May 30, 1896.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
486 
recommended as being a highly desirable site. For some 
reason none of these experts appear to have visited Bronx 
Park. 
Not long after the reception of the report of these ex- 
perts the executive committee of the Zoological Society 
invited Mr. Wm. T. Hornaday, of Buffalo, to come to 
New York and take the position of director of its proposed 
zoological park. Mr. Hornaday accepted, and on reach- 
ing New York began, with his usual energy an exhaustive 
examination of the different tracts available for the park. 
After much study and a careful balancing of the advan- 
tages and disadvantages of each locality the executive 
committee of the Society chose the southern portion of 
Bronx Park, as 48 shown in the following application 
made May 21 to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund 
of New York city: 
New York Zoological Society, 69 Wall Street. ( 
New York, May 21, 1896. ( 
To the Honorable Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, City of New 
York; 
Gkntlkhen— .The executive committee of the New York Zoological So" 
ciety has the honor to inform you that a corporate body has been form" 
ed under the above designation (Laws of New York,chapter 43D) for the 
purposes: (1) of establishing and maintaining in this city a zoologlca 1 
park, (2) for the preservation of the North American native animals' 
and (3) the encouragement and advancement of zoSlogy. 
In the furtherance of the Society's principal object— viz,, the estab- 
lishment of the zoological garden or park— it is necessary to acquire 
the use of a suitable area in one of the unoccupied and unimproved 
parks of this city, north of the Harlem River. If the allotment of a 
satisfactory site can be obtained, the Zoological Society will immedi- 
ately thereafter prepare a general plan and seek to obtain the funds 
necessary to initiate the scheme of improvements that may be agreed 
upon. 
By the terms of the act of incorporation of this Society, the Com- 
missioners of the Sinking Fund are empowered in the following lan- 
guage to make to the New York Zoological Society an allotment of 
land: 
Section 7. "The Commissioners of the. Sinking Fund of the said 
city are authorized in their discretion to allot, set apart and appro- 
priate for the use of said corporation any of the land belonging to 
said city north of 155th street, but not in the Central Park, and such 
appropriation may be revoked if after the expiration of five years 
from the passage of the act a zoological garden is not established 
thereon ; said grounds thus set apart and appropriated shall be used 
for no purpose whatsoever except those aforesaid. As soon as any 
lands are set apart, the mayor of said city of New York and the pres- 
ident of the department of parks of said city shall become and be ex- 
officio members of the board of managers of said corporation." 
Free Admission. — The law requires the free admission of the pub- 
lic on four days in each week, one of which shall be Sunday. It is the 
present intention of the executive committee to recommend that the 
Zc 6 logical Park shall be open to free admission for six days in each 
week, and that one day only shall be set apart for the benefit of mem- 
bers of the Society, students and artists, and for repairs. The field 
exhibits, the river and the woods will be open to the public at all 
times. 
During the past five months the officers of the Zoological 8ociety 
have made a thorough and exhaustive study of all the unoccupied and 
unimproved parks north of the Harlem River, in order to determine 
what location would be best adapted to the requirements of a zoolog- 
ical park founded on an ample scale, and would also meet the re- 
quirements of the public in regard to accessibility. In these investiga- 
tions the Society has availed itself of the advice of the best zoological 
garden experts in the country. As the result of all studies and in- 
vestigations, this committee has now reached the unanimous conclu- 
sion that in all the various parks north of the Harlem River there is 
one location which may be regarded as a truly ideal site for a zoolog- 
ical park, such as this city should have, and such as this city desires 
to establish. 
We therefore apply to you to allot, set apart and appropriate to the 
New York Zoological Society, according to law, all that portion cf 
Bronx Park which lies south of Pelham avenue, of about 261 acres in 
extent, to be used by this organization only under the terms of its 
charter, as a public zoological park, and to be laid out for improve- 
ment and use upon a general plan which shall be approved by the 
Board of Park Commissioners before any actual work is begun . 
