Cage, 4 Bear Dens, 37 . 5 Fountains, Drinking. Beaver Pond, 29 . G5 D2.H2,M7 Puma and Lynx Biological Laborato: 28 A .G Bird House, Aquatic 5.,D Bird House, Large, 7.. D 3 Fountain, Rocketeller,l3D4 House 33 A ........1f G 2 Raccoon’s Tree, 44 A ,. 12 Reptile House, 34 ..... Eb 3 Restaurant, 46... Bison, 51 . - 35 . ..12 Riding Animals, 6 Boat House .-M 6 Lydig Arch, 47 15 Rocking Stone 45 f Buffalo Herd, 52 . ..J 6 Mammal House, Small, Sea Lion Pool, 12, Burrowing Animals, 1B) Seb ean .H38 Service Bldg., 28 Cage, Flying, 4 .. .-C3 Mountain She 4.14 Soda Fount’s. * D! Camel House, 39 2 Nursery, 18.. E Deer, Asiatic, 1.. Istrich House, I I G qu 4 WEST 9 Subway Station, ae Res 5 3 Toilets, W. M., C3, 2 E3, G3, 15, L6, 3 2 5 2 omkt Deer, American, © E )tter Pools, 31 . Deer, Axis and Sika C 2 Pavilion, Shelte 4 Deer, Fallow, 53. K 4 Pheasant Aviary, 40.. Deer, Red, 10 D 2 Polar Bear Den. 37 ....H Deer House. Small, 49..J 2 Prairie Dogs, 41........ I3 Wolf Dens, 22....... | Duck Aviary, 3 C3 Primate House, 17,....E 4 Zebra Houses, 14 .... Tortoise Yards........ Totem Pole, 32 ....e00+ Turkeys, Wild, 33..... hOnnE “THE MATTHEWS-NORTHRUP WORKS, BUFFALO, N. Y. COPYRIGHT, 1907, N. Y. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN 1909 LATEST OFFICIAL MAP ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN No. 36 Published by the New York Zoological Society October, 1909 REPORT ON EUROPEAN TRIP. By Raymonp L. Dirmars. ITH a special fund of two thousand dol- lars 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 Atlantice-Transport Line. A trans-shipment 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 were collected, among these being a Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra; a fine male ex- ample of the Greater Kudu, Strepsiceros capen- sis, a pair of Speke’s Sitatunga, Limnotragus 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. The shipment was made up of over four hundred specimens, representing one hundred and eleven species. For the care of this big, miscellaneous lot of mammals, birds and reptiles, the writer necessarily arranged for a great variety of food to be placed on the steamship and owing to very courteous cooperation 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, Viwerra civettina, Large African Civet, Viverra civetta, White-faced Paradoxure, Paradozxurus musanga, 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 a 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 among the Carnivores. 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 species 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-héart Pigeon, Phlogoenas luzonica, Pied Flycatcher, Muscicapa atricapilla, Jack- ass Penguin, Spheniscus demersus, Varied Hem- ipode, Turnix varia, Satin Bower-bird, Ptilon- 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- ous. 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 very common in Western Australia and owing to 570 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 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 Snake, T'ropidonotus natrix, Spotted Grass Snake, J. natriz asteptrophorus, Dalmatian Water Snake, 7. natrixv murorum, Tessellated Water Snake, 7. tessellatus, “Viperine’’ Water Snake, 7’. 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 bave 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 several species, Spiny-Tailed Lizards, Glass “Snakes,” Slow “Worms” and the like figure among the bet- ter known lizards ob- tained. With the purchase EGYPTIAN JERBOA, os ZOOLOGICAL 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, Testudo 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 SOCIETY BULLETIN. 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 America, which they resemble in structure and habits. They differ from the Ppa 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. I. Po- 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. ZOOLOGICAL 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- r 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 Liv- erpool. (Holland)—the Zoological Gardens in Amsterdam; the Zoological Gardens in Rotter- dam. (Belgium )—the Gardens, Antwerp. (France)—the collection of animals in the Jardin des Plantes, and the Museum with- in the same boundaries. Zoological (Germany )—Zoolog- ical Gardens, at Cologne, Frankfort, Dresden, Berlin, Hannover, Halle, Hamburg; Hagen- beck’s Tierpark, at Stellingen (Hamburg). Among the new features in the Zoological Gardens of London are the Quarantine House. 