NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 71 



Peninsula and the countries immediately above, and Borneo 

 and Sumatra. 



This species possesses many admirable qualities, and it 

 might be introduced to advantage in our southern states. 

 It is very even-tempered and sensible, easily handled, is 

 a vigorous feeder, breeds persistently, and matures very 

 rapidly ; but in every New York winter, it requires some 

 heat in its barn. 



The Maral Deer, {Cervus maral), is in appearance like an 

 extra large red deer or a small elk. It is a midway mem- 

 ber of the Wapiti group, which extends in a somewhat 

 broken chain from Colorado, northward across Bering Strait 

 to Asia, and thence across Asia and Europe to Scotland. 

 "We have owned a fine pair of Maral Deer, from the Cau- 

 casus district, but they have faile'd to breed as expected. 



The European Ked Deer, {Cervus elaphus), is an under- 

 study of the American elk, which it much resembles in 

 form and in habits. Next to the elk it is the finest living 

 deer, and for many generations has held its own against 

 the dangers of in-breeding. In the parks and forest pre- 

 serves of Great Britain and Europe, it exists abundantly, 

 but only as private property, subject to the guns of the 

 owner and his friends. This species has been successfully 

 crossed with the American elk. 



Other Asiatic Deer will be found in the Small-Deer House, 

 in the southern end of the Park. 



THE LION HOUSE, No. 15. 



As a spectacle of captive animal life, there is none more 

 inspiring than a spacious, well-lighted and finely-appointed 

 lion house, filled with a collection of the world's greatest 

 and handsomest wild beasts. To build an ideal lion house, 

 and to fill it with a first-class collection of large felines, are 

 matters involving no little time and much money ; but the 

 sight, — for the millions of visitors, — of lions, tigers, jaguars, 

 pumas, leopards, cheetahs, black leopards, snow leopards 

 and clouded leopards, all under one roof, surely is worth 

 what it costs. 



The Lion House of the Zoological Park was completed, 

 excepting a few minor details, early in the year 1903, and 

 was formally opened to the public in February. It is 244 

 feet long, 115 feet wide, including the outdoor cages, and its 

 cost when completed reached $150,000. The materials of 

 the building are the same kind as those used in the Rep- 



