EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 41 



it cau'be opened to tlie public, though it may not have a strictly park- 

 like cultivatiou. There will thus be free to the jjublic, it is hoped by 

 next 5'ear, between 50 and 00 acres, an area larger than that of the 

 Zoological Gardens in the Regents Park of Loudon, or the Jardiu des 

 PI antes of Paris. 



A distinct area of some 10 or 15 acres will be reserved iu anotlier 

 portion of the park tor administrative and other pui'i)oses requiring 

 seclusion, and will contain a lodge for the resident superintendent, 

 oflices, stable, infirmary for animals, and a proposed laboratory. 



It should be remembered that a most important feature of this under- 

 taking is that it is not only a place for public resort and anuisement, 

 but it is also intended to furnish secluded places for the breeding and 

 restoration of the various animals indigenous to this country. 



At Loudon and Paris the zoological gardens are chiefly for the 

 amusement of the people by the exhibition of curious and foreign ani- 

 mals, and for the benefit of the naturalist ; our paramount interest is to 

 preserve the indigenous animals, and then to provide, in the words of 

 the act, for the instruction and amusement of the people. 



Though anticipating the report for the coming year it does not seem 

 out of place in the present connection to allude to the fact that the Sec- 

 retary, iu his private capacity, has been iippointed by thePresidentone 

 of the commissioners of the more extensive national i)ark u[)on Eock 

 Creek, contiguous to the Zoological Park, a charge which he has 

 accepted with some reluctance on account of the pressure of present 

 otScial duties, but with a feeling that by reason of the necessary inti- 

 mate connection between the two national parks the public interests 

 will be subserved by this action. 



I can not close the report in relation to this new undertaking of the 

 Institution without reference to the loss we have sustained in the death 

 of Senator Beck, who, though not upon the Board of Pegents, took a 

 lively interest in the Institution, and a special interest in establishing 

 and placing under its care thepreservatiouof the natural scenery in the 

 neighborhood of the Capital. 



I regret, also, to report that near the close of the year, the Institution 

 was reluctantly obliged to accept the resignation of Mr. W. T. Hornaday, 

 curator of living animals in theNatioiuil Museum, who, having been as- 

 signed to the duty of superintendent of the park under the Commission, 

 it was hoped would be able to accept the position of superintendent of 

 the park upon its transfer to the Board of Pegents. His efforts assisted 

 the Commission greatly in the selection of the land, and did much to 

 insure the success of the measure before Congress. 



Dr. Frank Baker honorary curator of the Department of Comparative 

 Anatomy in the Museum, was appointed on Juuel, 1890, acting mana- 

 ger of the Zoological Park. 



