APPENDIX IV. REPORT ON THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. SIR: I have the honor to present herewith a report of the operations of the National Zoological Park for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. The appropriation for that year was $95,000, and the estimated amount for current maintenance was $83,706.92, leaving but $11,293.08 from which to make necessary repairs and extensions of buildings, improvements of roads and grounds, and additions to the collection. The largest sum expended for any one object was that of $5,291, for the transportation of animals from Africa, a detailed account of which is appended hereto. For the accommodation of these animals alterations and additions were made to the buildings already in use. In the extension to the lion house a number of small and comparatively slight cages were removed and six new and larger ones, strong enough to hold lions and other large cats, were built in. The antelope house was enlarged by an extension 50 by 50 feet, thus furnishing ten additional stalls and a much needed new entrance. The building, although very simple in construction, is now admirably adapted for accommodating visitors, having three entrances with convenient approaches. The new stalls or cages are provided with commodious yards, which were nearly completed at the close of the fiscal year. The first work of the year was the construction of a suitable pool for sea lions and seals, which was established in the wooded valley occupied by the beaver. This pool is 47 by 96 feet, with a depth of 6 feet 3 inches. It has a shelter house of stone, ample banks, and a level border, the whole inclosed with an iron fence. Two watchman's houses were placed at the park entrance and a flag pole was erected on the hill south of the lion house. This was all the new work that it was possible to execute from the limited amount available. Minor improvements and repairs were made as follows: Concrete steps and walk to the bird house; connecting the culvert in the beaver valley with Rock Creek sewer; painting flying cage; surfacing gravel and cinder walks; making a serviceable road to the coal vault of the central heating plant. Much of this work it has been possible to carry on economically by the use of stone from a quarry in the park and of sand and gravel from the creek. The following is a tabular statement of the cost of this work: Alterations to lion house____ $1,100.00 Addition to antelope house, with approach_-_. 2,500.00 Sea-lion pond, including stonework, concrete construction, fencing, grading, planting, and walk_. 2,025.00 AFRICAN ANIMALS. While the Smithsonian Expedition was in British East Africa Mr. W. N. McMillan, of Nairobi, presented to the park a collection of East African animals which he had gathered at his place, Juja farm, about 25 miles from Nairobi. The collection included 5 lions, 2 cheetahs, a leopard, a Grant's gazelle, a warthog, and several smaller mammals and birds. It was thought advisable to send the assistant superintendent of the park to Nairobi to attend to the shipping and come through with the animals, on account of the importance and value of this collection, and the fact, stated by the Smithsonian party, that other desirable specimens, already in captivity, could be obtained in the region about Nairobi, and also because of the special precautions which the Agricultural Department required to be taken in order to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases, either through the animals themselves or by means of food or other supplies obtained for them. He left Washington toward the end of July, 1909, and returned with the animals December 17. Shipment from Mombasa was made October 28 by a steamer of the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes. At Port Said the animals were transferred to a lighter and kept there, without landing, for thirteen days, awaiting the arrival of a steamer going directly to Philadelphia. The voyage from Port Said, by a German freight steamer, occupied twenty-six days, but the weather was unusually favorable. With the exception of a few animals, very recently captured or very young, there was no loss between Nairobi and Philadelphia. The ruminants and warthog were held in quarantine at Philadelphia for about six weeks to allow thorough inspection and inoculation tests to be made to determine whether they carried any communicable disease. It is gratifying that all proved to be free from disease, since the region from which they came can furnish many important animals which are as yet but little represented in zoological collections. Through the kindness of the Philadelphia Zoological Society the animals were kept at their gardens during the time of quarantine. The two cheetahs had died before shipment was made and the male Grant's gazelle