Dakota, as contributions from the Society to the preservation of the 

 species by our National Government. In short, the stock of Bison to 

 replenish the Great Plains have come from New York City. 



Colonies of eland, yak, emeu, ostrich, crane, and fallow deer, now 

 share the range that once was entirely given over to the Bison. The 

 delightful sensation of freedom is very greatly enhanced by the light 

 boundary fences and the entire absence of timidity of the occupants. 



The Antelope House, directly west of the Bison Range, shelters 

 within its spacious stalls and yards — about three times larger than those 

 of any other antelope house — a fine collection of the rare African ante- 

 lopes and usually a pair of the awkward but spectacular giraffe. 



To accommodate the small delicate deer, gazelles, wild goats, and 

 sheep that are sensitive to the great extremes of the eastern climate, 

 the Small-Deer House, original in its conception, which stands close to 

 the Antelope House, fills an urgent want. In form it resembles the 

 latter, a huge, elliptical building with spacious yards radiating on either 

 side. 



From the Antelope House a panorama of this section embraces the 

 greatest range of view to be obtained in the Park. Directly in front is a 

 broad plaza with irregular plantings of hardy trees, shrubs and gorge- 

 ously flowering plants. To the left of this are the Ostrich and Small 

 Mammal House. Yet further west is a large meadow and pond for 

 wild-fowl. Flanking the pond is the Aviary for pheasants, and directly 

 south the collection of musk-ox and Rocky Mountain Goats. 



To the east and north of the Antelope House are the Reptile House, 

 Mountain Sheep Hill and Bear Dens. 



Mountain Sheep Hill is almost in the form in which it existed when 

 the Society took possession of the Park. To add to its height, many 

 huge boulders were stacked about the crest of the ridge. At all seasons 

 various species of goats and sheep scale these miniature crags. The 

 Tahr at the north end maintains a family of substantial proportions. 



By reason of the improved conditions that surround them — space, 

 open view, sunlight, abundance of water, rocks, companionship — the 

 bears are one of the chief attractions of the. Park. If all the bears of 

 Europe were added together they would not make a collection zoologic- 

 ally equal to this one. A huge ledge of granite forms an admirable 

 background for the great collection of bears as well as providing an 

 anchorage for the cage work. This rugged structure is in admirable 

 keeping with its shaggy occupants. The polar bears have a shady en- 

 closure at the north end of the Bear Dens at the head of Beaver Valley. 

 Against the bluff end of the bear-den ledge is a semi-circluar structure 

 of steel, enclosing within its confines a deep pool. For a few hours in 



20 



