Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/171

Rh student and expert, or stimulates him to effort." With reference to the recent expedition to Somali-land, under Mr. Elliot:—"The collection obtained is very valuable, probably the most important, certainly so as regards quadrupeds, ever brought out of any country by one expedition, and consists of about two hundred mammal skins, three hundred of birds, numerous reptiles, and about half a barrel of fish, obtained on the coast and at Aden. Skeletons of every species, in certain cases two or three of the same species, were preserved, and casts of heads and parts of bodies showing the muscles of the large animals were made. These will be beyond price when it is desired to mount the species, exhibiting as they will every muscle, artery, and, in the case of heads, the proper lay of the hair and contour of the face. Besides these we have over three hundred negatives of the people we met, the scenery of the country through which we passed, and the animals, living and dead, which we had obtained. These last will be of as great value to the taxidermists in their work as the casts, and they are both unique assistants, such materials never before having been secured." We also learn that in the museum "the spirit formaline in which the specimens of fishes were preserved failed under the extreme low temperature which the exhibition halls reached at night during the winter, and alcohol has been or is to be substituted in all instances, and the specimens placed upon upright plaster slabs within the jars, thus showing them to better advantage."

" final plans for the location of the buildings, ranges, dens, aviaries, and other enclosures for animals, and the ponds, walks, roadways, entrances, &c, for the Zoological Park in South Bronx Park, New York City, were lately submitted by the New York Zoological Society to the Department of Parks, and approved and adopted by the Park authorities. The Society has raised 65,000 dols. towards the 100,000 dols. necessary to receive from the city an appropriation of 125,000 dols. for laying out the grounds and providing drainage and water supply. The funds provided by the Society—namely, 250,000 dols. to be raised during the three years' limit—are to be applied to the erection of buildings and the purchase of collections. It is a work that may well interest people residing beyond the limits of New York City. The area allotted to the Zoological Park is four times larger than that of the largest zoological garden in Europe, and with the care that has been bestowed upon the plans, in order to secure the best results attainable, there is no reason why this country should not in due time be in possession of the best zoological garden in the world" (The 'Auk').

last year's volume (1897, p. 44) we drew attention to an enumeration of "The Snakes found within fifty miles of New York City." We have