Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth EditionHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
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Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth Edition
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
New York Zoological Park
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.
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