NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 35 



the higher ranges of the Himalayas of northern India. Its 

 horns are short and thick, and its body is covered with 

 long, purplish-brown hair which is much blown about by 

 the wind. It dwells amongst the most dangerous crags and 

 precipices, just below timber-line, and in reality is a forest- 

 loving animal. Its hair is the longest to be found on any 

 member of the two subfamilies of goats and goat-like ani- 

 mals. The pair on exhibition have bred here, and the 

 young have been successfully reared to maturity. The 

 young Tahr is very small, but remarkably nimble-footed 

 and capable. 



The Chamois, (Rupicapra tragus), has usually been repre- 

 sented in the hoofed-animal collection, but always out of its 

 proper installation. Our individuals have not thriven on 

 Mountain Sheep Hill, always becoming ill soon after being 

 placed there. They thrive well, however, in a small wire 

 pen with a sanded floor quite near the Puma and Lynx House 

 (No. 33A), and there we keep them. 



This animal is one of the rock antelopes, and is related 

 to the American Mountain Goat. It is a bold moun- 

 taineer, and even to-day is pictorially represented as leap- 

 ing "from crag to crag" across chasms apparently 200 feet 

 wide ! Its home is in the mountains of southern Europe, 

 especially the Pyrenees, the Swiss Alps and the Caucasus 

 Mountains. But it is not so exclusively a crag-dweller, as 

 most persons have been led to suppose, for in many local- 

 ities it inhabits mountain forests. Like most other moun- 

 tain ungulates, the Chamois dwell high in summer, and in 

 winter they seek lower and more sheltered situations. They 

 are exceedingly wary and agile, and sure-footed on danger- 

 ous ground. 



THE ANTELOPE HOUSE, NO. 50. 



The Antelope House occupies a commanding situation on 

 a high, tree-covered knoll at the south end of the Zoological 

 Park. The situation seems as if specially formed by Na- 

 ture to be occupied by this building, and its outside en- 

 closures. The drainage is quite perfect, and the yards are 

 well-shaded. 



The building has been designed to meet the wants of 

 giraffes and large African antelopes of all kinds, more 

 especially those which require 60° of heat in winter. 



