608 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



AFRICAN ELEPHANTS. KARTOUM AND SULTANA. 



only for breeding purposes, and for their fur, 

 without regard to their being seen, it will be 

 possible to establish them in ways which will 

 enable them to live much longer than when 

 forcibly kept on exhibition. 



\\'ith the Pinnipedia, or fin-footed mammals 

 of sea and shore, our experiences have been 

 varied, and mostly unsatisfactory. The Cali- 

 fornia Sea-Lion, which we have kept continu- 

 ously on exhibition, lives through the winter 

 successfully, — either outdoors or indoors, — but 

 loves to die of pneumonia in April or May ! 

 The half-dozen Stellcr's Sea-Lions that we 

 were at great pains to procure, because we 

 hoped that species might prove more hardy 

 than that of Southern California, were the 

 most disappointing of all. All of them died 

 within one \ear of their arrival at the Park, 

 and in each case without just provocation. 



The only Jl'alnis that ever has entered the 

 Park was that brought down by Commander 

 Pearv ; but the long journey from the Arctic 

 regions, and the almost insurmountable diffi- 

 culties involved in providing it with proper 

 food from the time of its capture to its arrival 

 in Xew York, were more than it could endure. 

 It survived only one week. 



The Harbor Seals' that were established in 



the Wild Fowl Pond, before the fence around 

 it was erected, refused to remain there, and in- 

 sisted in journeying overland to the Bronx 

 River, — evidently intending by following that 

 stream to reach the sea. 



Xorth America is particularly well-stocked 

 with animals representing the Order of Ro- 

 dents, or Gnawers. The Squirrels, Chip- 

 munks, Spermophiles and wild Mice and Rats 

 form a vast legion. In the representation of 

 this order, careful selection is necessary, in or- 

 der that the most important genera may be 

 represented, without too great an accumulation 

 of species. Because of both its genius and its 

 works, the Beaver is the North American ro- 

 dent of most importance, and it should be the 

 first to find a home in every well-regulated 

 zoological park. In our Beaver Pond, the 

 works of this remarkable animal are abun- 

 dantly displayed ; but the animal itself is rarely 

 seen. Thus far we have found no way, — save 

 confinement in a small cage. — which renders 

 the Beaver available to view during the hours 

 when it is most necessary that it should be 

 seen. Because of the retiring nature of this 

 animal during daylight hours, we maintain 

 two exhibits, — one of Beavers in the Beaver 

 Pond, where they are permitted to cut trees, 



