122 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



of some of the local marine fishes which migrate, since these 

 are supplied with water at the local temperature. Migratory 

 fishes occurring in this vicinity in winter die at the summer 

 temperatures, and those found in summer cannot stand the 

 colder water supplied during the winter and die unless placed 

 with the tropical fishes in the warm-water tanks. The size of the 

 tank, without doubt, exerts an influence on the length of life, 

 and those of the fishes kept in the large floor pools have an 

 advantage over those contained in the small wall tanks. In 

 general it may be stated that the quieter and more lazy the 

 species or individual appears to be, the better is its chance 

 for a long life in confinement, but apparently this rule does 

 not apply to members of the seal family. In this group the 

 lazy ones soon die of pulmonary diseases while the more active 

 live longer. Thus in our experience the harbor seal lives, on 

 the average, but a few months, while one particularly lively 

 specimen lived eight years. The sea-lion that has been on ex- 

 hibition for more than six years is almost constantly on the 

 move. 



Lack of sunshine undoubtedly affects the reptiles which love 

 to bask in the sun, while the lack of fresh out-door air no doubt 

 is a serious detriment to the members of the seal family. 



In a number of cases the longest record refers to speci- 

 mens still living. 



The list shows that there have been on exhibition alto- 

 gether during the past sixteen years, 9 species of mammals, 1 

 bird, 34 reptiles, 23 amphibians, 92 fresh-water fishes, 124 ma- 

 rine fishes from local waters and 96 tropical marine fishes, 

 making in all 379 species exhibited. 



This list might have been greatly increased if any attempt 

 had been made to collect and exhibit the smaller, less conspicu- 

 ous species, particularly among the fresh-water fishes. Also 

 no effort has been made to exhibit the small aquarium fishes, 

 exotic or native, such as are commonly kept in balanced aquaria. 

 While such would undoubtedly be interesting, in the absence 

 of space and the lack of proper arrangements for exhibition of 

 these smaller forms, there has been no incentive to handle them. 



The game and food fishes and the brilliant tropical forms 

 have been of the greatest interest to our visitors, and, for this 

 reason, these have formed the major portion of our exhibits. 

 A full list of the species exhibited is as follows : 



