' 



ZOOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY BULLETIN 



No. 30 



Published by the New York Zoological Society. 



July, 1908 



THE MOUNTAIN GOAT BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY 



OX May 20, 1908, the first Rocky Mountain 

 Goat ever bred in captivity, was born in 

 the New York Zoological Park. Its 

 parents were brought from British Columbia by 

 Director Hornaday in November, 1905, with 

 three other specimens. All five were born in 

 May. 1905, and were captured in the mountains 

 north of Fort Steele. 



Since the arrival of the little herd in New 

 York, all of its members have been maintained 

 in excellent health. They are fed upon very 

 clean crushed oats (in the hull), sliced carrots 

 and potatoes, an occasional apple and all the 

 clover hay they can eat. There are three adult 

 males and two females, and thev have been 



given three large corrals and a rustic barn in 

 the southwestern corner of the Park. For 

 amusement and exercise they climb all over the 

 roof of the barn, and spend much time aloft. 



Although very level-headed and calm in times 

 of real danger, the Mountain Goat is shy of be- 

 ing handled and petted, and with nervous im- 

 patience flings itself away from an outstretched 

 hand. But one member of the herd will permit 

 its keeper to touch it. Although they are not 

 quarrelsome toward each other, they were so 

 free in prodding each other with their skewer- 

 like horns it was necessary to saw an inch from 

 each horn-tip. 



Quite a number of goats have come into cap- 



( 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT AND KID BORN IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



