NEWS BULLETIN OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



LOWER EXD OF REAVER POND. 



wholly successful. The elaborate and beautiful Elephant House in 

 Berlin, with its many-colored roof, seems to be suffering from the 

 weather, and is difficult to keep in repair. The new houses in the 

 London Zoo, for the accommodation of the larger types of birds and 

 certain of the smaller herbivora, are very similar in design and 

 construction to the buildings which we are now erecting, although 

 of a much less costly character. 



In the Paris Garden, upon a very small scale, is a pony tramway, 

 by which visitors can take the complete tour without fatigue. This 

 reminds us of our project to circuit the garden by the means of auto- 

 motor carriages, which will be certainly a matter for future de- 

 velopment. 



The very easy means of access to most of the foreign gardens 

 from the centres of population suggest that the transit prob- 

 lem is one which must be energetically taken up. All the for- 

 eign gardens, excepting Antwerp, are attended at times by enor- 

 mous crowds of people, and derive the larger part of their income 

 from paid admissions : for there are positively no free days. In 

 Berlin the restaurants of different grades, adapted in price to the 

 demands of different classes of people, also furnish a very large 

 revenue. As our Park is upon the good American principle of be- 

 ing entirely free to the public, and as the Society proposes to stock 

 it very extensively with animals, as well as to supply the principal 

 buildings, it presents a model of the democratic type of park which 

 is entirely unknown in Europe. It must depend upon liberal per- 

 sonal contributions, and generous support from the city. 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK XOTES. 



Mr. Warren H. Manning, formerly associated with the firm of Olm- 

 stead & Elliott in Boston, has been engaged to study the Zoological 

 Park, especially with reference to the present and future tree plant- 

 ing, and to the system of walks and roadways in the approved plan. 

 >r changes in which can be made if it appears desirable. Mr. 

 Manning has had extensive experience as a landscape architect, and 

 it is believed that his advice will be verv valuable. 



Mr. A. Phinnister Proctor, the animal sculptor, whose works 

 have appeared at the Court of Honor at the World's Fair and else- 

 where, has been invited to submit preliminary designs for cer- 

 tain carvings to adorn the front of the Reptile House. These will 

 be cut into the pilasters upon either side of the entrance, both for 

 ornament and to suggest the purpose of the building. The broad 

 stone pedestals flanking the main steps leading up to the building 

 are especially designed for reptilian sculptures, which it is expected 

 will be placed there eventually. In connection with each of the 

 principal buildings of the Zoological Park, there are opportunities 

 for sculpture, both in the terra-cotta work and in the approaches ; 

 and members of the Society will become interested in this feature 

 of the artistic development of the Park. 



* * * 



One of the indirect objects of the Society is to encourage animal 

 painting and sculpture. As an indication how this purpose is re- 

 garded, it is proper to note the fact that already two sculptors and 

 three animal painters announce their intention of establishing their 

 studios in the immediate vicinity of the Park, as soon as the collec- 

 tions are received. It is evident that the fine types of native and 

 foreign animals which will be constantly upon exhibition will afford 

 admirable opportunities to artists, and will give a long-needed im- 

 petus to the decoration of our public buildings with animal forms, 

 both in painting and in sculpture. 



* * * 



It has long been apparent to the Zoological Society that in many 

 portions of the Zoological Park special efforts must be put forth to 

 save certain groups of trees growing in thin soil.'on rocky ridges, 

 and now threatened with death. In the immediate vicinity of the 

 Bear Dens, there are now twelve dead trees standing on an area of 

 about four acres. Trees that die must be replaced, and much plant- 

 ing must be done along the southern and western boundaries of the 

 Park. 



With this work in view, the Society eagerly seized the opportunity 

 to obtain from the excavation made for the Aquatic Rodents' Pond 

 great stores of rich, black soil which have been deposited at ten dif- 

 ferent points in the Park, selected according to the needs of the 

 future. In addition to this, black earth has been deposited around 

 thirty-rive trees in the vicinity of the Bear Dens, to enable them to 

 live through such dry seasons as have been so destructive to other 

 trees in that locality. 



