1 880.] ON THE DURATION OF LIFE IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 299 

Fig. 3. The same, X4. Showing the sac filled with spermatic coil. 

4. Sperm atoph ores as seen lying within the spermatheca of A. gigas, x8. 

5. The cervicorn processes of the capreolus of A. gigas , var. minor , X 20. 

G. Junction of the spermatheca and oviduct in A . gigas , X4. 

7. The amatory organ or dart-sac, cut open, exposing the dart, much en- 

larged. 

8. Generative organs of A. gigas. var. minor, nat. size. 

Plate XXYII. 

Fig. 1. Animal of Girasia brunnea, Goci w.-A ust., from nature, nat. size. 

2. Spirit-specimen, G. hooJceri , Gray. View of right side, nat. size, 

3. The same. View of left side, nat. size. X points where muscles are 

attached intern ally. 

4. Mantle showing lobes, respiratory and anal orifices, enlarged. 

5. Portion of the foot, showing segmentation, of G. shiliongensis . 

G. Generative organs of G. shiliongensis , G.-A., nat. size. 

7. The ovo-testes and hermaphrodite duct to the albumen gland in G . 
brunnea , X4. 

7 a. Ovo-testis under higher power. 

S. The capreolus or spermatophore of G. shiliongensis, X 4. 

S a. One of its braneh-like processes broken off, X 20. 

8 b. Terminal point, XoO. 

9. Jaw of A. gigas , var. minor , xS. 

10. Teeth of the odontophore in same species, X340. C= central; il/= r 
median ; L= lateral. 


2. On the Duration of Life of the Animals in the Zoological 
Garden at Frankfort-on-tlie-Main. By Direetor Dr. 
Max Schmidt. 


[Received March IS, 1880.] 

He who has occupied himself with the rearing and keeping of ani- 
mals, is well aware of the care and attention that are needful to succeed, 
and that, in spite of the greatest pains, he is not always free from 
failure. The director of a zoological garden has more occasion than 
other persons to make this experience. His wards, so manifold 
in shape, constitution, and disposition, require every moment his 
circumspection, precaution, and perseverance. Again and again he 
is compelled to devise new means of relief and expedients to pre- 
serve the feeble health and the so-easily-destroyed life of the poor 
creatures that come to his hands, often heavily damaged by con- 
veyance. Many a time he would be happy to avail himself of the 
experience of others; but he misses sadly all literary resources; 
for although, in the course of the last 20 years, zoological gardens 
of considerable account have been established in different parts of 
the continent, subsidiary books and periodicals, containing com- 
munications about particulars of importance for the keeping and 
management of animals, are very scarce. 

The Zoological Society in Frankfort-on-the-Main early conceived 
the importance of such publications, and for this purpose founded the 
professional newspaper the ‘ Zoological Garden, 5 which has arrived at 


300 DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THU DURATION OF [Apr. 20 , 

its twenty-first anniversary. In this Journal I have recorded niv 
observations, and not only those referring to the living animal, hut 
at the same time those respecting the symptoms of disease previous 
to death, and the anatomical results of the autopsy. 

On the keeping of birds there exists a comparatively rich literature ; 
and special periodicals treat of this matter. 

Now it would be of great use if the age the different animals are 
able to arrive at could be ascertained : and in order to contribute my 
share of experience, I added my own knowledge to the few notices I 
could find in literature, and published them two years ago. 

I note with satisfaction that my example has been followed by 
the Zoological Garden of Hamburg. 

For farther completing these statistics I have drawn up the following 
two summaries. The first contains the duration of life of the dif- 
ferent animals in our garden, as far as it could be ascertained, while 
the second expresses the average amount of life-time of the indi- 
vidual specimens of the different classes of Mammals and Birds. 

In reference to the first, I have to add that the record has been 
continued up to the 31st of December, 18/9, and states how long 
the still living animals have been in our garden. It is evident that 
the numbers denote the real age only of those animals that were born 
there, while to that of the others the time they have lived before 
coming to our hands must be added. This difference cannot be 
estimated as very great, as the animals are generally acquired in 
their youth. 

Of course it is impossible to point out the age of every single 
specimen we have ever possessed, but only such numbers have been 
chosen as are sufficient to show distinctly how long such an animal 
is at all able to live. No notice has been taken of exceedingly short 
periods of existences, as it must be presumed that adverse circum- 
stances were the cause of them. Wherever it was feasible the time 
of life has been given strictly to a day. In other cases only the 
number of years is recorded ; and there can be, at the utmost, a 
difference of but a few months, more or less. 

