54 XEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



^lonth. 1905. 1906. 



April 126,611 141,636 



^^ay 179-590 165,942 



June 139.361 148.564 



July 147.596 154.358 



August 152.961 151-383 



September 133,146 220,804 



October 144.542 85,795 



November 720,994 75.875 



December 43-7-2 3^-5^ 



Q- 



Totals 1,233,528 1,321,917 



Increase for 1906 88,389 



HEALTH OF THE ANIMALS. 



One year ago, it was stated that the extremely small list of 

 deaths during 1905, must be regarded as unusual, and that so light 

 a record of mortality could not reasonably be expected in succeed- 

 ing years. Fortunately, it is possible to repeat that statement, and 

 apply it to the year 1906. During the past twelve months, the 

 most valuable animal lost by death was a Markhor, worth $500, 

 after which the other losses sank in value to very small figures, per 

 capita. 



In the Lion House, there were no deaths. In the Primates' 

 House the most serious loss was a newly-arrived baby chimpan- 

 zee. In the Antelope House, which contains a collection worth 

 to-day at ruling values, at least $41,000.00, there was not one 

 death. In the Ostrich House, we had the misfortune to lose two 

 ostriches and two cassowaries. Among the smaller birds, of 

 which the number on hand is very great, the deaths of the small 

 and short-lived species were seemingly numerous, but in reality 

 the daily average for such a collection was very low. Among 

 birds, as among mammals, the largest, the most important, and 

 most valuable specimens are the ones which live longest. 



.SIZE OF THE ANIMAL COLLECTION. 



The close of 1906 found us in possession of 3,624 living crea- 

 tures, of which 620 were mammals, 2,104 were birds, and 900 

 were reptiles and amphibians. The total number of species rep- 

 resented was 818. In view of the number of rare and zoologically 

 important species included in these figures, it is reasonably certain 

 that to-dav there exists but one zoological garden whose animal 



