NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK

Administration Bldg., 8 D 4 Alaskan House, 32 H 3 Alligator Pool, 36 H 4 Antelope House, 50 J 3 Bear Dens, 37 H 5 Beaver Pond, 29 G 5 Biological Laboratory, 28 A G 4 Bird House, Aquatic, 5 D 2 Bird House, Large, 7 D 3 Bison, 51 J 5 Boat House, 54 M 6 Buffalo Herd, 52 J 6 Burrowing Animals, 42 I 3 Cage, Flying, 4 C 3 Camel House, 39 I 2 Deer House, Small, 49 I 2 Deer, American, 30 H 2 Deer, Asiatic, 1 C-D 2 Deer, Axis and Sika, 2 C 2 Deer, Fallow, 53 K 4 Deer, Red, 10 D 2 Duck Aviary, 3 C 3 Eagle and Vulture Aviary, 11 E 2 Elephant House, 20 F 3 Elk Range, 21 G 2 Feed Barn, 27 G 3 Flying Cage, 4 C 3 Fountain, Rockefeller, 13 D 4 Fountains, Drinking, D 2, H 2, M 7 Fox Dens, 23 G 2 Lion House, 15 E 3 Llama House, 38 I 2 Lydig Arch, 47 I 5 Mammal House, Small, 35 H 3 Mountain Sheep Hill, 44 I 4 Musk Oxen, 48 I 2 Nursery, 18 E 9 Ostrich House, 43 I 3 Otter Pools, 31 H 2 Pavilion, Shelter, 26 G 3 Pheasant Aviary, 40 I 2 Polar Bear Den, 37 H 5 Prairie Dogs, 41 I 3 Primate House, 17 E 4 Puma and Lynx House, 33 A H 3 Raccoon’s Tree, 44 A I 5 Reptile House, 34 H 4 Restaurant, 46 I 5 Riding Animals, 6 D 3 Rocking Stone, 45 I 5 Sea Lion Pool, 12 D 3 Service Bldg., 28 H 4 Soda Fount’s. *D 2, G 3, H 4 Subway Station O 6 Toilets, W. M., C 3, E 3, G 3, I 5, L 6, M 8 Tortoise Yards H 4 Totem Pole, 32 H 3 Turkeys, Wild, 33 H 3 Wolf Dens, 22 G 3 Yak House, 55 K 4 Zebra Houses, 14 E 2

PENINSULA BEAR: IVAN

POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE
TO THE
New York Zoological Park

By WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D.
Director and General Curator

ILLUSTRATED BY ELWIN R. SANBORN

New York Zoological Society

GORILLA EDITION

WITH MAPS, PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

THIRTEENTH EDITION—SEPTEMBER, 1915

PUBLISHED BY THE
NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
11 WALL STREET, NEW YORK

Only Authorized Guide Price 25 Cents
COMPLETELY REVISED AND EXTENDED

1st Edition, October, 1899— 5000 2d “ May, 1900— 5000 3d “ December, 1900— 5000 4th “ October, 1901— 3000 5th “ June, 1902— 10000 6th “ “ 1903— 10000 7th “ “ 1904— 15000 8th “ “ 1906— 7000 9th “ “ 1907— 30000 10th “ October, 1909— 30000 11th “ June, 1911— 30000 12th “ “ 1913— 40000 13th “ September, 1915— 20000

Copyright, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1911,
1913 and 1915.
NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

PREFACE

The publication of this revised and extended edition of the Guide to the Zoological Park is necessary in order to bring our most important collections down to date. With the completion of the Zebra House and Eagle Aviary, we are now able to offer a Guide Book to the Zoological Park as practically finished.

The visitor is not to understand, however, that with the completion of the features named above nothing more will remain to be done. An institution of this kind never reaches a state of absolute completion, with no further possibilities of improvement. But the building of boundary walls, and the rebuilding of temporary entrances, are matters of small moment in comparison with the completion of a grand series of installations for animals, and buildings for public comfort.

Few indeed are the persons who know, or who ever will know, the extent to which both the general design and the details of the Zoological Park have been originated, and hammered out of the raw materials. From the inception of the undertaking, the work of development has involved a continuous struggle to meet new conditions. Although precedents and models for things to be done were sought far and wide, in all save a very few instances, our needs were so peculiar, and so different from those of other zoological gardens and parks, we have found really very little that we could copy. The abundant-room idea on which the Zoological Park was founded, and our desire for the full utilization of the works of nature, have from the first taxed the creative faculties of the Society to the utmost.

It has been gratifying to find in other zoological establishments a number of features which we could utilize here, thereby saving ourselves something in the eternal grind of invention and experiment, and we have gladly made prominent mention of such cases.

While it is possible to complete the equipment of animal installations for a Zoological Park, and fill them with fine collections, the demand for more animals is continuous. Our wild creatures are not immortal; and, like human beings, they live out their allotted lives and pass away. The great majority do not perpetuate themselves in captivity, and the depleted ranks must be filled by new gifts and new purchases. Gifts of specimens, and funds for purchases, must constantly be forthcoming.

