SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 71 



successful in securing in the month of December two fine speci- 

 mens. One came from the Canadian Rockies, and the other 

 from the mountains near Yuma, southern California. In view 

 of the late arrival of these animals, it was found advisable to 

 quarter them for the winter of 1912-13 in the new Zebra House, 

 which is well adapted to their needs. 



The greater kudu, usually regarded in Europe as a delicate 

 animal, and difficult to keep alive on exhibition, continues to enjoy 

 perfect health. It has developed very satisfactorily, and the only 

 difficulty with it is the same kind that is encountered in nearly 

 every male African antelope, — an insatiable desire to wear its 

 horns down to its head. 



Special attention is called to the Alaskan brown bear, of an 

 unnamed species, from the Kobuk River, Alaska, 300 miles south- 

 west of Point Barrow. This animal is rapidly increasing in size, 

 and it seems likely to attain great proportions. The Alaskan 

 giant brown bear known as "Ivan" is one of the largest bears 

 in captivity. Naturally it attracts much attention. The spec- 

 tacled bear from Quito, Ecuador, is in good health. 



A Tasmanian wolf, or thylacine, was purchased of the Zoo- 

 logical Society of London, but while it arrived in good health, it 

 was so nervous and unreconciled to captivity that it lived only 

 a few months. 



The occurrences of the past year have forced us to another 

 disappointing conclusion regarding our North American hoofed 

 animals. Our last effort to induce the prong-horned antelope to 

 live and breed in captivity in New York City has failed, just 

 as all our previous efforts have failed. We are now disposed to 

 accept the result of ten years experimenting as final in regard 

 to that species. In the first, and most important, place it seems 

 impossible to procure stock that is not afflicted with lumpy- jaw. 

 Three good specimens in our possession during 1912 developed 

 that incurable disease soon after their arrival, and quickly died 

 of it. That was the fourth time that this disease was brought 

 to the Park by prong-horned antelopes. We are now resolved 

 that it will also be the last. So far as we know, the prong-horn 

 cannot live in captivity, outside of its home country, and not 

 always can it do so, even on its own ground. At best it is a 

 delicate animal, with little physical stamina, and it easily suc- 

 cumbs to adverse circumstances, whatever they may be. 



The extent to which the wild herds seem to be afflicted with 

 lumpy-jaw is very disquieting. We may well ask : Will that 

 disease finish the extermination of the species? It is reported 



