The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18
THE MAN FOR THE PLACE.
Work Of NJ. HOrnaday, Director OF
the New York Geological Park.

the New YORK LOoiORlca1
William T. Hornaday. whose article in
the November Century has aroused general
interest throughout the country in the
New Yo-k geological Park. is at present
making ar extensive Western trip to Seat
tie and Portland. His trip is for the pur-
pose OF making arrangements for securing
specimens of our Western animals, which
are becoming rare or extinct, for the New
York pare. and to provide for their safe
transt, route. as well as for resting
placs midway, where the animals may be
taken from the cars and given proper care
and freedom from confinement until ready
to resume their long journey.
The New York Geological Park has a
herd of fourteen buffalo and room for as
many more which il is important should
be secured as soon as possible on account
OF their rapid extinction. The buffalo range
comprises twenty acres, and one of its
novel features is the studio yard. which
commands fine view OF the corrals, and
is planned especially for the use of artists
and sculptcrs who wish TO make life
studies of these fast departing monarchs
Of the plain.
The prong-horned antelope is another
species of large-hoofed animal fast becom-
ing extinct. but of the disappearance of
which less is generally known than of the
buffalo. The only remaining specimens are
upon this continent. There are several in
the New York park and it is hoped to add
more as result of Mr.. Hornaday's present
trip, although where vast herds of them
formerly dotted the plains only scattered
individuals are now to be found.
Mr. Hornaday believes that the Mime
sofa moose is likely 10 be the next of our
large animals to become extinct The for
mer haunts of the moose are being rapidly
cut into by railroads, and with the destruc-
ton of the forests of the State the moose
are becoming more and more scarce. Mr..
Hornaday makes an earnest plea THAI the
people of Minnesota provide large moose
reserve, where a herd of these animals may
be kept and cared for. The animals would
cost but little, while the New York So
ciety have to pay 500 or $500 for a single
specimen The moose would have natural
environs and would thrive we'll. Two
specimens now kept in the deer pad
dock at Minnehaha Falls, where a very
been formed Mr.. Hornaday stated that
the New York Society would be willing to
pay almost its weight in gold if they could
secure feed that would keep their moose
ir as good condition as those in the Min
neh3ha park. He hopes to secure moose
from Minnesota. and pair of white-taied
deer to be sent to New York by the
Park Board OF Minneapolis. Minnesota i.
10 furnish the resting place for the animals
in transit.
The value OF the animals demanded 70
the New York park is determined largely
by tie length of time that they may rea-
sonaDsy Le expected to live. The dampness
of TIE sea air affects unfavorably the deer
antelope, mountain sheep, mountain goal
and caribou. which are used to the dry at
moSphere OF the plains and mountains and
It Is difficult to keep them in a state of
health To-. more than a single wear Elk
and buffalo seem to become acclilnati
more readily and thrive well. The New
York Zoo Is the proud possesso- of the
only brown bear OF Alaska in any zoolosi
cal collection. and is anxious to add a Cal
iforria grizzly
WheI finished the New York Zooloeica,
Park viii prove the most complete ex-
tensfve and best equipped OF any i'm the
country. One of its distinctive features is
the reptile house, the total length of which
y l4e feet and greatest width 100 feet and
IN witch Is the most complete collection of
living reptiles in the country, and the only
one with the exception of that at PhiladcI-
phia- So great is the interest felt in this
collection by visitors that on Sundays and
holidays a line is formed outside the doors
OF those awaiting admission. Another
UNIQUE feature is the flying cage. con-
structed for the large flying birds such as
egrets. herons and ibises This cage is 152
feet long. - feet wide and 80 feet high 1t
IS the largest cage OF the kind I'm this
country and Is the greatest wonder and
novelty of the park.
The PARK has ideal environs for its ami
mails. which can hardly be said to be i'm
captivity. 50 carefully have their natural
hsiurts and home been reproduced ana so
wide is the range allowed them.
The New York Geological Society has Sc
cure director of unquestioned ability in
Mr.. H0-naday. He Is not only one of the
foremost naturalists OF time and an
expert t2xidermist. but he has had wide
experience in hunting and trapping. an ex-
perience which has given him a practical
kno wedge of the homes and habits of the
animals under his care. He has visited
stranS@ corners of the globe in his search
for rare specimens, having hunted gavials
on the Ganges. tigers in Bengal orang-
outaags in Borneo elephants in India as
Wei as buffalo and other large game in our
own country. He has a sympathetic inter-
est In the personality OF each OF his
charges which enables him TO understand
them and which makes him their friend as
well as their guardian.