334 AJilNUAL REPORT S^UTHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1941 



animals, or dens just outside tlie cage with an opening into it, or for 

 small creatures, nest boxes placed in the cage. 



It is desirable to provide the most natural type of surroundings 

 possible. Well-drained earth, sand, or gravel surfaces for animals 

 that are not vigorous diggers should be provided. Burrowing animals 

 can often be provided with soil in enclosures having cement or brick 

 walls, and bottoms several feet below the ground level. These are 

 good for such animals as badgers, skunks, prairie dogs, and many 

 others. 



Cement floors are extensively used, but in many respects are very 

 bad for animals. It is to be hoped that more resilient, less absorbent, 

 less heat-conductive material will be found and generally adopted. 



It is preferable not to ship male deer when they have large antlers, 

 but if this cannot be avoided, due heed should be given to providing 

 ample protection so that the animal cannot get into situations in which 

 it will harm itself, or from which it cannot extricate itself. Never 

 ship deer while the antlers are in the velvet if it can possibly be avoided. 



Shipping containers should be carefully constructed to make certain 

 that there are no sharp or rough places inside on which the animals 

 can injure themselves. Furthermore, there must be no point at which 

 the animal can get its hands or feet out through cracks, or it may 

 break its legs or strike at other animals or transportation employees. 

 The bottoms of crates should be so constructed that they drain quickly, 

 and bedding should be provided on the floor. Crates for hoofed 

 animals should be provided with shallow cleats or roughened suffi- 

 ciently to provide good footing. 



Mangers or other containers for food and water should be so placed 

 that they can be refilled by transportation crews with a minimum 

 of trouble, and it is important that they be so placed that they can 

 readily be removed, cleaned, and put back into place after refilling. 

 Full instructions should be placed on the outside of the crate as to 

 the care of the animal — that is, as to range of temperature at which 

 it should be maintained, whether it is to be kept away from steam 

 pipes or must be kept warm, not to leave in the hot sun, the kinds of 

 food, quantities, and times it should be fed and watered and, if the 

 trip is a long one, full instructions relative to cleaning the cage. Cages 

 intended for long trips should be provided with so-called foot boards 

 or long, narrow, clean-out doors at the bottom which will permit keep- 

 ing the cage clean without allowing the animal to escape. Such doors, 

 however, must be so attached that they can readily be unfastened and 

 fastened by the caretakers, and so secured that the animal cannot get 

 its legs out through them. 



In place of foot boards, a false movable bottom like a very shallow 

 drawer can be used for animals that are not heavy or do not stand 

 on the floor all the time. 