In the acquisition of certain representative species of great variety but particular desirability, the Society has been much favored by its friends, both at home and abroad. Frequently it happens that the greatest zoological rarities are obtainable only through the good will and tireless industry of friends who travel into the most remote and inaccessible regions of the earth. It is to such sources that we owe our musk-ox herd, walrus, mountain goat herd, spectacled bear and many other species.

The Executive Committee makes grateful acknowledgment of the loyal and generous support it has constantly received from the Board of Managers, the members of the Zoological Society, and from the Government of the City of New York. Thanks to a judicious union of these forces, the development of the Zoological Park has gone forward rapidly and satisfactorily. Although the actual period of construction has been remarkably short for so vast an undertaking, everything constructed is of the most permanent character. It is only just to note the fact that while the Zoological Park is an institution of national interest and importance, and free to all the world, with the exception of a few gifts of animals it has been created and is maintained wholly by the citizens of the City of New York. The State has contributed nothing.

The Executive Committee.

JUNE 1, 1913.

CONTENTS.

Page Statistics of the Zoological Park 10 Officers of the Society 11 Origin 13 Means of Access 16 Admission 17 Physical Aspect of the Grounds 21

MAMMALS. Bison Ranges 26 Mountain Sheep Hill 29 Antelope House 35 Small-Deer House 42 Miscellaneous Mammals 49 White Mountain Goat 50 Prong-Horned Antelope 51 Camel House 53 Llama House 55 North American Deer 57 Zebra House 63 Asiatic and European Deer 66 Lion House 71 Sea-Lions 78 Primate House 80 Elephant House 89 Wolf Dens 98 Fox Dens 101 Otter Pools 103 Small-Mammal House 104 Puma and Lynx House 115 Burrowing Mammals 116 Prairie-Dog Village 118 Bear Dens 119 Raccoon Tree 128 Beaver Pond 128 Economic Rodent-Reptile Collection 130

BIRDS. Goose Aviary 133 Flying Cage 135 Aquatic-Bird House 141 Eagle and Vulture Aviary 143 Wild Turkey Enclosure 146 Large-Bird House 146 Wild Fowl Pond 153 Pheasant and Pigeon Aviary 155 Ostrich House 162 Cranes 167

REPTILES. Reptile House 171 Turtles and Tortoises 172 Crocodiles and Alligators 175 Lizards 177 Serpents 179 Batrachians or Amphibians 182

INSECTS. Insect Collection 185 Index 188

MAPS. Map of Zoological Park Second page of cover Sketch Map, New York 14 Sketch Map, Vicinity of Park 16

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE Peninsula Bear: Ivan Frontispiece Baird Court and Concourse 12 The Boat House 18 Boating on Bronx Lake 20 White-Tailed Deer 24 American Bison 26 European Bison 27 White-Fronted Musk-Ox 30 Big-Horn Mountain Sheep 30 Mouflon 32 Arcal Sheep 32 Himalayan Tahr 32 Burrhel 32 Chamois 33 Markhor 33 Aoudad 33 Persian Wild Goat 33 Nilgai: Indian Antelope 36 Nubian Giraffes 38 Beatrix Antelope 40 Blessbok 40 Leucoryx Antelope 41 White-Tailed Gnu 41 Eland 42 Sable Antelope 43 Redunca Antelope 44 Sasin Antelope 46 Great Gray Kangaroo 48 Rocky Mountain Goat 49 American Prong-Horned Antelope 52 Bactrian Camel 53 Alpaca 54 Vicunia 55 American Elk 58 European Red Deer 58 Development of Antlers 61 Grant Zebra 64 Prjevalsky Horses 65 Axis Deer 68 Burmese Deer 69 Jaguar 72 Cheetah 73 Barbary Lion 74 Snow Leopard 75 Atlantic Walrus 79 Chimpanzee, “Baldy” 82 Orang-Utan 84 Humboldt Woolly Monkey 85 Japanese Red-Faced Monkey 88 Pig-Tailed Macaque 88 Slow Lemur 89 Siamang 89 Elephant House 90 Indian Elephant 92 African Elephants 93 African Two-Horned Rhinoceros 94 Indian Rhinoceros 95 Pygmy Hippopotami 96 Timber Wolf 99 Coyote: Prairie Wolf 100 Swift or Kit Fox 102 Red Fox 103 Ocelot 106 Common Genet 107 African Porcupine 111 Tamandua 112 Great Ant-Eater 113 Six-Banded Armadillo 114 Two-Toed Sloth 115 Polar Bear Den 120 Polar Bear “Silver King” 122 Syrian Bear 123 Spectacled Bear 126 European Brown Bear 127 Brazilian Tree Porcupine 131 Mute and Trumpeter Swans 133 Cereopsis Geese 136 White-Faced Glossy Ibis 137 Roseate Spoonbill 137 Brown and White Pelicans 140 Great Horned Owl 142 Spectacled Owl 142 Eared Vulture 143 Lammergeyer 143 King Vulture 145 Black Vulture 145 Harpy Eagle 145 Griffon Vulture 145 Wild Turkey 147 Seriema 148 Secretary Bird 148 Great Crowned Pigeon 150 Sulphur Crested Cockatoo 151 Toco Toucan 151 Ducks Feeding 154 Pheasant Aviary 156 Manchurian Eared Pheasant 158 Indian Peacock 159 North African Ostrich 163 Rhea 164 Cassowary 164 Emeus 165 Little Brown Crane 167 Demoiselle Crane 167 Asiatic White Crane 168 Paradise Crane 168 Whooping Crane 169 Crowned Crane 169 Adjutant 169 Jabiru 169 Mastigure 170 Horned Rattlesnake 170 Hog-Nosed Snake 170 Gecko 170 Tree Frog 170 Giant Tortoise 173 Alligator Pool 176 Venezuelan Boa 177 Rhinoceros Viper 180 Cobra-De-Capello 181 Metamorphosis of the Leopard Frog 184 Giant Centipede 186 Tarantula 187 Red-Winged Locust 187 Hercules Beetle 187

