Chapter V: Section I: The Mammals (3)

The Black Spider Monkey and the Gray Spider Monkey represent a genus of animals quite as attenuated in form as the gibbons. Their slender bodies, exceedingly long and slender legs and tail,—the latter strongly prehensile, and better than a fifth arm and hand,—give them when in the tree-tops an appearance truly spider-like. They are agile climbers, but not rapid runners, and having no means of defense are very timid. Their stomachs are so simple they seem to lack some element or function that is necessary to the life of the animal in captivity. Notwithstanding the fact that “Jess,” of Bath, New York, in defiance of all laws and precedents, _lived thirteen years in a cold climate_, the great majority of spider monkeys die before they reach full maturity, and nearly always of stomach troubles. Fortunately, however, there are exceptions to this rule.

The Squirrel Monkey, often called a “Marmoset,” is a pretty little olive-yellow monkey, almost as delicate as the true Marmoset, and the Pinche. These diminutive creatures are so delicate they require the greatest care and tenderness, and thrive better in moderately small cages than in large ones. True marmosets are the smallest of American primates, being next in size to the Tarsier, of Borneo, smallest of all quadrumanes.

The Lemurs and Lemuroids.—A lemur is a monkey-like animal belonging to the lowest group of primates, but in some respects is so little like a typical monkey that the relationship is not always apparent. There are about thirty species, and all save a very few are found on the Island of Madagascar. They are gentle-spirited, harmless and inoffensive animals, and not being persecuted by their human neighbors, as all American wild animals are, they are quite numerous.

Nearly all the Lemurs have long tails, long and fine hair, large eyes and pointed muzzles. Many of them are strikingly colored in various shades of black, white and gray. All Lemurs are supposed to be of nocturnal habit, and in fact they really are; but the specimens in the large jungle cage of the Primate House are quite as lively and interesting in the daytime as most of the monkeys. So far from manifesting a disposition to retire to dark corners, they love to lie in the sunshine.

The Ruffed Lemur, or Black-and-White Lemur, (_Lemur varia_), is the handsomest member of this entire group. Its fur is very long, silky, and alternately pure white and jet black. The Ring-Tailed Lemur has a very long, pointed tail, ornamented with about 25 alternating rings of brown and gray, which it carries very gracefully. This species is of a more lively disposition than most others. The curious Indri has not up to this time come into the collection, but it is expected in the near future. When it arrives it can at once be recognized by the entire absence of a tail, except a mere stump, and by its large hands and feet.

ELEPHANT HOUSE, No. 20.

Of its buildings for animals, the Elephant House is the culminating feature of the Zoological Park, and it comes quite near to being the last of the series. In token of these facts, it is fittingly crowned with a dome. Through its position in the general plan it closes a wide gap, and effectively links together the northern and southern halves of the establishment.

The erection of this great structure began in 1907, and the building was completed and its inmates housed in the fall of 1908. The yards surrounding the structure were finished in 1909.

Any building which can comfortably accommodate a representative collection of the largest of all living land animals, must unquestionably be large and substantial. There is no pleasure in seeing a ponderous elephant chained to the floor of a small room, unable even to walk to and fro, and never permitted to roam at will in the open air and sunlight. It is no wonder that dungeon-kept elephants go mad, and do mischief. If an elephant—or for that matter any animal—cannot be kept in _comfortable_ captivity, then let it not be kept at all.

The Elephant House of the City of New York is a large and roomy structure, built to render good service for two centuries. Its extreme length over all is 170 feet, and its width is 84 feet. Its two sides are divided into 8 huge compartments, of which 4 are for elephants, 2 for rhinoceroses, and 2 for hippopotami. Each of these is 24×21½ feet.

The Hippopotami have within the building a tank 24×21 feet, and 8 feet in total depth; and another will be constructed in their corral.

Each end of the building furnishes two cages of smaller dimensions, for tapirs, and young elephants. The whole area surrounding the building, excepting the axial walk, is devoted to open-air yards, so arranged that each cage in the interior connects directly with a corral which affords both sunshine and shade. Nature seems to have made this beautiful open grove—strangely free from trees in its center—especially for the purposes to which it now is devoted.

It is by no means the intention of the Zoological Society, that, because an axial walk leads through the Elephant House, the building shall be used _as a thoroughfare_ for foot traffic between the northern and southern portions of the Park. Such use would surely defeat the main purpose of the structure. It is intended to be entered _only by persons who desire to see the animals, and all others must pass around it_, by one or the other of the two very direct promenades which will be provided. The employees of the Park are strictly forbidden to consider the walk through the building as a convenient highway, and visitors are requested to observe the obvious necessities of this case.

The Indian Elephant, (_Elephas indicus_), is the universal elephant of captivity, the African species being shown only as a great rarity. For every elephant that comes from Africa, about thirty come from India, and of those about twenty-nine are prosy and unromantic females. In order to secure a male Indian Elephant, it must be specially ordered.

Our first Indian Elephant, a fine male named “Gunda,” was caught wild in the interior of Assam, northeastern India, and he arrived at the Zoological Park in May, 1904, as the gift of Col. Oliver H. Payne. He was then about seven years old. He stood 6 feet 7 inches in shoulder height, weighed 3,740 pounds, and had all the points of a “high-caste” elephant. His tusks were then 16 inches long. He is very mischievous about breaking anything in his quarters that is breakable, and he manifests special dislike toward certain individuals who come near him. Like most Indian elephants, “Gunda” is very intelligent. In two days he was taught to receive pennies, lift the lid of his “bank,” drop the coin within, and ring his bell.

