136 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 



attractive condition as they might be because of lack of maintenance 

 funds. However, curtailment of this work results in less harm than 

 does the neglect of structures and fences. 



From time to time during the year earth has been received for the 

 fill across the road from the large-mammal house. After the fill is 

 completed a sidewalk will be laid on that side of the road, providing 

 a greater measure of safety for the public. Until the fill settles, the 

 area will be used for a car-parking site, and later paddocks will be 

 placed on it. 



The accessibility of the police headquarters in the new building has 

 so greatly increased the demands upon the police for first aid, in- 

 formation, and general assistance that it has been necessary to take 

 two men off patrol to maintain the service in the office. This leaves 

 the regular patrol force shorthanded, even with the temporary part- 

 time policemen that have been employed. 



In addition to routine maintenance considerable reconstruction, as 

 well as new construction, is necessary to meet the requirements of ani- 

 mals or changed conditions. For example, with the prospect of 

 obtaining more penguins from the Navy Antarctic Expedition, ex- 

 tensive work was done on the penguin room with a view to filtering 

 the air to remove practically all air-borne germs and spores, maintain- 

 ing slightly lower temperatures, providing chilled water for the 

 swimming pool and for hosing down the cage. As the cooling system 

 has been in use for 20 years and it is uncertain how much longer it will 

 continue to function, an additional cooling unit for the cage was in- 

 stalled. This will be used when the old system fails or must be 

 repaired. 



The two young gorillas that were given the Zoo by Kussell Arundel 

 in 1955 have outgrown two cages, and a third had to be built. This 

 involved not only building a new wall in the great apes room in the 

 small-mammal house, but the construction of a retirement cage and the 

 laying of a new floor. Also, a new thermostat was installed to provide 

 better control of the temperature in this room for the gorillas. 



With the appointment of a veterinarian it became necessary to pro- 

 vide an office for him and a hospital for the animals. An old stone 

 building is being adapted for the purpose and a beginning made to 

 equip it for surgery, treatment, and laboratory work. This has re- 

 quired installation of a new heating plant, remodeling of cages, and 

 painting the inside of the building. 



VISITORS 



Attendance at the Zoo this year reached a total of 3,788,229, an all- 

 time high record. In general this figure is based on estimated rather 

 than on actual counts, but the following actual counts made by mem- 

 bers of the police force on certain days are of interest : Reptile house, 



