58 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ANIMAL COLLECTIONS. 



During the past year the efforts of the Society have been di- 

 rected toward procuring- additional species of special educational 

 value rather than toward the mere increase of the number of indi- 

 viduals. In all three of the zoological classes — Mammals, Birds, 

 and Reptiles — an unusual number of important additions have 

 been made. Unfortunately, however, the collections have now 

 reached a point beyond which any noteworthy growth is a prac- 

 tical impossibility until more accommodations have been provided. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. — [['. T. Honuidax, Cunitor; R. L. 

 Dituiars, Assistant. 



The most noteworthy event in this department was the acquisi- 

 tion of a fine collection of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and 

 pumas, for exhibition in the Lion House. All these animals were 

 inspected and selected by the Director, and each animal in the 

 collection was acquired as an individual gift, as set forth in detail 

 in the report of the Executive Committee. 



Of the animals mentioned above, lo were purchased in Ham- 

 burg, of Carl Hagenbeck, i of the Berlin Zoological Gardens, i 

 of the Antwerp Zoological Gardens, 4 were imported direct from 

 their habitat, and 4 have been ordered of Mr. Hagenbeck, to be 

 delivered as soon as they can be procured. 



The animals purchased in Europe arrived on October i6th, and 

 for about two months were quartered temporarily in the Elk 

 House. On December ist, the lioness called "Bedouin Maid," of 

 the pair presented by Mr. Robinson, gave birth to 5 cubs, 3 males 

 and 2 females, all of which have been well cared for by the mother, 

 and are doing well. 



As fast as the interior cages of the Lion House were finished, 

 the lions and tigers were transferred to them, and made comfort- 

 able ; but the long delay on the last six cages of the series rendered 

 it impossible to open the building to the public during 1902. 



During the past year, important additions have been made to 

 the collection of wild sheep, goats, and ibex. The additions con- 

 sisted of I Siberian Ibex fCapra sibirica), imported from Cen- 

 tral Asia; 3 Punjab Wild Sheep (Ovis vignei) ; i Burrhel (Ovis 

 burrhel), i Chamois (Rupicapra tragus), 2 female Himalayan 

 Tahr (H emit rag us jemlaicus), i female Mouflon (Ovis mnsi- 

 mon), and 2 female Aoudad (Ovis tragclaphus). In this col- 

 lection there were 3 additions by birth, and at present the collec- 

 tion contains 18 specimens, rc])resenting 8 species. 



