64 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



SUMMARY OF MAMMALS ON DECEMBER 3I, I904. 



Primates 34 species. 88 specimens. 



Cheiroptera i " i 



Carnivora 48 " 133 



Pinnipedia 3 " 7 



Rodentia 13 " 64 



Ungulata 52 " 219 " 



Edentata i " i 



Marsupialia 2 " 3 



154 " 516 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS. 



In this department the most important events of the year were 

 the beginning, and two-thirds completion, of the large Bird 

 House, the completion of the Ostrich House, and the beginning 

 of the Pheasants' and Doves' Aviary. The temporary Pheasants' 

 Aviary was removed and devoted to other purposes than the ex- 

 hibition of birds, and the collection it had contained disappeared 

 from exhibition. On account of the plans for the rebuilding of 

 this aviary, no efforts were made to increase the collection, either 

 by breeding or purchases. 



The completion of the Ostrich House, and its opening on De- 

 cember 25th, afforded great relief to the Bird Department. Sev- 

 eral weeks before the building was completed, it was filled by 

 its legitimate occupants of the Order Ratitae — ostriches, emeus, 

 rheas, and cassowaries — and a miscellaneous assortment of large 

 land birds which had been crowded out of the Aquatic Birds' 

 House, and sorely needed comfortable shelter. The arrival of 

 three delicate but very valuable deer from Paraguay made it 

 necessary, for the preservation of their lives, to quarter them in 

 the best place to be found for them, which proved to be in two 

 of the Ostrich House cages, — where their lives were saved. 



A full description of the Ostrich House appeared in our Bulle- 

 tin No. 16. Thus far this building has proven a most gratifying 

 success. Although as light as the outside world, it is easily kept 

 warm and comfortable, and its living inhabitants appear to enjoy 

 life uncommonly well. The series of cages with high floors dis- 

 play their contents better than those which are on a lower level. 

 A fine series of descriptive labels, a chart of the Order Ratitae 

 and several large draw'ings of allied fossil birds, all prepared by 



