The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-22
THE PUBLIC PARKS.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON
BEGUN CONDITION OF TIE MENAGERIE
AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Although the appropriation for the Departments OF
Pubic Parks this year only about halt Of what II
formerly was the Park Com missioners have already
a force Of men work liking up and embellshing
the public grounds and breathing places OF the CITY,
In the Central Park laborers busy plying the hoe
and rake on the sward that will soon be green Inc
walks are being repaired, the shruboery put 10
order, the flowers and the seats for visitors
brushed up and replaced for the season Down town
the squares and parxs also being attended 10 by
large force Of workmen be employed consist
emily with the means now at the disposal OF the
Comm issoncrs.
POPULAR BNTRRrAINMENr
The artificial attractions and am usements al Cen
trail Park will remain much the same us last year. NO
new licenses have granted TO persons engaged in
such enterprises yrding boat SERVICE letting
goat carriages ponies, 10 all oil which arc 70 be con-
tinued BY those who conducted them last year. and
under the same rules and regulations AS soon as
the weather permits and tho grass has grown sum
GENTLY ball ground VIII be opened Tor baseball, at
which popular game none but scnool boys under six
teen are allowed 10 play. Base ball clubs will be
cluded, as usual During the summer there will be
music on the Mall tour o'clock every Saturday al
ternoon, commencing on June l, Grafula's and Dod-
worth's bands playing every alternate Saturday.
These bands Will consist oil about nifty MUSICIANS.
The small Conservatory pond, near Filth avenue and
Seventj fourth street, will DO open the last
year for the sailing OF miniature yachts.
bust OF the patriot hazzin, just executed for
Italian residents ana by them present To the
city, viii DO shortly erected oy The Commissio ners
the spot which It will stand IN Central Park
has not YET been determined. The PARK Commission
ers are contemplating additional improvements IN
their department, but as yet the latter have not
The GEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.
From the report OF the director OF tue Central Park
tainsu following formation line total number
OF animals exhibited during tue year 9l2, CLASH
he'd as lollows:-Mammaiia, 3S7 birds $50, and rep
tiles, IL Inc principal animals which the Men
agetIe became possessed OF are pair Of line
guanacos, receved ~ exchange for hon bred in the
Park. u the ANIMALS placed on exhibition the most
worthy oil mention are three Polar pears, speci-
mems OF which had been exhibited since May. 1916
and one pas OF crown hyenas,t arstSt The species
brought TO coIntry DurinG tue latter part
OF the yelr most valuable and unusdally large col
very attractive aduit0n. Tnsy comprised eight In
and live African tue latter being quite young, aud
ranging lrou forty !" SIXTY inches IN hciyn.
Menasorie Macaquo monkey, lions, 2 leopards, 2
pumas, prairie wolves, common canels, l zebu,
iuow deer, Wapiti deer, AXIS deer, Virgin ia
deer, Canada geese, common swans, trumpeteer
swans Di~ck swans, rinsaovc, 4 wiid turkeys. Ii
pea iowls, ~ Guinea fowl. IL AycsDury ducks and 10
feKin ducks. The birth OF monkey, being the nrst
that ever occurred III the Meuagare, attracted con-
TO protect tho nests water fowl from destruction
by dogs fences have been placed around them. which
are rather unsghtly.
MORTALITY AMONG ANIMALS.
There could 10 ouud no means OF protection, how
ever, against VISITORS who stu continue despoi
the nests The MsnugerIs has been tori unale In not
losing many valuable imals duriDg the Among
tue principal deaths occurring was that OF bear
which nad been iavorte with the visitors Tor The
past years Ii III d from bronchitis, after two
days' illness. beaver, resident OF tho MeuagerIe
for the pact seven years died from abscess the
liver. Three young mons died from bronchitis and
rachilis A severe form oil dyssntcry attacked the
Wapu deer resulting IN The death OF live before the
disease could BIZ checked.
Tue colcctiCn OF Southdown sheep the Park
comprises 80 i've earold ewes 81 lwo-yearold owes
80 eve lanUs ami rams, making total lob IN the
flock. ruis flock o sheep, the report states, OF
best In the country, attracting the attention and
OF prominent sheep breeders. The surplus
OF The flock arc sold Al auction every summer,
purchased by breeders ~ all sections 0t country
for the purpose oil improving their locks Last
there were sold ~ loury ewes ~ yearling
ewes and rs rams
The report cuygests that would be Of great benefit
TO the MenAgerie II some Of the surplus sneep were
gwen IN exchange tor such specimens needed
u the Acnagcrie
The Acclimatzati0n Society VI the city OF New York
| set al liberty on the Park during the summer
number OF starlings These birds remained until late
In tue FALL when they fsw away, TAX ing up their
residence IN New Jersey. There Is to believe
that they will return IN the spring Tue director
thinks IL would 10 very Desirable II Tho society
placed other European species IN the Park, as the
number u naive birds hus very much aimin-
OF late years. owing doubt 10 the rapid build
ing up OF the city arounu The Park.
iabuiated statement showing the amount ex-
pended Tor tho purchase vi animals curing the
seven years gwen, by which IL appears that while
the Of 81 736 Tor that purpose IN 1871,
ouly S25 were disbursed like account last Year
The ilems OF expenditure tor 1877 reduction OF
40S1 10 tue cost vi Keeping up tho Menagerie as
compared with that OF the preceding year. AT The
agerle was 7O6-viz., 216 mammals, asa BIRDS anu
repttleA