SECRETARY'S REPORT 161 



in front of many of the cages, indicating the country of origin of the 

 animal on exhibit. Special labels set in laminated plastic were writ- 

 ten for 16 exhibits. On the second day of the "Salute" a new flagpole 

 was formally dedicated "in warm admiration for Dr. William M. 

 Mann, former Director." Max Kampelman, president of the Friends 

 of the National Zoo, made the presentation, which was accepted by Dr. 

 Remington Kellogg, representing the Smithsonian Institution. Zoo 

 Park Police Officei^ Trautman, Ellerbe, and Moore formed a mounted 

 color guard as the new 49-star flag was raised to the top of the flagpole 

 at the Comiecticut Avenue entrance to the Zoo. 



On December 14 at the Chancery of the Israeli Embassy in Wash- 

 ington the National Zoological Park received a set of 50 plaques de- 

 signed as labels for zoo animals mentioned in the Old Testament. 

 These are replicas of the labels used in the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem 

 and have, besides the name of the animal, the appropriate text quoted 

 in both English and Hebrew. The plaques themselves are of laminated 

 plastic in soft shades of blue, green, and bronze, with the lettering in 

 white. They have been installed in the Zoo and will later be sent as 

 a traveling exhibit to other interested zoos in the States, returning to 

 Washington as a permanent exhibit. At the ceremony at the Chancery, 

 the plaques were presented to the Director of the National Zoological 

 Park by Machael Arnon, Counselor of the Embassy. Among those 

 present were Dr. John L. Keddy, representing the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, John Perry, president of the Friends of the National Zoo, J. 

 Lear Grimmer, Associate Director of the Zoo, and Dr. William M. 

 Mann, former Director. 



INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 



The Zoo continues to handle a large correspondence with persons 

 all over the world who write for information i-egarding animals. 

 From every part of this country citizens write to the Zoo as a national 

 institution. Telephone calls come in constantly, asking for identifica- 

 tion of animals, proper diets, or treatment of disease. Visitors to 

 the office as well as to the animal exhibits are constantly seeking 

 information. 



The Director spent seven weeks (August to October) in Europe, 

 attending the meeting of the International Union of Directors of 

 Zoological Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, and visiting zoological 

 parks in Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgimn, France, 

 and the British Isles. Particular studies were made of new construc- 

 tion and methods of management. On his return he lectured before 

 various civic and scientific groups and showed his pictures of the 

 European zoos. He also gave one radio interview. 



