NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PAKK HOLLISTER 255 



species to maintain. The National Zoological Park has some good 

 records for certain of these species, including one of a mule deer that 

 lived in the collection for 13 years 10 months and 2G days; a Colum- 

 bian black-tailed deer for 11 years 2 months and 22 days; a New- 

 foundland caribou for 9 years 10 months and 17 days ; and a prong- 

 horn antelope for 5 years 4 months and 15 days. 



Some other interesting longevity records in the files include a 

 harpy eagle ( Thrasaetos harpyia) , 17 years 10 months 26 days ; great 

 black-backed gull (Larus marinns), 17 years 4 months 22 days; 

 Steller's sea lion {Eumetojnas juhata), 17 years 3 months; gray 

 wolf (Canis nuhilus), 16 years 3 months 5 days; northern wild cat 

 {Lynx uinta), 15 years 3 months 27 days; and a wandering tree 

 duck {Dendrocygna arcuata)^ 15 years 21 days. A female South 

 American tapir lived in the park for 20 years and 10 days, during 

 which time nine young were born from her, seven of which were 

 successfully reared. 



WHERE THE ANIMALS COMB FROM 



Many visitors take a collection of living animals for granted; 

 they never seem to wonder where the specimens are obtained or how 

 they reach the park. They are familiar with the zoological gardens 

 in numerous cities, visit and enjoy them frequently, have their 

 favorites among the various animals, and take it all as a matter-of- 

 fact provision for the enjoyment and education of themselves and 

 their children. In conversation with such persons they frequently 

 admit that they have never wondered much about it, but suddenly 

 become greatly interested. "How do you get all these animals?" 

 they at once want to know. 



While some living animals are received from all sorts of unex- 

 pected sources, by far the greater number of those on exhibition come 

 through regular channels — the importing dealers. A native lad in 

 India, Africa, or South America captures a young animal and keeps 

 it as a pet, just as many American country boys do ; eventually this 

 animal and others find their way into the hands of traders in some 

 seaport ; they are bought by the agents of importers or by indepen- 

 dent animal buyers and eventually land in New York or San Fran- 

 cisco in the establishments of the dealers. Large stores, warehouses, 

 and " farms " are maintained by these dealers and some long-estab- 

 lished firms are engaged in the animal business in various large sea- 

 port cities of the world. New York and San Francisco -dealers 

 import the bulk of the animals received in the American trade. Ani- 

 mals are purchased by agents of these firms in large or small lots 

 from smaller dealers or natives in all parts of the world, shipments 

 are assembled, and, accompanied by expert keepers, are carried to 