Since his arrival here, in May, 1904, he has grown in height at the rate of about 5 inches each year. On November 1, 1910, he stood 8 feet 9 inches in shoulder height, his weight was 8100 pounds, and his tusks were 36 inches long.

The Sudan African Elephant, (_Elephas oxyotis_, Matschie), is the largest of the four species of African elephants now recognized. The other species are the South African Elephant, (_E. capensis_), the German-East-African Elephant, (_E. knochenhaueri_), and the West African Elephant, (_E. cyclotis_).

After some years of waiting, and many futile efforts, we have at last come into possession of a pair of young Sudan Elephants, representing, so we believe, the great species to which belonged Jumbo, and also the bearer of the enormous tusks presented to the Zoological Society by Mr. Charles T. Barney. Like all elephants newly arrived from Africa, they are young, and small; but if they have good health they will grow very rapidly, and about A. D. 1927 they should attain full stature,—11 feet at the shoulders for the male, or thereabouts.

The different species of elephants are most easily recognized by their ears. Compare the enormous “sail-area” of the ears of this species with the small, triangular ear of the Indian elephant, and the small, round ear of the next species.

The West African Elephant, (_Elephas cyclotis_), of equatorial West Africa, especially the Congo country, is apparently a small species, not exceeding seven feet in height, even if that height is ever attained. Mr. Carl Hagenbeck reports that out of nearly 300 pairs of tusks of this species examined by him in the German ivory market, not one pair exceeded two feet in length, and many measured only 10 inches.

On July 25, 1905, we received a male specimen representing this species, as a gift from Mr. Barney. It is strikingly marked by its small round ears, and the presence of 5 toes on each fore-foot and 4 on the hind foot, the number in the East African species being 4 and 3, respectively. At the time of its arrival, little “Congo” stood 43 inches in shoulder height, his weight was precisely 600 pounds, and his tusks were 4 inches long. On June 1, 1911, his shoulder height was 60 inches, and his weight was 1650 pounds, and his tusks were 23 inches long.

Regarding the life history and distribution of this odd species, much remains to be ascertained; and precise information is greatly desired.

The African Two-Horned Rhinoceros, (_Rhinoceros bicornis_), is already represented by a female specimen which was acquired in 1906. “Victoria” was captured in July, 1905, in the northern point of German East Africa, within about sixty miles of the head of Speke Gulf, which is the southeastern arm of Lake Victoria Nyanza. The elevation is between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. She was slung under a pole, and carried, six days’ journey on men’s shoulders, to the shore of the lake.

From thence she was transported by steamer to Port Florence, at the head of the Uganda Railway, thence by rail 500 miles to Mombasa. Ever since her arrival in New York, “Victoria” has developed rapidly. Captivity does not seem to fret her in the least. She is very docile, is very friendly toward her keeper, and it is quite apparent that she enjoys herself.

The African Two-Horned Rhinoceros once was very abundant throughout the whole of the fertile plains region of east and south Africa, but the onslaughts of hunters have exterminated it from probably nine-tenths of the territory that it once occupied. To-day, the Englishmen of Africa are earnestly endeavoring to regulate and abate the slaughter of African big game, and beyond doubt safe, good results in that line are being accomplished. It is to be hoped that the protection lines will now be drawn so tightly around the game that remains that it will be perpetuated for centuries to come.

The Indian Rhinoceros, (_Rhinoceros unicornis_).—A full-grown Indian Rhinoceros is one of the most wonderful of all living animals. It seems like a prehistoric monster, belonging to the days of the dinosaurs, rather than a creature of to-day; and the killing of so grand a creature solely for the sake of “sport,” and a stuffed head to hang upon a wall, is murder, no less. It is quite time that the most wonderful works of animated Nature should universally be recognized as safe from attack with the rifle and knife.

So pronounced is the rarity of the great Indian Rhinoceros, it is a fact that for nearly fifteen years no living specimens came into the wild-animal market. At last, however, the persistence and industry of the renowned Carl Hagenbeck was rewarded by the capture, in 1906, of four young specimens, all of which reached Hamburg in May, 1907. One of the best specimens of the quartette was purchased for the New York Zoological Park, and is now living in the Park in the quarters prepared for him at the Elephant House.

The Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros is the largest of all living rhinoceroses. A full-grown male is about 5 feet, 6 inches in shoulder height, and 10 feet 6 inches long from end of nose to root of tail. The length of the horn is not great, rarely exceeding 12 inches. The skin is very thick, and lies upon the animal in great rigid slabs which are divided by articulating areas of thinner skin.

The Hippopotamus, (_Hippopotamus amphibius_), is more frequently seen in captivity than any of the large rhinoceroses, or the African elephant. In the lakes and large rivers of central East Africa it still exists in fair numbers, and still is killed for “sport.”

Strange as it may seem, this very inert and usually lethargic monster can, under what it deems just provocation, become very angry, and even dangerous. Four years ago, in one of the rivers of Uganda, a hippopotamus not only overturned a boat, but killed one of its native occupants by biting him.

The Hippopotamus breeds readily in captivity, even under poor conditions, and the supply for the zoological gardens of the world is chiefly maintained in that way. The fine male specimen exhibited in the Zoological Park was purchased from the Central Park Menagerie, for $3,000, and is a gift from Mr. Samuel Thorne. He was born on July 13, 1904. His weight on November 1, 1909, at five years of age, was 3,114 pounds; and he is growing rapidly.

