ZOOLOfilCAL SOCIETY I'.L'LLKTIN 



3» 



The black spider-monkey whose picture is reproduced 

 in this number, while not calling for special comment, de- 

 serves at least passing notice. No other ape or monkey in 

 the Park, nut excepting even Kajah, can boast of such a 

 mild and sunny disposition. l'V)r this reason she has be- 

 come the guardian spirit of all the forlorn and homesick 

 monkeys which occasionally come to the I'ark. Upon 

 arrival, if they do not seem to find congenial companion- 

 ship with others of their kind, they are immediately trans- 

 ferred to a separate cage and put under .Mary's protecting 

 care, where they may bask in the sunshine of her amial)le 

 nature. Just at this time she is nursing a small lion-tail, 

 who has lost his mate and he is rapidly recovering his 

 cheerful disposition, due, no doubt, to this singular charac- 

 teristic which Nature has given her. She has already 

 proven herself invaluable in this way. 



A SPIDER MONKEY IX THE XORTll. 



CJuite recently it came to mv knowlcil^r 

 that Mr. A. E. McCall, of Datli, X. Y., editor 

 and proprietor of the Rath Phiiiidealcr, had in 

 his possession a black Sjiider Monkey (Atclcs 

 atcr) whicii he had kept in captivity for eleven 

 years. The astonishing; longevity of this ani 

 mal in a northern cHniate prompted me to 

 communicate with Mr. McCall, and request a 

 detailed statement of history and habits of the 

 animal. L'sually, Spider Monkeys are diffi- 

 cult to keep in confinement for any length of 

 time, even in the best zoological gardens. In 

 response to my inquiry, ^Ir. McCall verv 

 kindly furnished the Society a statement whicJi 

 is of decided interest and value to all persons 

 who keep monkeys in captivity, and it is pub- 

 lished herewith, entire. — Editor. 



' ' The first winter we had Jess, he seemed very sus- 

 ceptible to colds, so I pKiced a lung pad on his chest, or 

 had him wear a knitted shirt. I also gave him lilicral 

 portions of milk-punch, and sometimes the whiskey clear. 

 An important task was to induce him to eat the foods of 

 civilization, especially meats, — even raw beef and fats, — 

 and hot soups, tea, coffee, and chocolate. 



" He soon became willing to e.-it anything that I would, 

 with one exception^' Limburger cheese.' It was quite 

 laughable to w.itch his actions when I first offered him that 

 delicacy. He smelled it doubtfully, threw it down, and 

 then with a very funny expression smelled of the hand that 

 had held the cheese. 



*' He became very fond of raw oysters, clams, and sar- 

 dines. I have always given him a variety. I le will eat 

 the largest amount when allowed to sit at our table and be 

 ted, or when some one is eating near him. He takes his 

 largest meal at night, and if he st.ays up l.ite usually wishes 

 a lunch before retiring. His menu just now is, for break- 

 fast, a cup of coffee and sometimes one or two buckwheat 

 cakes, and at noon a luncheon of bread and butter, celery, 

 lettuce, or something green, with pie, or some other des- 

 sert. Invari.ably he eats the dessert first. .\t night his 

 meal consists of meat and potatoes or other vegetables, and 

 a cup of tea. It varies, however, as usuallv I bring his 

 food from the table. Several times each week I give him 

 bananas, of which I think he is more fond than any other 

 one thing. He will eat olives, and just as this is being 

 written he sits by me eating a Codfish ball. 



'•Jess is now between twelve and thirteen years old. 

 Possibly the most important factor in the longevity of Jess 

 has been the exercise and diversions he has been allowed 

 to have. I believe that the close confinement of wild ani 



"JESS." 



mals in hot, stuffy cages, is enough to kill all save the 

 strongest in a short time. I think there is more danger 

 from hot, impure air than from cold air. 



" Before Jess reached m.tturity I used to .allow him to 

 run outdoors like a dog. He would go out from the office 

 or house and make calls, quite independently. .Sometimes 

 he would return of his own accord, and again 1 would be 

 obliged to go after him. .Many times I have caught him 

 roaming and told him to go home, and he has gone without 

 my going with him. Frequently he makes the trip from 

 the house to my office, a distance of several blocks. (>ncc 

 lie made the trip from the office to the house when the 

 thermometer was down to zero, but the result was that he 

 froze all of his toes 1 I doctored him diligently, however, 

 and fin.illy brought him round, so that he has had no seri- 

 ous trouble from this chilly experience. 



".Since he developed, and his canine teeth came in, I 

 have not allowed him to run at large. In the winter I take 

 him to my office, and when I am in allow him to have 

 the run of the place. .\t night, and also when I am out, I 

 put him in the cellar, and if he feels cold he will get on 

 top of the furnace or on the pipes. 



"In spring, as the we.ither becomes moderately warm, I 

 take him to my house and chain him outdoors. Usually 

 once or twice a day I let him loose, to run .about or climb 

 on the trees. During several seasons I h.ave taken him to 

 a little lake situated a mile or so from the village, which is 

 quite a resort, and I have a kennel for him and fasten him 

 with a long rope, so th.at he can climb a tree. I also let 

 him have a run quite often. .Xs a result of keeping him 

 out so, he has a long heavy coat of fur. During the sum- 

 mer I frequently give him a good bath, and occasionally 

 also in winter. 



" I have often t.aken him camping out, to ride on cars 

 and steamboats, and he has visited all circuses that have 

 showed here since I have had him. .\t the shows he pays 

 no attention to the other monkeys, but takes considerable 

 interest in the elephants, lions, and other large animals. Cf 

 these he manifests not a particle of fear, furiously enough, 

 he seems to have no fear of animate creatures, but easily 

 becomes frightened at little toy representations of animals. 

 He has had various pets to play with, such as kittens. 



