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NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
has been dictated by the ground itself, many very puzzling ques- 
tions arose, and it would require more space than is now available 
to convey an adequate idea of the effort that has been expended 
by the Society in perfecting the Final Plan. Both the architects 
and the landscape gardener were limited in their work by condi- 
tions which, though unusual, and often unwelcome, are of vital 
importance to a successful zoological park. 
‘‘Our Final Plan is believed to locate each species as nearly as 
possible where nature would design to have it placed, to absolute- 
ly avoid all disfigurement of the site, to make the most of the 
shade which nature has provided, to enable the visitor to see the 
whole series of collections with the least possible amount of walk- 
ing, to yield the greatest return for the money that is to be ex- 
pended, and last, but not least, to yield something that is hardly 
to be found to an equal degree in any smaller zoological garden or 
park—a logical and fairly symmetrical zoological arrangement. 
‘“In the preparation of the plans for the buildings to be 
erected in the Zoological Park, the Director was required to fur- 
nish to the Architects a series of preliminary ground plans, and 
the details of such other scientific features as cage arrangement, 
and general assignment of space. In this connection it is a pleas- 
ure to acknowledge the assistance that has been derived from cer- 
tain European zoological gardens whose buildings have furnished 
points that have been incorporated in our own. 
‘The plan of our Lion House contains several ideas drawn 
from the admirable London Lion House, but with one note- 
worthy improvement, by means of which the out-door and in-door 
cages are provided with free communication. The plan of our 
Elephant House contains features derived from the well-nigh per- 
fect ‘‘ Palais des Hippopotames’’ in Antwerp. Our Antelope 
House contains many ideas borrowed from that in Frankfort. 
Our Reptile House copies several features from that in the 
London Garden, but many of its most important features are 
original. 
‘“Our Bird House, Monkey House, Sub-tropical House, Small 
Mammals’ House, Winter House for Birds, Administration 
Building, Bear Detis, Wolf and Fox Dens, Alligators’ Pools, Bur- 
rowing Rodents’ Quarters, Squirrel installations, Beaver Pond 
and Aquatic Rodents’ Ponds, all are features absolutely new, 
both in design and general arrangement.”’ 
