ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1249 



Hornaday reported that instead of being this 

 year in better condition than last year, as was 

 hoped for, the elephant's state of erotic frenzy 

 was worse than ever before, and as a conse- 

 quence the animal was suffering from the re- 

 straints of captivity. For the first time in his 

 life Gunda liad ceased to take food, and his 

 desire to kill someone had become more than 

 ever tlie ruling passion. 



Inasmuch as tlie animal was not enjoying 

 life, and did not seem likely to do so through- 

 out more tlian six months of each year, it was 

 not kindness to prolong his life. While it would 

 have been possible to continue to maintain him 

 in captivity, his value as an exhibition animal 

 was gone throughout six months of each year, 

 and six months of animal quiescence are not 

 sufficient to justify the endurance of the erotic 

 period. 



On Tuesday morning, at the request of Di- 

 rector Hornaday, and with the approval of the 

 Executive Committee of the Zoological Society, 

 Mr. Carl E. Akeley, the distinguished elepliant 

 hunter and elephant taxidermist of the Amer- 

 ican INIuseum, sent a bullet from his elephant 

 rifle through the brain of Gunda, instantly and 

 painlessly ending the life of the most trouble- 

 some and dangerous elephant that has come 

 into public notice during the past fifteen years. 

 The shot produced instantaneous paralysis of 

 the brain and the whole nervous system, and 

 was practically as jjainless as chloroform at its 

 best. Director Hornaday and Keeper Thuman 

 were purposely absent when the shot was fired. 



Under arrangements previously made with 

 President Osborn, of the American Museum, 

 both the skin and skeleton of Gunda were pre- 

 served entire, for mounting. Immediately fol- 

 lowing the death of tlie animal, Mr. Akeley's 

 corps of taxidermists and osteologists set to 

 work to dissect the huge remains, assisted as 

 far as possible by the Zoological Park force. 

 The soft anatomy was taken in hand by a corps 

 of preparators from the College of Physicians 

 and Surgeons, and prepared for research work. 



Keepers Thuman and Richards were congrat- 

 ulated by Dr. Hornaday on liaving cared for 

 Gunda throughout five dangerous years with 

 onh' one accident. In 1913 Thuman was very 

 nearly killed by the elephant, and his life was 

 saved by the fortunate presence and indomit- 

 able courage and good judgment of Keeper 

 Richards. During the last weeks of Gunda's 

 life, his antipathy toward Thuman knew no 

 bounds, and even the sight of tlie man who for 

 five years firmly held him under control always 

 threw the elephant into a rage. 



THE ELEPHANT HOUSE ROOF. 



When the elephant house was constructed by 

 Nesbith & Co., the sub-contractor for the roof 

 failed to comply with the specifications. As a con- 

 sequence the roof of the main structure proved 

 to be anything but waterproof, and in a short 

 time the leakages that took place very seriously 

 damaged the building. Eventually the roof of 

 the entire main structure had to be reconstructed 

 in accordance with the specifications. Tliis was 

 done by the city and at the same time an action 

 was brought against Nesbith & Co., to recover 

 the cost of the work. 



At that time there seemed little prospect that 

 the cost of the work could be recovered, but the 

 result has surpassed those expectations. The 

 action has recently been settled by the payment 

 to the city of ■■{!!•, .500. This sum comes from the 

 two surety companies that were on the bond of 

 Nesbith & Companv. In view of the damage 

 to the Elephant House, and the very great an- 

 novance that was caused to the Zoological So- 

 ciety by the leaking roof, the result recently 

 achieved is highly satisfactory. 



It has seldom happened in the history of the 

 City of New York that contractors engaged in 

 public work have been jjunished for their mis- 

 deeds, and the Society feels gratified that it has 

 been the means of bringing one offender, at 

 least, to justice. 



NEW MEMBERS 

 May 1. 191.5 — July 1. 1915. 



Goldschmidt, S. A., 



Soher, I^eRov, 



Artz, C. AV., 

 Ballard, Edward I... 

 Bannard, Otto T.. 

 Bartol, Henrv G., 

 Beebe, Walter H.. 

 Champollion, .Mrs. A. C, 

 Coe, Charles A., 

 Connell, Herbert Stanley, 

 C'oriell, Wm. Wallace, 

 Durkee, A. W., 

 Evans, S. M., 

 Fleischmann, Udo, M., 

 Greene, Jr., G. S., 

 Harrison, Archibald, 

 Heide, Jr., Henry, 

 Hodges, Harrison B., 

 Konta, Alexander, 

 Ivuhn, Julius, 

 Lester, George Bacon, 

 l.ever, S. H., 

 McCoy, Dr. John, 

 Markham, Robert D., 



Marve. R. V., 

 .Miller, Mrs. E. C. T., 

 .Xiirton, W. P., 

 Raymond, H. E., 

 Rcnsbaw, Howard Price, 

 Hiiniilds, Mrs. George I^., 

 RoUihiuf, Rev. Anthony J., 

 Riihl, Louis, 

 Russell, Mrs. Wm. H., 

 -Scott, Thomas Blvthe, 

 .Stuart, Robert, 

 Sturges, Mrs. E. C, 

 Swords, William Voorhis, 

 Suydani, Jr., Lambert, 

 Thomas, Mrs. Howard L., 

 Thonvson, Giraud F., 

 \'aiuler]H)el, .Mrs. Mary \'., 

 Aarian, Mrs. Wilbur 1 ., 

 Waller, Stewart, 

 Wliitehouse, Norman 

 Zeiitgraf, Rev. George J., 



