SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 59 



Early in the spring of 1902 the Society received by gift from 

 Mr. W'iUiani H. Harriman, a young male specimen of Nelson's 

 Mountain Sheep, secured by him in Lower California. The little 

 animal was much weakened by its long and tedious journey, and 

 only survived about three months. This was believed to be the 

 first specimen of that s])ecies to reach a zoological park for 

 public exhibition. 



Among- the mammals of special rarity and zoological impor- 

 tance which reached the Zoological Park during 1902 mention 

 must be made of the female Musk-Ox, eighteen months old, from 

 the Barren Grounds north of Great Bear Lake, purchased by 

 Hon. William C. Whitney, and presented to the Zoological 

 Society in March, 1902. This was the first specimen of Ovibos 

 inoscliatiis ever exhibited in America, and it attracted great at- 

 tention, both from visitors and from the press. In October, a 

 second specimen — one year younger than the first — which was 

 captured by Commander Robert E. Peary in Northeastern Green- 

 land, was presented to the Zoological Park by the Peary Arctic 

 Club. Strenuous efforts were made to induce both these animals 

 to survive in this latitude, but without success. The first speci- 

 men died on August 17th, of pneumonia, the disease to which 

 most Eskimo and sea-lions succumb in New York. The second 

 expired suddenly from an affection of the spinal cord, which 

 produced complete paralysis. Thus far, fifteen specimens of the 

 Musk-Ox have been brought out to civilization ; but of this num- 

 ber all save three have died within a very few months after 

 reaching warm latitudes. Of the three which survived, one is 

 now exhibited in the Berlin Zoological Garden, one in the Zoo- 

 logical Garden at Copenhagen, and the other is in the collection 

 of the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Park, England. 



The Peary Arctic Club also presented to the Society a young 

 Atlantic Walrus, w'hich was received in September in very weak 

 condition, and survived only about three wceeks. Its death was 

 due to hemorrhage of the lungs. Of all these rare animals the 

 Society's photographer secured excellent photographs, which 

 eventually will be published. 



From Carl Hagenbeck the Society received by purchase a fine 

 male specimen of the now rare Zebra Wolf, or Thylacine, of 

 Tasmania. This animal is the largest living carnivorous mar- 

 supial, and is so rare that only two specimens are on exhibition 

 in Europe, and four in America. Although our specimen arrived 

 in weak condition it has greatly improved in health and strength, 

 and seems likely to become acclimatized. A fine specimen of the 



