NEWS BULLETIN OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



tradition that all publications emanating from 

 such bodies should be technical and opaque. 

 Unscientific men and women are asked to sub- 

 scribe money in aid of scientific institutions 

 and their work, but where is the scientist who 

 delights in writing and issuing publications 

 which the general public can understand and 

 enjoy ? 



In the matter of publications, those who 

 furnish Science with the sinews of war do not 

 receive sufficient consideration. If there be 

 anyone who doubts this assertion, let him be- 

 ware lest he be suddenly buried under a moun- 

 tain of printed evidence. 



The very least that any public educational 

 institution owes to its supporters is to keep 

 them informed of its work. For this purpose 

 our News Bulletin- was originated, and, so 

 far as we are aware, it was the first publication 

 of its kind. From the first issue it has proven 

 to the members of the Society and the public 

 an acceptable medium of desirable information. 

 We were pleased to note last year the appear- 

 ance of The American Museum Journal and 

 the Botanical Gardens Journal. To-day an- 

 other journal is promised in the near future, 

 by the Brooklyn Institute. All these are strict- 

 ly " popular '* — if scientific men can pardon a 

 term which suggests a disagreeable antithesis 

 — and are very much in the right direction. 



And now for another step forward. There 

 is no reason why our Bulletin, which is for 

 the special information of the 1,000 members 

 of the Zoological Society, should confine its 

 subject matter to the Zoological Park. It can 

 offer its readers much outside information 

 which they will value, and hereafter, as space 

 can be spared, it will do so. With this num- 

 ber its form changes to proportions better 

 adapted to binding and permanent preserva- 

 tion, and hereafter it will be issued quarterly. 

 Its price to all persons who are not members 

 of the Zoological Society will be fifty cents for 

 four numbers, in advance. 



enforcement of the rule against the feeding of 

 animals by visitors. Perhaps a few have even 

 felt offended because they were admonished 

 not to show their interest in the bears and mon- 

 keys by the bestowal of peanuts and other 

 deadly tokens of regard. 



A wild animal in captivity naturally sup- 

 poses that anything offered him by a human 

 being is good to eat ; and many a valuable cap- 

 tive has offered up his life on the altar of Mis- 

 placed Confidence. 



Two weeks ago the most interesting, affec- 

 tionate, and generally beloved of all the thir- 

 teen bears in the Zoological Park was the 

 member from Japan. During his eighteen 

 months of residence here he never had been 

 ill, never entered a complaint, and never once 

 lost his temper. His greatest delight was 

 wrestling with his keeper, and pretending to 

 bite. off his hands. 



Last autumn, Ursus japonicus met his fate. 

 It was in peach-time ; and in an evil moment 

 some kind friend who loves animals and thinks 

 the Park people are too particular, gave him 

 four large peaches. He ate them, stones and 

 all ; and two weeks ago poor Jappie's skin went 

 down to the American Museum. Dr. Brooks 

 found that one of the peach-stones had become 

 encysted at the orifice leading from the stom- 

 ach into the intestines, and the opening had 

 been almost completely closed. Acute inflam- 

 mation had set in, and killed the favorite just 

 in time to save him from death by slow starva- 

 tion. 



Moral : If you must kill a captive animal, 

 a gun is more merciful than peaches, candy, 

 peanuts, and tobacco, and far more respectable. 



FOUR PEACH-STONES, AND A 

 MORAL. 



Possibly about one per cent, of the visitors 

 to the Zoological Park feel that the Curators 

 and Keepers are unnecessarily zealous in the 



GENERAL INFORMATION. 



Admission. — On all holidays and on Sunday, Tuesday, 

 Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, admission to the Zoo- 

 logical Park is free. 



On every Monday and Thursday, save when either of 

 those days falls on a holiday, only members of the Society, 

 and persons holding tickets from the Society, are admitted 

 free. All others pay twenty-five cents for each adult, and 

 fifteen cents for each child under twelve years of age. 

 Tickets are sold only at the entrances. 



Opening and Closing. — From May 1st to November 

 1st, the entrance-gates will be opened at 9 A.M. and closed 

 half an hour before sunset. From November 1st to May 

 1st the gates will open at 10 A. M. 



BICYCLES must be checked at the entrances (five cents). 

 All wheels not called for half an hour before sunset will be 

 locked up until the following day. 



RESTAURANT. — At the Rocking Stone Restaurant meals 

 are served a la carte every day from 10 a.m. to the closing 

 hour. On Saturday and Sunday an extra table d'hote lun- 

 cheon is served for 60 cents. 



In the North Pavilion of this building is a spacious lunch 

 counter, where all kinds of luncheon food are served at 

 popular prices. 



The Reptile House Lunch Room has been closed. 