Out of a greater number of statements concerning the same class, 
only those have been selected that show the principal variations of 
length of life. The numbers relating to animals that were still 
living on the 31st of December 1879 are marked with asterisks (*). 

The time of observation has not in all cases proved long enough for 
definite statements — some of the animals having been in our keeping 
only for a short time, while others that have lived in our Garden 
from its beginning are still enjoying life and health, and promise 
to live on for some time longer. 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


301 


Karnes of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 
mative. i 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

MAMMALIA. 


| 



Quadrumana. 





Chimpanzee ( AnthropopitJiecus troglo- 

• • • • 

5 

2 

dytes ). 


5 

28 


1 

5 

20 

Orang-Outang (Simla satyrus) 

.... 

3 

4 



*i 

10 

4 

Grivet Monkey (Cercopithecus griseo- 


l 

11 

3 

viridis ). 





Patas Monkey ( Cercopithecus ruber) . . 


l 

0 

5 



i 

0 

27 



2 

1 

20 



1 o 

2 

20 

Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mono) . . 


1 

9 

5 




3 

21 



l 

7 

11 

White-collared Mangabev ( Cercocebus 


2 

1 

13 

collaris). 


3 

o' 

27 



! 3 

7 

29 



1 

0 

25 

Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus fitliginosus) 


7 

2 

11 



2 

3 

11 


1 

2 

10 



*1 

G 

7 

Bonnet-Monkey (Macacus radiatus) . . 

1 

*0 

G 

13 



*5 

G 

17 



*5 

3 

19 



| *1 

7 

12 




S 

23 



1 

3 

15 

Macaque Monkey {Macacus cynomolgus) 

I 

13 

9 

1G 



12 

7 

14 



3 

11 

5 


1 

4 

3 

6 


302 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apl’. 20, 


Names of the animals. 

I 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


year3. 

1 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Fig-tailed Monkey ( Macacus nemestri- 

.... 

l 

5 

10 

nus). 


2 

5 

5 

Rhesus Monkey ( Macacus erythreeus) 

.... 

5 

11 

18 



3 

5 

27 



4 

4 

25 

Wanderoo Monkey (Macacus silenus). . 

— 

8 

10 

27 

Ashy-black Macaque 


1 

3 

29 



1 

6 

19 

Bavbary Ape (Macacus inuus) 

.... 

3 

4 

5 

Black Ape (Cynopithecus niger) 

.... | 

1 

0 

22 



1 

2 

23 



3 

6 

6 

Arabian Baboon (Cynocephalus hama- 


13 

8 

22 

dryad). 





Anubis Baboon (Cynocephalus anubis) 

.... 

13 

5 

17 



4 

9 

18 

Yellow Baboon (Cynocephalus babuin) 

.... 

*9 

7 

16 

Guinea Baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx) 

.... 

*16 

7 

0 

Drill (Cynocephalus leucophceus) .... 

• • • ♦ 

14 

0 

19 



3 

10 

11 



3 

10 

17 

Blaek-taeed Spider Monkey (Aides a ter) 

.... | 

1 

9 

12 

1 Blaek-fronted Spider Monkey (Eriodes 


3 

5 

16 

fvontatus ) . 


*1 

3 

2 

Capuehin (Cebus capuchins) 

7, 10, 

4 

11 

22 


or 1 1 

4 

0 

7 



5 

3 

4 



6 

4 

16 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


303 


Names of tlie animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

| days. 

Three-banded Douroucouli (Nyctipi- 

.... 

3 

0 

2 

thecus trivirgatus ). 





Squirrel Monkey ( Chrysothrix sciurea ) 

.... 

*1 

3 

23 

Common Marmoset ( Hapale jacchus ) 

.... 

1 

1 

21 

Ruffed Lemur ( Lemur varius ) 

.... 

*3 

7 

6 

Mongoose Lemur ( Lemur mongoz) 

f § f f 

1 

3 

4 



3 

10 

1 

Black-headed Lemur (Lemur brunneus ) 

• • • • 

3 

11 

25 



4 

0 

26 

White-fronted Lemur ( Lemur albifrons ) 

— 

*2 

l 

26 

Red-bearded Lemur (Lemur xantho- 

. . . 

*4 

3 

21 

mystax). 





Galago ( Otolicnus senegalensis ) 

.... 

