1410 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



THE EMUS IN WINTER 

 These birds endure the rigors of our northern winters without distress. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST. 



Otir Shy Giraffe. — -After two years of coax- 

 ing and resorting to various expedients to in- 

 duce our giraffe to leave his stall for his out- 

 side canal, we constructed a new runway of 

 generous width and such a gradual incline that 

 we thought he could find no possible objection 

 to using it. However, he continues to gaze 

 placidly from the door and refuses to come out. 

 We are giving him a few days to decide, after 

 which time, if he continues obdurate, he will 

 be pulled out with a soft rope. This is now 

 possible, without danger of a slip, owing to 

 the long runway. Apparently this animal 

 labors under a delusion involving a doorway, 

 where at some time in the past he has been in- 

 jured, or received a severe fright. 



Red Squirrels. — In the early histor}^ of the 

 Park, we determined to exterminate the red 

 squirrel within our boundaries, owing to that ani- 

 mal's deadly persistence in robbing birds' nests. 

 The red squirrel disappeared for a number of 

 years, and we cultivated the Carolina gray squir- 

 rel, which, owing to its docile and confiding na- 

 ture, delights our younger visitors. Various clans 

 of these gray squirrels, and members of the black 

 phase as well, inhabit different parts of the 



Park. The}^ pry into visitors' pockets, feed from 

 the hand and are in every wa)^ likable and at- 

 tractive. 



Of late we have again heard the chatter of 

 the mischievous red squirrel in the Park, and 

 several of the keepers investigated. They dis- 

 covered an interesting condition. Ordinarily, 

 this species is excessively wary, but led on by 

 the boldness of the gray species, the few red 

 squirrels that have wandered in are also solicit- 

 ing dainties from visitors. One specimen found 

 by Keeper Lansberg is so confiding it may be 

 picked up in one's hand and stroked like a 

 kitten, — an extreme type of confidence that quite 

 surpasses that of the wild gray squirrel. We 

 have found two red squirrels like this, and while 

 we have forbidden them the free run of the Park, 

 they are happy in large cages of the Small Mam- 

 mal House. When the men are cleaning their 

 cages, these squirrels run about over their shoul- 

 ders, making no attempt to escape. 



A Prairie-" Dog" Feud. — A feud appears to 

 have broken out among our prairie-"dogs," and 

 while there have been extensive arguments and 

 much excitement, it seems that no real damage 

 has been done. The animals occupying the 

 northerly burrows of the village seemed to have 

 declared warfare against a group living in the 



