The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
At 7HE INV "ZOO."
Some Animals Already on Exhibition
though {, q Opening Dny I. Nov. y.

The New York Geological Park will no, bc
formally opened 10 the public until abost Nov.
3. but Sunday pleasure seekers will do well To
keep South Bronx Park, the location u the 200.
in mind In planning their trips as a more delight,
full resort or inexpensive outing cannot b. had
in oil New York. The grounds. 26i acres of which
are reserved Ia the purposes If the "IOo" are
open Ia the public at all times and may b. reached
by trains from the Grand Central STATEN to Ire
mont on the Harlem branch. and thence by cab
or trolley car 10 West Farms Elevated trains
and trolley cars carry une 10 the zane point for
considerably less fare.
The character u many Of the exhibits has
made II necessary TO place them on the ranges
and in the open air enclosures and dens at once,
and upward Of 20. 900 visitors awaited them
solves Of the opportunity to inspcc, them on n
recent Sunday These exhibits include buHnlOes,
elk, caribou antelope prairie dogs. wolves bears,
and sca lions. They are but a very small per.
cen'nge 81 the specimens already on hand. but the
others nr, housed in various places at present
inaccessible 10 the public
The bufalocs were brought TO New York by
Buffalo" Jones, man about so years old, who
began earning his title in early life by doing his
full share in Iilling oil the immense herds which
rnam~i the Western plains, but took 10 captuI
ing and breeding them as soon hs he real.
I'D how rapidly they were becoming extinct
a plan Il representing the geographical distr.
button Of animals came from oklahoma and
1cNhs.
Among the bars in the collection are two grir
Fly cubs from Alaska. They represent the entire
profits u tho Ia the gold heldS by Alexander
| Haas. who secured them near Cooks Inlet after
an unsucceSsiai search ior gold They were
purchased by Mr. ". ". Nilas Tor the Zoo aud
neu'd ,hc miner $3.50 Haas caught them last
They now weigh ninety pounds The Alaska
sriLlcs have the reputation 81 beng The largest
nnd as!c ,s Of he sEsc,ss and hreC,GI Hcrn"day
| their way into n Geological collection.
The prairie dog village is already well cstah
Of The an,ci"pr range Bed rock a, depth from
/ " feet makes the inclosure proof against the
hurrowirg powers 81 the little animals, without
disturbing the original soil except Tor the
| strnctun II q surrounding wall resting on the
| rock An attempt thus far successful has been
t,lopc range They have established their homes
! and seem to be ~ completely satisfied with their
surroundings that they have mndc no attempt 4,
seek other quarters. although there Is nothing u
/ prevent their escape. When placed in the range
they were imprisoned by n close ncshcsi wire
fence rs soon as they had constructed Their
/ underground homes this fence removed and
they are nov as absolutely free as they we're IN
, their own prairie homes, Attempts will he made
! with like freedom. The elk came from George j
Gonld's preserve in the Caiskills ard are the pick
Z of the herd
! work in the reptile house which is one ri the
finest buildings IN the park. is bring pushed ra p
idly forward Many specimens are already
housed there and others are being placed rapidly
as the cages can be prepared for them. This docs
not mean the preparation and placing 81 mere
prisons for the specimens. for each cage Is fur
nishrd and decorated With plants. tree branches.
shrubs and the like. with scientific regard To the
natural surroundings and tastes Of the respective
F inhabitants l lie results are surprisingly a-tS.
tie and beautiful Al the west end Of The house
/ ~ a conservatory. q yentable Jungle of tropical
! g,owths of pa ms, ferns orchids and their near
/ relatives 81 the vegetable kingdom Therein
| is n large collection Of ratteSnakes and copper
heads, The largest and most vicious Of the rattle
snakes spends most az his time sounding the pierc
ing note ~ warning Il his kind, although In
! consideration oi his temper his cage is heavily
hlnnketed al present In shut out the sight and
sounds " the workmcn 10 whom he objects -Four
large alligators inhaht the pool IN front Of the
conservatory and in the centre ~ the house a.,
pools Cor both marine and flesh waite; turtles
Some ave hundred reptiles and batrachia hav,
zen secured and are awaiting the completion 81
their future homes In the reptile house
Neatly every department w the animal inc
! dom will he we'll represented on opening day
although Mr. llnrnatav qualities the Statemcn
by saving fairly welt" and adds that the wnrL
~ making ~" collections will have then only
hrcn wei l~yun