*2 

2 

8 

Chiroptera. 





Indian Fruit-Bat (Pteropus medius ) . . 

— 

1 

6 

5 

Carnivora. 





Lion ( Fells led) 

.... 

*10 

1 

7 



8 

4 

27 

Tiger (Felis tigris) 

.... 

*8 

0 

4 

Leopard (Felis pardus) 

• • • . 

11 

4 

29 



4 

5 

26 



5 

3 

26 

Angora Cat 

.... 

8 

3 

9 



8 

7 

23 

Striped Hyaena (Hycena striata) 

— 

*7 

9 

9 


Proc. Zool. Soc. — 1880, No. XX. 20 



.'304 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 1 
mative. | 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Common Genet ( Genetta vulgaris). . . . 

.... 

4 

n 

12 

Common Paradoxure ( Paradoxurus 

.... 

4 

4 

3 

typus). 





Egyptian Ichneumon (Herpestes ich- 

.... 

3 

5 

3 

neumon). 





Common Wolf {Cams lupus) 

.... 

12 

2 

27 

Common Badger (Meles taxus) 

.... 

2 

11 

9 

Common Otter ( Lutra vulgaris) 

.... 

*5 

2 

10 



*4 

8 

8 



8 

5 

23 

Raccoon {Procyon lotor) 


4 

11 

27 



5 

4 

29 

White-nosed Coati {Nasua narica) .... 

5 




Polar Bear {TJrsus maritimus) 

.... 

18 

0 

1 

Brown Bear {Ursus arctos) 


*21 

4 

25 



*16 

3 

25 

Syrian Bear ( Ursus syriacus) 


7 

0 

18 



7 

8 

7 

Common Seal ( Phoca vitulina) 

— 

2 

5 

2 

Rodentia. 





Common Squirrel {Sciurus vulgaris) . . 

.... 

5 

4 

3 

Grey Squirrel {Sciurus cinereus) 

.... 

*5 

9 

10 



3 

6 

23 

Hudson’s-Bay Squirrel {Sciurus hudso- 

H 

4 

3 

2 

nias). 

1 





1880.] 


LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


305 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Vulpine Squirrel (Sciurus vulpinus ) . . 

.... 

2 

2 

10 
1 1 

13 

IS 



5 

2 

1 

Red-bellied Squirrel (Sciurus variegatus) 

.... 

3 

4 

29 

American Flying Squirrel ( Sciaropterus 

.... 

1 

1 

21 

volucella). 





Japanese Flying Squirrel ( Pteromys 


*4 

1 

8 

momoga ) . 





Chipping Squirrel (Tamias striatus ) . . 

4 




European Souslik ( Spermophilus citillus ) 

.... 

3 

0 

21 

Alpine Marmot ( Arctomys marmotta) . . 

7 

3 

6 

13 



6 

8 

18 



*6 

9 

20 



7 

5 

12 

European Beaver (Castor fiber) 

.... 

*6 

1 

28 

Crested Porcupine ( Hystrix cristata) . . 

.... 

6 

5 

8 

Agouti ( Basyprocta aguti) 

8 




Marsupialia. 





Bennett’s Wallaby (Ilahnaturus ben - 

4 

*5 

3 

15 

netti ). 





Rat-Kangaroo (Hypsiprymnns murinus ) 

6-7 




Rabbit-eared Perameles ( Perameles 


4 

0 

22 

lagotis )♦ 


7 

2 

0 

Common Wombat ( Phascolomys wombat) 

.... 

15 

9 

14 

Edentata. 





Two-toed Sloth ( Cholopus didactylus ) . . 

.... 

4 

5 

29 


20 * 



306 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DERATION OF [Apr. 20, 


Names of the animals. 


EqUIDjE. 

Burchell’s Zebra ( Equus burchellii) . . 


Equus caballus nanus from Iceland . . . . 
Pachydermata. 

Indian Elephant ( Elephas indicus ) . . . . 
African Elephant ( Elephas africanus) 
Wild Swine ( Sus scrofa) 


Masked Pig ( Sus pliciceps) 

Ruminantia. 

Common Camel ( Camelus dromedarius) 
Bactrian Camel ( Camelus bactrianus ) . . 

Llama ( Lama peruana) 

Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) 

Indian Muntjac ( Cervulus muntjac ) 
Fallow Deer ( Cervus dama) 


Red Deer ( Cervus elaphus) 


Duration of life. 


Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 

years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 


13 

16 

0 


*15 

7 

19 


*9 

7 

21 


*6 

8 

22 


*12 

6 

23 


*10 

6 

5 

.... 

*16 

6 

0 

.... 

*5 

4 

4 


9 

0 

13 


4 

10 

5 


5 

6 

7 


6 

9 

26 

.... 

16 

5 

12 

.... 

15 

9 

19 

10 

7 

2 

5 

5-6 

*4 

3 

0 



4 

2 

22 


*15 

6 

14 


*11 

6 

6 


*11 

5 

28 


*8 

6 

24 


*6 

5 

3 


14 

10 

10 


13 

0 

0 

12 

11 

8 

15 



1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


307 


Names of tlie animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Wapiti Deer ( Cervus canadensis ) 

.... 

10 

8 

0 



*7 

5 

2 



*5 

6 

24 

Sambur Deer ( Cervus aristotelis ) .... 

— 

17 

1 

25 

Hog Dear ( Cervus porcznus ) 

10-11 

7 

3 

7 



*5 

8 

12 

Axis Deer ( Cervus axis) 


10 

0 

1 

Alpine Chamois ( Rupicapra tragus ) . . 

7 

9 

7 

29 

Bubaline Antelope (Alcelapkus bubalis ) 


16 

8 

29 



*12 

10 

0 

Duyker-bock ( Cephalophus meryens) . . 


2 

6 

24 



7 

5 

5 

Dama Gazelle ( Gazella dama ) 

.... 

3 

4 

8 

Gazelle ( Gazella dorcas) 

5 




Leucoryx (Oryx leucoryx ) 


16 

8 

14 

Nylghaie (Boselaphus pictus) 


8 

0 

11 



12 

2 

24 

Eland ( Oreas canna ) 


15 

0 

4 



*11 

2 

10 

Antilope redunca 

.... 

8 

4 

3 

Mouflon ( Ovis musimon) 


*12 

9 

3 



*9 

8 

21 



*7 

8 

1 



*6 

8 

3 



13 

0 

1 / 

19 

Ovis strepsiceros 


*7 

9 

11 



*5 

8 

15 



10 

4 

24 



11 

10 

16 



303 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 



Duration of life. 


Names of the animals. 





approxi- 

Ascertained. * 


mative. 





years. 

years, i 

month 9. 

days. 


*13 

8 

10 



*9 

9 

0 



*9 

8 

20 



*6 

9 

10 

African Domestic Sheep ( Ovis t tries ) . . 

.... 

13 

3 

2 

American Bison ( Bison americanns ) * . 


9 

6 

5 


8 

8 

19 




*6 

9 

27 

"Vnh ( Pnpnhnfnist nrin) Yiipns \ 


14 

9 

12 




8 



15 

3 



12 

8 

24 

AVES. 





Accipitres. 





Common Buzzard (_Z iuteo vulgaris). . - . 
Bateleur Eagle (L Telo tarsus ecaudatus ) 

7 

3 

5 

28 

White-headed Sea-Eagle •( Haliaetus 

.... 

13 

7 

11 

leucocephalus ). 





Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) 

.... 

13 

10 

11 

2 

21 

0 

Common Kestrel (Tinnunculus alauda - 


6 

7 

4 

rius). 





Cinereous Vulture ( Vultur monachus ). . 

.... 

*15 

4 

22 

Sociable Vulture ( Vultur auricularis) . . 

.... 

*17 

4 

4 

Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulmis) 


14 

9 

28 


*17 

4 

6 

Black Vulture ( Cathartes atratns ) 

.... 

*19 

3 

23 

Condor Vulture ( Sarcorhamphus gry- 

.... 

20 

0 

24 

phns ). 






1880.] 


LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


309 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 

Striges. 

years. 

years 

s. months 

3. days. 

Wood-Owl (Syrnium aluco) 



2 

T 0 



I u 

9 

ii 

2 

Great Eagle-Owl ( Bubo maximus) . . . . 

12 




\ irginian Eagle-Owl (Bubo virginianus) 

.... 

10 

2 

18 

Naked-footed Owlet ( Athene noctua ) . . 

.... 


8 

13 

Psittaci. 





Rose-crested Cockatoo ( Cacatua moluc- 


*20 

5 

16 

censis ). 


*10 

2 

28 



18 

0 

18 

Greater White-crested Cockatoo ( Ca- 


*9 

9 

G 

catua cristata). 





Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo ( Ca- 


*17 

9 

4 

catua galerita ). 


*15 

2 

26 



*9 

0 

28 

Leadbeater’s Cockatoo ( Cacatua lead- 


*17 

9 

23 

beat eri). 

1 




Slender-billed Cockatoo ( Licmetis tenui- 


*17 

8 

13 

rostris ). 





Ganga Cockatoo ( Oallocephalon galea - 


9 

10 

0 

turn ). 





Great Black Cockatoo (Microglossa 


2 

7 

14 

aterrima ). 





Alexandrine Parrakeet ( Palceornis alex- 


13 

2 

0 

andri ). 





Ring-necked Parrakeet ( Palceornis tor- 


16 

6 

23 

quatus ). 

$ 

! 17 

1 

6 

21 


310 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 


Nn.mpfi nf thpi animals. 

Duration of life. 


Approxi- ! 
matiYe. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

yearsJ 

months. 

days. 

Palceornis pondicerianus 


4 

10 

15 

Muller’s Parrakeet {T any gna thus muel- 

10 




leri ). 





Pennant’s Broadtail ( Platycercus pen - 

4 

3 

1 

i 

nanti ). 





Rose-Hill Broadtail ( Platycercus exi- 

.... 

2 

10 

7 

mius). 


3 

1 

20 

Pale-lieaded Broadtail ( Platycercus pal - 

.... 

3 

7 

10 

lidiceps). 





Bauer’s Broadtail (Platycercus zonarius) 


3 

8 

10 



10 

5 

13 

Beautiful Parrakeet (Psephotus pul- 


8 

5 

0 

cherrimus). 





Grey-headed Love-bird (Psittacula cand). 


8 

10 

0 

Red-and-blue Macaw ( Ara macao) .... 


*21 

6 

0 



*14 

7 

0 

Red-and-yellow Macaw ( Ara chloro - 



*17 

5 

9 

ptera). 





Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) 


*20 

3 

13 

Illiger’s Macaw (Ara maracana ). 


14 

11 

23 

Carolina Conure (Conurus carolinensis) 


*10 

5 

23 



12 


14 

Mexican Conure (Conurus holochlorus) 


3 

10 

17 

Golden Conure (Conurus luteus ) 


9 

11 

17 

Grey*-breasted Parrakeet (Bolborhyn- 

7 

5 

4 

22 

chus monachus ). 







18S0.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


311 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

White-fronted Amazon (Chrysotis leu - 

.... 

*5 

5 

19 

cocephala). 





Red-fronted Amazon ( Chrysotis vittata) 

.... 

8 

7 

21 

Passeres. 





Song-Thrush ( Turdus musicus ) 

.... 

12 

8 

29 

Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris) 

.... 

*5 

3 

0 

Rock-Thrush {Monticola saxatilis ) .... 

.... 

*6 

2 

8 

Commou Bluebird (Sialia wilsoni ) .... 

.... 

*3 

6 

8 

Yellow-bellied Liothrix (Liothrix lu- 


*3 

8 

10 

teus ). 





Crithagra brasiliensis 

7-8 




Red-shouldered Starling (Agelceus 


5 

3 

10 

phceniceus ) . 





Green Glossy Starling ( Lamprocolius 

# # • • 

7 

9 

23 

chalybeus). 





Long-tailed Glossy Starling (Lampro- 

• • • • 

1 

9 

4 

tornis ceneus). 


5 

8 

5 

Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) 

.... 

*5 

5 

19 

Black Troupial ( Quiscalus lugubris ) . . 

.... 

*4 

7 

12 

Common Starling ( Sturnus vulgaris) . . 


*9 

5 

12 



*7 

7 

5 



*6 

- 

3 

4 

Sardinian Starling ( Sturnus unicolor). . 

.... 

9 

7 

3 

Rose-coloured Pastor ( Pastor roseus) . . 


o 

7 

8 


i 

*2 

6 

7 


312 DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Haven ( Corvus corax) . . . . . 

. . . i 

7 

10 

24 

Common Jay ( Gar ruins glandarius ) . . 

• • • . 

*4 

6 

23 



j 5 

( 

li 

0 

Blue-bearded Magpie (Cyanocorax cya - 

» * . . 

*3 

4 

0 

nopogon). 


4 

2 

25 

Blue Jay ( Cyanocitta cristata) 

, , , , 

4 

9 

0 



8 

2 

22 



6 

7 

19 

Wandering Tree-Pie ( Dendrocitta va - 

. • 

2 

4 

27 

gabunda ). 