One importaut reason for our choice of South Bronx Park is that it 
contains several open areas in which all the large buildings could be 
erected without the cutting of any trees or shrubs whatever. The 
Society desires to place itself on record as being opposed to the cut- 
ting of living trees or shrubbery in a public park, and to all plans ir - 
vqlving any defacement or dimunition of natural beauties. South 
Bronx Park is now asked for because it is eminently the place wherein 
a semblance of the natural haunts of wild animals can be secured by 
the adaptation of nature's handiwork rather than by the slow, costly 
and not always satisfactory processes of artificial creation. It is also 
asked for because it is possible to develop upon it a zoological park 
of the most spacious and attractive character. 
At present the area in question is merely a tract of rough, unim- 
proved land, part meadow and partly timbered, through which flows 
the Bronx River. Other parks in the annexed district possess greater 
landscape possibilities, but the site chosen is particularly well adapt- 
ed for the purposes of a zoological garden founded on a large scale. 
I It is, or soon will be, easily accessible to the people of New York and 
Brooklyn by payment of a single five-cent fare; its water supply is 
the best to be found in any of the northern parks; its contour is not 
so precipitous or so rough as to destroy its full availability to visitors 
on foot; its natural drainage is perfect ; its shade is abundant and of 
the peculiar open kind so extremely desirable in a zoological park. It 
possesses four natural basins, in which ponds of great value to the 
collections, as well as to landscape effects, can easily be constructed. 
Its situation, contour and forestry all combine to give this spot an 
evenness of temperature not possessed by any other site of those 
available. South Bronx Park can be made a great popular resort for 
the people, wherein the benefits of zoological study can be more hap- 
pily combined with the enjoyment of natural forest, field and stream 
than could possibly be provided elBewhere. 
Zoological Gardens of Other Cities. 
In America.— Philadelphia, 33 acres; Washington, 166 acres; Cincin- 
nati, 36 acres. The Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Buffalo and San 
Francisco are in public parks. 
In Europe.— London, 36 acres; Dublin; Bristol, 15 acres; Paris, 10 
acres; Paris; Amsterdam, 25 acres; Hague, 20 acres; Antwerp, 20 
acres; Berlin, 63 acres; Cologne; Dresden; Hanover, 10 acres; Frank- 
fort, 25 acres; Breslau; Vienna, 30 acres; St. Petersburg. 
In the East Indies. — Bombay, Madras, Singapore, Hong Kong. 
Most of the large cities of Europe maintain zoological gardens, 
many of which are magnificent in appointment and rich in collections, 
but all, without exception, are confined to small areas, and some are 
grievously cramped for room. It is not sought to establish a mere 
menagerie, even on a large scale. A zoological park in which the 
larger and more important native animals have free range in large in- 
closures, where a satisfactory attempt can be made to copy or sug 
est natural haunts, and where visitors can find enjoyment in the con 
templation of fine, healthy animals, amid beautiful natural surround- 
ings, is quite different from even the best fifty-acre menagerie. In 
obtaining a grant of land the Zoological Society deems it both expe. 
dient and necessary to secure an area large enough, that a portion of 
it can be held in reserve as breeding grounds for large species to meet 
the demands of the future. 
In conclusion, we beg to recur with emphasis to the very important 
fact that in no sense whatever is the land now applied for to be se- 
questrated from the public. 
Very respectfully submitted, 
New York Zoological Society, 
(Signed) Andrew H. Green, President. 
Madison Grant, Rec. Secretary. 
(Signed) Henry F. Osborn, Chairman ; John L. Cadwalader, Philip 
Schuyler, Charles B. Whitehead, Andrew D. Parker, Thomas H. Bar- 
ber, C. Grant La Farge, Executive Committee. 
This application was referred to a special committee of 
three, consisting of Gen. A. G. McCook, Alderman W. 
