ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 55 



collections as a whole surpass those of the New York Zoological 

 Park. \\'hile this institution was founded and dedicated to zoology 

 in no vain-glorious spirit to out-do existing institutions of a sim- 

 ilar character, we may at least be allowed to rejoice in the fact 

 that the Zoological Society's plans to do justice both to the people 

 of New York City and the living creatures of the world, have been 

 prospered to the extent described. In view of the war of anni- 

 hilation that is now being waged nearly everywhere against the 

 wild creatures that still inhabit this gun-cursed earth, it is impos- 

 sible for zoological gardens and parks to become too numerous, 

 or too great. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 

 William T. Hornaday, Curator; Raymond L. Ditmars, Assistant Curator. 



Early in 1906, the Mayor, the Board of Estimate and Board of 

 Aldermen approved the Society's application for funds for an 

 Elephant House, and without delay steps were taken to secure the 

 animals which it will accommodate. To-day the Antelope House 

 is half filled with the elephants, rhinoceroses, a hippopotamus and 

 tapirs, which presently will migrate to the new building, and a 

 corresponding number of valuable African antelopes are tempor- 

 arily crowded out. 



As in many other matters pertaining to our supply of animals, 

 the Society has been exceedingly fortunate in securing rarities for 

 the Elephant House, precisely when it most earnestly wished to 

 have them. It is our understanding that despite the constant 

 demands of showmen and zoological gardens, during the past ten 

 years only four African rhinoceroses have reached the northern 

 hemisphere alive, and of these two were secured last year by our 

 Society. Both our animals were captured very near to the south- 

 eastern arm of Lake Mctoria Nyanza, which is called Speke Gulf. 

 The first specimen, a fine female born in the early summer of 

 T905, was purchased of Mr. Louis Ruhe. of this city, at a cost of 

 $5,000.00 



Our second specimen, a lusty male born in July, 1906, was 

 purchased for us in Mombasa by Mr. Richard Tjader, of New 

 York, and by him landed in New York, in excellent health, on 

 December 31, 1906. The cost of this specimen was $4,531.50, and 

 it is the gift of Mr. Frederick G. Bourne. On the journey from 

 Africa, this animal was very skilfully managed and cared for by 

 ]Mr. Herbert O. Laing. of the American Museum of Natural 

 Historv, who is entitled to nuich credit for his success in bringing 



