ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



917 



the gnu does not do it that way. They lap the 

 water like a dog or a cat. This may be ac- 

 counted for by the fact that the nostrils, which 

 are thin, flat and wide, are placed near the end 

 of the muzzle. Should the gnu thrust his nose 

 into the water the very narrow air space would 

 be completely covered and afford no means of 

 breathing while drinking. 



Ivy from Fontainebleau. — Mrs. Eli Harvey 

 has presented to the Park a root of ivy from 

 the famous forest of Fontainebleau. This noted 

 forest has been the Mecca of all the artists of 

 France from time immemorial. Rousseau has 

 glorified the old oaks, and could the silent aisles 

 of the forest speak what a wondrous story they 

 might tell of the generations of painters that 

 have transferred its marvelous beauty to their 

 canvas. Mrs. Harvey has planted the tiny sprig 

 against the sheltered side of an ancient oak near 

 the Bear Dens. 



Collecting Reptiles. — Curator Ditmars has 

 just returned from a successful collecting trip 

 in Sullivan County. He secured 1 1 species 

 and 115 specimens of our native reptiles. In 

 addition to these, he also captured 129 speci- 

 mens of insects, including a splendid lot of 

 katydids. Enumerating the species, there 

 were represented in the collection 6 rattle- 

 snakes, 14 milk snakes, 75 striped snakes, 3 

 red-bellied snakes, 5 ring-necked snakes, 13 

 water snakes, one black snake, one hog-nosed 

 snake, 2 ribbon snakes, 17 katydids, 14 broad- 

 winged meadow locusts, 50 walking sticks rep- 

 resenting 2 species, eighteen narrow-winged 

 meadow locusts, 12 lesser katydids, 8 ground 

 katydids, and 10 cone-headed locusts. 



New Shops. — Destruction of the old worn 

 out workshops and sheds in the Service Yard 

 is progressing steadily, and the buildings that 

 for so long have answered a useful purpose 

 will soon be a matter of ancient history. The 

 Pelican House for birds is rapidly nearing com- 

 pletion, and work upon other structures will 

 soon be in progress. 



An Agresgive Giraffe. — The giraffe is one of 

 the mildest, most inoffensive animals, and the 

 large placid eyes, so like the "gazelle-like eye" 

 of which the Arabian poets write, are almost 

 conclusive proof of its excessive timidity. But 

 the giraffe does not lack courage nor aggressive- 

 ness in defending himself. Not having horns 

 of a dangerous character, he makes use of the 



best weapons available — the two fore feet. 

 Backed by considerable weight, he is able to 

 strike out forward with terrific force and great 

 precision. The movements of the giraffe are 

 awkward, but carry him over the ground so 

 rapidly that he is close enough to strike before 

 one is aware of it. A blow from either foot 

 would be a very serious matter, and the keepers 

 have had several narrow escapes from our large 

 male specimen. 



The Chipmunk. — One of the most cheerful 

 and active dwellers in the woods of the Park is 

 the common chipmunk. Like the red squirrel 

 he selects a suitable place for a home and ap- 

 parently after he has determined upon the loca- 

 tion resides there indefinitely. For many years 

 one of these hard-working little rodents has 

 dwelt under a boulder near the Beaver Pond. 

 Almost any bright summer morning he may be 

 seen perched on the top of his home-site bask- 

 ing in the warm sun. His labor in securing 

 food for the long winter is limitless, and in 

 pursuit of his task he radiates in all directions 

 from the home base. When the wild cherry is 

 fruitful, he scurries about under the trees 

 stuffing his cheek pouches almost to the burst- 

 ing point; making countless trips from the 

 harvest to the storehouse. How much food is 

 required to carry him through the season when 

 supplies cannot be obtained, is beyond compre- 

 hension, but the energy with which he pursues 

 his task would indicate that the amount stored 

 must be enormous. Considering the chipmunk's 

 energy and the fact that he is only a trifle 

 smaller than the red squirrel, some idea of the 

 storing capacity of the chipmunk may be gained 

 bv the fact that in a tree which was cut down 

 in the Park was found a squirrel's nest that con- 

 tained at least two pecks of hickory nuts. This 

 comparison is based upon the respective work- 

 ing ability of the two rodents. 



Friendly Tortoises. — It is a matter of wonder 

 to observe the attitude of the giant tortoises 

 toward visitors. Like many of the other ani- 

 mals they have learned to beg for food, and the 

 most astonishing part is the kinds of food they 

 will take. It is not strange that the monkeys, 

 deer, elephants, and even ducks, geese and pea- 

 cocks accept peanuts or candy, but it is de- 

 cidedly humorous when a great lumbering tor- 

 toise painfully struggles to the top of the wire 

 fence with his fore flippers and willingly eats 

 ham sandwiches or pie, and moreover devours 

 the food with decided relish. E. R. S. 



