70 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



means of a special subscription, all the funds necessary to print 

 the edition of 10,000 copies, and to place a copy in the hands of 

 every law-maker, game commissioner, governor and state warden 

 in the United States, and 500 editors. 



The book was rushed through the press, and in January, 

 1913, it was distributed as indicated above. The total cost in- 

 volved, including the really heavy item of distribution, was 

 about $10,000, all of which was almost instantly subscribed by 

 the members of the Board of Managers, supplemented by a gift 

 of $1,000 from Mrs. Russell Sage and $250 from Mrs. E. H. 

 Harriman. 



It is earnestly hoped that during the next two years the 

 cause of wild animal life protection will gather so much ad- 

 ditional strength, and make such revolutionary progress, that 

 the officers of the Society will be able to satisfy their consciences 

 in the matter with less labor than now is demanded by existing 

 conditions. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 



W. T. Hornaday, Curator; Raymond L. Ditmars, Assistant Curator. 



Throughout the year 1912 the status of the collection of 

 mammals was unusually satisfactory. The records show a grati- 

 fying absence of accidents and important losses by death, a total 

 absence of epidemic diseases, and the acquisition of a number 

 of extremely desirable animals. The arrival of three pigmy hip- 

 popotami was a noteworthy event, and while the outlay involved 

 in this purchase was quite large ($15,000), the great interest 

 manifested in these zoological rarities by the general public and 

 the members of the Zoological Society seems to justify the pur- 

 chase. These animals have been maintained in excellent phys- 

 ical condition, and their future with us is now regarded as 

 measurably secure. There is good ground for the expectation 

 that the young pair will breed as soon as they reach maturity. 

 These very strange and even weird creatures seem to be of great 

 interest to the public. The placing of a temporary bathing- 

 tank for the adult male close behind the guard rail brings the 

 animal very close to visitors, and renders it specially available 

 for inspection. The appetites of all three animals are excellent, 

 and they devour with great relish what seems like a large 

 quantity of green vegetables, bread and fruit. 



After at least ten years of more or less continuous effort 

 to secure at least one adult male Rocky Mountain big-horn sheep 

 that would satisfactorily represent that fine species, we were 



