172 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1962 



The horned toad {Ceratophrys omata) mentioned in last year's 

 Aiuiual Keport died on August 7, 19G1. This specimen had been col- 

 lected by the National Zoological Park Expedition to Argentina and 

 was received in the Zoo June 27, 1939. It died alter 22 years 1 month 

 11 days hi captivity. 



A Malay lishing owl {Ketupa ketujm) , collected as an adult by the 

 National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Expedition to Netherlands 

 East Indies in 1937, died on June 24, 1902, after 24 years 8 months 26 

 days in the collection. 



COOPERATION 



At all times special efforts are made to maintain friendly contacts 

 with other Federal and State agencies, private concerns and uidi- 

 viduals, and scientific workers for mutual assistance. As a result, the 

 Zoo receives much help and advice and many valuable animals, and 

 in turn it furnishes information and, whenever possible, animals it 

 does not need. 



In cooperation with the State Department, a bald eagle was sent to 

 Berlin, to be presented by Attorney General Eobert Kennedy to the 

 West Berlin Zoo. 



Through the cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a 

 number of waterfowl were obtained for the Zoo. Senior keeper W. 

 Widman made a trip to Wasliington, N.C., to collect a pair of swans 

 and a number of ducks. 



Special acknowledgment is due George Kirk and John Pulaski, in 

 the office of the Dispatch Agent in New York City, and Stephen E. 

 Lato, Dispatch Agent in San Francisco, who are frequently called upon 

 to clear shipments of animals coming from abroad, often at great 

 personal inconvenience — late at night, or on a weekend. 



When it is necessary to quarantine annuals coming into this coun- 

 try, they are taken to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's station 

 in Clifton, N.J. Dm-mg the past year Dr. B. C. Swhidell and Andy 

 Goodel, two of the officials stationed there, have been most cooperative 

 in keeping the National Zoological Park informed as to the well-being 

 of animals and birds being held there for quarantine. 



The reptile division is frequently called upon by hospitals or police 

 for help m identifying snakes or snake bites. This year senior keeper 

 M. DePrato collaborated with Dr. George B. Rabb of the Chicago 

 Zoological Society by assembling information on crocodilians to be 

 published in book form. The division also helped the Navy take 

 photographs of all poisonous snakes and lizards in the collection, these 

 to appear in a field manual for Navy personnel. 



Perhaps the most important project undertaken by the reptile di- 

 vision was in cooperation with Dr. Bert N. Ladu and Dr. Jerome J. 



