78 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 3 9 



BESTAUKANT 



The Public "Works Administration allotted the sum of $90,000 for 

 the much-needed restaurant building at the Park. 



Work on plans for this building was commenced immediately by 

 the Supervising Architect, Procurement Division, Treasury Depart- 

 ment, and in a short time it is expected that bids will be let and 

 construction begun. 



This will be a marked improvement in the service that the Zoo 

 gives to the public. 



FIELD WORK 



The appropriation bill for the Zoo carried an item of $2,000 for 

 travel. With part of this money Malcolm Davis of the Zoo staff 

 was sent to Calcutta to bring back an Indian rhinoceros that had 

 been captured by the Forestry Service of Assam through the interest 

 of United States Consul General Wliite. At the present time Mr. 

 Davis is at sea with the rhino and a shipment of other animals col- 

 lected by him. 



With the remainder of the money a short trip was made by the 

 Director to the Argentine. A small collection of animals was taken 

 for exchange with the zoos in Buenos Aires, La Plata, and Cordoba. 

 United States Consul General Monnett B. Davis took an active in- 

 terest in the expedition, and Dr. A. Holmberg, Director of the Buenos 

 Aires Zoo, planned the field work. The Minister of Agriculture 

 sent the party in his yacht down the Delta of the Parana. The Gov- 

 ernor of Cordoba furnished transportation into the hills, and the 

 National P.vrk Service supplied transportation to the famous Nahuel 

 Huapi National Park. On all of these side trips specimens were 

 obtained. The zoos presented many specimens, as did Natalio 

 Botana, Jose M. Cinaghi, and Ennio Arrigutti of the Aquarium 

 Kin-Yu. Tom Davis, of Buenos Aires, made a large collection of 

 Argentine tortoises and terrapins which he presented to the expedi- 

 tion. On the return voyage a number of specimens were obtained 

 from the zoo at Rio Janeiro, and some snakes from the Instituto 

 Butantan at Sao Paolo. In all, 70 crates of live animals were landed 

 at Washington. There are many difficulties connected with traveling 

 with animals, but the officials and the officers and crew of the Moore- 

 McCormack Lines, Inc., cooperated in every way possible, and thanks 

 are due to them for making the expedition such a success. 



A summary of the specimens brought back follows : 



Class Species Individuals 



Mammals 12 35 



Birds 26 177 



Reptiles 17 98 



Amphibians 3 6 



Total 58 316 