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 Prosectarium and The former was well on its research lJaboratory, with three large, separate working rooms, each brilliantly lighted with large windows facing the north. Immediately in the rear of the Reptile House is the new SOCIETY 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 tawzi- 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,—often registering as low as 40° Fahrenheit. All of the monkeys are pro- vided with sleeping-boxes, packed with hay. The Rhesus Monkey, Mandrill, Thoth and Chaema Baboons, remain out of doors throughout the winter. They are pro- vided with sleeping-boxes and hay bedding, but the sleeping-boxes are not furnished with arti- ficial heat. All of these specimens were in su- perb condition. Zoological Hamadryas, Gardens in 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 of vacuum tiles. This offers the great advan- 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- 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 case 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 seyeral 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. 573 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 monkeys 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 building to be 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. 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- pears to effect this condition. There was an excellent series of reptiles. The Rotterdam and Frankfort Gardens are way in the lead as re- gards reptile collections on the 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, 574 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 Giraffe was also bred in the London Gardens last year, and is in thriving condition. ZOOLOGICAL 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 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: MADISON 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. HorRNADAY, 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, Glass nf 1912. Levi P. Morton, ‘ BULLETIN. I —t Wt SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP. The Executive Committee desires to announce the following subscriptions to Sustaining Mem- 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, William C. Church, Lispenard Stewart, H. Casimir De Kham, Hugh D. Auchincloss, Charles F. Dieterich, James J. Hill, George F. Baker, Grant B. Schley, Payne Whitney, James W. Barney, Andrew Carnegie, John L, Cadwalader, John S. Barnes, Madison Grant, William White Niles, Samuel Thorne, Henry A. C. Taylor, Hugh J. Chisholm, Frank K. Sturgis, George J. Gould, W. Austin Wadsworth Wm.PiersonHamilton Ogden Mills Officers of the Zoological Park : W. T. Hornanay, Sc. D., Director H. R. MITCHELL - - - - 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 BLAIR, - Veterinarian W. I. MITCHELL - - Office Assistant Officers of the Aquarium: CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Sc.D., Director Fresh Water Collections Marine Collections L. B. SP W. I. DEN 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 K. 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. McMillin, 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, Frank 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. Epirep spy C. Witit1aAmM BrErpse, Curator of Birds. FULL LENGTH VIEW OF THE BREEDING CANADA WILD GEESE ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, VA. By C. Wiru1aM Breese. NDUSTRIES connected with semi-wild birds ae becoming more and more important every day. We have 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, however, is open and marshy. Mink are very abundant and destruc- tive, and while Foxes are also common they seem to do little harm. DUCK AND SWAN ENCLOSURE. 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 SOCIETY 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 thonght that their feathers contain 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- BULLETIN. 577 erous hummocks are thrown up, which soon become coy- ered with grass 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 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 and i DUCK AND SWAN ENCLOSURE; COMPARTMENT No. 1. Containing Black Australian Swans and Cygnets, Shoveller Ducks, Wood Duck and Black Brant. 578 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 Gauss: 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 1st) 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 have 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 fond. Tall grass, weeds and bushes are thick, and the birds breed usually among this low vegetation. During the present year 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, however, four young Snow Geese were half raised but were killed by dogs. The Common Brant Geese mate but never lay. are very THE PONIES OF CHINCOTEAGUE.* By Lee S. Cranpatt. 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), and each mare has a colt at her side. Each fall a roundup is held, when all of the colts are caught and branded. 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 ...Crax globicera Ruffed Grouse ...Bonasa umbellus... Cabot alo ony amie eee ese ceeee ere eee Tragopan caboti Impeyan Pheasant... ... Lophophorus impeyanus. Manchurian Kared Pheasant. . Crossoptilum manchuricum Black-crested Nepal Pheasant. ..Gennaeus lewcomelanus......... Melanotus Pheasant... om S melanotus.. Anderson Pheasant... A andersoni .. Gould. Hodge. _.. Kuser. . Little. _.. Little. ..N. Y. Zool. Park. . Kuser. _N. Y. Zool. Park. Lineated Pheasant. ne x lineatus..... 