KEPoirr ov vuK siu'kktarv. 45 



iivoiiiic to the p.irk lilies oil tlic Citstwanl will also tend lo incicasf llic 

 ease ofae(;ess to the park. 



Additious to the collections. — Tlie collection is now addc*] to only 

 tlirougli <>it'ts made by i)nl)lic-spiritedcitizensa!i(l liie soinewiiat linnted 

 accessions derived from the Yellowstone Park. As before meiitii»ne(l, 

 lack of fuuds lias preveuted any notable increase from these sources. 

 It is decreased by the inevitable d<'aths which the experience ol' older 

 zo()l()gical gardens shows will not be less than from LM) to .'>() per cent 

 annually. 



Accessions from the Yellowstone Park are iisnally limited to a. very 

 nari'ow range of specimens and can not be deiK'iided on for j)roducliig 

 a really valuable and characteristic collection oi" the North American 

 fauna. Under the terms of the first appropriation act it was allow- 

 able to [)rocure by purchase "rare specimens nototherwise attainable." 

 This provision was nearly ineffective owing to the inadequate fund 

 given, and it was omitted from the act passed at the recent session ot 

 Congress. 



The total niind)er of animals in the park is 44.S <»!' which .'>4(> arc in- 

 digenous to North America. Fifty-five of the animals were obtained 

 by i)urchase. 



NECROLOGY. 



MONTGOMERY CUNNIiNCillAM MEIGS. 



Montgouiery Cunningham Meigs was a son of the eminent physician 

 and medical autli(n\ Charles J). IVFeigs. He was born May .'i, ISK!, in 

 Augusta, (ly.. and graduated from the United States Military Academy 

 at West Point in 1S36. He was assij^iied first to the artillery service, 

 and snbsequently to the Corps of Engineers. In 1852 he was directed 

 to make a survey at Washington, T). C, with the view of determining 

 the best plan for supplying the city with water. The ])lan proposed 

 by him received the approval of the War Department and was adopt(;d 

 by Congress, General Meigs, then a captain of engineers, being 

 charged with its execution — a task that occupied his attention Un- a 

 l»eriodof ten years, and which he complete<l with signal siu-ccss. During 

 the prosecution of this important work Capt. Meigs was also placed in 

 <'liarge. as supervising engineer, of the north and south extensions ol 

 the Cai)itol, and of the construction of its crowning iron dome, as well 

 as ot the noithcrn extension of the General Post-Oflicc Uiiilding. 



lie ser\ed with eminent distinction throughout the war of the re- 

 bellion, leaching the rank of brigadier-general in chargeof the (^)iiarter- 

 niaster's Department. The place s(mght him not only for liis high in- 

 tegrity and acknowledged cai)acity for business, but on account of the 

 strength of his personal character. In 1S(!1 he received the well earned 

 title of brevet major general in the xVrmy. 