Chinese Tree-Pie (Dendrocitta sinensis) 

! 

*3 

4 

25 

Alpine Chough ( Pyrrhocorax alpinus) 

.... 

*6 

9 

8 



3 

6 

5 

White-backed Piping Crow (Gymno- 


*4 

8 

6 

rhina leuconota). 





Black-and-yellow Tanager ( Euphonia 

.... 

*2 

3 

15 

chlorotica ) . 





Archbishop Tanager ( Tanayra ornata) 

— 

*2 

0 

27 

Brazilian Tanager ( Ramphoccdus bra- 


*2 

4 

7 

silius ). 


*2 

7 

15 



*2 

2 

16 

Red Tanager ( Pyranga rulra) 

# f f # 

*3 

6 

8 



3 

4 

4 

Black-headed Finch (Munia malacca) 

10 




Shining Wearerbird (Ilypochera 

5 




nitens ). 





Red-faced Weaver bird ( Foudia ery- 


9 

0 

27 

throps). 




, 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


313 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years 

.! months 

.1 days. 

Red-beaked Weaverbird {Quelea san - 

5 




guinirostris). 





Masked Weaverbird {lly pliant or nis 


8 

0 

4 

personata ). 


8 

3 

14 



9 

0 

10 

Black-bellied Weaverbird {Euplectes afer') 

i 6 




Red -headed Cardinal ( Paroaria domi- 


*14 

8 

0 

nicana ). 


13 

0 

9 

Red-crested Cardinal ( Paroaria cucul- 


*2 

3 

20 

lata). 





Black-crested Cardinal ( Gubernatrix 


10 

2 

5 

cristatella ). 


8 

2 

0 

Cardinal Grosbeak ( Cardinalis virgi- 


2 

5 

1 

nianus). 


*3 

8 

0 



*4 

0 

13 

Laughing Kingfisher ( Dacelo gigan- 


G 

2 

17 

tea ). 


9 

10 

17 



*4 

8 

6 

Red-billed Hornbill ( Toccus erythro - 


*7 

8 

24 

rhynchus ). 





Ground-Hornbill ( Bucorvus abyssinicas) 

.... 

*5 

6 

24 

Violaceous Plaintain-cutter ( Musaphaga 


1 

0 

14 

violacea). 





Buffon’s Touracou ( Corythaix biifoni) 

2 




Senegal Touracou {Corythaix persa) . . 

.... 

1 

5 

28 



*3 

4 

25 



2 

8 

7 

Ariel Toucan {Ramphastos arid) .... 

.... 

5 

2 

18 



2 

8 

11 



314 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 



Duration of life. 


Names of the animals. 





Approxi- 

Ascertained. 


mative. 





years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Green-billed Toucan ( Ramphastos di- 

.... 

n 

2 

3 

colorus ). 


13 

10 

21 

Ramphastos piscivorus 


3 

2 

25 






Banded Aracari ( Pteroglossus torquatus ) 

.... 

2 

10 

24 

COLUMBJE. 





White-crowned Pigeon ( Columba leu - 

2 




cocephala ). 





Passenger Pigeon ( Ectopistes migra- 

« • ♦ ♦ 

3 

3 

25 

torius). 


*6 

6 

19 

Carolina Dove ( Zenaidura carolinensis ) 

• • ♦ • 

5 

3 

7 

Barred Dove ( Geopelia striata ) 

« • « • 

4 

1 

13 


4 

2 

20 

Passerine Ground-Dove ( Chamcepelia 

9 




passerina). 





Talpacoti Ground-Dove ( Chamcepelia 

■ • • • 

7 

8 

11 

talpacoti). 





Bronze-winged Pigeon ( Phaps chalco - 

.... 

15 

3 

25 

ptera ). 





Blue-lieaded Pigeon ( Sturncenas cyano - 

• • • • 

2 

0 

5 

cephala )• 





Galling. 





Pallas’s Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes para- 

.... 

2 

3 

21 

doxus). 


3 

4 

17 

Black Grouse ( Tetrao tetrix) 


*3 

6 

0 

Capercailzie ( Tetrao urog alius) 


*2 

1 

3 

9 

4 

5 


*2 

8 

9 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


315 


Xames of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

. months, days. 

Common Quail ( Coturnix communis) . . 

