Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
MUSK OK AND
ALASKAN BEAR.
Two Interesting New Animals Mt the
New York Zoo.
(Walter l.. Beasley in Scientific


(Walter L. Beasley in Scientific
American.)
Through the efforts Of Director ".
T. 1ornaday OF the New York Zoolo-
gical society. New York has acquired
two most interesting new animals
one baby musk OK. and the other
giant Alaskan brown bear.
Although the musk OK is typical
polar animal. this is lerhaps the only
specimen to be found in captivity
Whether our climate will so far at
feet the animals health that 1t will
perish. remains to be seen. This par
ticular specimen was captured on
Melville island. 5000 miles from the
zoo. Tho price paid was 500. The
animal is about six months old and
In splendid physical condition. The
entire body is covered with a dense
mass Of brown wool. Across the fore
head Is a broat band OF white. and on
the hack light gray saddle mark A
thick mass OF wool hides the short
bonth. In time these horns will grow
until they meet at the center OF the
forehead. When fully grown the
whole top CT the head will be covered
by pair of horns considerably fiat
tened at the base, meeting in the
| center OF the forehead, thence sweeping
downward over the edge of the Uranium,
| close to the cheeks. and finally recurring
upward before coming to point. The
animal mentioned Is about three feet
long. nearly z 10 feet In height is about
half-grown. Weighing 1870 pounds. A full
size adult male stands four feet Ave in
ches high at the shoulders and is six
feet seven inches in length. weighing
about 1900 pounds. The species has been
! named by r. Lydekker OF the British
| museum, ovibos moschatus wardi, in
honor OF Rowland Ward. the natural his
tory dealer Of Piccadilly. London. from
two types OF mounted male and female
from East Greenland, In his possession
The other form CT species OF musk OK,
ovlbos moschatus, Is confined mainly to
the Arctic barren ground regions east of
the Mackenzie river. and formerly thought
to have had continuous distribution
westward across Alaska.
or tho $3.50 living animals in the New
York Geological park. one of the most
remarkable Is the great Alaskan brown
bear Ivan. This colossal animal be-
| longs to the species ursus dalligyas Mer-
| riam, and was captured at Moeller bay,
| Alaska peninsula.
The writer was able to obtain a very
striking picture of the giant Ivan, stand
| ing seven feet in the air with uplfted
front paw. by venturing inside the in
closure with an attendant. tempting
FISH coaxed the big animal to assume an
upright pose. Ivan recently gave prac-
| tical exhibition Of his astonishing strength
and vigo- by tearing out a panel OF the
heavy steel bars that separate his quart
ers from those adjoining and engaging
in fierce battle with hated rival In
| 10 minutes the monster bear wrenched
and trampled down the barrcadc of steel
| bars as II they had been made OF reeds.
| II would have taken six men an hour
with block and tackle sledge hammers,
etc. to have accomplished such a dam
age. The enraged giant fought with the
anita gonist until finally dubbed off by
the keepers. 1van's long shining and
| shaggy brown coat converted into a rug
would be worth nearly $1,000 Ivan Is one
| of the few living examples of the fast
| disappearing species OF the giant brown
| bears OF America in captivity, a species
| especially interesting as possessing some
very extraordinary intelligent habits. In
his distant Alaskan home Ivan practised
salmon begin to enter the streams IN
| the art of salmon fishing, As soon as the
July, from the sea, big brown bears OF
his species mako fishing their chief bus.
| mess. Both the old male and female
hsh for salmon In order to furnish a plen.
tful supply to satisfy their own enor-
nous appetites and those OF their young
The cubs do not attempt to fish, but stay
on the land and receive contribution
tossed up by one of tho parents. The
she-bear stands upright, and wades ir
water even up to her neck. going very
slowly with the current, watching tho
water. and scarcely making ripple ir
1t. She holds her arms down al her
sides with hands or paws spread. and
when she feels a salmon coming ur
against her, quickly clutches It with her
paws. and throws It out on tho bank IA
| the expectant cubs. After supplying the
cubs she tosses up pile for herself
The last FISH she puts in her mouth, and
goes ashore ta sn1ay bar tAsst