84 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



In spite of the fact that the cages in the Primate House 

 have been in a much overcrowded condition throughout the year, 

 there have been few deaths of the more important species. As 

 a result of the overcrowded condition of the cages, and the pug- 

 nacity on the part of a number of rhesus monkeys, there were 

 a larger number of cases of serious injuries caused by fighting 

 among the smaller monkeys. 



Of the deaths among the primates a large percentage repre- 

 sent animals which had been received as gifts, and had in most 

 instances been in private homes for a considerable time, and 

 where they were retained as long as they appeared in good 

 health. When, however, they showed evidences of ill-health and 

 malnutrition, they were offered to the Park. In many cases 

 these animals responded to the more expert care of our keepers 

 and later became desirable accessions. In other cases, how- 

 ever, these animals soon became unfit for exhibition in our cages 

 and were consequently humanely destroyed. 



The health of the higher apes has remained good. The 

 most important loss in this collection was that of the chimpanzee 

 baby, born to Suzette on July 14, and which died nine days later, 

 owing to the lack of proper maternal instincts on the part of the 

 mother. 



Among the hoofed animals, a number of our old bison were 

 destroyed on account of malnutrition and emaciation incident to 

 old age. 



The American bison, elk and European red-deer herds are 

 all showing the effects of old age and need new blood in order to 

 bring them up to the standard of vigor maintained for so many 

 years, since we can no longer expect to successfully breed satis- 

 factory animals among these herds without the introduction of 

 new, young and vigorous stock. 



Of the accidental deaths occurring among the hoofed ani- 

 mals, the principal ones were due to fighting among corral or 

 range animals. 



A rare lechwe antelope was so badly injured by getting its 

 leg caught in the fence of its corral that it was necessary to de- 

 stroy it. 



A number of young red deer and American elk were de- 

 stroyed when it appeared that these animals would not develop 