STATISTICS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

January, 1915.

Final plan of the Zoological Park approved by Park Board, November 22, 1897. Zoological Society assumed control of grounds, July 1, 1898. First building begun, August 11, 1898. Park formally opened to the public, November 9, 1899. Administration and Service Buildings 2 Large Animal Buildings (all heated) 14 Small Animal Buildings (4 heated) 10 Large Groups of Outdoor Dens, Aviaries and Corrals 13 Animal Storehouses, for winter use 3 Restaurants 2 Public-Comfort Buildings 6 Entrances 7 Area of Park Land and Water 264 acres Area of Water 30 acres Walks and Roads 7.78 miles Fences 10.55 miles

LIVE ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTIONS.
January, 1915.

Mammals 204 species, 586 specimens.
Birds 811 “ 2,753 “
Reptiles 164 “ 1,014 “
Total 1,179 4,353

Attendance of visitors in 1914 2,020,433 Total attendance of visitors from 1899 to Jan., 1915 19,325,590

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

President,
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN.

MADISON GRANT, Secretary, 11 Wall Street.
PERCY R. PYNE, Treasurer, 30 Pine Street.

Executive Committee
MADISON GRANT, Chairman.
PERCY R. PYNE,
WATSON B. DICKERMAN,
SAMUEL THORNE,
WM. PIERSON HAMILTON,
WILLIAM WHITE NILES,
FRANK K. STURGIS,
LISPENARD STEWART,
HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, ex-officio.

General Officers WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Director H. J. SHORTER Assistant Secretary R. L. CERERO Assistant to Treasurer DR. GEORGE S. HUNTINGTON Prosector C. GRANT LA FARGE Architect H. DeB. PARSONS Consulting Engineer Officers of the Zoological Park. WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D. Director and General Curator. H. R. MITCHELL Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer R. L. DITMARS Curator of Reptiles, Asst. Curator of Mammals C. WILLIAM BEEBE Curator of Birds LEE S. CRANDALL Assistant Curator of Birds W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. Veterinarian H. W. MERKEL Chief Forester and Constructor ELWIN R. SANBORN Editor and Photographer GEORGE M. BEERBOWER Civil Engineer WILLIAM MITCHELL Cashier

ITALIAN GARDEN, BAIRD COURT, The structure on the right is the Large Bird-House, and in the distance, the Lion House.

GENERAL STATUS
OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

Origin.—The New York Zoological Park originated with the New York Zoological Society, a scientific body incorporated in 1895, under a special charter granted by the Legislature of the State of New York. The declared objects of the Society are three in number—“A public Zoological Park; the preservation of our native animals; the promotion of zoology.” The Society has enrolled among its various classes over 2,000 members.

Henry Fairfield Osborn is the President of the Society. The affairs of the Society are managed by a Board of Managers of thirty-six persons, which meets three times each year. The planning and general development of the Zoological Society is in the hands of an Executive Committee of eight members, as follows: Madison Grant, Chairman; Percy R. Pyne, Samuel Thorne, William White Niles, Watson B. Dickerman, Wm. Pierson Hamilton, Frank K. Sturgis, Lispenard Stewart and Henry Fairfield Osborn, ex-officio. Madison Grant, the Chairman of the Executive Committee, is also Secretary of the Society, and his office is at No. 11 Wall Street. Dr. William T. Hornaday is the Director and General Curator of the Zoological Park, and his office is now located in the Administration Building on Baird Court. The address is 185th Street and Southern Boulevard. The Society assumed control of the grounds on July 1, 1898, and began the first excavation, for the Bird House, on August 11th. The Park Department began work, on the Wild-Fowl Pond, on August 29, 1898.

Sources of Income.—The funds devoted to the development of the Zoological Park have been derived from the following sources:

1. From the Zoological Society, obtained by subscriptions from private citizens—funds for plans, for the erection of buildings, aviaries, dens and other accommodations for animals; and for the purchase of animals.

2. From the City of New York—by vote of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment—funds for the construction of walks, roads, sewers and drainage, water supply, public comfort buildings, entrances, grading, excavating of large ponds and lakes, annual maintenance, and also for animal buildings.

