ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1017 



PERSISTENT ASYMMETRY IN THE ANTLERS OF AN 

 AXIS DEER IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



process, which is only the fountain of supply 

 to the "rowing antler. 



The accompanying picture is taken from 

 a photograph of several years' growths of 

 an axis deer that was horn in the Park. 

 For several seasons the antlers preserved their 

 normal form, but an injury to them later on 

 developed this strange abnormal growth. 

 It floes not demonstrate the reason, but un- 

 questionably bears out the contention that 

 there is a recurrence of the distortion year 

 after year, even though there was but one 

 original injury. It is not a problem of great 

 import, but it is interesting to those who may 

 have noted it. E. R. S. 



LADIES' AND MEMBERS' DAYS 



THE annual functions of the Ladies' Aux- 

 iliary of the Society and Members' Day 

 were observed early in May. Of the 

 latter there is little to be said, for despite the 

 fact of most propitious weather, the members 

 responded most grudgingly. Many visitors 

 gathered about the Administration Building 

 where Shannon's 23rd Regiment Band played 

 the entire afternoon, but of this number 

 very few were members of the Society. 



The Ladies' Auxiliary with its usual energy 

 and ingenuity, gathered an appreciative 

 coterie of friends. The Administration Build- 

 ing, where the ladies held their regular re- 

 ception, assumed an activity to which it has 

 heretofore been an entire stranger. Baird 

 Court sparkled with a brilliant throng of 

 handsomely gowned women; a kaleidescopic 

 change of color against a background of 

 stately buildings and greensward. The Con- 

 course was taxed to the utmost to provide 

 room for the motors and carriages that 

 crowded the drive and overflowed into Pelham 

 Parkway. Refreshments were served, and 

 throughout the afternoon, the military band 

 from the United States Army post at Gov- 

 ernor's Island, played a well chosen program. 

 The attendance, estimated to be over 600, 

 proved the success of the reception. E. R. S. 



FORAGING SQUIRRELS 



THE suggestion has been made to visitors 

 in the city parks not to feed the gray 

 squirrels. In other words, the squirrel 

 is ordered to forage on his own account. The 

 gray squirrel will provide his own food, for 

 the self-preservation law is as inherent in this 

 interesting little fellow as it is in man, but 

 he must have some place to find it. 



In the spring he is an inveterate hunter, for 

 then the buds are tender and juicy and most 

 delicious to a squirrel's palate. When the 

 buds are changed to leaves and flowers, he 

 descends from his arboreal hunt and digs into 

 the ground for roots. He is not averse to 

 eating slender shoots of all bulbous plants, 

 and in the Zoological Park the gray squirrels 

 have established an unbeatable record for un- 

 covering crocus bulbs faster than a small army 

 of gardeners could plant them. At this 

 moment they are still holding the fort, waiting 

 for 7 any other gardeners who may wish to 

 contest this claim. 



