TiiiR'n:F-:xTii axnial rkport ci 



disorder!}' in thrtiwino- waste ])a])er. luiiclicDii refuse and paper 

 boxes on our walks and lawns. A full account of this cti'ort and 

 its results will be found in the Zoological Society Bulletin, No. 

 31, for October, 1908. 



l)i:i'AKr.MI'..\l' Ol" MAMMALS. 

 William T. Ilornatlay, Curator; Kaynioiul L. Uiuiiars, .Vssistant Curator. 



The close of i<;o8 finds the collections of ^lanl^lal•^ on a basi-i 

 that, to say the least, is generally satisfactory. The coni]:)letion 

 and occupancy of the lTe])hanl 1 louse on time, at the be<^innino^ 

 of winter, was to the curators and keepers concerned a source of 

 profound relief. Had the new building' been delayed, the troubles 

 with the "])achyderm>" in the Antelope House would have been 

 quite serious. 



With the removal of the Elephant House collection, the Ante- 

 lope House once more came back to its own. The whole in- 

 terior was promptly painted and put in good condition, and then 

 the scattered antelopes, that had been crowded out of their own 

 special quarters, were quickly brought together by Mr. Ditmars 

 and the force of mammal keepers working under his direction. 

 At last we have the pleasure of seeing the Antelope House 

 chiefly — but not wholly — devoted to the splendid series of African 

 and Asiatic animals for which it was designed. The exceptional 

 occupants are the three species of zebra and the PVrsian wild 

 ass, all of which must perforce remain where they are, usurping 

 space not belonging to them, until we have erected a Zebra House, 

 as planned. That very necessary building we must have at no 

 distant day. 



The Small-Deer House continues to render most excellent 

 service, and it contains a very valuable and interesting collection. 

 The markhors. the Persian ibex and mouflon, which can not 

 survive the winters of X'ew York City in the open air, are regu- 

 larly quartered in this building every winter. 



In the spring of igo8 the Director awoke to a realization of 

 the fact that many gaps had been made by deaths in the collec- 

 tions of smaller mammals, which had not been filled. This was 

 due to the heavy expenditures necessary in the purchase of the 

 verv costly rhinoceroses, elephants and other animals required 

 for the Elephant House. There being no funds in the Animal 

 Account, an appeal was made to the Life [Members of the Society, 

 practically limited to them because members of the other classes 

 had recently subscribed considerable sums for other special pur- 

 poses. A call was made for $4,000 in response to which the 



