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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 ending June 30, 1911.

The general appropriation made by Congress for that year was $100,000, and in addition to this an appropriation of $15,000 was made for roads and walks. The cost of maintenance was $81,325, and the amount remaining from the general appropriation, $18,675, was expended in various improvements and repairs.

ACCESSIONS.

Among the important accessions of the year were a pair of Haytian solenodons, a rare insectivorous mammal, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Adams of the Pan American Union. A pair of northern fur seals was received from the United States Bureau of Fisheries, a fine female grizzly bear from Maj. H. C. Benson, acting superintendent of the Yellowstone National Park, and four Virginia deer from Gen. Joseph S. Smith, manager of the National Soldiers Home, Bangor, Maine. By purchase, the park obtained a hippopotamus, an East African buffalo, three prong-horn antelopes, a pair of reindeer, a large Asiatic macaque monkey, and various other animals. Some important animals were also obtained by exchange, as noted below. The accessions included about twenty species not before represented in the collection.

Early in its history the park exhibited for two years a hippopotamus which had been received as a loan. Since that was withdrawn the species has not been represented in the collection. The present animal, a female about 2 years old, is from East Africa and weighs 850 pounds. The buffalo was captured in German East Africa and is believed to be the form described as Buffelus neumanni. The African buffalo has for some time been rather difficult to obtain, and the park was fortunate in being able to secure a specimen at comparatively small cost. It was also fortunate in obtaining in western Texas a male and two female prong-horn antelopes, all adult, from which two vigorous young have been born. Through an animal dealer on the Pacific coast the large brown macaque monkey of southeastern Asia and several other species new to the collection were obtained which had not been procurable elsewhere.

EXCHANGES.

Surplus animals were disposed of by exchange as usual, in accordance with the terms of the act establishing the park. They were sent to the New York Zoological Park, the London Zoological Garden, and various dealers and private individuals. In return for these, the park secured a number of important animals, including a fine specimen each of bontebok, blessbok, and springbok, a small anteater, a pair of tenrecs (insectivorous mammals of Madagascar), and other mammals and birds. The bontebok and blessbok, which are very beautiful African antelopes, are especially valued, as the former now exists only in a few

semiwild herds in Cape Colony, 300 individuals, perhaps, remaining from the "thousands upon thousands" described by early hunters in South Africa, while the latter has been greatly reduced in numbers.

Whenever possible, direct exchange was made, but where the person who desired to obtain an animal from the park had nothing acceptable to offer, the exchange was effected through some one of the responsible dealers in animals.

Black-crowned night herons had bred so freely in the flying cage that it became a necessity to materially reduce their number and some were sent (as gifts) to the New York Zoological Park, London Zoological Garden, and the park departments of St. Louis and Rochester.

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European blackbird (Merula merula) Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) ——. Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) —— Japanese robin (Liothria luteus). Laughing thrush (Garrulas leucolophus).

Orange-checked waxbill (Estrelda melpoda) --

Cordon-bleu (Estrelda phænicotis).
Cut-throat finch (Amadina fasciata) --
Zebra finch (Amadina castanotis) --
Black-headed finch (Munia atrica-
pilla)

White-headed finch (Munia maja)-
Nutmeg finch (Munia punctularia) –
Java sparrow (Munia oryzivora).
White Java sparrow (Munia oryzi-
vora)___

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Red-billed weaver (Quelea quelea) ---

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Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata).

Parson finch (Poëphila cincta) Bearded finch (Spermophila sp.). Madagascar weaver (Foudia madagascariensis)

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Rose-breasted grosbeak (Zamelodia ludoviciana).

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Siskin (Spinus spinus)

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Reddish egret (Dichromanassa rufescens).

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Snowy egret (Egretta candidissima) --
Great white heron (Herodias egretta) -
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) –
Boat-bill (Cancroma cochlearia) ––
Black stork (Ciconia nigra) ---
White stork (Ciconia ciconia) ––
Marabou stork (Leptoptilus dubius).
Wood ibis (Mycteria americana).
Sacred ibis (Ibis æthiopica).
White ibis (Guara alba).

Roseate spoonbill (Ajaja ajaja)‒‒‒‒‒‒ European flamingo (Phoenicopterus antiquorum)--

Trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator). Whistling swan (Olor columbianus). Mute swan (Cygnus gibbus) --Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)__ White muscovy duck (Cairina mo8chata)

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Australian wood-duck (Chenonetta ju

Gannet (Sula bassana)

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Mexican cormorant (Phalacrocorax vi

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Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Adams, Pan American Union, two Haitian solenodons. Miss M. Alexander, Moorefield, W. Va., a brown Capuchin monkey.

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