The Pygmy Hippopotamus (_Hippopotamus liberiensis_), is a great zoological novelty, and second in rarity only to the okapi. Thus far only five specimens ever have been exhibited. An adult Pygmy Hippo is only _one-fourteenth_ the size of an adult Nile Hippo. Our three specimens, a female and two males, are exhibited in the Elephant House. They arrived in 1912, and were captured in Liberia, West Africa. The cost price of the trio was $15,000. They have excellent appetites, never have been ill, and they seem to enjoy their new home. Their habits, capture, and their home surroundings have been fully described in the _Bulletin_ (No. 52) and the Annual Report for 1912 of the Zoological Society.

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is far more widely distributed throughout Liberia than might be inferred from the surprising scarcity of specimens in museums, and the long absence of the species from zoological gardens. It is an inhabitant of swampy forests, and while it frequents rivers it is not confined to them, like the large hippo. It seeks shelter from molestation in large cavities in river banks, usually under the roots of overhanging trees. These specimens were caught by digging pits in their runways, with sides so steep that the captives could not climb out. After capture, each animal was placed in a huge basket crate, slung under a pole, and carried by natives over the rough forest trails to the nearest river transportation.

The Tapirs.—Near the end of the Order of Hoofed Animals, (_Ungulata_), is found the Tapir Family, represented in both the old world and the new, by about five species. These very odd creatures inhabit the densest forests of the tropics, where vegetation grows rankly, and few other large hoofed animals can live. They are very fond of water, and swim well.

The South American Tapir, (_Tapirus terrestris_), takes kindly to captivity, breeds in confinement, and always manages to look well-fed and as sleek as a seal. Its color is a rich mahogany brown, and its long, prehensile nose is strongly suggestive of the end of an elephant’s trunk. The shoulder height of a full-grown animal is about 37 inches. This species inhabits Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and some other regions of South America. Some of the Central American Tapirs inhabit mountain regions, but all are exceedingly wary, and difficult to find without dogs.

The Malay Tapir, (_Tapirus indicus_), of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, may be recognized as far as it can be seen, by its colors. The front half of the animal, and its legs, are black or dark brown, and the rear half of the body is white. It is much larger than the preceding species.

THE WOLF DENS, No. 22.

At the northeastern corner of the Elk Range there is a huge, bare granite rock, two hundred feet long, shaped precisely like the hump of a bull buffalo. The high end of the hump is toward the north, and its crest is about fifteen feet above the ground on its eastern side. A fringe of small trees and bushes grows along its western side. On the east side, well sheltered by the rock itself from the cold west winds of winter, and also shaded by several fine trees which most opportunely grow close beside the ledge, the Wolf Dens and Fox Dens are situated.

In regard to the iron work, these dens are merely an understudy of the Bear Dens. The dimensions of each den of the series are 16 by 48 feet, and the height of the bars to the top of the overhang is 9 feet 6 inches. The sleeping dens are of simple construction, all save one being of wood, trimmed with bark-covered slabs. At present the Wolf Dens are divided into four compartments.

The Gray Wolf, (_Canis nubilis_), is known by as many names as it has color phases. In the North, where it is white, it is called the “White Wolf,” while in Florida it becomes the “Black Wolf.” In British Columbia and around Great Slave Lake, both white and black wolves abound, as well as the standard gray, but on the Barren Grounds the white phase predominates. In Texas a “Red Wolf” is found, but apparently the red phase is of somewhat rare occurrence, and is never found in the North.

In the West this animal has recently come into prominence in a way that is striking terror to the hearts of ranchmen and others who have stock to lose. While all kinds of desirable game animals are decreasing at an alarming rate, the Gray Wolf not only holds its own, but is multiplying rapidly. The destruction by it of calves, colts and sheep, has become so great that nearly every western State has placed on the head of this bold marauder a bounty varying from $2 to $10. In some States this law has been in force for several years, but with no sensible diminution in the number of wolves.

The Gray Wolves which live in touch with civilization are by no means such bold and dangerous animals as they formerly were. In the early days, when wolves were numerous and fire-arms few and primitive, the Gray Wolf undoubtedly was a dangerous animal. But the breech-loading rifle has changed all this. Excepting for his stock-killing propensities, the Gray Wolf is now a skulking creature. In the United States this animal possesses the courage of a coyote, but in the Barren Grounds it is still fierce and dangerous. However much the wolf may skulk and flee when the way is open, when brought to bay he knows how to fight. One snap of his powerful jaws and shear-like teeth is enough to disable almost any dog, and send it howling to the rear. It is no wonder that western dogs of experience are shy of approaching a Gray Wolf within snapping distance.

Excepting the localities from which it has been driven out by civilization, the Gray Wolf ranges over the whole North American continent from central Mexico to 83° 24′ N.

The Coyote, or Prairie Wolf, (_Canis latrans_), is a personal acquaintance of nearly every trans-continental traveler. To those who have camped on the “plains,” he is quite like an old friend; and the high-pitched, staccato cry—half howl and half bark—with which he announces the dawn, is associated with memories of vast stretches of open country, magnificent distances, sage-brush and freedom. Because of his fondness of barking, Thomas Say, the naturalist who first described this species, christened it, _Canis latrans_, which means “barking wolf.”

This animal averages about one-third smaller than the gray wolf, and while the finest male specimens are, in the autumn, really handsome animals, at other times the majority are of very ordinary appearance. At no time, however, even in the dark, is a Coyote a courageous animal. So far as man is concerned, a band of a thousand coyotes would be as easily put to flight as one; but in hanging upon the ragged edges of civilization, and living by its wits, the Coyote is audacity itself. By inheritance, and also by personal experience, this animal knows to a rod how far it is safe to trust a man with a gun. If the hunter has left his gun behind him, the Coyote knows it at once, and boldly flaunts himself within stone’s throw of his enemy.

