NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 85 



cause of its depredations upon the sheep herds, the Thyla- 

 cine has been diligently hunted and destroyed, and now 

 living specimens rarely are taken. 



In the zoological gardens of Europe and America, this 

 species usually is kept in heated buildings; but having 

 ascertained by experiment that this specimen thrives best in 

 the open air, it is kept all the year round in one of the Fox 

 Dens, where it has lived comfortably for four years. 



THE OTTER POOLS, No. 31. 



The American Otter, (Lutra canadensis) , is unfortunate 

 in being the bearer of valuable fur; and in the northern 

 regions, where the cold causes the development of fur that 

 is available for the use of the furrier, this creature is so 

 nearly extinct that trappers no longer pursue it. In the 

 southern states, where its fur is short, rather coarse and 

 "off color," the Otter still is found. In some portions of 

 eastern Florida, and along the coast of South Carolina, it is 

 frequently taken. In captivity it often becomes quite tame, 

 even affectionate, and always is interesting. Unless closely 

 confined, however, it is prone to wander, and meet premature 

 death. 



In captivity the Otter usually is active and restless, and 

 very much in evidence. Owing to the strength of its jaws, 

 its ability to climb under certain conditions and its restless 

 activity, it is difficult to confine a full-grown otter in any- 

 thing else than a complete box of iron cage-work. 



Few persons save woodsmen and naturalists are aware of 

 the fact that in a wild state the Otter is a very playful ani- 

 mal, and is as fond of sliding down hill, over a wet and 

 muddy slide, with a water plunge at the bottom, as any 

 young person is of "shooting the chutes." Like the small 

 boy with the sled and a snowy hillside, the Otter sometimes 

 indulges in its sliding pastime for an hour at a time, with a 

 keen relish for the sport that is quite evident to all who have 

 ever watched it. 



The Otter is a carnivorous animal, and in a wild state 

 lives upon fish, frogs, crabs, young birds, small mammals, 

 and, in fact, about any living thing which it can catch. 



The Coypu Rat, (Myopotamus coypu), of Central and 

 South America, is interesting because of the fact that it is 

 the largest of all rats or rat-like animals. In its habits it 