SKETCH MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

The Zoological Society has expended, of its own funds, for plans, construction and live animals, over $641,000. This sum has been derived from its special subscription fund, and from the annual dues and fees of its members.

Privileges.—Because of the fact that the Zoological Society has undertaken to furnish all the animals for the Zoological Park, the City of New York has agreed that all the revenue-producing privileges of the Park shall be controlled by the Society. All net profits derived from the restaurants, boats, refreshments, riding animals, the sale of photographs, books, etc., and all admission fees, are expended by the Society in the purchase of animals for the Park. It is well that visitors should know that all net profits realized in the Park go directly toward the increase of the animal collections.

The Society maintains a supply of boats for hire, and riding animals of various kinds for the amusement of children.

Location.—The Zoological Park is the geographical center of that portion of Greater New York now known as Bronx County. From east to west it is half-way between the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, and from north to south it is midway between the mouth of the Harlem River and Mount Vernon. From the City Hall to the Reptile House the distance is eleven miles. The distance by automobile from the Central Park Plaza to the Concourse Entrance is 9½ miles. The Northwest Entrance is about half a mile from Fordham station on the Harlem Railway.

The area of the Park is 264 acres, divided as follows:

Land area west of the Boston Road 150 acres. Land area east of the Boston Road 80 “ Bronx Lake 25 “ Lake Agassiz 5½ “ Aquatic Mammals’ Pond, Cope Lake and Beaver Pond 3½ “ Total area 264 acres.

SKETCH MAP OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND VICINITY.

MEANS OF ACCESS.

Via the Subway, to the Boston Road Entrance.—The terminus of the eastern branch of the Subway, at “180th St., Zoological Park,” lands visitors at the southeastern entrances to the Zoological Park, at West Farms. Visitors from points below 96th Street must be careful to board the “Bronx Park” trains, and not the “Broadway” trains.

Routes for Automobiles or Carriages.—Via Central Park, Lenox Avenue, Macomb’s Dam Bridge and Jerome Avenue or Grand Concourse to Pelham Avenue, thence eastward to the Concourse Entrance, where motor cars and carriages are admitted to the Park.

Via the Third Avenue Elevated.—The Third Avenue Elevated Railway has been extended to Bedford Park, and visitors coming to the Zoological Park on it or on the Harlem Railroad should alight at Fordham Station, from which the northwest entrance is half a mile distant, due eastward, on Pelham Avenue, via the Union Railway surface cars.

Surface Cars.—The Southern Boulevard and the Zoological Park Cars of the Union Railway now run to both the Crotona (Southwest) Entrance and the Fordham Entrance. The Crosstown cars of the same line intersect the Southern Boulevard three blocks south of the Crotona Entrance.

ADMISSION.

Free Admission.—On all holidays, and on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the Zoological Park is open free to the public.

Pay Admission.—On every Monday and Thursday, save when either of those days falls on a holiday, all members of the Zoological Society who surrender coupons from their membership tickets, and all other persons holding tickets from the Society, will be admitted free. All other persons seeking admission will be admitted on payment of twenty-five cents for each adult, and fifteen cents for each child under twelve years of age. Tickets are sold only at the entrance gates.

Holidays on Pay Days.—Whenever a legal holiday falls on a Monday or Thursday, admission to the Park will be free on that day.

Hours for Opening and Closing.—From May 1st to November 1st the gates will be opened at 9 A. M. daily, and closed half an hour before sunset. From November 1st to May 1st the gates will open at 10 A. M.

Entrances, Walks, etc.—The portion of the Zoological Park situated west of the Boston Road has been enclosed. Access to this area is provided by six entrances, one situated at each corner—one on the Boston Road and one at the bridge on Pelham Avenue. The latter is a carriage entrance for visitors wishing to drive to the north end of Baird Court. From all these entrances broad walks lead into the Park and through it, reaching all the collections of animals now installed.

Carriage Roads.—The only wagon road which enters the central portion of the Park now occupied by animals is the Service Road, which enters from the Southern Boulevard, at 185th Street, and runs eastward, to the Service Building, Reptile House, Bear Dens, and Rocking Stone Restaurant.

This road is for business purposes only, and is not open for the vehicles of visitors. It is utterly impossible to admit carriages to the center of the Park, save those of officers entering on business, and visitors must not ask for exceptions to this very necessary rule.

Automobile and Carriage Entrance.—A fine public carriage road and concourse, leading from Pelham Avenue Bridge and to the upper end of Baird Court, was completed in 1908. This drive is open to carriages or motors, daily, and it affords easy access to the most important group of buildings. It is subject to the same regulations as all other entrances, except that carriages and automobiles are admitted.

THE BOAT HOUSE, BRONX LAKE.

The Boston Road, which runs through the Park from south to north, near the western bank of the Bronx Lake, is open at all hours. It has recently—and for the first time—been finely improved by the Park Department for the Borough of the Bronx, and a drive through it affords a fine view of the eastern side of the Buffalo Range, and the finest portion of the heavy forest of the Zoological Park.