The Coyote varies in color quite markedly, exhibiting the gray, brown and black phases. Formerly it was supposed that one species comprehended all, but Dr. Merriam’s series of specimens from all parts of the West and Southwest have led him to separate these animals into eleven species.

THE FOX DENS, No. 23.

Of the many species of foxes found in North America, three species stand forth as the types of prominent groups, and it is very desirable that all three should be well known.

The Red Fox, (_Vulpes fulvus_), is the representative of the group which contains also the cross fox and black fox of the Northwest. In spite of dogs, traps, guns, spades and poison, this cunning creature persists in living in close touch with the poultry yards of civilized man. His perfect familiarity with old-fashioned dangers enables him to avoid them all, and no sooner does a new danger menace him than he promptly invents a way to escape it. The manner in which the Red Fox lives with civilization without being exterminated really is surprising, and speaks volumes for the astuteness of this animal.

The geographical range of the Red Fox is very wide, From North Carolina and Tennessee it extends northward through the whole northeastern United States, gradually bearing westward to Montana, and northward almost to the Arctic Ocean. It is the commonest species in Alaska, where it is found practically everywhere.

The typical Red Fox and its two subspecies, the Cross Fox, (_Vulpes fulvus decussatus_), and the Black Fox, (_V. f. argentatus_)—the latter many times miscalled the “Silver Fox”—vary in all possible gradations of color from bright red to pure black. Often it is difficult to decide where one type leaves off and another begins. The Cross Fox stands midway between the Red and Black, with some of the yellow color of the former on the sides of the neck and behind the foreleg, while the remainder of the general color is grizzled gray-brown laid across his shoulders in a more or less distinct cross. The Black Fox varies in color from very dark iron-gray to dark brown or black, with a slight wash of white-tipped hairs over the head, body and tail. The tip of the tail is always white, which is the only constant color mark about him.

The Swift, or Kit Fox, (_Vulpes velox_), is the daintiest, smallest and liveliest of all American foxes. From his delicate little nose to the tip of his well-trimmed tail, he is every inch a thoroughbred. His countenance is bright and pert, and when several specimens are kept together they are very playful. One striking feature of this little animal is what may well be termed its trimness. When in fair condition, its coat of thick, silvery gray fur is as smooth and even as if recently trimmed by a barber.

On the western plains, where it once had for companions the buffalo and prong-horn, the Swift is becoming rare. Its worst enemy is the deadly strychnine bottle of the ranchman. This species does not thrive in the Fox Dens, and it will be found in the Burrowing Animal’s Quarters, where it seems pleased to consider itself at home.

In the Small-Mammal House is shown a new species, closely allied to the above, from Phoenix, Arizona, recently described by Dr. C. H. Merriam as _Vulpes macrotis_, or the Large-Eared Swift.

The Gray Fox, (_Urocyon virginianus_), is the fox of the South, even though it does range northward well into the territory of the red fox. This species is distinctly smaller and more lightly built than the red, its hair is not so luxuriant, it is more shy and retiring, and its colors change very little. When hotly pursued by dogs it often climbs trees that are quite perpendicular, to a height of twenty feet or more. In captivity Gray Foxes are forever trying to escape by climbing, instead of by burrowing, as would naturally be expected. In temper, they are treacherous to their keepers, and also to each other, and as “pets” are anything but desirable.

The Tasmanian Wolf, or Thylacine, (_Thylacinus cynocephalus_), is a very strange-looking and interesting creature, about the size of a pointer dog. Its color is dark yellowish brown, and it has a series of broad black stripes, or bands, running across its hind quarters and loins. The wide gape of its mouth reminds one of an iguana or a monitor.

This animal, fully named above, is the largest of the carnivorous marsupials of Australia, and the female possesses an abdominal pouch in which she carries her young, like a kangaroo. It is now found only in Tasmania, and it dwells amongst rocks, in rugged and mountainous regions. Because of its depredations upon the sheep herds, the Thylacine has been diligently hunted and destroyed, and now living specimens rarely are taken.

In the zoological gardens of Europe and America, this species usually is kept in heated buildings, but it has been ascertained by experiment that this specimen thrives best in the open air. Living examples in captivity are now so very rare it is a difficult matter to keep one constantly on exhibition.

THE OTTER POOLS, No. 31.

The American Otter, (_Lutra canadensis_), is unfortunate in being the bearer of valuable fur; and in the northern regions, where the cold causes the development of fur that is available for the use of the furrier, this creature is so nearly extinct that trappers no longer pursue it. In the southern States, where its fur is short, rather coarse and “off color,” the Otter still is found. In some portions of eastern Florida, and along the coast of South Carolina, it is frequently taken. In captivity, it often becomes quite tame, even affectionate, and always is interesting. Unless closely confined, however, it is prone to wander, and meet premature death.

In captivity the Otter usually is active and restless, and very much in evidence. Owing to the strength of its jaws, its ability to climb under certain conditions and its restless activity, it is difficult to confine a full-grown Otter in anything else than a complete box of iron cage-work.

Few persons save woodsmen and naturalists are aware of the fact that in a wild state the Otter is a very playful animal, and is as fond of sliding down hill, over a wet and muddy slide, with a water plunge at the bottom, as any young person is of “shooting the chutes.” Like the small boy with the sled and a snowy hillside, the Otter sometimes indulges in its sliding pastime for an hour at a time, with a keen relish for the sport that is quite evident to all who have ever watched it.

The Otter is a carnivorous animal, and in a wild state lives upon fish, frogs, crabs, young birds, small mammals, and, in fact, about any living thing which it can catch.

