SECRETARY'S REPORT 147 



Ecology and behavior of Suncus murinus; investigator, Dr. Kyle 

 Barbehenn. This work is continuing with emphasis on captive be- 

 havior at the National Zoological Park. 



The arrangement and structure of the genetic complex in wild 

 animals is an active project in which the National Zoological Park 

 is contributing culture bases to Dr. Kurt Benirschke, department of 

 genetics, Dartmouth University. A great deal of information, which 

 should lead to better understanding of breeding programs, is 

 anticipated. 



The National Zoological Park will continue to devote, within the 

 organization, as much time and effort as possible to increase the knowl- 

 edge of the requirements of wild animals both captive and free. To 

 this end, the zoo plans, at the first opportunity, to activate a section 

 of Animal Research and Behavior. 



VISITORS 



The 16th International Congress of Zoology was held in Washington 

 from August 20 to 26, and many of the delegates visited the National 

 Zoo. On the night of August 20 approximately 2,000 were taken on 

 a night tour and served refreshments. Members of the American 

 Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, meeting in Wash- 

 ington from September 23 to 26, visited the Park frequently and on 

 September 24 were taken on a late-afternoon tour of the Zoo. The 

 annual meeting of the Virginia Herpetological Society was held in 

 the reptile house on December 28 and was attended by 62 members. 

 On June 6, 1964, the same society met again in the reptile house and 

 heard an illustrated lecture on the snakes of Taiwan, given by Dr. R. 

 E. Kuntz. 



About 2 p.m. each day the cars then parked in the Zoo are counted 

 and listed according to the State or country from which they come. 

 This is, of course, not a census of the cars coming to the Zoo but is 

 valuable in showing the percentage of attendance by States of people 

 in private automobiles. Many District of Columbia, Maryland, and 

 Virginia cars come to the Zoo to bring guests from other States. The 

 tabulation for fiscal year 1964 is as follows : 



Percentage 



Percentage 



Maryland 33. 5 



Virginia 24. 4 



District of Columbia 18. 8 



Pennsylvania 4. 3 



New York 2.3 



North Carolina 1. 8 



New Jersey 1. 4 



Ohio 1.3 



West Virginia 1. 2 



Florida 1,0 



Massachusetts . 9 



Tennessee .6 



766-74&— 65 11 



Connecticut 



South Carolina- 

 California 



Illinois 



Michigan 



Texas 



Georgia 



Delaware 



Indiana 



Total 96. 