5 




Sonnerat’s Jungle-Fowl ( Gallus son- 


4 

3 

21 

nerati). 





Globose Curassow ( Craoc globicera) . . 

.... 

*5 

8 

5 

Razor-billed Curassow ( Mitua tube- 


5 

4 

17 

rosa ). 


7 

6 

11 

Brush-Turkey ( Talegalla lathami ) 

.... 

*6 

10 

8 




3 

18 

Struthiones. 





Ostrich (Struthio camelus) 

... 

7 

8 

6 



2 



Common Rhea (lihea americana) .... 

.... 

4 

ll 

14 





5 



4 

10 

14 



4 

5 

26 

Common Cassowary (Casuarius galeatus) 

.... 

6 

6 

0 

Emu ( Bromceus novce hollandice) .... 

.... 

15 

1 

0 



16 

5 

6 



7 

10 

12 



*8 

7 

14 

G RALLi'E. 





Hyacinthine Porphyrio (Porphyrio 

.... 

*4 

1 

27 

cccruleus ). 





Grey-headed Porphyrio ( Porphyrio 


*4 

1 

24 

poliocephalus). 





Sarus Crane ( Grus antigone ) 

.... 

*5 

9 

9 

White American Crane ( Grus americana) 

.... 

*8 

8 

3 

Demoiselle Crane ( Anthropoides virgo ) 

.... | 

13 

2 

25 



316 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF 


[Apr. 20, 


Names of the animals. 

Duration of life. 

Approxi- 

mative. 

Ascertained. 


years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Balearic Crowned Crane {Balearica pa - 

14 




vonina). 





Cape Crowned Crane ( Balearica regu - 

.... 

*5 

3 

14 

loru?n). 





Oyster-catcher ( Hcematopus ostra- 

.... 

*5 

5 

9 

legus). 


*5 

3 

18 

Black-tailed Godwit ( Lbnosa melanura) 

5 




Ruff {Machetes pugnax) 

5 




European Avocet {Becurvirostra avo- 

3 




cetta). 





Little Egret ( Ardea garzetta) 

• « « • 

*6 

9 

23 


*4 

2 

13 



6 

1 

29 



3 

5 

16 

Black Stork ( Ciconia ?iigra) 

.... 

*4 

5 

6 

White Stork ( Ciconia alba) 

• • • • 

*6 

5 

10 


*3 

8 

20 

Marabou Stork {Leptoptilus crumeni- 

« « • « 

*12 

4 

3 

ferux). 





Saddle-billed Stork (Xenorhynchus se - 

t # t # 

3 

4 

10 

negalensis ). 





Common Spoonbill {Platalea leuco - 

.... 

*5 

4 

26 

rodia ). 


*2 

6 

13 

Sacred Ibis ( Ibis cethiopica) 

.... ! 

3 

6 

16 

Scarlet Ibis {Eudocimus ruber} 

.... | 

3 

2 

2o 


*10 

5 

14 

Natatores. 





Spur-winged Goose ( Plectropterus 

.... 

s 

9 

10 

gambensis). 

1] 

9 

8 

26 


I 

9 

9 

11 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS 


IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 


317 


Names of the animals. 


i Egyptian Goose ( Clienalopecc cegyp- 
tiaca ). 

| Cereopsis Goose ( Cereopsis novce hoU 
landice). 

Pink-footed Goose ( Anser brachyrhyn - 
chus). 

Bean-Goose (Anser segetnm) 

Little Goose ( Anser erythvopus) 

Bernicle Goose (Bernicla leucopsis) 
Canada Goose ( Bernicla canadensis 
Brant Goose ( Bernicla brenta ) 

i Common Swan ( Cygnns olor) 

Black Swan ( Cygnns atratus) 

Common Sheldrake ( Tadorna vul - 
panser ). 

Ruddy Sheldrake ( Tadorna rutila) .... 

Common Teal ( Qaerqnedida crecca ) 
Garganey Teal ( Querquedula circia ) 


Duration of life. 



Rn tN. o o 


318 


DR. MAX SCHMIDT ON THE DURATION OF [Apr. 20, 



Duration of life. 


Names of the animals. 





Approxi- 

Ascertained. 


mative. 





years. 

years. 

months. 

days. 

Common Pintail ( Dafila acuta) 

.... 

*17 

6 

9 


*16 

8 

15 

Bahama Duck ( Dafila bahamensis) .... 
Wigeon ( Mareca penelope) 

5 

*19 

11 

6 



*is 

7 

n 



1 u 

*12 

7 

25 

Summer Duck (. Aix sponsa) , . ...... 


