New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
ITS AIMS ARE BROAD.
WHAT THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEANS
TO ACCOMPLISH
1T HOPES TO CHECK THE ExTERMINATroN ~
WILD ANIMALs-FACILIrIEs FOR ARTISTS
AT THE BRONX PARK GARDEN

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
Thu action OF the Sinking Fund Commission on
Wednesday, transferring to the New-York Zoologi.
cal Society POI acres land In the southern part
of Bronx Park under well-deaned conditions.
for the establishment Of the Geological Garden.
adds 10 public interest In the plans or the society
II those plans are carried out this city will have
the finest ZOO in the world within three years.
In the first annual report OF the Geological Society
which was published few days ago, the objects
for which the society organized are grouped
together follows:
Firs,-The establishment OF free geological park
containing collections OF Nortn American and exotic
animals for the benefit and enjoyment OF the gen.
eral public the zoologist. the sportsman and every
lover OF nature.
Second--Tne systematic encouragement OF inter-
est in animal life. zoology. among all classes Of
the people and the promotion OF geological science
in general
Thrd-Co-operation with ether organizations In
the preservation OF the native animals OF Norm
America and encouragement of the growing sent-
ment agans; their wanton destruction.
In a preliminary study Of the best geological
gardens in Europe and OF extensive game pre-
serves the managers Of the society became con-
WINGED Of the importance OF securing suhicient
room for animals which cannot be protected from
determination in close quarters. AT the same time
it was understood that the park must not De so
Largo as 10 make the animals inaccessible or In
Visible to visitors.
CONSIDERATIONS OF SIZE.
The establishment Of an ideal geological park in
this city was made possible by the wisdom and
foresight which added $500 acres or park Iahos
TO the municipal domain In 1854 The report says;
The ideal geological park. such as this society
has planned TO establish. will therefore stand
midway between the typical thir;y-acre zoolosica
garden OF London. Paris, Antwerp or PhiIadeiphA
and the great private game preserve In the south
a
combination Of hill and hollow. OF high ridge and
deep valley. of stream and pond, rolling meadow
rocky ledge and virgin forest OF the finest descTp-
ton all OF which. b. happy combination OF e'-
cumstances. have been preserved through all tese
years While other portions OF Bronx Park are
more rugged and more wildly picturesque, and
while in itself the chosen for the animal
collections has been regarS ocular ia
animals in captivity Is really marvellous Furtnet.
more II Is believed thar the treatment OF nature
work which Will be desirable in establishing ne
collections will only em mp osna IA ana Seson
The first duty of the society. 1t is declared. viii
be to bring together liberal number OF fine e1-
ampes OF the more noteworthy ana interesting
species OF the animals Of North America, particu-
larry of those species which are threatened win
extinction.
AMERICAN ANIMALS
Tho first animals TO be gathered, therefore. will
be the buffalo elk. moose. mountain sheep. ante
lope back-tailed deer Virginia deer and caribou
and also the mountain goat II 1t can be induced 70
survive I'm this climate The Enclosures planned
for these species vary in area from three 10
twenty acres each All will be abundanty provided
with shade water and shelter, and such cnn-
jewellers as the mountain sheep Will be Kept on
rugged masses Of natural rock. Ii Is proposed
that the buffalo herd shall contain about twenty
five carefully selected animals. living in twenty
| acre range. and be in every way worthy TO repre-
sent this important species.
Efforts will be made also to have good col
lection OF American bears, wolves. foxes ana othef
| carnivorous animals In captivity The society mas
before 1t plans for the various buildings. aVlarles
fences and walks they should be arranged to
| best accommodate the animals and the pubic.
am! these plans do not involve the cutting OF
! a single tree. The only concession proposed In
this direction that the beavers shall be allowed
| TO cut down several small trees that stand in the
| bog where the beaver pond is 10 be.
J DIFFERENTIATION STUDIES.
The need for geological preserves is Sc, forth
| strongly in the report OF the society, and !,
| declared that nation should allow It's via
animals to be extermnated. Regarding the whole
sale destruction OF wild animals In this country the
| following statements made:
| or the mammaa only the very smallest are
wears hair. From the vanishing buffalo fur seal sea:
| has descended until now the once despised musk,
rat. skunk and rabbit are eagerly sought Tor tieJt
Birds that are not available for the table ar:
for the sake Of their fea hers; and the results
Of the the mixing aaa s the s epSe S ends
o. feminine fashion are sad to contemplate FIor,
da once teeming with bird life. is now so barren
civilized man. animal lie is being destroysd iM
by to devise Lawns tas sr fan rS a
the animals around them In season and out Of
season. Nearly every man wn9 n.as IN sa"''
In these days Of quick Transportation and shsss
fares no animal is so remote or so inaccessoe The
grizzly bear satisfied the ambition OF the most enter
pext tempted the sportsman feats Of enduring.
| In mountaineering Now however the chase OF w
M ahe assoae barren Grounds is broken by the
crack Of the repeating rifle. and the shagsy nusA
don Thousands OF slaughter bur only scores
The time is coming when the Whole r6 ,em
the greater portion Of the a brd world rspe
arss s sSmea ssIsns % Wild state on the CONT
nent OF North America, save In few areas
| dense forest or impossible tundra
which we are rapidly exterminaiing; rms les
ereass eyse sws or h @ who DO not
/ respect sentiment the bones of our now comimSSa
types typ ;n w'I great aux and man will be practically
the sole survivor Of great world OF HE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS.
The society believes that interest In the 1oolo0'
| col mark can be increased by improvements IN wv
| methods OF labelling animals and II also wan.
20 encourage animal painting. IL Is INTENDED :.
J have studios and workrooms for geological aru''
| and students In the societys library ouiidins
! tho park and the hope is expressed that the ou
nr may contain a gallery for the display OF ah'm.
paintings and sculptures. In the plan OF 'ne Wv"
house there IL provided spacious studio eo sn Be
| ing with the series OF cages ana animals az and
| transferred TO a central cage In the st"u'o w.
| used as models by artists , .iso with Q
! The monkey house has been designed also ", i'm.
| vt.w 10 encouraging animal painting, anu a,sd 10
| mense flying cage already designed II i, e A,pSs
o. "a r,,rnor owl y Marion is president OF w va