The Coypu Rat, (_Myopotamus coypu_), of Central and South America, is interesting because of the fact that it is the largest of all rats or rat-like animals. In its habits it is as fond of water as the musk-rat. It is sufficiently clothed with fur to endure outdoor life in the Park, even in winter, and it has been acclimatized here in one of the other pools. It breeds persistently, and thrives in captivity, provided it is treated as it should be.

THE SMALL-MAMMAL HOUSE, No. 35.

The new Small-Mammal House, erected and occupied in 1905, is a very different structure from the temporary building which formerly occupied the site. The present building is a twin of the Ostrich House, and in it much effort has been expended in devising ways and means to keep its living inhabitants clean, odorless and in good health. Owing, however, to the musky odors secreted by many of the civet cats and members of the Marten Family, it is beyond human power to keep a large collection such as this building contains without a certain amount of wild-animal odor.

Most difficult of all collections to settle satisfactorily in a modern zoological park or garden is the great _omnium gatherum_ of small species—and some large ones, also—which fall within the meaning of the term “small mammals.” The number of mammalian miscellanea which can not have buildings all their own is really very great. In addition to that there are always with us a considerable number of young and tender animals which require small quarters, and close attention. The visitor will therefore always find in the Small-Mammal House a great array of viverrine animals, of tropical squirrels and other small rodents, of mustelines, the nasuas, the small marsupials, young leopards, the lynxes and their relatives, baby bears, and many other species.

Attention is invited to the great variety of cages in and around this building, of which there are five different types. The total number is 176. All those on the western side are adjustable as to their bottoms and sides, so that it is easy to throw several cages into one, and make cages either very long or very high. The idea of the collapsible cage, and also the general plan of it, has been copied from the model developed and in use in the Zoological Garden of Frankfort, Germany, by Director A. Seitz, to whom this acknowledgment is justly due. It will be noticed that every animal in this building enjoys the use of an outdoor cage, which connects directly with its interior quarters.

Of such an odd mixture of animals as we are now to consider, anything like a perfect systematic zoological arrangement is a practical impossibility; but as far as it is possible, we will take up the animals by groups.

On the whole, the most striking animals in the Small-Mammal House are the small cats and lynxes. Of the spotted cats, the Serval, (_Felis serval_), of Africa, is one of the rarest. Its long, slender legs, small head, slender body and round spots proclaim it a near relative of the cheetah.

The Clouded Leopard, (_Felis nebulosa_).—The dense and humid jungles of Borneo contain a beautiful tree-climbing leopard whose markings are laid on its sides in large, elliptical patches of pleasing pattern. This is the Clouded Leopard, so delicate in captivity that only one out of every four or five becomes acclimatized outside its native jungles. Our fine adult specimen, with very long canine teeth suggestive of those of the saber-toothed tiger, really belongs in the Lion House, but we dare not move it, for fear the change would in some manner prove fatal to it. It is an animal of vicious temper, and makes friends with no one. The half light of its cage is a welcome approach to the dense shadows in which it lives when at home.

The Jungle Cat, (_F. bengalensis_), is a small and inconspicuous type, as befits an animal which lives by stealth in densely populated regions. The Ocelot, (_Felis pardalis_), of South and Central America, is a small spotted cat which very often is called a “young jaguar.” In size it is the third largest _Felis_ of the American continent; but for all that, it is so small that an adult specimen would not make more than one square meal for a hungry jaguar. It is found from southern Texas to southern Brazil.

The little Margay Cat, (_F. tigrina_), is our smallest and also rarest spotted cat. It is no larger than a good-sized domestic cat, and its tawny ground-color is marked all over with round spots. The rarest American feline in our possession is the queer, otter-like Yaguarundi Cat, (_F. yaguarundi_), of a uniform gray-brown color, without spots. It is found in southern Texas and Mexico, and is so seldom seen in captivity that comparatively few persons north of the Rio Grande are aware of its existence. Our specimen came from Brownsville, Texas.

The Bay Lynx, Red Lynx, or Wild Cat, (_Lynx rufus_), is the smallest of American Lynxes, and it is the one that inhabits the United States eastward of the great plains. Until further notice, this species will be found in the Small-Mammal House. It may have a few dark spots, or none at all. Its color varies so greatly that it is at times impossible to determine where this species leaves off, and the more heavily spotted subspecies of the southwest takes its place. The latter is known as the Spotted Lynx, (_L. r. maculatus_).

The large and important group of Viverrines, or long-faced cat-like carnivores of the East Indies, (Family _Viverridae_), is well represented. It is the true Civets which furnish—some of them—the evil-smelling civet of commerce—an odor which we would gladly do without. The Common Civet-Cat, (_Viverra zibetha_), is the best known member of this Family, and it is easily recognized by its large size, heavily-spotted body and ring-streaked tail. It is common throughout the Malay Peninsula, and in many other portions of the Malay Archipelago. The larger Malayan Civet-Cat, (_V. malaccensis_), strongly resembles its understudy, but its black spots and blotches are larger and more intense, and in form it is much more robust.

The large and handsome White-Whiskered Paradoxure, (_Paradoxurus leucomystax_), has been in the Park about six years, and to-day it coughs and snarls at the visitor just as it did in the beginning. It is a smooth-coated creature, colored like a puma, and comes from northern China. Other members of the Family _Viverridae_ contained in the collection are the Malayan Paradoxure, (_P. hermaphroditus_); the Black Paradoxure, (_P. niger_); the African Ichneumon, (_Herpestes ichneumon_), the strange black creature from the Malay Peninsula called the Binturong, or “Bear-Cat,” (_Arctictis binturong_), and the Suricate, or Slender-Tailed Meerkat, (_Suricata tetradactyla_), of South Africa.

