Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 17
The typical Red Fox and its two subspecies, the Cross Fox, (_Vulpes
fulvus decussatus_), and the Black Fox, (_V. f. argentatus_)—the latter
many times miscalled the “Silver Fox”—vary in all possible gradations of
color from bright red to pure black. Often it is difficult to decide
where one type leaves off and another begins. The Cross Fox stands
midway between the Red and Black, with some of the yellow color of the
former on the sides of the neck and behind the foreleg, while the
remainder of the general color is grizzled gray-brown laid across his
shoulders in a more or less distinct cross. The Black Fox varies in
color from very dark iron-gray to dark brown or black, with a slight
wash of white-tipped hairs over the head, body and tail. The tip of the
tail is always white, which is the only constant color mark about him.
The Swift, or Kit Fox, (_Vulpes velox_), is the daintiest, smallest and
liveliest of all American foxes. From his delicate little nose to the
tip of his well-trimmed tail, he is every inch a thoroughbred. His
countenance is bright and pert, and when several specimens are kept
together they are very playful. One striking feature of this little
animal is what may well be termed its trimness. When in fair condition,
its coat of thick, silvery gray fur is as smooth and even as if recently
trimmed by a barber.
[Illustration: SWIFT OR KIT FOX.]
On the western plains, where it once had for companions the buffalo and
prong-horn, the Swift is becoming rare. Its worst enemy is the deadly
strychnine bottle of the ranchman. This species does not thrive in the
Fox Dens, and it will be found in the Burrowing Animal’s Quarters, where
it seems pleased to consider itself at home.
In the Small-Mammal House is shown a new species, closely allied to the
above, from Phoenix, Arizona, recently described by Dr. C. H. Merriam as
_Vulpes macrotis_, or the Large-Eared Swift.
The Gray Fox, (_Urocyon virginianus_), is the fox of the South, even
though it does range northward well into the territory of the red fox.
This species is distinctly smaller and more lightly built than the red,
its hair is not so luxuriant, it is more shy and retiring, and its
colors change very little. When hotly pursued by dogs it often climbs
trees that are quite perpendicular, to a height of twenty feet or more.
In captivity Gray Foxes are forever trying to escape by climbing,
instead of by burrowing, as would naturally be expected. In temper, they
are treacherous to their keepers, and also to each other, and as “pets”
are anything but desirable.
[Illustration: RED FOX.]
The Tasmanian Wolf, or Thylacine, (_Thylacinus cynocephalus_), is a very
strange-looking and interesting creature, about the size of a pointer
dog. Its color is dark yellowish brown, and it has a series of broad
black stripes, or bands, running across its hind quarters and loins. The
wide gape of its mouth reminds one of an iguana or a monitor.
This animal, fully named above, is the largest of the carnivorous
marsupials of Australia, and the female possesses an abdominal pouch in
which she carries her young, like a kangaroo. It is now found only in
Tasmania, and it dwells amongst rocks, in rugged and mountainous
regions. Because of its depredations upon the sheep herds, the Thylacine
has been diligently hunted and destroyed, and now living specimens
rarely are taken.
In the zoological gardens of Europe and America, this species usually is
kept in heated buildings, but it has been ascertained by experiment that
this specimen thrives best in the open air. Living examples in captivity
are now so very rare it is a difficult matter to keep one constantly on
exhibition.
THE OTTER POOLS, No. 31.
The American Otter, (_Lutra canadensis_), is unfortunate in being the
bearer of valuable fur; and in the northern regions, where the cold
causes the development of fur that is available for the use of the
furrier, this creature is so nearly extinct that trappers no longer
pursue it. In the southern States, where its fur is short, rather coarse
and “off color,” the Otter still is found. In some portions of eastern
Florida, and along the coast of South Carolina, it is frequently taken.
In captivity, it often becomes quite tame, even affectionate, and always
is interesting. Unless closely confined, however, it is prone to wander,
and meet premature death.
In captivity the Otter usually is active and restless, and very much in
evidence. Owing to the strength of its jaws, its ability to climb under
certain conditions and its restless activity, it is difficult to confine
a full-grown Otter in anything else than a complete box of iron
cage-work.
Few persons save woodsmen and naturalists are aware of the fact that in
a wild state the Otter is a very playful animal, and is as fond of
sliding down hill, over a wet and muddy slide, with a water plunge at
the bottom, as any young person is of “shooting the chutes.” Like the
small boy with the sled and a snowy hillside, the Otter sometimes
indulges in its sliding pastime for an hour at a time, with a keen
relish for the sport that is quite evident to all who have ever watched
it.