4 . Little. Sere Mas antes reeset enact nade creates : a nycthemerus....... N.Y. Zool. Park. Swinhoe Pheasant. = swinhoei F _ Kuser. English Pheasant............... Phasianus colchicus.......... ...N. Y. Zool. Park. White Pheasant : s a WON aries ea ss, ee eee N. Y. Zool. Park. Ring-necked Pheasant.. torquatus.. N. Y. Zool. Park. Versicolor Pheasant... VET SiColone 4 Le BT nL eee Kuser. Reeves Pheasant... Syrmaticus reevesi.. ....N. Y. Zool. Park. Golden Pheasant... Chrysolophus pictus....... _N. Y. Zool. Park. Lady Ainherst Pheasant. me. q amherstiae. . Y. Zool. Park. TRUST AJMAN. TENG) Las ae seen ccc cececacceresct once: acteeeracees (COONIDE. GUI .co tccrtetcenceecesheree nacre: . Zool. Park. Indian Peafowl Pawo cristatws....... 2.2... - Zool. Park. Black-winged Peafowl. . “ nigripennis . Zool. Park. Wild Guinea Fowl Numida meleagris . Zool. Park. Wild ‘Turkey Melagris gallopavo silvestris - Zool. Park. Plumed Quail. --Oreortyx pictus plumiferus. . Y. Zool. Park. California Quail. -. Lophortyx californicus...... .N. Y. Zool. Park. 1 BYG) OA OWN Se ee ere re SEE SRE SEES Colinas, Wir gins ee ieee cc en econ tener Hodge. CoLUMBIFORMES Whitman. _ N.Y. Zool. Park. - Whitman. .... Whitman. -. Whitman. White-backed Pigeon Columba leuconota.. Rock Dove..... = livia_....... Stock Dove 24 oenas Triangular-spotted Pigeon.....................-.--. guinea Bare-eyed Pigeon gymnopthalma.... Spotted Pigeon.... maculosa......... . Whitman. White-crowned Pigeon. Bess leucocephala we ue Whitman. Rufous Pigeon rf PUI = act sete a 8 os face seneate ne ateme omen reenact Whitman. Band-tailed Pigeon. 4 fasciata.. - Whitman. .. Whitman. ..Whitman. -.Worthington. - Whitman. .. Kuser. Wood Pigeon.......-.-.... palumbu Passenger Pigeon. _....... Kctopistes migratorius.... Mourning Dove... Zenaidura macroura caroline Venezuela Dove... Zenaida vinaceo-rufa......... White-winged Dove. Melopelia leucoptera........ e European Turtle Dove TU GU CUT EU hc aman ee eee N. Y. Zool. Park. Oriental Turtle Dove 6 orientalis - Whitman. Barbary Turtle Dove. ---Sb) eptopelia ROBOT ro cectaoe pened acocsc cme mogpoeTETC oN: N. Y. Zool. Park. \Whyloriwes Weel ey 1 DON Os cheere ecoeet cence seems rerceneocece cece @ Whitman. Damara Turtle Dov ss ss damarensis .. Whitman. “ Uioaliieioy RWIS WYO). C eae aeeeee ni tenetemrecaeeeereecen - eecen dowraca Dwart Turtle Dove... -Onopopelia humilis. Chinese Turtle Dove. _. _Spilopelia chinensis Tigrine Turtle Dove... ss oe tigrina..... Senegal Turtle Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis...... .. Whitman. - Whitman. .. Whitman. - Whitman. ..N. Y. Zool. Park. Barred-shouldered Dove-.......-.-.-.-.----.-.-----.--- Geopelia humeralis......... .... Thompson. Peaceful Dove = - tranquilla. - Whitman. DES a0 Gl 0 See os SUM Ct Cee - Whitman. Gracetull (Ground) Dove ccs e CUME WUE Oooo osama . Thompson. incall) ove meee eee Scardafella inca... - Whitman. Northern Ground Dove Chamaepelia passerina. -. Whitman. Talpacoti Ground Dove. : wv talpacoti.... Whitman. Bronze-winged Pigeon........... Phaps chalcoptera.. Whitman. Australian Crested Pigeon... --Ocyphaps lophotes.. - Kuser. SWihite=tronitec iy oye en reece eee Leptoptila fulviventris a : ... Whitman. Reichenbach Dove : reichenbachi... Whitman. Wonga-wonga Pigeon........... .. Leucosarcia picata.....------------- Whitman. LaARIroRMES Huropean Herning) Gulls TS CLYIEL See CUTS GC TUE CEL, Senet ern N. Y. Zool. Park. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 581 GRUIFORMES emarsellen Grane ee ee, eee a PALAU LUO OUCLESIRAXU Gf O terete eee nese ee Kuser. ARDEIFORMES WUD SIRI, LOVE a aie ea Cone eae a eeee re eee BL GLO D Gert e e e Eee Nee LOOls bark. Black-crowned Night Heron ...Nycticorax nycticorax naeviur........................ Nat’ Zool. Park. ANSERIFORMES Whooping Swan QU GUUS COG TULL S ee cee hanes ee ts eons me eee eg Whealton. Mute Swan..... Ss olor...... .. Nat’l Zool. Park. Black Swan Chenopsis atrata. -. Whealton. Wood Duck.... Aix sponsa........ wane Nee ZOOls ark, Mandarin Duck.. “ galericulata.... eee Go Greater Snow Goose Bean Goose.......... Canada Goose. Chen hyperborea nivalis Anser fabilis.......... _.Branta canadensis - Whealton. ..Gallatin. Pee N-p\iZool barks Rinddys Shell dralkcextes selon vee mete ae Casarea casarea.... Browning. Mallard Duck... Anas platyrhynchos. ..N. Y. Zool. Park. Black Duck...... “ obscura......... - Gallatin. Australian Gray Duck : “ superciliosa. ee ousers Gadwall.... Ghanilelasmars, Strep ena eee Hudson. European Widgeo Mareca penelope...... Cox. Green-wing Teal. Nettion carolinensis. Cox Blue-wing Teal Bs ORUGT UG CUUL GG CLLS COM: S mere eee eee ‘Ox Pintail Duck..... _...Dafila acuta. Chilian Pintail - “ — spinicauda. Shoveller Duck... Spatula clypeata... Red-head) -Duck= 2) eee ee eee lythya americana Canvas-back Duck ss MULES ONG e wee eee eee ee ee Lawrence. Indian Spotted-bill Duck Gallatin. PELECANIFORMES Bloridan Cormorant: