No. 2U 



ZOOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY BULLETIN 



Published by the New York Zoological Society January, 1907 



THE MOUNTAIN GOAT HERD 



THE mysteries in the care of wild animals 

 in captivity are numerous and perplex- 

 ing. By way of illustration, take the 

 White Mountain Goat, (Orcamnos moutamis). 

 In August, 1905, we possessed four fine, healthy 

 specimens, and kept them at the old Prong- 

 Horned Antelope House. In September of that 

 year, all of them died. In October, 1905, we ac- 

 quired five more specimens from the same lo- 

 cality as the original herd, but one year 

 younger. We quartered them in the same spot, 

 in care of the same keeper, who has fed them 

 in precisely the same manner as the preceding 

 Ijunch, except that their crushed oats have been 

 prepared in the Park and are now known to be 

 pure. The reason why we have made no other 



change in the care of the second flock is, that 

 the first was cared for to the best of our ability, 

 and we knew of only one improvement to 

 make. 



To-day the second flock of five is intact, and 

 in excellent health and vigor. Its members 

 seem to be as large and as vigorous as wild 

 goats of the same age. They are not kept on 

 Mountain Sheep Hill because for some un- 

 known reason they never have thriven there. 

 By means of some very steep runways of 

 planks, they have been given access to the roof 

 of their rustic barn, and the snow-white flock, 

 walking indifl:'erently over the steep slope, or 

 perching on the comb, is one of the most start- 

 ling and amusing spectacles in the Park. 



Jr 



HERD OF ROCKY JIOUXT.\IN CO.\TS. 