Into the Small-Mammal House have drifted and comfortably settled down several canine species which are not so well satisfied, elsewhere. The Black-Backed Jackal, (_Canis mesomelas_), of Africa, is one of the most interesting, and it is also the one that thrives best in captivity. It is very much like a dark phase of the Azara Dog, of South America, and it is the handsomest of all the Jackals. The Cape Hunting Dog, of eastern Africa, has for years been present in this building, and it will be kept as continuously as circumstances will permit.

The New Mexico Desert Fox, (_Vulpes macrotis neomexicanus_), is a small understudy of the better known Swift or Kit Fox of the northern plains, but it has larger ears. Neither of these delicate little species seems to thrive in our large Fox Dens, which seem to be too large for them; but in this building they thrive and are quite content with life. The Swift Fox is the four-footed elf of the plains, and it is unfortunate that the poison laid for the fierce and cruel stock-killing wolves should prove its extermination—as it surely will, ere long.

The Arctic Fox, (_Vulpes lagopus_).—This creature of the polar world is a striking example of climatic influence on a species, and also of the danger that lies in describing a species from a single specimen. In the far north, the Arctic Fox is snow-white all the year round. Farther south it is white in winter, but in summer is bluish-brown. In the southern part of its range, the Aleutian Archipelago for example, except for an occasional white individual, it is dark all the year round, and is known only as the Blue Fox. At first it may seem difficult to believe that these two widely-different extremes are only color-phases of the same species; but it is quite true. The dark-colored animal is not even accorded subspecific rank.

On various islands along the Alaska coast, especially in the Aleutian Archipelago, about forty commercial companies are engaged in breeding Blue Foxes for their fur, some of them with satisfactory success. The foxes are fed daily, on cooked corn meal and dried fish. They come up to be fed, and when the time comes to handle and sort them previous to killing the annual allotment, they greatly facilitate matters by the readiness with which they enter box traps.

The great decrease in the annual supply of good fur has caused many persons to hope that fox-breeding may be developed into a remunerative industry. Except in Alaska, no extensive experiments in that line have been made. It is quite desirable that fox-breeding in the United States should be taken up under state or national auspices, and worked out to a successful issue. There is good reason to hope and believe that it might be developed into an important industry.

From Argentina, South America, have come two fine specimens of the Azara Dog, (_Canis azarae_), which, but for their half dog-like tails might pass anywhere as rather odd-looking gray foxes. But they are a visible reminder of the fact that the pampas of South America contain an extensive series of foxes and wild dogs, which thus far is practically unknown everywhere north of the Amazon.

The Dingo, or Australian Wild Dog, (_Canis dingo_), is represented by two specimens which look like ordinary yellow dogs. By many persons it is believed that this animal was not indigenous to Australia, and was planted there by man, but the evidence in support of that supposition is by no means conclusive.

The Coati-Mundi, (pronounced coy-ty mon-day), is for its size one of the best exhibition animals that can be found outside of the Primate House. It is closely related to our raccoon, but is far more showy and interesting. It has a very lively and industrious disposition, is a good climber, and from dawn until dark is almost constantly on the move. Although it is a carnivorous animal, and provided with powerful canine teeth, it is not naturally quarrelsome, but on the contrary is quite gregarious in its habits. The genus _Nasua_ inhabits Mexico, Central and South America. We have two species, the Red Coati-Mondi, (_Nasua rufa_), and the White-Nosed, (_N. narica_).

The Raccoon Dog, of Japan, (_Nyctereutes procyonoides_), is to all outward appearances a raccoon, but its feet are digitigrade, not plantigrade, and it is a true dog.

The American Badger, (_Taxidea americana_), is represented by a fine, large and very light-colored specimen that was presented by President Roosevelt. The European Badger, (_Meles taxus_), is shown near by.

Our collection of Rodents contains the following important and representative species of squirrels:

North American.

Gray Squirrel _Sciurus_ _carolinensis_ New York.
Black Squirrel “ “ Ohio.
Fox Squirrel “ _ludovicianus_ Kansas.
Southern Fox Squirrel “ _niger_ Louisiana.
Red Squirrel “ _hudsonius_ New York.
Eastern Chipmunk _Tamias_ _striatus_ “
Western Chipmunk “ _speciosus_ California.
Parry’s Spermophile _Citellus_ _parryi_ Alaska.
Thirteen-Lined _Spermophilus_ _tridecem-lineatus_ Iowa.
Spermophile

Foreign Species.

Malabar Hill Squirrel _Sciurus_ _malabaricus_ S. India.
Indian Hill Squirrel “ _bicolor_ N. India.
Prevost Squirrel “ _prevosti_ Malayana.
Golden-Bellied “ _aureogaster_ Mexico.
Squirrel
Columbia Fire-Backed “ _variabilis_ S. America.
Squirrel

No collection of Rodents is worthy of acceptance by the public without a fair representation of Porcupines. The most wonderful species is the African Porcupine, (_Hystrix cristata_), which when disturbed erects a threatening array of enormously-long, shining black-and-white quills that are a wonder to behold. The lofty white crest of this animal is one of its most conspicuous features.

The Indian Crestless Hill Porcupine, (_H. longicauda_), usually present in our collection, is merely a quiet understudy of the former. Strange to say—and also provoking—our old friend of the North Woods, the Canada Porcupine, (_Erethizon dorsatus_), is much more capricious and difficult to keep for a long period than either of the fine foreign species already mentioned. It is only the men who know all about animals who can tell us why nothing seems to exactly satisfy them, and why they will not breed here, live ten years and be happy. Even the best cage life does not seem to be good enough for them; but we are still experimenting.

