J. F. G. Stokes' ]'isit to American Museunis. 13 



At Bronx Park, New York, the first institutiou examiued was 

 the New York Zoological Park. This park was in process of con- 

 stru(5lion. One of the permanent buildings completed was the 

 reptile house, in the constru(5tion of which much consideration 

 had been given to the accommodation of the inmates and con- 

 venience of the working staff. The first compartment entered con- 

 tained the cages for reptiles from the temperate zones lining the 

 walls. This appartment led into one four times the size in which 

 the colledlion of tropical reptiles was found ; two sides and an end 

 of this room were reserved for cases, while at the other end was a 

 large tank for the saurians. In the middle of the hall were two 

 large tanks for turtles, the smaller containing salt water for marine 

 turtles, and the larger divided into several compartments for 

 terrapin and supplied by a stream of fresh water. Arrangements 

 were made for heating the appartment with hot water. Behind the 

 crocodile tank was a small conservatory in which the tropical 

 plants cultivated throve luxuriantly. Outside the reptile house 

 and convenient to it was a large basin intended as the summer res- 

 idence of the Crocodilia. It was understood that the reptile house 

 of the Zoological Society of I^ondon was taken as a model for the 

 Bronx Park establishment, and the internal arrangement of the 

 latter was certainly most admirable. The ranges for the hoofed 

 animals, stretching along the western and southwestern borders of 

 the park, had already been partitioned off with a high fencing of 

 wire, and temporary shelters had been provided for the animals 

 already in the collecftion. The American Ungulata were represented 

 very fully. Among the Carnivora, the wolves, foxes and bears were 

 provided with dens, the bears' den having been blasted out of the 

 rock and built up with cement, and the others generally construdled 

 of wood : strong iron railings with the upper ends turned inwards 

 as usual, insured the safet}- of the visitors. The sea-lions had 

 their pools, and looked as comfortable as on the rocks outside San 

 Francisco. Several of the aviaries were completed, the finest of 

 which was the flying cage, 150 feet long and 50 feet high ; it con- 

 tained herons, storks and ibises. The house for the smaller mam- 

 mals was ready and filled, while permanent structures had not j'et 

 been eredted for members of the cat family. Very great credit is 

 due to Mr. William T. Hornaday, the dire<5tor, for the way in which 

 the work has been carried on, and under his care the park bid.s 



