Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 13

Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 13

The Jaguar is a stocky, heavily-built animal, with a massive head and

powerful forearm. It is a good climber, and many wonderful stories of

its strength have been told and printed. Among leopards of all kinds it

can always be identified by the great size of the black rosettes on its

body, as well as by its heavy build.

 

The splendid male specimen, named “Senor Lopez,” in honor of a former

President of Paraguay, was the first to arrive for the new Lion House.

It was captured in August, 1901, in the wilds of central Paraguay,

expressly for us, through the efforts of Mr. William Mill Butler, of

Philadelphia, and by him presented to the Zoological Park. After a long

journey in small river craft, in a flimsy wooden cage that several times

came near collapsing, the animal reached Asuncion, was taken to

Liverpool by Mr. Butler, and finally reached New York.

 

The Leopard, (_Felis pardus_), is fourth in size from the lion, and is

distinguished from the jaguar by smaller spots and less powerful form.

It inhabits both Asia and Africa, from Japan to Cape Colony. While the

species is regarded as the same throughout that vast extent of

territory, it is undoubtedly true that the Leopards of Africa have

smaller spots and more intense coloring than those of Asia. The maximum

size for this species is a total length of 8 feet, which is attained

only by a very large animal, with a long tail.

 

Naturally, the Leopard preys upon smaller animals than those most sought

by the lion and tiger. It prefers small antelopes, and young animals

generally, goats and sheep. When pursued, it is very skilful in hiding,

and will shelter in brushy cover until fairly beaten out.

 

The Black Leopard is the most ill-tempered of all feline

animals—perpetually snarling and growling, and seeking to do some one an

injury. Naturalists regard it as of the same species as the common

leopard, (_Felis pardus_), despite the fact that it is found only in

southeastern Asia, and both in appearance and disposition is totally

different from the typical _pardus_. With but few exceptions, the

world’s supply of Black Leopards comes from Singapore.

 

The Cheetah, or Hunting Leopard, (_Cynaelurus jubatus_), is marked by

its long legs, slender body, small head, small spots, and claws that are

only partially retractile. Its structure suggests that of the dogs. It

is distributed very irregularly through portions of Africa and southern

Asia, and is by no means a common animal like the leopard and tiger.

 

In central India, this animal is trained to hunt the sasin antelope, a

form of sport indulged in chiefly by native rajahs. The Cheetah takes

kindly to captivity, and permits handling to an extent quite unknown

with other large felines. Its keepers place the animal upon an open

cart, blindfold it, and then drive to within 200 yards of a herd of

antelope. At the point of nearest possible approach, the hood is

removed, and the animal is set free. Leaping to the ground, the Cheetah

stalks the herd of antelope as closely as possible, then makes a sudden

rush forward, and endeavors to seize a victim. If successful, the animal

is pulled down and killed. If not, the Cheetah sullenly retires, and

again places itself in the hands of its friends.

 

The Snow Leopard, or Ounce, (_Felis uncia_), is the rarest, and also one

of the most beautiful of all the large felines. It inhabits the high

plateau of central Asia from the Himalayas to the Altai Mountains of

Mongolia, above 9,000 feet. It is the neighbor of the Marco Polo sheep,

the giant-horned argali, and the Siberian ibex. In its home country,

this creature is sufficiently numerous that 2,000 tanned skins sometimes

reach Shanghai in a single year, but owing to its great distance from

railways and sea, not more than fifteen or twenty specimens have reached

the zoological gardens of Europe and America. Some individuals are

good-natured and playful, but others are morose.

 

The Puma, or Mountain Lion, (_Felis concolor_), is the most widely-known

feline in North America. At present it is at home in Florida, Montana,

Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, and all the states westward thereof. Southward

it inhabits Mexico and Central America, and ranges through South America

quite down to southern Patagonia. It attains its maximum size (8 feet in

length, weight 225 pounds) in Colorado, where it appears to be more

numerous than in any other state. In Routt County it is hunted very

successfully with dogs. When pursued, it is compelled to take refuge in

a low tree, in which it can be photographed or shot without danger.

 

Despite the numerous thrilling stories that have been written and

published about the dangerous doings of this animal, it is by no means

really dangerous to man. No Puma holding an option on a safe line of

retreat ever stops to fight a man.

 

The Puma was formed for agility rather than strength. It swims well, and

it is the most agile climber of all the large felines. The head of this

animal is particularly beautiful, and its temper in captivity is

entirely satisfactory. The first specimen of this species to enter the

Zoological Park came from Peru, as a gift from Mr. Joseph P. Grace, and

during the years 1901 and 1902 it lived out doors, constantly, in the

Puma House (No. 33A), where its health was excellent.

 

 

THE SEA-LIONS, No. 12.

