ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1071 



ITEMS OF INTEREST. 



Batrachians: Another Reptile House exhib- 

 it rapidly increasing in size is the series of 

 Batrachians. We have of late given much more 

 attention to the frogs, toads and salamanders, 

 and a considerable number of new cages and 

 small tanks have been installed. We note that 

 our visitors are particularly interested in these 

 small creatures when attractively labelled, al- 

 though the labelling proposition witli these 

 diminutive cases and tanks has been rather a 

 puzzle. Among tiie additions to this collection 

 is the interesting mountain toad which appears 

 to represent a giant race of our common toad, 

 that inhabits elevated regions in the Eastern 

 states. A careful examination, liowever, fails 

 to demonstrate any characters of sub-specific 

 value. Another recent addition is the big Cali- 

 fornia toad, the striped frog, Rana virgatipes, 

 and manv species of the American salamanders, 

 both aquatic and terrestrial. We have received 

 terrestrial forms of the axolotl so that our ex- 

 liibition of tiiese interesting specimens now 

 shows botli phases. Among the examples of 

 the aquatic axolotls are both the black and al- 

 bino forms. The Old World batrachians are 

 now quite elaborately represented. Among 

 them are: The Japanese giant salamander, the 

 blind salamander, or proteus from the Adels- 

 burg Cave in Austria ; the European salaman- 

 der, the ribbed newt, the marbled newt, Aus- 

 tralian newt and the brilliantly marked iire 

 newt of Japan. There is also a good series of 

 European frogs and toads. While adding to 

 the series of batrachians we are now preparing 

 large shallow tanks for the better exhibition of 

 the more strictly aquatic frogs of both Europe 

 and America. 



Big Horn : The larger of the two big- 

 horned sheep has been transferred from the 

 Zebra House where it was temporarily quar- 

 tered to the northerly enclosure of Mountain 

 Sheep Hill. This powerful animal seems to be 

 in sii))erb condition, despite the general asser- 

 tion that we would have difficulty in maintain- 

 ing the species as a captive. Thus far these 

 two animals have been in splendid health, al- 

 though we were at first worried about the prob- 

 ability of their becoming acclimated. 



Great Anteater: For the first time in about 

 five years we are able to exhibit a splendid spec- 

 imen of the great anteater. This is an excep- 

 tionally vigorous example and has been quar- 

 tered in one of the larger cages of the Primate 

 House, as the uniform temperature of that 

 building is well suited to the animal's require- 



ments. It has been provided with a section of 

 soft log and amuses itself the greater part of 

 the day in tearing at the wood with the power- 

 ful claws of its forefeet. Happily, this is an 

 active specimen and our visitors have ample op- 

 portunity in observing him parading about the 

 cage. 



Mouse Deer: It is our belief that we iiave 

 broken records in maintaining in good health 

 the mouse deer, or Chevrotain, which is a no- 

 toriously delicate animal, seldom surviving cap- 

 tivity more than a few months. Our specimen 

 has been on exhibition considerably over a 

 year's time. The only trouble we have had 

 "with this animal has been with its feet, wliich 

 were apparently very soft and tender and rap- 

 idly developed bad sores on a wooden or cement 

 floor. Our specimen is quartered in the Primate 

 House, at a uniform temperature of about 70 

 degrees and to protect its feet, the floor has 

 been entirely covered with a soft blanket. Since 

 the floor was thus treated the feet have healed 

 and the animal now appears to be in perfect 

 condition. 



The Walrus: The Atlantic walrus i)resented 

 to the Park by Mr. Paul J. Rainey has been 

 exhibited in tiie Park for four years. When this 

 animal arrived here it weighed 149 pounds; its 

 weight at present is iOG pounds. The tremen- 

 dous appetite of this vigorous creature is worthy 

 of note. Compared with its weight, the food 

 it consumes is quite out of proportion with 

 other animals. The walrus consumes about 

 forty pounds of clams and fish each day. while 

 a cat animal of the weight of this walrus would 

 consume ten to twelve pounds of meat the day. 

 However, the members of the Pinmpedia are 

 voracious feeders and immediately show signs 

 of emaciation, unless their appetites are fully 

 satisfied. The walrus is provided with salt 

 water, which is kept at about ocean density by 

 the addition of sea salt and frequent tests with 

 the salinometer. We are rendering the tank 

 of the California sea lion slightly saline as we 

 iiave noted that in fresh water this animal 

 shows a tendency to develop bad sores. 



Large Rattlesnakes: One of the most dan- 

 gerous consignments to arrive here consisted 

 of a crate of nine diamond-back rattlesnakes. 

 These creatures were captured in one spot not 

 far from Orlando, Florida, as they were pre- 

 paring to retire- into their dens for the winter. 

 The big rattlesnakes of Florida hibernate a 

 short time during the cooler months, and, like 

 the smaller species of the north, congregate in 

 considerable numbers at such periods. The col- 



