6 



NEWS BULLETIN OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



AT WORK ON THE BEAR DEN'S. 



HOMES FOR THE BEARS. 



In mediaeval times it was considered the proper thing to 

 keep captive bears in deep pits of heavy masonry. The 

 lines of Bruin's ground plan became quite familiar, but 

 his front and side elevations were subjects for perpetual 

 conjecture. 



Save in a very few of the oldest zoological gardens, the 

 old-fashioned bear cistern is a thing of the past. Hanover 

 contains a splendid ursine castle of cut stone, with battle- 

 ments galore. Berlin has a very fine bear installation — 

 a tasteful and well-planned structure of cut stone and iron > 

 fit for the capital city of a great and enlightened nation. 



With the polar bear, the big brown bears of Alaska, 

 our grizzlies, and various species of the black bear, we can 

 make up a superb collection without even setting foot be- 

 yond our own territory. For the species of bears which can 

 live out-doors all winter, the New York Zoological Park 

 will contain nine large, paved yards, enclosed by steel 

 bars, with an overhang so arranged that climbing out is 

 impossible. Four of these enclosures are now ready for 

 the cage work, and their present appearance is shown 

 herewith. Each enclosure measures 32 x 70 feet. The 

 main floor lies in the bottom of a notch which nature has 

 cut across the top of a high ridge, and against a fine wall 

 q[ rock about twenty feet in height. The iron-work is 

 carried up the face of this ledge, and along the top about 

 fifteen feet back from the edge, thereby affording the 

 bears abundant opportunity for climbing. 



Ample sleeping dens, of yellow pine, soaked in oil, will 

 be constructed at the foot of the rock ledge, and com- 

 pletely masked by artistic stone-work, built to match the 

 ledge'itself. The total cost of the four dens now under 

 construction will be about $12,000. 



FOREIGN ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN NOTES. 



During the summer months Professor Osborn visited all the princi- 

 pal zoological gardens of Europe, and made a number of additional 

 notes and observations in the interest of our Society. 



The Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris, while not equal to the best 

 of the gardens in Germany, contains certain fine features which are 

 very similar to some of those about to be developed in our Zoo- 

 logical Park. These are, especially, the ranges for some of the 

 larger types of animals. For example, the members of the Antelope 

 family in large ranges are not only in fine physical condition, but 

 are freely breeding and constantly adding to the collection. The 

 most unique case of breeding in captivity is that of the sea-lions in 

 the same gardens, who produce a fine sea-lion pup annually, ap- 

 parently because in connection with the pool is an extensive retreat 

 within the trees and bushes. 



In the course of this tour it was learned that great interest exists 

 abroad in regard to the development of the New York Park ; and 

 everywhere the desire was expressed to further our project, both by 

 plans and information. The impression is very general that New 

 York is an Eldorado, and that unlimited means are at our disposal 

 for the development of the most perfect park in the world. We 

 trust our members will live up to this reputation, and co-operate 

 with the Managers in spreading interest and raising funds for this 

 great project. One cannot visit the foreign gardens without return- 

 ing with fresh enthusiasm and faith in the Zoological Park, both as a 

 great means of public education and as an inexhaustible source of 

 pleasure. 



Among the newer features in the foreign zoological gardens are 

 the beautiful flying-cages, which are in many cases superbly stocked 

 with birds ; and the special feature of the Berlin flying-cage is a 

 section which is covered with glass, in which the herons and other 

 birds are nesting in great numbers. The new house for storks and 

 cranes in Berlin is a delight to the eye, bcii 



but it does not seem well suited to its purpose, the attempts which 

 have been made in various gardens to suggest by the exterior de- 

 sign the types of animals which occupy the interior have not proved 



