'26 KfiPOiiT OF THE SECtlETAriY. 



ficiently liberal to justify its acceptance, and accordingly Mr. George 

 H. Hedley, of Medina, N. Y., was requested to proceed to Eapid City, 

 where be received tbe animals and arrived in Wasbington with tbeui 

 in good condition. Being fine specimens tbey bave naturally attracted 

 mucb attention. 



Tbe overcrowded condition of tbe temporary cages and yards con- 

 taining tbe larger animals bas caused extreme trouble, not only to pro- 

 vide properly for tbe sbelter and comfort of tbe specimens, but to keep 

 tbem from eitber killing or injuring eacb otber. Only witb larger space 

 and better facilities will it be possible to so care for tbese animals, 

 and many otbers like tbem, tbat tbey will not only be a stock from 

 wbicb to replenisb tbeir races, so rapidly vanisbing from tbe continent, 

 but a source of constant instruction and recreation for the people. 



The department of living animals bas served an important purpose 

 [w aiding to bring about the establishment by Congress of a National 

 Zoological Park, for tbe public interest manifested in tbe collection, 

 forcibly emphasized the general desire and need for such an institution 

 founded on a liberal scale. During the period when the Zoological 

 Park proposition was before the Fiftieth Congress, tbe Secretary con- 

 sidered tbat the curator of this department, Mr. Hornaday, could not 

 render more important service than by explaining to Members the de- 

 tails of tbe plan proposed, and be was accordingly directed to devote 

 a portion of bis time to that duty. 



The actual accommodations provided for the living animals are 

 necessarily of tbe most temporary character, and do not in the slightest 

 degree indicate the proper construction of ])ermanent improvements of 

 this kind in a first-class zoological garden. At present a large num- 

 ber of living quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles are crowded together in 

 one small and ill-ventilated building heated by steam, which, during 

 exhibition hours, is usually filled with visitors to an uncomfortable ex- 

 tent. It will be a great boon to the public and to the animals com- 

 posing tbe collection as well, when the latter can be transferred to the 

 Zoological Park and provided witb suitable accommodations. Under 

 the circumstances it is very desirable that this should be accomplished 

 at the earliest date possible. 



The total number of living specimens received during the year was 

 271, of which 126 were gifts, 37 were deposited, and 8 purchased. The 

 final catalogue entry on June 30, 1889, was 341, which represents tbe 

 total number of specimens received since the collection was begun. In 

 spite of the disadvantages the curator nm\ his tw^o assistants bave la- 

 bored under in the care of this collection, it is gratifying to be able to 

 report that during tbe year the losses by death have been almost wholly 

 confined to the small and least valuable animals; and, Mith the excep- 

 tion of an antelope which was presented by Senator Stanford and died 

 before it had time to recover from the effects of its long journey, all tbe 

 large and most valuable specimens are alive and in good health. 



