THE SMALL-DEER HOUSE, No. 49. 



In captivity the small and delicate species of deer, an- 

 telopes and gazelles are better cared for in enclosures that 

 are not too large. For such creatures, freedom in a large 

 enclosure usually means early death from accident or ex- 

 posure. 



The very important building called the Small-Deer House 

 has been erected with special reference to the wants of the 

 interesting little hoofed animals which are too small for the 

 Antelope House and the large ranges. In winter it will 

 shelter the small tropical mountain sheep and goats, which 

 are unable to withstand the rigors of outdoor life on Moun- 

 tain Sheep Hill, and the tropical swine may also be expected 

 here. 



The Small-Deer House is situated in close proximity to 

 the Antelope House, and westward thereof. Of the build- 

 ings of secondary rank, it is one of the most satisfactory, 

 being roomy, well-lighted and capable of comfortably hous- 

 ing and displaying a large and varied collection. The struc- 

 ture is 158 feet in length by 46 feet in width. It contains 

 thirty compartments, each of which, under stress of ne- 

 cessity, can be partitioned, and formed into two. The in- 

 terior compartments are each 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep. 

 The building is surrounded by a series of 34 corrals, con- 

 necting with the interior compartments, the average size of 

 each being 75 feet long by 20 feet wide at the outer end. 

 All the fences are of wire, and were specially designed in 

 the Park for this installation. 



It is a practical impossibility to offer an enumeration of 

 the living animals in this building which will permanently 

 apply, and the best that can be attempted is an approxima- 

 tion. It is an inexorable law of Nature that the smallest 

 animals shall have the shortest periods of life, and in a 

 zoological park a small hoofed animal may be here to-day 

 and gone to-morrow. In the following enumeration, men- 

 tion will be made only of those species which are likely to 

 remain longest on exhibition; and it may be observed that 

 in this building there will be found various animals which 

 are neither deer nor antelopes. 



30 



