50 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



SELECTION OF ANIMALS. 



In order that the animals exhibited in the Zoological Park may 

 be worthy representatives of the species they illustrate, great care 

 is exercised in their selection. Not only are imperfect specimens 

 excluded, but also, as far as possible, all that have been bred and 

 reared in close confinement. The finest animals are those born in 

 a wild state, or else in a game preserve so large that captivity 

 has not necessarily resulted in degeneracy. With the exception of 

 a very few specimens, all the animals in the Zoological Park were 

 caught wild, when young, and reared in confinement, a process 

 which produces the best possible results in the stocking of a 

 vivarium. Usually it is impossible to capture adult animals of 

 the larger types and induce them to become cheerfully resigned to 

 captivity. In most cases they either kill themselves by struggling 

 or die of melancholy. 



The Society does not propose to send out any expeditions 

 to collect specimens, for the reason that this method is too ex- 

 pensive. Our supply of animals must necessarily come from local 

 collectors, dealers, and the owners of large game preserves. 



MAMMALS. 



The Society's promise to devote early attention to the formation 

 of collections of our most interesting American mammals has 

 thus far been faithfully carried out. In spite of all temptations 

 to accept animals before we were ready for them, the Society ad- 

 hered to its original policy — to form no collections until actually 

 in possession of the grounds, and within measurable distance of 

 the opening day. Last May, however, the opening of the Park 

 in 1899 seemed reasonably certain, and accordingly the business 

 of gathering collections began. 



After a prolonged search for a satisfactory caretaker for quad- 

 rupeds, the choice of a man for that position fell upon Mr. J. 

 Alden Loring, who received the title of Assistant Curator, in 

 charge of Mammals. Mr. Loring came to the Zoological Park 

 well recommended by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Bio- 

 logical Survey, of Washington, in whose service he had spent 

 eight years as a field naturalist, working on mammals. During 

 this period, Mr. Loring's observations upon the home-life and 



