POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE
TO THE
New York Zoological Park

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.

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 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.

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:

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.