42 ^'E\V YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



nucleus for the proposed collection, his private collection of 131 

 heads and horns, representing 108 species. A list of the species 

 contained in this gift is published herewith. 



As an evidence of his keen interest in the success of this under- 

 taking. Mr. Charles T. Barney, Chairman of the Executive Com- 

 mittee, purchased and presented to the Society ( at a cost of 

 $2,500), the magnificent pair of world's record elephant tusks 

 which reached the Zoological Park on February 4, 1907. In 

 length they far surpass all other tusks ever known to have come 

 from any living species of elephant, and in curve and symmetry 

 they are remarkably beautiful. The longest tusk measures eleven 

 feet, five and one-half inches, the other eleven feet, and the weight 

 of the pair is 293 pounds. They are from an African elephant, 

 and it is reported that they once were owned by King Menelik, of 

 Abyssinia, who presented them to a European political officer. 

 They were offered for sale in the London ivory market, were 

 bought by Mr. Rowland Ward, from whom they were purchased 

 by the order of 'Sir. Barney. 



In every respect these astounding specimens — which scarce can 

 be credited until seen — are fit to start a national collection. 



It is proposed that the collection to be formed shall include 

 two series of specimens, one to be arranged zoologically, the other 

 geographically. It is intended to collect not only heads, horns, and 

 tusks, but also game records and photographs. At first the collec- 

 tion will be installed in the picture gallery of the Administration 

 Building, and exhibited under proper restrictions, but it is rea- 

 sonable to suppose that later on it will be housed permanently 

 in a building specially erected for it. 



Xaturally, the standard of acceptance will be made sufficiently 

 high that only particularly fine specimens will be admitted to the 

 exhibition collections, so that any sportsman may fairly regard it 

 as an honor to be represented in the Xational Collection. 



M. G. 



W. T. H. 