As a matter of course, the ranges of the buffalo, antelope, deer, moose, and elk, are in full view from the Kingsbridge Road and Southern Boulevard, and the Zoological Society has planned that the view from those avenues shall be left open sufficiently that the herds may be seen to good advantage.

The Rocking Stone Restaurant, No. 46, has been designed to serve all the purposes that its name implies. It contains dining-rooms in which full meals may be obtained, lunch-rooms wherein choice food will be served at popular prices, and in the basement, toilet-rooms will be found.

The Service Building, No. 28.—Near the Reptile House, and at the geographical center of the enclosed grounds, is situated a building which contains the Bureau of Administration of the Zoological Park. Here will be found the offices of the Chief Clerk, several other Park officers, and the workshops and storerooms.

Children lost in the Park, and property lost or found, should be reported without delay at the Chief Clerk’s office in this building. The telephone call of the Zoological Park is 953 Tremont.

Wheeled Chairs.—By persons desiring them, wheeled chairs can always be obtained at the entrances, by applying to gatekeepers, or at the office of the Chief Clerk, in the Service Building. The cost is 25 cents per hour; with an attendant, 50 cents per hour.

Arrangement of Collections.—Inasmuch as the physical features of the Zoological Park grounds were important factors in locating the various collections of animals, a perfect zoological arrangement was impossible. The existing plan represents the limit of acceptable possibilities in grouping related animals.

BOATING ON BRONX LAKE.

The entire southern and western sides of the Park are exclusively devoted to the Hoofed Animals, in addition to which other members of that Order will be found at the Elephant and Small-Mammal Houses. The Carnivorous Animals will be found at the Lion House, Wolf and Fox Dens, Small-Mammal House and Bear Dens. The Birds are in two groups; one in the lower end of Bird Valley, and the Large Bird-House on Baird Court; the other around the Wild-Fowl Pond, south of the Wolf Dens.

The existence of six entrances to the Park renders it impossible to lay out an all-embracing “tour” for the visitor, and develop the Guide Book accordingly. The various collections will be handled in zoological groups, but the various groups cannot follow each other in zoological sequence. The table of contents and a comprehensive index will render each item of the subject matter quickly available.

PHYSICAL ASPECT OF THE GROUNDS.

The extreme length of the Park from north to south is 4,950 feet, or 330 feet less than one mile; and its extreme width is 3,120 feet, or three-fifths of a mile. Roughly estimated, one-third of the land area is covered by heavy forest, one-third by open forest, and the remaining third consists of open meadows and glades. The highest point of land in the Park is the crest of Rocking Stone Hill, the elevation of which is 94.8 feet above sea level.

Topography.—Speaking broadly, the Zoological Park is composed of granite ridges running from north to south. In many places their crests have been denuded of earth by the great glacier which once pushed its edge as far south as New York City. In the valleys lying between these glacier-scraped ridges, great quantities of sandy, micaceous soil have been deposited; but in one spot—the Wild-Fowl Pond—what was once a green, glacial lake fifteen feet deep, presently became a vast rock-walled silo filled with vegetable matter and a trembling bog of peat. Everywhere in the Park glacial boulders of rough granite or smoothly rounded trap-rock, varying in size from a cobble-stone to the thirty-ton Rocking Stone, have been dropped just where the warm southern sun freed them from the ice. The Park contains thousands of them, many of which have been removed from walks and building sites only with great labor.

In three of the four principal valleys of the Park, bogs have been converted into ponds, and in the largest and deepest of all lie Bronx Lake and Lake Agassiz. The bed-rock underlying or cropping out in the Park exhibits pink granite, gray granite, rotten gneiss, and quartz in bewildering variety. Occasionally in trench-digging a ledge is encountered which yields good building-stone for rough work, but usually our rock is so full of mica as to be worthless.

The water-levels in the various portions of the Park are as follows:

Above Sea Level.

Surface of Bronx Lake 20.40 feet Surface of Lake Agassiz 31.70 “ Surface of Cope Lake and Duck Ponds 47.00 “ Surface of Wild-Fowl Pond 65.00 “ Surface of Beaver Pond 44.00 “

The floor levels of some of the important buildings are as follows:

Above Sea Level.

Of the Antelope House 88 feet Of the Reptile House 78 “ Of the Lion House 64 “ Of the Aquatic-Bird House 57 “

Soil.—The soil varies from rich black muck in the valleys, to light and very dry soil, full of mica and sand, on the ridges and meadows. Where not packed hard, the latter is very porous, and the heaviest rainfall is quickly absorbed, or carried away on the surface. As a result, the valleys are always moist and rich in grass, and the slopes and ridges are always dry and warm.

Streams and Ponds.—The Zoological Park contains about 34 acres of still water, of which Bronx Lake comprises 25 acres, Lake Agassiz 5½ acres, Cope Lake, the Wild-Fowl Pond, and Beaver Pond together, about 3½ acres. The two larger lakes are fed by the Bronx River, which drains a valley about 15 miles long. Even in the driest seasons the volume of water carried down by the Bronx River is sufficient to keep the lakes well filled. The areas of still water available for animal collections are very generous for an institution like this, and are highly prized.

