SECRETARY'S REPORT 179 



modernization of the existing birdhouse and the adjacent outside 

 exhibit areas, and the construction of an east-west perimeter road 

 which will ultimately take the automobile traffic from the center of 

 the Park. 



The director and the staff of the National Zoological Park are 

 working with the architects and engineers in furnishing requirements 

 and design criteria to be followed in the development of the Zoo. An 

 experimental panel employing the use of high tensile strength wires 

 stretched vertically with no horizontal ties so as to be almost invisible 

 to the viewer, yet contain the exhibited birds, has been installed be- 

 tween two of the hawk cages. Various species of birds will be put 

 into this experimental enclosure to determine the optimum spacing 

 of the vertical wires. 



Plans were made by the National Capital Parks for the relocation 

 of Beach Drive from the west side of Eock Creek to the east side, 

 tunneling under the hill where the administration building stands. 

 Certain limited areas of land on the east side of the creek will be 

 turned over to National Capital Parks. This will provide a 24-hour, 

 all-weather, north-south road connecting Potomac Parkway and Eock 

 Creek Park. It will not be within the boundary or jurisdiction of the 

 National Zoological Park. Work will be started in the next fiscal year. 



Eespectf ully submitted. 



Theodore H. Eeed, Director. 



Dr. Leonard Carmichael, 

 Secretary^ Smithsonian Institution. 



