176 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



MARAL DEER FRcj.M CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS 



An important change has been made in the deer 

 ranges occupying the hill directly west of the 

 Aquatic Birds' House. Lentil recently the four 

 ranges situated there have been without a shelter 

 house, the ground has been poorly drained, and 

 the fences were imperfect. Last year it was decided 

 to remodel those ranges so as 

 to double their number, build 

 a fine deer barn on the highest 

 and most central point of the 

 hill, and devote the entire 

 installation to large Asiatic 

 deer. 



This idea has been carried 

 out, in a thorough and pains- 

 taking manner. The result 

 is a fine and spacious deer 

 barn of the most modern 

 type, with eight ranges of 

 ample size. The fences are 

 all new and exhibit all the 

 improvements that our expe- 

 rience has shown to be desira- 

 ble. For the partition fences, 

 a special post was invented, 

 to carry two wire fences 12 

 inches apart, to prevent fatal 

 fighting between herd leaders. 



The whole surface has been 



thoroughly under-drained. 

 Unwholesome grasses have 

 been plowed under, and am- 

 ple water, sewers and fire 

 protection has been provided. 

 The shade in these ranges is 

 everything that could be de- 

 sired. The building has been 

 encircled by a generous girdle 

 of macadam, and the stone 

 runways along the fences are 

 the best we have yet pro- 

 vided for any of our deer 

 ranges. The gates and posts 

 were made in our ow'n shops, 

 and the building was erected 

 by our own ground-improve- 

 ment force. Last, but not 

 least in importance, ample 

 walks have been constructed 

 leading to the building; but 

 there is no public passage-way 

 through the building. 

 The herd of Fallow Deer will for the present 

 remain in the range it has occupied heretofore; 

 and at an early date the Altai Wapiti, Barasingha, 

 Indian Sambar, Malay Sambar, Molucca Deer, 

 and Maral Deer will be installed in the new 

 ranges. w^ t. h. 



JAPANESE SIKA DEER. 

 Photographed August, 1904. 



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