 

Of all animals which find permanent homes in zoological gardens and

parks, very few afford the public more constant entertainment than

Sea-Lions. They are delightfully active, and in one way or

another—diving, swimming, climbing or hopping about—are nearly always

“showing off.” No one within a quarter of a mile of their pool need

inquire where they are, for their loud and cheerful “Hook! hook! hook,”

is heard far and wide, and draws visitors like a magnet.

 

The Sea-Lion Pool is situated about in the center of Baird Court.

 

The California Sea-Lion, or “Barking Sea-Lion,” (_Zalophus

californianus_), is the species most easily caught alive, and the one

usually seen in captivity. Its home is the coast of California, but it

is said to enter the Sacramento River and travel upward for a

considerable distance in pursuit of spawning salmon. Comparatively few

Sea-Lions are now found on the mainland coast of California. On the

United States Light-House reservations their slaughter is prohibited by

the Light-House Board.

 

The California Sea-Lion is very similar in size, and, leaving the old

males out of consideration, it is almost the exact counterpart in form

of that apple of perpetual international discord—the Alaskan “fur seal.”

The unfortunate fact that the latter animal has become known as a

“seal,” has caused much confusion in people’s minds regarding the

classification of pinnipeds (fin-footed animals) generally. For this

reason, it is proper to observe at this point that:

 

_Sea-Lions_ have flat, triangular, naked front flippers, without claws;

they have long necks, and carry their heads high. There are nine

species, of which the so-called “fur seal” is one.

 

_Seals_ always have short and stubby front flippers, which are covered

with hair, and provided with claws. In most species the hair is coarse

and valueless. The seal has a very short neck and by reason of the

weakness of its front flippers, it is not nearly so active nor so

interesting as the sea-lion.

 

[Illustration: ATLANTIC WALRUS.]

 

The Atlantic Walrus inhabits the arctic regions between America and

Europe, and it is estimated that not more than ten specimens ever have

been exhibited in captivity. Because of their unusual feeding habits,

Walruses are very difficult to keep alive. Their standard food is clams;

and frequently clams are very difficult to obtain. The Atlantic Walrus

grows to great size, probably exceeding 4,000 pounds in weight. The

specimen exhibited in the rocky pool near the Reptile House was

presented by Mr. Paul J. Rainey, in 1911, and has thriven continuously

ever since its arrival. It was captured in Kane Basin, north of Baffin’s

Bay.

 

The Harbor Seal, (_Phoca vitulina_), is the species common along our

Atlantic coast, and since it serves so well as a type of hair seals, or

true seals, it will occasionally be shown in the Park. In comparison

with the active and vivacious sea-lion, it is a tame and rather

uninteresting creature; but neither has any commercial value, save for

the purposes of exhibition when alive.

 

 

THE PRIMATE HOUSE, No. 17.

 

The Primates are the four-handed animals belonging to the zoological

order called by that name, which includes man, the anthropoid apes both

great and small, the baboons, monkeys and lemurs. The word “monkey” is

by no means sufficiently comprehensive to embrace all these forms. Were

it otherwise, this building would be called, officially, the Monkey

House.

 

The Primates include the creatures which stand nearest to man in the

zoological scale, and in interest to all classes of humanity they stand

above all others. There is no intelligent person, civilized or savage,

to whom the humanlikeness of apes and monkeys does not appeal. On the

other hand, some of the baboons are in feature and temper so thoroughly

beast-like, their diabolism is almost as fascinating as the man-like

character of the great apes. The variety of forms in the Order Primates,

and the wide differences between the various groups, imperatively

demand, for the proper representation of this Order, a large collection.

 

The Primate House was erected in 1901, at a cost of $65,000, and opened

to the public on December 22d, of that year. It is 162 feet in length,

74 feet in width, contains 16 large interior cages, 22 small cages, and

11 exterior cages, two of which are of great size. The points of special

excellence in this building are as follows: An abundance of room for the

animals, an abundance of sunlight, perfect ventilation, an extensive

series of open-air cages, freedom of communication between outside and

inside cages, floors and walls impervious to moisture and disease germs,

and the absence of iron bars from all cages save three.

 

During the months of mild weather, all the inmates of the large interior

cages occupy, at will, corresponding cages in the outdoor series. It is

also intended that certain hardy species of baboons, and the red-faced

monkey of Japan, shall be provided with comfortable sleeping quarters

and live outdoors, every winter. It is believed that they can do this,

not only with comfort, but with great physical benefit.

 

For general convenience, and the promotion of a universal understanding

of the primates, we propose to set them forth in four groups, a

subdivision strictly according to Nature, readily comprehended, and

easily remembered They are as follows, with typical examples of each:

 

I. Anthropoid Apes.

 

Chimpanzee _Anthropopithecus calvus_ of Africa.

Orang-Utan _Simia satyrus_ “ Borneo.

Gray Gibbon _Hylobates leuciscus_ “ “