The Waterfall.—At the lower end of Lake Agassiz, and about 300 feet above the Boston Road Bridge, is a natural waterfall nearly 12 feet in height, where the Bronx River falls over a rugged ledge of pink granite. In times of high water the foaming flood that thunders over the rocks makes an imposing spectacle, and it constitutes a most unusual feature to be found in a city park. During the year 1901, an improvement was made which added very greatly to the beauty of this feature by extending the rock ledge about 200 feet farther, to the rocky side of Wilson Hill, thereby greatly increasing the water area of Lake Agassiz, and at the same time forming a beautiful island.

Forests.—The crowning glory of the Zoological Park is the magnificent forest growth which covers, thickly or sparsely, about two-thirds of its land area. It consists chiefly of white, scarlet, black, red and pin oaks, tulip, sweet gum, hickory, beech, sassafras, maple, wild cherry, hornbeam, dogwood, tupelo, hemlock and cedar; but there are at least thirty other species of trees and shrubs. Thanks to the wise foresight and broad views of David and Philip Lydig, who for about eighty years were the sole owners of nearly the whole of the Zoological Park site, the virgin forest was not cut down for firewood or lumber, but was carefully preserved for posterity. As the legal custodian of this splendid domain of Nature, the Zoological Society is as rapidly as possible going over the entire forest, to arrest decay and death, and take all needed measures for the preservation of the trees. It is safe to say that nowhere else within fifty miles of New York can there be found any more beautiful forests than those in the central and eastern portions of the Park. Throughout the enclosed grounds, it is absolutely necessary that visitors should be restricted to the walks; for otherwise the feet of our millions of visitors would quickly destroy every ground plant.

The Rocking Stone, No. 45, a colossal cube of pinkish granite, poised on one of its angles on a smooth pedestal of rock, is the Zoological Park’s most interesting souvenir of the glacial epoch. Across the bare face of the rocky hill in which lies the Crocodile Pool, there are several glacial scratches pointing directly toward the famous boulder; and who will say it had no part in making one of them?

The Rocking Stone stands on a smooth table of granite on the southern shoulder of the hill overlooking the Buffalo Range. Its extreme height is 7 feet 6 inches; breadth, 10 feet 1 inch; thickness, 8 feet 1 inch, and its weight, as roughly calculated, is 30 tons. A pressure of about 50 lbs. exerted on the most northern angle of the stone causes its apex to swing north and south about two inches.

WHITE TAILED DEER.

SECTION I.—THE MAMMALS.

The Hoofed Animals.

The forming of a collection which shall fairly represent the hoofed animals of the world is necessarily a work of years. It is now (in 1915) fifteen years since the Zoological Society entered upon this task, and during that period the work of providing installations and living specimens has been pursued with unflagging industry. In no feature of our development has the Society been more liberal than in the purchase of specimens for this collection, and the gifts to it have been both numerous and valuable. In our 82 species and 330 specimens we feel that the Order Ungulata is strongly represented. On April 1, 1913, the summary of groups stood as follows:

Summary of the Ungulates.

Deer 24 species 164 specimens Giraffes 1 “ 2 “ Bovines: Bison, etc. 3 “ 38 “ Musk Ox 1 “ 6 “ Wild Sheep, Goats, etc. 8 “ 41 “ Antelopes 22 “ 41 “ Hippopotamus 2 “ 4 “ Wild Swine 3 “ 5 “ Camels and Cameloids 5 “ 10 “ Rhinoceros 2 “ 2 “ Tapirs 2 “ 3 “ Wild Equines 6 “ 9 “ Elephants 3 “ 5 “ Total 82 “ 330 “

The arrangement of this section of the Guide Book begins at the Buffalo Entrance with the Bisons, and follows the ranges, corrals and buildings for Hoofed Animals, along the southern and western sides of the Park, to the Axis Deer Range. The Elephant House is introduced as the visitor leaves Baird Court, going south.

The large, open pastures are called “ranges,” and the smaller fenced enclosures are known as “corrals.” The fences are chiefly of hard steel wire, so strong and elastic that the animals cannot break through them.

AMERICAN BISON: BULL.

Warning.—Visitors must never stand close beside a wire fence or gate, because its elasticity between posts might enable a charging animal to strike a person so standing and inflict a serious injury, even though the fence or gate is not in the least affected by the blow.

THE BISON RANGES, Nos. 51 and 52.

Stretching from the Boston Road to the large Antelope House (No. 50), and from the Rocking Stone to the southern boundary, lies an open expanse of rolling meadow land, with a total area of about twenty acres. It is almost surrounded by shade-trees. Its easterly edge is a low-lying strip of rich meadow, which lies under the shelter of the rocky, tree-covered ridge that forms the natural retaining wall of the higher plateau toward the west. This is the Bison Range. It is the first enclosure seen on the left as the visitor enters the Park from West Farms by way of the Boston Road.

