THR EEND ES ANNCAL REPORT 61 
disorderly in throwing waste paper, luncheon refuse and paper 
boxes on our walks and lawns. A full account of this effort and 
its results will be found in the Zoological Society Bulletin, No. 
gu, tor October, 1908. 
DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 
William T. Hornaday, Curator; Raymend L. Ditmars, Assistant Curator. 
The close of 1908 finds the collections of mammals on a basis 
that, to say the least, is generally satisfactory. The completion 
and occupancy of the Elephant House on time, at the beginning 
of winter, was to the curators and keepers concerned a source of 
profound relief. Had the new building been delayed, the troubles 
with the “pachyderms” in the Antelope House would have been 
quite serious. 
With the removal of the Elephant House collection, the Ante- 
lope House once more came back to its own. The whole in- 
terior was promptly painted and put in good condition, and then 
the scattered antelopes, that had been crowded out of their own 
special quarters, were quickly brought together by Mr. Ditmars 
and the force of mammal keepers working under his direction. 
At last we have the pleasure of seeing the Antelope House 
chiefly—but not wholly—devoted to the splendid series of African 
and Asiatic animals for which it was designed. The exceptional 
occupants are the three species of zebra and the Persian wild 
ass, all of which must perforce remain where they are, usurping 
space not belonging to them, until we have erected a Zebra House. 
as planned.. That very necessary building we must have at no 
distant day. 
The Small-Deer House continues to render most excellent 
service, and it contains a very valuable and interesting collection. 
The markhors, the Persian ibex and mouflon, which can not 
survive the winters of New York City in the open air, are regu- 
larly quartered in this building every winter. 
In the spring of 1908 the Director awoke to a realization of 
the fact that many gaps had been made by deaths in the collec- 
tions of smaller mammals, which had not been filled. This was 
due to the heavy expenditures necessary in the purchase of the 
very costly rhinoceroses, elephants and other animals required 
for the Elephant House. There being no funds in the Animal 
Account, an appeal was made to the Life Members of the Society, 
practically limited to them because members of the other classes 
had recently subscribed considerable sums for other special pur- 
poses. A call was made for $4,000 in response to which the 
