ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



MODELLED CKESTLNG KUK PRIMATES' HOUSE. 

 Designed by A. P. Proctor. 



The wall cages extend along the eastern wall 

 of the building, in an unbroken series, their 

 floors raised three feet high from the floor of 

 the building. Overhead they extend up to the 

 roof, and each cage is provided with a spacious 

 skylight, which makes its interior a bright and 

 cheerful place of abode. A high window, be- 

 tween the sleeping-boxes, communicates di- 

 rectly with a corresponding outdoor cage, to 

 be used by the animals in hot weather. 



The interior of each wall cage will be a small 

 gymnasium, provided with ladders, swings, 

 flying-rings, and horizontal bars so tempting 

 that no sane and healthy primate can resist the 

 temptation to exercise frequently, and thereby 

 keep in good health. 



THE OUTDOOR CAGES. 



In recognition of the fact that outdoor air 

 is the best thing in the world for a wild animal, 

 provided it be not unendurably cold, the series 

 of outdoor cages form one of the most impor- 

 tant features of the Primates' House. They 

 face toward the southeast, extend the entire 

 length of the main building, and on the north, 

 east, and south are sheltered by leafy walls of 

 forest. At each end of the building is a huge, 

 semicircular cage, 23 feet in diameter, and 15 

 feet high above the floor, each covering the 

 entire end of the corresponding interior hall. 

 The conical roof, of corrugated iron and glass 

 on light steel girders, rests lightly but gen- 

 erously upon the interior, like a Malay hat, and 

 projects two feet beyond the outer wall of 

 wire, giving it a decidedly graceful appearance. 



Between these two great end cages extend, 

 like the links of a chain, the series of smaller 

 cages, ranged along the outer wall of the build- 

 ing, and divided to match the cage divisions 

 within. The partitions dividing these cages 

 are half solid wood, for protection against cold 

 north and south draughts, and half wire-net- 

 ting, for coolness in hot weather, and sociabil- 

 ity at all times. All these cage fronts are of 

 wire-netting, e.xcept that for the great apes, 

 which is provided with light steel bars. 



THE MONKEY GROVE. 



An interesting and important outdoor feat- 

 ure, but not to be developed until ne.xt year, 

 will be the Monkey Grove. Near the south- 

 eastern corner of the building stands a small 

 grove, containing about a dozen trees from 

 thirty to fifty feet in height. By lopping off 

 a few branches, this grove will be isolated from 

 the adjacent forest. A wire fence, with an un- 

 climbable overhang of smooth metal will be 

 erected around this grove, after which a mid- 

 air tunnel of wire-netting will be run from 

 the large outdoor cage into the tree-tops. It 

 is intended that the larger monkeys of the 

 South Hall shall have, in the seasons of mild 

 weather, free access to and from this grove, 

 and afford visitors an opportunity to observe 

 monkeys actually in a state of nature. 



The doors between all the interior and ex- 

 terior cages are so constructed that the pri- 

 mates can open them at will, and in mild 

 weather go out and come in at pleasure. Each 

 door is hung on sash-weights, so carefully 

 adjusted that a lift of three pounds will raise 

 it, and it drops by its own weight. 



WIRE-NETTING INSTEAD OF BARS. 



An important innovation in the construction 

 of the cages of this building is the general use 

 of open chain-netting set in channel-iron 

 frames, instead of the heavy upright bars that 

 have been used almost universally hitherto. 

 The only variation from chain-netting is found 

 in the apes' room, where, on account of the 

 strength of the animals, and their cunning and 

 perseverance in destroying wire-netting, bars 

 are considered necessary. While it would be 

 possible to make a wire cage-front that would 

 withstand the attacks of an adult orang or 

 chimpanzee, the size of the wire, and the 

 amount of it necessary, would be so great as 

 to nullify the ordinary advantages of netting. 



One advantage of chain-netting which is not 

 to be ignored, is its value as a means of exer- 

 cise for the monkeys. As an aid in climbing 

 it is unsurpassed, and the joy which monkeys 



