SECRETARY'S REPORT 117 



PURCHASES AND EXCHANGES 



Outstanding animals obtained by purchase or exchange were : 



A pair of rare flat-tailed otters {Pteronura hrasiliense) of Brazil. 

 These have thrived and made a remarkable growth. Thoy are still 

 youngsters, but the larger one of the two is now about the size of the 

 big North American river otters. They have peculiarly flattened tails 

 that look like oars. The Zoo has previously had only two small young 

 ones, which did not survive. 



Four king penguins {Aptenodytes patagonica) were purchased and 

 three others were deposited for a few days by the dealer. These are 

 slightly smaller than emperor pengaiins but because of the rich golden 

 color on the upper breast they are even more beautiful than the em- 

 perors. These are the first king peng*uins in the collection since 1947. 



Tlirough exchange with Sir Edward Hallstrom of Sydney, Aus- 

 tralia, a choice collection of Australian animals was obtained. In- 

 cluded were a pair of rat kangaroos {Hypsipryvinodon moschatus)^ 

 which are marsupials about the size of a fox squirrel; four kinds of 

 wallabies, which are small kangaroos ; and sis kinds of birds, all choice 

 from an exMbition standpoint. 



Through exchange with A. M. Greenhall of the Zoological Society 

 of Trinidad, British West Indies, nine kinds of animals from the 

 Island of Trinidad were obtained. These were highly desirable ad- 

 ditions to the collexitions. Outstanding among them was an excep- 

 tionally large bushmaster snake {Lachesis muta). 



Two of the extremely rare Allen's monkeys {AUenopithecus nigro- 

 viridis) were received. Only two of these had been in captivity, in 

 England, prior to the spring of 1953, when the Zoo obtained two of 

 them in May of that year. A few have since been brought to this 

 country. 



Another interesting accession was a young female hippopotamus 

 {Hippopotamus anipMhius) about 3 years old and weighing 865 

 pounds when it was received on June 29, 1955. It is hoped that she 

 will grow and produce young. The Zoo has benefited greatly over 

 the years from the exchange of young hippos born here for other 

 animals needed in the collection and not otherwise obtainable. 



During the year there have been received from J. D. Handman, 

 of Nyasaland, East Africa, several shipments that have been particu- 

 larly desirable accessions. By getting the animals directly from the 

 collector, many not ordinarily available through animal dealers have 

 been obtained. 



The following were also obtained by purchase : 



Twenty-five African mammals, birds, and reptiles from the Kenya 

 region in Africa. Outstanding among these were two giant Aldabra 

 turtles {Testudo elephantina) of stock that is now thriving in Africa 