On the north side of the main range, near the Rocking Stone, are the four corrals, and the Bison House. The latter is a rustic hillside barn, eighty feet in length, with a semicircular front, affording shelter and feed storage for thirty-four buffaloes. The flat roof of the Buffalo House is open to the public from the main walk, and has been specially designed as a convenient lookout over the main range and corrals. There are other corrals, and a shelter shed, at the Buffalo Entrance.

EUROPEAN BISON: BULL.

The American Bison, or Buffalo, (B. americanus), is the largest and the best known of all North American hoofed animals. What was once the universal herd, which occupied the whole pasture region of the West, was cut in twain in 1867, by the building of the first trans-continental railway. The great “southern herd,” of several millions of animals, was destroyed by skin hunters during the years 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1874, and the practical extinction of the northern herd was accomplished between 1880 and 1884.

At present there are but two herds of wild bison in existence. The largest band, now containing by estimate about 300 individuals, inhabits a wide stretch of barren and inhospitable territory southwest of Great Slave Lake. About twenty head remain in the Yellowstone Park, more than nine-tenths of the original herd having been slaughtered by poachers since 1890. There are now about 2000 bison alive in captivity, chiefly in large private game preserves.

Usually bison calves are born in May, June, and July. Full maturity is not reached until the end of the seventh year, when the horns of the male—at first a straight spike—have attained their full semi-circular curve. Like all thick-haired animals of the temperate zone, the American bison sheds its coat in spring, and does not regain full pelage until October or November.

The bison breeds in confinement about as readily as domestic cattle. In appearance, it is the most imposing of all bovine animals, and with two exceptions it is also the largest. In captivity its disposition is mild, though inclined to stubbornness. Occasionally, however, an old bull becomes so vicious that it is necessary to seclude him from the herd, and treat him as a dangerous animal.

With the exception of a very few individuals, our entire bison herd is the gift of the late William C. Whitney, and the increase therefrom. The total number of head on hand on April 1, 1913, was forty-two.

In 1906, the New York Zoological Society presented to the United States Government a herd of fifteen bison to serve as a nucleus for an independent National herd. The Government very promptly fenced an area of twelve square miles of fine grazing grounds in the Wichita Forest and Game Reserve, for the proper reception of the herd. The plan was consummated during 1907. The effort has proven completely successful, and on April 1, 1913, the herd contained thirty-seven bison, all in fine condition.

European Bison.—In a corral adjoining the Buffalo Entrance, on the Boston Road, are to be found two specimens of the rare and almost extinct European Bison, (Bos bonasus). This species is the nearest living relative of the American bison, and the two specimens (male and female), now exhibited, came quite unexpectedly into the possession of the Zoological Society in April, 1904. They were acquired from the small captive herd in the forest of the Prince of Pless, in Silesia, south-eastern Germany, and are the first living specimens of the species to be exhibited in America. They were presented to the Society by Mr. Norman James, of Baltimore, Mr. Charles Sheldon and Dr. Leonard J. Sanford.

The distinguishing characters of this species are shorter and less abundant hair on the head, neck and shoulders than our bison, a tail densely covered with hair throughout its length, very long legs, and a short body.

But for royal protection, this species would long ere this have become extinct. In the year 1857, about 1,898 head were living, but in 1892 the total had decreased to 491. It appears, however, that an increase can safely be announced. An estimate recently published (1906) places the total number of wild and semi-wild individuals at 1,400, while in the captive herds of the Czar and the Prince of Pless there are 46 more. About 700 of the survivors inhabit the forests of Bielowitza and Swisslotsch, Lithuania, west Russia, and are strictly protected by the Czar. Other bands still exist on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains around the sources of the Laba and Bjellaja, sometimes ranging up to an elevation of 8,000 feet. Wherever found, they live in scattered bands of from three to ten individuals. All the survivors of this species are so jealously guarded that very few of the zoological gardens of Europe have been able to procure specimens.

This animal is very often miscalled the “aurochs,” and from this error much confusion has arisen. The true aurochs, (Bos primigenius), was the wild progenitor of some of the existing breeds of domestic cattle, but it is now extinct.

MOUNTAIN SHEEP HILL, No. 44.

The wild sheep and goats of the world form an exceedingly interesting group of animals. In form they are odd and picturesque, and in temper and mentality they are everything that could be desired. All the year round, deer are either nervous or dangerous, and difficult to handle. Wild sheep, goats and ibex appreciate man’s interest in them, and even when not fond of attention, they act sensibly when it is necessary to handle them.

The Zoological Park collection of wild sheep and goats is one of the most interesting features of the Park. Mountain Sheep Hill is the first high ridge west of the Rocking Stone, and its northern end is very near the Bear Dens and Reptile House. It consists of a ridge of pink granite 500 feet long and 25 feet high, its southern end fully exposed, but the northern end well shaded by oaks and cedars. For grazing animals that love to climb, and pose on the sky line, the slopes of bare rock, set in patches of hard, green turf, are almost ideal. In the eastern face of the ridge, rock excavations have been made, and five roomy caves have been constructed in such a manner that they are cool in summer, warm in winter, and dry at all times. On April 1, 1913, the six wire enclosures on Mountain Sheep Hill contained the following species:

WHITE-FRONTED MUSK-OX.

