I-IRST ANNIAL Rl^'ORT. 19 



\vhere the earnest worker shall have every facility and encour- 

 agement that it is possible to afford him. The buildin.u: should 

 also contain a gallery for the display of animal paintings and 

 sculptures. Already there has been provided in the plan of 

 the lion house a spacious sttidio, connecting with the series of 

 cages, in which on regular occasions animals may be i)laced in 

 a large central cage of special construction, and u.sed as models 

 by artists who desire to avail themselves of the privilege. 



It is hoped that at a comparatively early date we will be 

 able to inaugurate a series of exhibitions of animal paintings 

 and other products of art as applied to zoological subjects, at 

 which prizes may be given for the best works displayed. But 

 this, like other plans of the Society, must also depend upon 

 the support accorded by the public of New York. 



THE NEED FOR ZOOLOGICAL PRESERVES. 



As the vertebrate fattna of the world decreases, the need 

 for collecting and propagating living animals under protection 

 becomes more imperative. No civilized nation should allow its 

 Avild animals to be exterminated without at least making an at- 

 tempt to preserve living representatives of all species that can 

 be kept alive in confinement. 



In this age of firearms, it is indeed necessary to put forth 

 vigorous efforts toward the preservation of wild creatures be- 

 fore it is too late. Throughout the entire continent of North 

 America, nearly every wild quadruped, bird, reptile and fish is 

 marked for destruction. Apparenth' no species is too large, 

 too .small, too worthless or too remote to be sought out and 

 destroyed by gun, trap, net or poi.son. In the pursuit of our 

 large game animals, no labor is too severe, and no risk is too 

 great to be undergone, provided the destroyer fancies he has 

 something to gain in the chase. 



In the presence of a wild creature that can be killed and 

 eaten, or despoiled of something fit for his own use, civilized man 

 immediately becomes a savage, eager to slay. The annual otit- 

 put of shot-guns and sporting rifles is something enormous. 

 Firearms were never so deadly as now, never more numerous, 

 -and never before so cheap. No man or boy is too poor to 



