ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1537 



AUSTRALIAN GRAY PHALANGER 



This Phalanger and several related species are often called Australian opossums. 



prevailed. The elk were turned out early each 

 morning, after feeding, and at once they trotted 

 to the pond. This body of water is quite broad, 

 but shallow, and after splashing about for a 

 time the entire herd would lie in the water, and 

 doze or ruminate in defiance of the flies. 



Wild Babies. — A beautiful male specimen of 

 Grant's Zebra was born at the Park on the 24th 

 of June. This gorgeously striped youngster 

 and his mother are on exhibition in one of the 

 big yards immediately west of the Zebra House. 

 Among other hoofed animals that were born 

 during the summer are an eland, a yak, and 

 several each of American bison, elk, white- 

 tailed deer, red, fallow, axis and sika deer. 



Nature Scorns Artif,ce. — In one of the num- 

 bers of the Bulletin mention was made of a 

 curious horned rattlesnake on exhibition, that 

 was actually a reptile with a grafted horn that 

 had undergone an ingenious surgical operation. 

 The Indians often thus decorate the big rat- ■ 

 tiers of the Boundary Region. Our specimen 

 excited much comment, as the horn protruded 



fully an inch from the head, and we were in- 

 terested to learn what might happen when the 

 snake shed its skin. That important event has 

 taken place and the results were quite different 

 from our anticipation. Several days before the 

 shedding, the snake's head swelled to great ex- 

 tent and when the reptile emerged from its 

 skin it crawled away hornless. A large circu- 

 lar scar on the reptile's head indicated Nature's 

 refusal to abide by the artificial adornment. 



"Toto's" Clown Days Are Passing. — For 

 several years the orang-utan "Toto" has been 

 the clown of the Park's collection. This ani- 

 mal's extremely amusing capers have delighted 

 many thousands of visitors, particularly chil- 

 dren. Toto has now outgrown the infant class, 

 and is develojDing a hint of the sullen demeanor 

 characteristic of the adult orang-utan. He is 

 far less affectionate and confiding with Keeper 

 Engeholm. Of late he has evinced a habit of 

 "making faces," which is, in a way, a threat. 

 Toto is about seven years old, and has been on 

 exhibition with us nearlv five vears. — R. L. D. 