BIG-HORN MOUNTAIN SHEEP RAM.

Suleiman Markhor.
Arcal Mountain Sheep.
Mouflon.
Persian Wild Goat.
Himalayan Tahr.
Aoudad.

Because of the curious (and unaccountable) fact that they do not thrive on Mountain Sheep Hill, the Rocky Mountain Goat and Chamois are exhibited elsewhere. The former will be found near the Pheasant Aviary, next to the Musk-ox.

Visitors are requested to make note of the fact that in winter, the Arcal Sheep, Mouflon, and other delicate sheep are exhibited in the Small-Deer House.

The White-Fronted Musk-Ox, (Ovibos wardi, Lydekker), is represented in the Park by a herd of six specimens. Five of these animals were born in May, 1910, in Ellesmere Land, and captured in that year by Paul J. Rainey and Harry C. Whitney, and presented by Mr. Rainey. The sixth individual, a vigorous and rather vicious female, was born on Melville Island, in May, 1909, and captured by Captain Joseph Bernier. Owing to the domineering temper of “Miss Melville,” it is not possible to keep her with the animals a year younger than herself, because she resents their presence in her corral.

The Musk-Ox is an animal of strange form, inhabiting a small portion of the Arctic regions of the western hemisphere, up to the very northernmost points of land east of the Mackenzie River. At Fort Conger (Latitude 81°, 40′), its flesh was a godsend to General Greely, and later on to Commander Peary, also. Structurally, this animal stands in a genus of its own (Ovibos), midway between the cattle and the sheep, but it is unqualifiedly a misnomer to call it a “musk-sheep.”

An adult male Musk-Ox stands 4 ft. 5 in. high at the shoulders and is 6 ft. 7 in. in total length. Our first specimen was a female, two years old. She stood 3 ft. 2 in. high at the shoulders, and was 4 ft. 10 in. in total length. Her entire body was covered by a dense mass of fine light brown hair, of a woolly nature, overlaid by a thatch of very long, straight hair specially designed to shed rain.

The Musk-Ox inhabits the Barren Grounds of northern Canada north of Latitude 64° from Great Bear Lake to Hudson Bay, Grant Land, and the northeast coast of Greenland from Franz Josef Fiord (Latitude 70°) to the most northerly point of land. About twenty living specimens have been taken when very young at Franz Josef Fiord, by Swedish and Norwegian whaling parties. The Peary Arctic Club, of New York, presented to the New York Zoological Society a young calf which was captured by Commander Peary at Fort Conger, in 1902, but it lived only a few months.

MOUFLON

ARCAL SHEEP

HIMALAYAN TAHR

BURRHEL

The Big-Horn Mountain Sheep, (Ovis canadensis), is exhibited in the Zoological Park, whenever it may be obtained. The efforts that have been made in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Chicago to acclimatize the Big-Horn of the Rocky Mountains have proven the extreme difficulty involved in keeping specimens of that species alive and in good condition anywhere in the Mississippi Valley, or on the Atlantic coast. The changes of atmosphere and temperature seem more violent than American mountain sheep are fitted by nature to endure, and thus far all specimens tried have died within a comparatively few months.

CHAMOIS

MARKHOR

In his own country, the Rocky Mountain Big-Horn is a bold, hardy and robust animal. He is high-headed, keen-sighted, and a sure-footed mountaineer. He dwells in the wildest and most picturesque country that he can find between the “bad-lands” of western North Dakota and the line of perpetual snow on the Rockies. His massive circling horns render his head a much-coveted trophy, and his flesh is most excellent food. A full-grown ram (Ovis canadensis) stands 41 inches in height at the shoulders, and weighs 316 pounds.

AOUDAD

PERSIAN WILD GOAT

This species ranges from the northern states of Mexico to northern British Columbia and it culminates (i. e., reaches its finest development) in southeastern British Columbia. In Northwest Alaska other related species occur. A female specimen from southeastern British Columbia was exhibited in the Zoological Park during 1905 and 1906, and in 1902, a male specimen of a closely related species (Ovis nelsoni) was also here.

As opportunities offer to procure male specimens, that have been kept in their home region until they are at least a year and a half old, they will be purchased and exhibited.

The Mouflon, (Ovis musimon), or Wild Sheep of Sardinia, is represented by a fine pair of specimens presented by Maurice Egerton, Esq., of London, and a young male born in the Park. The female of the adult pair was captured when a lamb in the mountains of Sardinia by Mr. Egerton. The ram of this species is handsomely colored, and this specimen is noted for his friendliness, and his fondness for admiration.

The Arcal Mountain Sheep, (Ovis cycloceros), is one of the smallest mountain sheep of India of the “big-horn” type (with circling horns). The fully adult male, with its long undermane of coarse, shaggy hair and proud postures, is a very noteworthy creature. This species inhabits the mountains of northern India, Tibet, Afghanistan, Beluchistan and southern Persia.