ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1625 



A Timid Giraffe. — Despite the rejoicing of 

 the other animals in the Antelope House and 

 the Small-Deer House, the giraffe continues — 

 after two years of eccentric behavior — to accept 

 the invitation of sunshine and fresh air with 

 great reserve. During the first year that this 

 animal was on exhibition, he persistently re- 

 fused to leave his stall, although he would gaze 

 wistfully through the door in a fashion that 

 made him appear a spectacular picture in a 

 huge frame. It was necessary to break him to 

 halter last summer and forcefully lead him into 

 tin- yard. Once outside, he was quite contented. 

 The trouble appeared to exist in the doorway, 

 although this was of ample height and width 

 and the runway had been given a very gradual 

 slope by rilling and banking with cement. Dur- 

 ing the first ten days of the present spring that 

 the stall door has been open, lie has gone out in 

 the yard but three times. This is disappointing. 

 as we thought the long winter would eliminate 

 that lurking suspicion of the dangers that might 

 be encountered in passing the door. 



The Capering Lamb. — It is particularly in- 

 teresting just now to spend some little time 

 watching the infant aoudad on Mountain Sheep 

 Hill. There are four of these lively babies — 

 the twins in the extreme southerly corral, and 

 youngsters that appeared within the same week 

 in the adjoining yard. The aoudad is a wild 

 sheep of the Barbary States and inhabits semi- 

 desert mountains of steep slopes and huge rocks. 

 They are extremely agile in climbing and the 

 parents induce the lambs to begin mountaineer- 

 ing when the latter are but a few days old. The 

 lambs are plucky and ambitious. The mother 

 leads them over the rocks in a fashion that 

 brings slips and falls, but the nimble little ani- 

 mals persistently keep at it. Their antics are 

 so interesting and amusing that crowds of visi- 

 tors often collect in front of the corrals. 



Park Liberty Loan. — The Zoological Park 

 employees have gone "over the top" with a sub- 

 scription of .*S.OO0 to the Third Liberty Loan, 

 ■is compared with $7,000 for the First Loan 

 and $4,250 for the Second Loan. This makes a 

 total subscription of $19,250 from our men for 

 the three loans. 



The Park appears to be a favorite visiting 

 place for our soldiers and sailors and on crowd- 

 ed Sundays there is a decided martial aspect. 

 Platoons of sailors carrying their rifles, have 

 visited the Park; going through the buildings 

 in squads. Among our visitors are British and 

 Canadian soldiers, men in blue from France, 

 and recentlv the Anzacs have visited the Park. 



These Australian and New Zealand soldiers 

 have been interested particularly in our large 

 exhibits of mammals, birds and reptiles from 

 their home country. 



War-Time Plantings. — With the beginning of 

 the planting season and the continued need of 

 thorough and systematic food conservation, the 

 farming work of the past year has been extend- 

 ed and elaborated, and is now in full swing. 

 The areas under cultivation include the entire 

 Elk Range, a large portion of the Wild Horse 

 Paddocks, the Play Ground and extended por- 

 tions of the Nursery. At this early part of the 

 season, the hoofed animals already are receiving 

 cuttings of rye that was sewn last fall. 



Our New Chimpanzee. — We have purchased 

 an exceptionally large and fine female chimpan- 

 zee. This ape weighs 138 pounds, and is un- 

 usually interesting in having been educated to 

 perform various amusing tricks. She dines at 

 a table, and is particularly adept in handling 

 dining utensils. The most startling part of her 

 exhibition is the smoking of a cigarette — and a 

 particularly mild brand (cubeb) is kept on hand 

 for her morning and afternoon exhibitions. Our 

 collection of great apes was never more inter- 

 esting. It now comprises four chimpanzees, 

 two orang-utans and a white-handed gibbon. 



Park Guards. — The military company of the 

 Zoological Park, which is a part of the New 

 York Police Reserves. 53d Precinct, continues 

 its drills and remains at a high state of efficiency 

 in readiness for emergencies. The Police Re- 

 serve of New York City has just been reorgan- 

 ized along more disciplinary lines by Special 

 Deputy Commissioner Rodman Wanamaker, and 

 but recentlv the captains were called to Police 

 Headquarters for examination as to military 

 and administrative fitness. The Zoological Park 

 Company within two weeks' time lias appeared 

 in exhibition drills at the 13th Regiment Ar- 

 mory. Brooklyn, and the 22d Regiment Armory. 

 Manhattan. Five regiments were assembled on 

 each occasion and the men were reviewed by the 

 Mayor, Police Commissioners and other noted 

 guests. The company also marched in the Lib- 

 erty Loan parades and a position has been 

 assigned in the Police Parade. Under the new 

 order of units of the Police Reserve, the Park 

 company is now designated .as Company H.. 

 Battalion D., Seventh Regiment. 



The Gentle Wolf. — One of our timber wolves 

 is rearing a lively family of five puppies. The 

 young wolves are as playful and friendly as 

 dogs, and their very proud mother permits them 

 to be petted. 