M. K. Olcott and Comptroller Fitch, who were instructed 
to report on it at an early day. 
It is understood that as soon as the question of site shall 
have been settled, the Zoological Society will take steps 
to raise funds looking toward the immediate equipment 
of its park and the getting together a collection of ani- 
mals. The raising of funds and the preparation of plans 
for the park will probably occupy the remainder of the 
year 1896, and actual work on the grounds will be begun, 
it is hoped, next spring. 
The managers of the Society contemplate the appoint- 
ment of a number of New York naturalists, who, under 
the title of the Scientific Council, shall assist the director 
in deciding on questions which have to do with the 
general management of the collections. 
The Buffalo Paddock at Van Cortlandt. 
We are indebted to M. A. Kellogg, engineer of con- 
struction of the Department of Public Parks, for the 
diagram showing the location of the buffalo inclosure 
which will shortly be completed at Van Cortlandt Park. 
This inclosure is situated between the main line of the 
New York & Putnam R. R. and the Yonkers Branch Rail- 
road, about a quarter of a mile north of Van Cortlandt sta- 
tion. At the northwest corner is Mosholu, a flag station 
on the Yonkers Branch Railroad. 
The tract embraces an area of seventy-six acres, of 
which six are water or swamp. The low land lies on the 
eastern edge, along Tibbitts Brook and the head of Van 
Cortlandt Lake. West of this is a belt of pasture land, 
which comprises possibly a third of the tract. This land 
is light and sandy, and will furnish but little food for the 
buffalo. 
The western third of the tract is wooded, includes a 
hill 140ft. in height, which breaks away sharply toward 
the Yonkers Branch Railroad. The soil near the summit 
of this hill is very shallow, and the underlying rock crops 
out in frequent ledges. Owing to the absence of good 
natural pasturage the buffalo will undoubtedly have to be 
fed much of the time on imported provender. 
The fence is already well under way and the buffalo 
will probably be brought on from Blue Mountain Park 
early in June. The first shipment will include thirty an- 
imals, but it is said to be within the realms of possibility 
that the remainder of Mr. Corbin's herd may eventually 
be brought over to Van Cortlandt, in which case 140 
acres more, lying immediately north of the present tract, 
will be fenced in and the two- inclosures connected by a 
passway under Mosholu avenue. 
The present inclosure requires about one and three- 
quarter miles of fencing. 
Cat and Partridge. 
Hudson, N. Y., May 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
. A great many articles have been published in your paper 
on destruction of birds by cats. I have read many of 
them and on several occasions have noticed cats catching 
small birds, but did not give it much attention. On 
Saturday last I went in the country,- and tramped over 
some of my favorite shooting covers, where I spend my 
October vacation, and the prospect is good for an abun- 
dant supply of partridge (ruffed grouse). 
This morning, just as I was ready to get into the wagon 
to go to the train, the young man with whom I was stay- 
ing came to the house with a full-grown hen partridge 
that he had just taken away from the cat. He told me 
that he had noticed the partridge near the house several 
times within the last six weeks, and had also noticed the 
cat stealing cautiously through a rye field near by, but 
hadn't the remotest idea that she was hunting partridge, 
but here was the bird stone dead. I think this bird was 
hatching in this field very near the house. 
I did not have time to hunt up the nest or the chicks if 
they were hatched, and don't know that I could have 
helped matters if I had found either. One thing I did do, 
and that was to swear everlasting J vengence on all cats 
found prowling away from home and their own fireside. 
I had never given this much j consideration, but t when 
they struck the*game birds then I am ready to fight and 
my mad is way, up. 
I have f ound^a partridge nest>nd expect to go this after- 
noon and try and get a photograph of her. I shall try 
this afternoon and from past^experiences of the s last two 
years think I shall have to try several other afternoons 
and then not succeed in getting a picture. If I succeed, 
will let you know. H. 
Largest Trout Caught in English Waters. 