had been killed by accident. With these exceptions all of the animals presented by Mr. McMillan reached Washington safely and are still at the park. A pair of eland, a pair of Coke's hartebeest, a waterbuck, a Grant's zebra, and a bateleur eagle, which were purchased, reached Philadelphia in apparently good condition, but the male eland died of impaction of the intestine while in quarantine. A young male eland was presented by Lord Delamere, but, being in poor condition when received, lived only a few days. A pair of Thomson's gazelle and an impala, all very young, and a pair of white-bearded gnu, caught just before shipping, also died very soon. Mr. G. H. Goldfinch, assistant game ranger of British East Africa, presented a hyrax and two specimens of Lophiomys, a rare and little-known rodent. The 21 animals which reached the United States included 15 species, of which 13 were species or subspecies not at any time before represented in the collection of the park. The lions are of the subspecies known as "Kilimanjaro lion" (Felis leo sabakiensis). In arranging for transportation it was necessary to go to London and Hamburg, and, taking advantage of the opportunity, brief visits were made to 14 zoological gardens in Europe, and the Giza Garden, near Cairo, was visited on the return. The expenditures in connection with these animals were: Freight, hauling, and expenses of transshipping___ Purchase of animals. Cages for shipping. $2,555 728 450 Food for animals_. Transportation and subsistence of A. B. Baker___. Help with animals, including services of attendants, gratuities to ship's officers, etc._____ Telegraph and cable messages_ Miscellaneous__ $520 730 190 43 75 5, 291 Total Thirty-four species or subspecies new to the collection were exhibited during One hundred and sixty-two dead animals were sent to the National Museum. Autopsies were made by pathologists of the Bureau of Animal Industry on 99 animals, showing causes of death as follows: The number of visitors to the park during the year was 721,555, a daily average of 1,977. This number is an increase over the previous year of 156,816, and an increase in the daily average of 430. The largest number in any month was 156,432, in March, 1910, a daily average for the month of 5,046. During the year there visited the park 155 schools, Sunday schools, classes, etc., with 3,883 pupils, a monthly average of 324 pupils. While most of them were from the city and immediate vicinity, 34 of the schools were from neighboring States, and classes came from Falmouth and Haverhill, Massachusetts; Stafford Springs, Connecticut; Rochester, Dover, Exeter, and Newport, New Hampshire; Bellows Falls, Vermont; and Sanford, Maine. Rhesus monkey, Miss Justine Ingersoll, Boston, Mass.. William, F. Wenger, Washington, D. C.. G. R. Tompkins, Warrenton, Va. Bonnet macaque, G. R. Tompkins, Warrenton, Va--- Gray fox, J. F. Unverzagt, Washington, D. C------ 2 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 Virginia deer, Thos. Blagden, Washington, D. C--- 1 Common goat, John R. McLean, Washington, D. C.. 4 Grant's gazelle, W. N. McMillan, Nairobi, British East Africa__ 1 Northern warthog, W. N. McMillan, Nairobi, British East Africa__ 1 Lophiomys, G. H. Goldfinch, Asst. Game Ranger, Nairobi, British East 1 English rabbit: Mrs. Birdsall, Washington, D. C---- Mrs. Street, Washington, D. C____. Common opossum: Charles L. Medley, Victoria, Mo---. Albino opossum, donor unknown_- Sparrow hawk, Mrs. C. H. McAndrie, Washington, D. C__ Red-shouldered hawk, T. Hanlon, Washington, D. C--- Warlike crested eagle, W. N. McMillan, Nairobi, British East Africa_ Egyptian vulture, W. N. McMillan, Nairobi, British East Africa. John Ricketts, Flinton, Pa.. Donor unknown.. Barn owl: R. H. Chappell, Washington, D. C---- Dr. C. N. Lenman, Washington, D. C----- Screech owl: Raymond Campbell, Washington, D. C....... Mrs. Arthur Lee, Washintgon, D. C_____. Red and yellow and blue macaw, D. S. Sheahan, Washington, D. C.. Parrakeet: Mrs. Leigh Hunt, Bethesda, Md.. M. Doumer, Washington, D. C------ Java sparrow, Miss M. Britton, Washington, D. C.. Jungle fowl, Dr. C. B. Davenport, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y Wood ibis, A. M. Nicholson, Orlando, Fla----- Brant, Dr. H. L. Gosling, Washington, D. C....... Alligator: Mark Sloane, Washington, D. C-- Miss C. Harndon, Washington, D. C. Edgar Shreve, Washington, D. C. Mrs. Mary Bartlett, West Milford, W. Va.. W. V. Cox, Washington, D. C------ House snake, Thos. C. Johnson, Deanwood, D. C-- Animals on hand July 1, 1909– SUMMARY. Accessions during the year_. Total____ Deduct loss (by exchange, death, and returning of animals). On hand June 30, 1910_ Mammals. Birds. Reptiles.. Total. Respectfully submitted. Dr. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 1,416 307 FRANK BAKER, Superintendent. |