The Otter is a carnivorous animal, and in a wild state lives upon fish,
frogs, crabs, young birds, small mammals, and, in fact, about any living
thing which it can catch.
The Coypu Rat, (_Myopotamus coypu_), of Central and South America, is
interesting because of the fact that it is the largest of all rats or
rat-like animals. In its habits it is as fond of water as the musk-rat.
It is sufficiently clothed with fur to endure outdoor life in the Park,
even in winter, and it has been acclimatized here in one of the other
pools. It breeds persistently, and thrives in captivity, provided it is
treated as it should be.
THE SMALL-MAMMAL HOUSE, No. 35.
The new Small-Mammal House, erected and occupied in 1905, is a very
different structure from the temporary building which formerly occupied
the site. The present building is a twin of the Ostrich House, and in it
much effort has been expended in devising ways and means to keep its
living inhabitants clean, odorless and in good health. Owing, however,
to the musky odors secreted by many of the civet cats and members of the
Marten Family, it is beyond human power to keep a large collection such
as this building contains without a certain amount of wild-animal odor.
Most difficult of all collections to settle satisfactorily in a modern
zoological park or garden is the great _omnium gatherum_ of small
species—and some large ones, also—which fall within the meaning of the
term “small mammals.” The number of mammalian miscellanea which can not
have buildings all their own is really very great. In addition to that
there are always with us a considerable number of young and tender
animals which require small quarters, and close attention. The visitor
will therefore always find in the Small-Mammal House a great array of
viverrine animals, of tropical squirrels and other small rodents, of
mustelines, the nasuas, the small marsupials, young leopards, the lynxes
and their relatives, baby bears, and many other species.
Attention is invited to the great variety of cages in and around this
building, of which there are five different types. The total number is
176. All those on the western side are adjustable as to their bottoms
and sides, so that it is easy to throw several cages into one, and make
cages either very long or very high. The idea of the collapsible cage,
and also the general plan of it, has been copied from the model
developed and in use in the Zoological Garden of Frankfort, Germany, by
Director A. Seitz, to whom this acknowledgment is justly due. It will be
noticed that every animal in this building enjoys the use of an outdoor
cage, which connects directly with its interior quarters.
Of such an odd mixture of animals as we are now to consider, anything
like a perfect systematic zoological arrangement is a practical
impossibility; but as far as it is possible, we will take up the animals
by groups.
On the whole, the most striking animals in the Small-Mammal House are
the small cats and lynxes. Of the spotted cats, the Serval, (_Felis
serval_), of Africa, is one of the rarest. Its long, slender legs, small
head, slender body and round spots proclaim it a near relative of the
cheetah.
The Clouded Leopard, (_Felis nebulosa_).—The dense and humid jungles of
Borneo contain a beautiful tree-climbing leopard whose markings are laid
on its sides in large, elliptical patches of pleasing pattern. This is
the Clouded Leopard, so delicate in captivity that only one out of every
four or five becomes acclimatized outside its native jungles. Our fine
adult specimen, with very long canine teeth suggestive of those of the
saber-toothed tiger, really belongs in the Lion House, but we dare not
move it, for fear the change would in some manner prove fatal to it. It
is an animal of vicious temper, and makes friends with no one. The half
light of its cage is a welcome approach to the dense shadows in which it
lives when at home.
[Illustration: OCELOT.]
The Jungle Cat, (_F. bengalensis_), is a small and inconspicuous type,
as befits an animal which lives by stealth in densely populated regions.
The Ocelot, (_Felis pardalis_), of South and Central America, is a small
spotted cat which very often is called a “young jaguar.” In size it is
the third largest _Felis_ of the American continent; but for all that,
it is so small that an adult specimen would not make more than one
square meal for a hungry jaguar. It is found from southern Texas to
southern Brazil.
The little Margay Cat, (_F. tigrina_), is our smallest and also rarest
spotted cat. It is no larger than a good-sized domestic cat, and its
tawny ground-color is marked all over with round spots. The rarest
American feline in our possession is the queer, otter-like Yaguarundi
Cat, (_F. yaguarundi_), of a uniform gray-brown color, without spots. It
is found in southern Texas and Mexico, and is so seldom seen in
captivity that comparatively few persons north of the Rio Grande are
aware of its existence. Our specimen came from Brownsville, Texas.
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