50 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



movement to induce the National Government to join in estab- 

 lishing a new national bison herd, to be located in Wind Cave Na- 

 tional Park, South Dakota, on a similar basis as the Montana 

 National Bison Range and Herd. That effort was immediately 

 successful. The Bison Society pledged as a gift to the Govern- 

 ment, a nucleus of at least fifteen pure blood bison. Toward 

 that nucleus your committee offered as a gift from the herd 

 at the Zoological Park, fourteen selected bison, seven of each 

 sex. The animals were shipped from the Park on November 25, 

 1913, and arrived at the range on November 28, in perfect 

 condition. 



It is interesting to note that the restocking of the West 

 with this typical American animal, is being carried out largely 

 with bison bred in the City of New York, and under the aus- 

 pices of this Society. 



GORILLA EXPEDITION. 



The Society's Expedition to West Africa for living gorillas 

 in charge of R. L. Garner of Philadelphia, is still in the field, 

 and during the year has encountered great difficulties on account 

 of the unusual rains. Two female gorillas have been captured, 

 and at present writing both are in good condition. Present 

 indications are that this expedition will be successful in placing 

 the Society in possession of one or more living gorillas, in good 

 physical condition. 



MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 



The general health of the mammals during the year 1913 

 has been good, but the death rate shows a slight increase in the 

 older animals of the Park over the very low mark of the past 

 few years. 



The greatest loss among our collection during the year was 

 that of the fine pair of giraffes which had been in the Park for 

 the past ten years. The male giraffe died in mid-summer of 

 heat-apoplexy; and the female several months later as a result 

 of a complication of diseases. 



During the greater part of the year, the Prosector of the 

 Society, Dr. Huntington, has utilized the bodies of practically 

 all the animals dying in the Park for scientific researches in 

 comparative anatomy. 