In order that visitors to the Park may at all times be able to see a Beaver, (_Castor canadensis_), and not be thwarted in that desire by the very shy habits of the animals in the Beaver Pond, we have a specimen on exhibition in the Small-Mammal House. This individual came from the Rio Grande, as a small kit, and has been reared in its present quarters. It is kept constantly supplied with food--wood, chiefly of poplar and maple, and clean water in which to bathe.

The Capybara, (_Hydrochaerus capybara_), is the largest of all gnawing animals, and the most remarkable rodent in our collection. In form and size it suggests a large, gray, coarse-haired pig. It is a water-loving animal, of the American tropics, and lives on the grassy banks of the delta of the Orinoco, and similar places farther south. It is one of the best divers of all land animals, and when attacked on land always plunges into the water and dives for about 100 feet before coming to the surface. It is strictly a vegetable feeder, and its flesh is very palatable food. It takes kindly to captivity, and in disposition it is very affectionate.

The Agouti, (_Dasyprocta_), is to the jungles of South America as the cotton-tail rabbit is to the forests of the eastern United States; but structurally it is not closely related to the members of the Rabbit Family. It lives wholly on the ground, in dense cover, and is very difficult to shoot. As a rule, it is impossible for dogs to catch it because it runs so swiftly through the dense cover that they cannot keep it in sight. There are a number of species, varying in color from dark brown to golden yellow.

The Toothless Mammals.—The Order _Edentata_ contains some of the most odd and remarkable mammals that ever find their way into a zoological park. They are the armadilloes, ant-eaters and sloths. Without exception, they are delicate feeders, and difficult to keep for long periods, and for this reason the number on exhibition constantly varies between half a score and none at all! As far as it is possible, the species named below will be kept on exhibition; but these rarities are difficult to obtain, and the supply must be regarded as intermittent.

The Nine-Banded Armadillo, (_Tatu novemcinctum_), of southern Texas and Arizona, and southward, is the only edentate found in the United States. Its total length, from nose to tail-tip, is about 26 inches, and it is about as large as an opossum. Its strangest feature is the horny shell, with 9 jointed bands in the middle, which Nature has designed for the animal’s protection. It lives in burrows in the earth, and in a wild state it feeds on a mixed diet of worms, ants, snails, beetles, grasshoppers and other insects.

The Six-Banded Armadillo, (_Dasypus sexcinctus_), of South America, has a much stronger and more bony shell than the preceding species, but very similar habits. The Three-Banded Armadillo, (_Tolypeutes tricinctus_), is the most remarkable of all—and also the most difficult to obtain. It is able to convert itself into a round ball covered at all points by bony armor, and remarkably well protected from the teeth of predatory animals.

The Great Ant-Eater, (_Myrmecophaga jubata_).—This is a very remarkable animal, and usually is to be found alive in the Small-Mammal House. Its anatomical peculiarities are apparent at a glance. Its toothless jaws are enormously elongated, and taper to a rounded point, where the mouth opens as a narrow slit, scarcely large enough to admit the large end of a lead pencil. Its front claws are large and strong, for use in tearing open ant-hills and decayed logs; and the creature walks upon them as if club-footed. Its tail is long and thick, and bears a luxuriant brush, of coarse, wavy hair more than a foot long. The negroes of British Guiana gravely inform travellers that the Ant-Eater uses his bushy tail as a broom, with which he sweeps up ants in order to devour them wholesale.

As may be inferred from the total absence of teeth, this strange creature lives chiefly upon crawling insects. In devouring the dreadful ants, which in a South American forest often make life a burden, it helps to preserve the balance of Nature. In captivity the food of this animal consists of milk, raw eggs and ground meat. In taking its food it thrusts out from four to eight inches of round, wormlike tongue, which contrary to many published statements, is not covered with sticky saliva.

The Tamandua, (_Tamandua tetradactyla_), is a smaller ant-eater than the preceding species, of tree-climbing habits, with a proportionately shorter head, no long hair on its tail, and extremely large front claws. It is found in Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, and in fact that greater portion of the region of tropical forests on this continent south of Mexico. Its tail is prehensile, or grasping, and in climbing is used almost constantly.

The Sloths are the slowest, the most helpless and defenseless of the edentates. They subsist chiefly upon leaves, they climb no more swiftly than a man, and they escape their enemies through the resemblance of their pelage to the rough bark of the tree-trunks among which they live. They have a few teeth, but none for defense, and their claws are of use only in climbing, except that they can pinch with them.

Two species of Sloth are occasionally seen in the Zoological Park, but usually _in the Primate House_, where the high temperature is better suited to their needs.

The Three-Toed Sloth, (_Bradypus tridactylus_), is the one with a brown “saddle-mark” of short hair in the middle of its back. The remainder of its pelage is coarse and long, and its greenish tint renders it a close imitation of algae-covered tree-bark. The Two-Toed Sloth, (_Choloepus hoffmani_), is much larger than the preceding, and lives longer in captivity. Four fine adult specimens occupy a large cage at the Primate House, where they seem to be fully acclimatized. In form and habit they are remarkable animals, and well worthy of close attention.

The Egg-Laying Mammals.—For several months there were exhibited here two Echidnas—of all small mammals ever seen alive in New York the most wonderful. The Echidna comes from Australia, the home of remarkable types of animals, and belongs to the lowest Order of Mammals, (_Monotremata_). Like its distant relative, the duck-billed platypus, it reproduces by _laying eggs_! Its back is covered with short but very thick spines, and its nose is a long, slender beak, absolutely unique. Other examples of this species will be exhibited whenever possible.

