Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-25
GROWING WILD ANIMALS.
One Years Progress in New York
Geological Park.

Professor Osborn has recently trans
mittcd to Mayor Low a full statement
Of the progress of the New York Zoolog-
ical Park. Its increasing popularity is
shown by comparative statement of
the attendance for the current year,
the net increase up to September l be-
ing 222,3IS. 1t is now estimated that
the increase for the year will be be-
tween so and so per cent, or close to
500 900 visitors. as compared with 521,-
145 during 1901. The most gratifying
feature was the very marked increase
during the midsummer months of
July and August. showing that the
Park is enjoyed by those who are
obliged to remain in the city during
the summer. There were $4,000 paid
admissions at the gates on the two
closed days of the week. the proceeds
Of which. together with those of the
various privileges of the park. con-
stitute a special fund for the purchase
Of animals. according to the agreement
between the society and the city.
The lion house. the most imposing
building in the park, with the excep-
ton of the proposed elephant house, is
now rapidly nearing completion. and
Mr.. Hornaday. the director of the park.
has been sent by the society on a
special tour through Europe to secure
a supply of lions tigers and leopards
worthy of this noble building. 1t is
over 200 feet in length. and is placed
directly opposite the monkey house.
at the southwest angle of the court.
The exterior is richly ornamented by
a sculptured cornice with the heads of
various members of the cat family.
Over the doorways are still unfinished
pediments representing recumbent
male and female lions. and two senti-
mel lions will be placed on either side
OF the entrances at the ends of the
building. All this sculpture has been
entrusted to Eli Harvey. who has made
special study of the great felines. and
came from Paris for this purpose. The
interior of the building is long. simple
hall. with the cages on the east side.
opening at the back into great outdoor
cages on Baird Court. The lining Of
the interior cages is of Opalite tile. Sc
lected to give the best color background
10 the tawny shades of most of the
larger cats, with a border faience of
desert or jungle design for the lions
and tigers respectively. The new
feature is the entire abolition of iron
bars and the substitution of woven
steel wire. which will obstruct far less
the view of the animals.
The growth of the collections is
most gratifying. Among the man.
mails alone. the number of species rep
resented has increased during the year
} from 40 to 141. and the number o.
specimens has increased from All 10
sl2. These figures will be greatly ex-
banded by the accession of the collec-
tons which the society is now pur-
chasing abroad. The collection and in
stallation of the great apes and mon
keys in the primate house is probably
the finest in the world. 1t now com.
prises three specimens of chimpanzee
one orang-utan and a great variety OF
monkeys and lemurs.
During the year fifty-five mammals
have been donated to the park. includ.
ing thirty three hoofed animals, four
teen carnivores. and eight rodents The
most attractive recent acquisitions are
baby walrus, a baby musk OK, and
some especially fine Eskimo dogs
from the Peary Arctic expedition Ow.
ing to the large ranges and the gener.
ally healthy condition of the animals
the births. especially during the pres.
ent year. have been very numerous:
including fifteen deer of differen,
species and three buffalo heifer calves
which Is exceptional because bull
calves are more frequently produced in
captIv1fy nan heifers. The coyotes