3 

9 

20 



*3 

7 

8 

Tufted Duck ( Fuligula cristata) 


*18 

7 

0 


*17 

8 

0 

Red-headed Pochard {Fuligula ferina) 


*12 

6 

2 


*5 

10 

12 

Common Cormorant {Phalacrocorax 


12 

6 

14 

carlo )• 


*6 

4 

16 

White Pelican {Pelecanus onocrotalus) 

— 

16 

6 

6 

Crested Pelican {Pelecanus crispus ) . . 

— 

5 

8 

27 

Herring-Gull {Larus argentatus) .... 

.... 

*11 

7 

13 

Common Gull {Larus canus) 


13 

6 

25 



*5 

11 

7 

Greater Black-backed Gull {Larus 


*21 

3 

15 

marinus). 





Black-headed Gull {Larus ridibundus) 

17 





The 31st of December last has been taken as latest date for the 
following calculation of the average lifetime of the animals in our 
zoological garden. As the duration of life could be determined with 
certainty for by far the greater part of the specimens, we simply dis- 
regarded such as were entirely unsuited for calculation. Referring to 
these latter, it should be mentioned that the difference between the 
entire number of Rodentia and the number of specimens of the same 



319 


1880.] LIFE OF ANIMALS IN ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 

order the lifetime of which is ascertained follows fo the impos- 
sibility of giving definite dates for the duration of life of Rabbits, 
Guinea-pigs, and some other small species of the same kind. 

Sheep and Goats cause the differences between the numbers re- 
specting Ruminantia. 

We were also obliged to leave out of consideration several sorts of 
Parrots — namely, Nymphicus , Bolborhynchus , and others. Of Fowls 
and Pigeons only the wild species have been selected for the 
register. 

The results are as follows : — 

205 Mammals : total of age, 829 years 11 months 27 days ; mean 
duration of life per head, 3 years 9 months 26 days. 

784 Birds: total of age, 3549 years — months 7 days; mean 
duration per head, 4 years 4 months 23 days. Together, 989 
animals, 4379 years — months 4 days; mean duration of life per 
head, 4 years 5 months 6 days. 

The mean duration of life of the animals which died in the year 
1879 is 2 years 4 months 27 days. This, so much shorter time than 
that mentioned before, will be easily explained by the fact that the 
mortality is much greater in the first days after the arrival of 
animals in a zoological garden. 

I am certain that similar statistics would give very useful hints to 
persons interested in such matters ; and I wish that this branch of 
knowledge were cultivated more specially than it has been heretofore, 


Specification of Average Lifetime . 



Number of 
animals at 
band 

Jan. 1, 1880. 

Number of 
animals the 
age of which is 1 
ascertained. 

Total of age. 

! 

Mean age of 
individuals. 

Mammalia. 



1 

yrs. 

mths. 

days 

yrs. 

mths. 

days 





Quadrumana 

36 

36 

88 

0 

22 

2 

5 

12 

Chiroptera 

1 

1 

0 

2 

29 

1 0 

2 

29 

Carnivora 

42 

42 

154 

7 

23 

I 3 

8 

8 

Rodentia 

60 

8 

24 

10 

1 

1 3 

1 

7 

Marsupialia 

6 

6 

19 

6 

16 

3 

3 

3 

Equidre 

10 

10 

88 

8 

2 

8 

10 

16 

Pachydermata 

7 

7 

31 

2 

23 

4 

5 

18 

Ruminantia 

103 

95 

418 

9 

1 

4 

4 

28 

Aves. 









Accipitres 

33 

33 

149 

1 

26 

4 

6 

9 

Striges 

5 

5 

8 

4 

16 

1 

8 

6 

Psittaci 

108 

54 

347 

7 

23 

6 

5 

6 

Passeres 1 

260 

233 

492 

4 

10 

2 

1 

11 

Columbia 

86 

17 

47 

9 

17 

2 

9 

26 

Gallince ' 

83 

22 

49 

0 

18 

2 

2 

23 

Strnthiones 

1 

1 

S 

7 

14 

S 

7 

14 

Gralke 

84 

64 

328 

0 

5 

5 

1 

15 

Natatores 

389 

355 

2121 

11 

28 

5 

11 

26 


Proc. Zool. Soc. — 1880, No. XXL 21 