THE PUMA AND LYNX HOUSE, No. 33A.

Near the Small-Mammal House (No. 35) will be found a log cabin with its entire front opening into two wire-covered yards. The interior of the building is provided with sleeping-dens in which the occupants of the two enclosures can keep dry and warm. This installation is for lynxes, but half of it is occupied by pumas. Already it has fully proven the desirability of keeping lynxes and pumas constantly in the open air, and without artificial heat. To lynxes especially there is nothing more deadly than a well-heated room, indoors.

The Puma, (_Felis concolor_), is described in the section relating to the Lion House, where other Pumas are exhibited (page 78).

Of the Lynxes, we have two well-defined species, and one subspecies. The Canada Lynx, (_Lynx canadensis_), is well represented in the southern compartment of the Puma House, where a fine adult pair has become acclimatized. This is the _Loup Cervier_ of the French Canadians, and it is truly the Lynx of Canada and the subarctic North. It has _no spots on its body_, and its pelage is a cold pepper-and-salt gray color. Its feet are large and heavily furred, and it has a long, black hair-pencil on the tip of each ear. A large specimen stands 18 inches high, and weighs 22 pounds. The food of the American Lynxes generally consists of hares and rabbits, ground birds of all kinds, and anything else that can be caught and killed, except porcupine. To man they are not “dangerous animals.”

THE BURROWING MAMMALS, AND OTHERS, No. 42.

North America is wonderfully rich in species of gnawing animals, and the end is not yet. The investigations of our mammalogists are adding new species with a degree of rapidity and parallelism that is fairly bewildering.

It is the duty of the Zoological Society to do its utmost to increase as much as possible the sum total of knowledge of our largest Order of Mammals. Manifestly, however, it is impracticable to do more than place before visitors a reasonable number of well-chosen types, which shall represent as many as possible of the twelve Families, and also the genera most worth knowing.

The most serious obstacle in the way of anyone who attempts to exhibit collections of living rodents lies in the natural propensity of so many species to keep out of sight during the daytime. This is particularly true of the members of the Mouse, Pocket Gopher, and Pouched Rat Families, comprising about three hundred species in all. With very few exceptions, the whole matter of the exhibition of collections of living rodents is something new, and every step is an experiment. In the belief that even the most shy burrowing animals will appreciate abundant room, perfectly natural surroundings, plenty of food, and immunity from annoyance, and eventually fall into the habit of spending many of the daylight hours above ground, as do prairie-dogs, the Society has constructed a series of fifteen small yards, each 10×20 feet, bounded by walls going down to bedrock, and enclosed above by a box-like arrangement of very light wire-netting 5 feet high. The ground is chiefly undisturbed soil of a firm and gravelly nature, thoroughly drained, and all earth filling has been tightly rammed into place to prevent caving in the burrows. Above ground, each yard contains weathered rocks, stumps, and hollow logs in abundance.

In these fifteen yards, each of which will hold specimens of at least two or three species, will be placed strongly marked types of those families whose representatives are most numerous in North America, and also the least known, only a few of which may be mentioned here.

The Sewellel Family, (_Aplodontidae_), contains five or six species and is of unusual scientific interest. The Sewellel, Mountain Beaver, Farmer or “Showt’l” (_Aplodontia rufus_ and _major_), is an animal of the size and general appearance of a large, short-tailed muskrat. It inhabits a few localities in remote regions in the mountain-valleys of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia. It feeds like a beaver, climbs bushes four feet high, burrows in _wet_ ground, and fights like a little fiend when brought to bay. Notwithstanding the size of this animal, it is very seldom seen, and is but little known.

The Squirrel Family, (_Sciuridae_), is large (one hundred and forty-one species), very interesting, and entitled to much consideration. In the present enclosure will be shown in summer many species of interesting ground squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. In winter all the squirrels, save one or two hardy native species, will be found in the Small-Mammal House, near by.

The Rabbit Family, (_Leporidae_), is one of the most difficult to install and exhibit. Its members are large and showy, but for several reasons it is very difficult to keep them on exhibition in captivity. In time, however, all four of the great groups—Rabbit, Varying Hare, Jack Hare, and also the Pikas, forming the allied Family _Ochotonidae_—will be represented by specimens.

Just what can be accomplished satisfactorily with the most interesting members of the Jumping Mouse, Pouched Rat, and Pocket Gopher Families, remains to be determined by trial. If they can be induced to show themselves to visitors, during daylight hours, they will be kept for exhibition; otherwise not. At present, some examples of these species can be seen in the Reptile House.

In Winter.—In the temperate zone, when “winter comes to rule the varied year,” all the burrowing animals must retire to their burrows, live upon their buried stores of winter food, and hibernate until spring. The tropical species do not know how to hibernate, and therefore they must be taken indoors, or they perish.

In order that our native species of rodents may be seen all winter, and that the tropical species may be kept alive, nearly all the animals that in summer live in the Burrowing Mammal Quarters are removed in autumn to the well-warmed Small-Mammal House. It also happens that in summer a few of the small carnivores, and all armadilloes, are kept in these Quarters.

In addition to the rodents which it is practicable to exhibit in these enclosures, the summer season will find some of them occupied by certain especially interesting species which need the soil of Mother Earth as well as sunlight and air. Here will be found the Armadilloes, the Nasuas, the Raccoon Dogs, the Swift Foxes and a few others, which in winter belong in the Small-Mammal House.

THE PRAIRIE-DOG VILLAGE, No. 41.