72 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1942 



AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS 



So far as can be learned, the experience of other zoos in the war 

 area suggests that the National Zoological Park will probably be one 

 of the safest places about Washington during air raids. By the very 

 nature of the construction of most of the cages, it is practically certain 

 that any dangerous animal would be killed if it were in a cage 

 damaged badly enough to let the animal escape. 



The Zoo has endeavored to take precautions to provide for such 

 contingencies as may arise. A number of key men have received 

 instruction regarding incendiary bombs, gas bombs, and first aid, 

 and the entire organization has been instructed and drilled in taking 

 their respective posts during daylight tests and raids. The personnel 

 has been divided into groups, so that in the event of attacks becoming 

 imminent, the practice will be inaugurated of requiring some of the 

 personnel to remain in the Zoo overnight, in order to be available in 

 the event of emergency. This is with the idea of having trained men 

 for emergencies at night, as well as during daytime. 



ACCESSIONS 



FIELD WORK 



On account of world conditions, no expeditions were sent abroad; 

 hence the Zoo did not receive the large numbers of animals that are 

 usually brought in by such efforts. 



GIFTS 



Among important gifts during the year was a magnificent Texas 

 longhorn steer from the ranch of Col. T. T. East, brought to Wash- 

 ington through the courtesy of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle 

 Raisers Association. The animal was presented to the Zoo by the 

 Texas State Society through the Honorable Wright Patman, and, as 

 the first of its kind ever to be shown in the collection, it has attracted 

 a great deal of attention. 



A pet mule deer fawn was received from L. S. Marriott, Soda 

 Springs, Idaho. Dr. Carlos G. Aguayo, of Habana, Cuba, presented 

 a very rare Cuban crocodile {Crocodylus rhorribifer)^ the first ever 

 exhibited here. Otto Martin Locke, of New Braunfels, Tex., pre- 

 sented a large number of horned lizards and a nine-banded armadillo. 

 From Kenly Chiles, of Washington, D. C, was received a guenon 

 monkey. 



Dr. Thomas Barbour, Director of the Museum of Comparative Zool- 

 ogy at Cambridge, Mass., presented two extra large and fine specimens 

 of the African lungfish, which he had kept for observation since 1937. 



