40 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



January 1, 1915 



Species Specimens 



Mammals 204 586 



Birds 811 2,753 



Reptiles 164 1,014 



1,179 4,353 



Gmida. — During the months of May, June and July, Gunda, 

 the large male Indian Elephant now on exhibition at the Park, 

 having arrived at full maturity, showed serious signs of musth, 

 a periodic attack occurring in all adult male elephants during 

 the breeding season. During this period Gunda became vicious 

 and dangerous to human life. The Director was therefore com- 

 pelled, with the full approval of your committee, to confine 

 him closely by leg chains. This aroused a perfect storm of 

 abusive letters and newspaper articles from sentimentalists of 

 every character. Some of these attacks verged on the hysterical, 

 and others were from irresponsible cranks, but all showed a 

 supreme contempt for facts. Your committee was thereupon 

 compelled to tell the truth in a circular to its members, which was 

 given out to the press, and to give the exact conditions in very 

 plain language. Since this statement the excitement seems to 

 have abated. As soon as the musth was over Gunda was re- 

 leased, but the Society must be prepared next spring, and an- 

 nually thereafter, to see Gunda suffer from recurrences of these 

 attacks, and during them it will be necessary to confine him 

 closely until it is over. The only alternative is to put this splen- 

 did specimen to death. 



COLLECTIONS AT THE AQUARIUM 



The collections at the Aquarium continue in good condition, 

 and all exhibition space is fully occupied, with a considerable 

 supply of specimens in reserve. During June four of the por- 

 poises died within a few days of each other, three being lost by 

 tubercular pneumonia, and one from a diseased spine, injured 

 at the time of capture. The fifth and only remaining specimen 

 is apparently in the best of condition after more than a year's 

 captivity. An illustrated paper on the behavior of these ani- 

 mals in captivity has been published by the Society. Your com- 

 mittee is endea^^oring to secure several additional specimens. 



Collections of fresh water fishes have been received from 

 the Lower Mississippi River and from the Detroit Museum, 