The late Greville Fennell, in the Field-ol May 23, 1868, 
page 400, says: "I have looked through my note books 
and printed collections for the weights of trout, and I find 
that Stephen Oliver, the younger, mentions one taken 
near Great Driffield, in September, lb32, which measured 
32in. in length, 21in. in girth, and weighed 171bs. A 
notice was sent to the Linraaan Society of a trout that 
was caught on Jan. 11, 1822, in a little stream 10ft. wide, 
branching from the Avon, at the back of Castle street, 
Salisbury. On being taken out of the water its weight 
was found to be 251bs. Mrs. Powell, at the bottom of 
whose garden the fish was first discovered, placed it in a 
pond, where it was fed, and lived four months, but had 
decreased in weight at the time of its death to 2Hlbs. In 
the neighborhood of Downton, on Wiltshire Avon, a 
trout was caught with the fly by a Mr. Bailey which 
weighed 141bs.; and in a small tricutary of the Trent, at 
Drayton Manor, a fish was^ taken exceeding in weight 
211bs. {vide Zoologist, 1848)." 
In the Angler's Journal of Dec. 20, 1884, the editor re- 
marks: "The largest English trout on record is believed 
to be that from Drayton Park, which weighed 22ilbs., the 
skeleton of which was presented to the College of Sur- 
geons" — this fish probably being the same as that last 
referred to. — Correspondence Fishing Gazette. 
The Audubon i S o ciety . 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Referring to .your .editorial of May 2,.under the above 
heading r I would say that I was somewhat surprised to 
learn that our society, „ "having for lt its.special purpose 
the discouragement of the wearing of bird plumes as ele- 
ments of woman's dress," should ask the aid of Forest 
and Stream after all it had done in that direction, and 
having failed to receive the support that it was entitled to 
in supplying so good a medium for that purpose as tbe 
Audubon Magazine, which you published tor two years at 
a price that should have placed it in nearly every family. 
Of the "bOO local secretaries of the Audubon Society" 
barely a score gave it the support they should. Had each 
secretary sent in ten subscriptions tne circulation would 
have been ample to warrant its publication, and from 
the lack of interest of those that should have given it sup- 
port it was discontinued. .J. L. Davison. 
Lockport, N. Y., May 8. 
The Strength of the Swan's Wing. 
A correspondent of The National Druggist states 
that the first surgical case that he had in the fcicate of Ar- 
kansas was setting an arm that had been fractured by a 
blow from a swan's wing. The accident occurred on 
Swan Lake, near Shawnee Village plantation, in Missis- 
sippi county, in the winter of 1«70. The patient, a hunter 
for the Memphis market, was "fire- hunting" at night, 
and a band of swans flew at the light. The man was in a 
little pirogue, and instinctively threw his arms up to pro- 
tect his head. The left arm was struck by the wing of 
one of the birds, and sustained a compound fracture of 
the forearm, both bones being broken. 
Michigan Birds. 
White Lake, Montague, Mich.— Have only seen two 
bluebirds this spring. Wrens are also very scarce. Robins, 
scarlet tanagere, catbirds, pboebe birds and brown thrush 
are here in their usual numbers. Baltimore orioles are 
more numerous than they have been before in years. 
Ruffed grouse seem to be doing well ; I know where there 
are three nests. 
The spring here has been warm and unusually favor- 
able for the nesting of the birds. Squirrel shooting 
promises to be good this fall; saw a number of black and 
gray squirrels to-day. E. S. D. 
Nest of Hooded Warbler. 
The beautiful photograph of a nest of the hooded war- 
bler, reproduced here, was sent to us by Mr. J. L. Davi- 
son, of Lockport. The photograph was taken by Mr. 
James Savage, of Buffalo, at West Falls, Erie county, 
July 11, 1895. 
~~F~B NCE. TSaurvxJ 
BUFFALO INCLOSURE IN VAN COURTLANDT PARK, NEW YORK. 
