REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS 35 



possesses and Boston contemplates are not advanced. In reply 

 to inquiry addressed by the Park Commissioners to the Park 

 Department of Boston, this paragraph is contained in a letter 

 from C. E. Putnam, Engineer: 



"Many features of the Zoo have not been decided upon, 

 so the cost cannot be figured, but to carry out the schemes 

 outlined in the preliminary report, whether completed in five 

 years or more, is likely to cost $1,500,000." 



It will interest students of natural history to know that the 

 herd of bison and the bands of elk and deer in Golden Gate 

 Park are not surpassed in quality on this continent, and the 

 number of animals could be materially enlarged if the Com- 

 missioners deemed it wise to feed and guard an increased herd. 

 The elk thrive and multiply in this region of the United States. 

 The elk born and raised in the Park attain full size 

 and the full measure of vitality. This is not surprising when 

 it is considered that Colonel J. C. Fremont, Kit Carson, General 

 Vallejo, Colonel Yount and others who traveled through the 

 mountains and valleys of California from 1830 until 1850 saw 

 countless bands of elk and deer. 



Many parks in other sections of California and some of 

 the U. S. Reservations have been supplied with elk from the 

 band in Golden Gate Park, and the Commissioners are now 

 taking care of forty-four elk, twelve bucks, twenty-eight does 

 and four fawns. The herds of bison consist of twelve bulls, 

 twenty cows and five calves. In 1890 the first of the herd was 

 brought to the Park from Montana. Of the five animals 

 originally purchased, two bulls and one heifer survived the 

 journey by rail from Montana to California. 



Of the axis and black tailed deer, there are fourteen bucks, 

 twenty-two does and seven fawns. The moose family is rep- 

 resented by four bulls, two cows and one calf. There are six 

 male and five female kangaroos and one young antelope. 



Of the bears in the Park, several are descendants of 

 "Monarch," the famous grizzly. In the caves or pits there are 



